2016
Men to Watch
President Dave Stephens on turning a vision into a reality, mentoring and customer satisfaction.
LIDA Homes
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What inspired you to follow this career path? After building my first custom home in 1998, I was immediately drawn to the organizational skills and meticulous detail that such an industry demands. I find the process of turning a vision into a reality a
rewarding practice. Assisting my clients in the development of their dream provides me with a profound sense of happiness and creates value in the day-to-day operation of LIDA Homes Inc. What’s new or next for LIDA Homes? Since our inception in 1998, LIDA Homes has been on a mission to facilitate a greater transparency in the contracting industry. We do this by implementing an interactive budgeting software for all of our clients that offers real time project and budget updates. Consequently, our clients are in control of their budget which allows them to confidently enjoy the building process.
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We built a custom home for local Brentwood Bay NHL Hockey Player Matt Irwin and his wife Chantel. This home was a 2016 Canadian Home Builders Association VIBE award finalist for best custom home of the year over 3,000sf. We were truly honoured to be recognized for this achievement.
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What advice do you have for upcoming generations of business owners? A satisfied client results in a successful business. A consistent commitment to customer satisfaction should be the number-one priority of any business owner. You can’t just say that you are committed to customer satisfaction; you must completely buy in and allow this principle to become your guiding light at all times.
personal development and safety of our workers. Our carpenters have ongoing mandatory professional development courses that allow them to provide the exceptional quality of work that we expect from them. At LIDA Homes, we truly care about every employee, their future and their families. Our sincere dedication to our employees and their families results in a superior product.
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Why is your business important? We frequently hear about the hardships and difficulties that home owners experience in the development of their dream home. At LIDA Homes we understand the importance of your dream and we are committed to make the process as stress free as possible. Your dream can be fulfilled, accomplished and enjoyable at the same time.
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What do you find inspiring about our local business community? Victoria is a tight-knit community that instils a greater sense of pride in its residents. The local business community is unique in nature, and is founded on values of integrity, veracity and camaraderie. Three words others use to describe you? Three words you’d use to describe yourself? Others would describe me as loyal, trustworthy and honest. I’d describe myself with the words family, integrity and driven.
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What might surprise your clients to learn about you? I coached minor hockey for 15 years and I found this experience translated exceptionally well to the business world. Mentoring and developing young aspiring hockey players is much like leading our employees at LIDA Homes. I take great pride in ensuring the ongoing
Dave Stephens
LIDA Homes Custom Home Builders 5441 Parker Avenue, Victoria 778.440.LIDA (5432) | www.lidahomes.ca
What is your business best known for and why? We are known for our relentless pursuit of customer satisfaction. Our company mantra, “The pursuit of Complete Customer Satisfaction,” truly captures our attitude towards all aspects of our business. We instill this sense of client priority in all of our employees and subcontractors to ensure quality craftsmanship and an unwavering commitment to transparency.