WHAT: Catskill Farms has boldly planted the flag of innovation for 20 years – establishing a reputation for defying norms to power sustained success. Now, this Hudson Valley/Catskills design and construction company has done it again – in its C-suite. Two top executives at the company are women under age 30, driving $15 million a year in business in an industry where are only 9% of the workforce – even less than in mining – are female. These high-powered leaders not long ago were fashion students. Now, they’re managing construction crews, contractors, budgets, strategic planning and demolishing any thought of “quiet quitting.” How? Why? Catskill Farms founder and owner Chuck Petersheim recognized their vision, excellence and smarts – Catskill Farms hallmarks that have made the company the dominant player in the Catskills for quality, tailored second homes. No, there’s no glass ceiling at Catskill Farms, which instead prizes results and customer satisfaction while empowering its team to meet its untapped potential.

WHO:  Amanda Barton and Breanna Krom, both Fashion Institute of Technology graduates, had no management experience, particularly in construction’s “man’s world,” when Petersheim hired them as office employees. He quickly recognized their thirst for excellence and challenged them through “trials by fire.” The women’s indisputable “whatever it takes” mantra helped them conquer those early tasks, and they continue to thrive while handling increasing levels of executive responsibilities. Their ascension has helped power Catskill Farms to new levels of success, even during the COVID pandemic’s unprecedented real estate upheaval. Catskill Farms’ transformative vision for nurturing excellence, no matter the gender, represents a new breed needed in construction, an industry where many executives are aging out and creative thinking separates companies in an intensely competitive industry.

ABOUT:  Chuck Petersheim founded Catskill Farms more than 20 years ago. His savvy insights, which have resulted in more than $200 million in sales, are powered by a grassroots perspective powered by decades of anticipating and capitalizing on trends, in-depth knowledge, and close contact with a broad cross-section of small businesses, buyers and governments. This expert vantage point positions Petersheim as an authority on home construction and design, entrepreneurship, today’s “have laptop, will work from anywhere” model, cutting-edge business innovation, finance, Hudson Valley migration and land use. Catskill Farms’ prosperity roots itself in being ahead of trends. Petersheim built “new old farmhouses” in 2002 just when the “this old house fixer upper” model hit its stride. He started building two-bedroom cottages in 2005 as “bigger and better” McMansions were all the rage. He scaled back prior the 2009 real-estate collapse. He has since surfed, as a leader, the powerful resurgence of the Hudson Valley and the Catskills. Catskill Farms was born in Sullivan County, but has successfully expanded into numerous Ulster and Dutchess County municipalities as well.

Learn more about Catskill Farms at TheCatskillFarms.com.