With four generations of builders before her and no sons born to her parents, a fifth generation builder did not seem likely for the Troxel family. After all, the building industry is predominately a man’s world, right! A challenge, you see, is exactly what inspired Michelle to change that type of thinking and provide a different perspective to the industry that was certainly in need.
After graduating from college with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration, specializing in Finance and Real Estate, Michelle’s next step would be to the Mergers and Acquisitions department of a major corporation. However, this career path did not evolve thanks to a Paper Science Engineer known as Andy Tanner, now her husband. Michelle found herself heading to International Falls, Minnesota with Andy. “International Falls, Minnesota is not exactly a mecca of big business”, Michelle explained. “The main employer in town was the paper mill Andy was working for, Boise Cascade, and I was lucky enough to get a job working for the Controller in the Accounting Department.”
After a year and a half in the coldest city in the United States, headhunters recruited Andy to another mill in northern Alabama, and the Tanner’s took the opportunity to relocate. Michelle became the Office Manager of a large real estate firm before obtaining her real estate license. “My exposure to my Dad’s construction company became an asset several local builders were looking for”, says Michelle. “So I started working as a Project Coordinator for a few well respected builders in the area.”
After Michelle’s second child was born in September 2000, she and Andy decided it was time to move closer to home and Grandma and Grandpa. After nine years in Alabama, in February 2001, the Tanner’s made the transition to Spring Lake, Michigan. House hunting, specifically for new construction, opened Michelle’s eyes to the need for sophisticated architecture, current design details, and quality custom features throughout. “I couldn’t believe how behind the times the architecture and interiors of many of the newly constructed homes were that I looked at for my family.”
After spending nine months researching the best of the best in sub-contractors, the first “Michelle Tanner Home” was built. “I combine the expertise of my sub-contractors with my quest for quality constructed homes both in structure and aesthetics, and together we make a team that produces a product all others are striving to achieve.” A strong work ethic and a “take pride” attitude defines both Michelle and her team of subs.
Michelle stays actively involved with her two children, Sadie, 12 and Malea, 10, when away from the job site. From coaching Malea’s soccer team to shuttling both girls to and from soccer, basketball, or drama class, Michelle is the taxi driver. “Many people comment they see my Suburban all over town (it has her company name on the side), and I tell them it’s not so much that I am a builder, but more because I am a MOM!” Michelle’s husband Andy has left the paper industry and joined a local steel rollform company, Shape Corp. as a manufacturing engineer. “There have been times I have thought about bringing him on board the company”, says Michelle. “But for now I tap into his extremely intelligent engineering mind when needed and keep the two worlds separate – that may be the key to our successful marriage!”
The two people Michelle calls upon most are her parents Jack and Marge Troxel (the fourth generation of family builders). “My dad has 44 years in the business and there isn’t much that he hasn’t seen or done”, comments Michelle. “My mom has taken care of the financial aspects of my dad’s company through their entire 43 years of marriage, and she also functions as his designer.” As her partner in Michelle Tanner Homes, Michelle’s mom runs the administrative end of the company and as Michelle comments, “the two of us together can "detail" a house like no one can imagine.” Michelle continues, “People always ask us what cleaning company we use because of the impeccable nature of our completed homes, and my dad’s favorite comment is “that you can’t afford them” and we respond “because it is us”. Every aspect of a Michelle Tanner Home, from floor plan to landscaping, is the direction of Michelle herself. “It is not a Michelle Tanner Home if I am not there continually challenging everyone onsite to be efficient and effective to the best of their ability and that includes me”.
Michelle Tanner Homes is a fifth generation family business that has brought the expectation of quality and aesthetics to the Tri-cities area. “Our success can simply be attributed to two things: We create a level of customer service that all others strive to achieve and our homes are built with the perfect balance between beauty and function.
