Our Story

As we celebrate Bill’s retirement and the beginning of our next chapter led by principals Robert Lee & Michael Van Lokeren, we’ve been inspired to look back at where our story began.

Bill Jetton was drawn from the gulf coast of Texas to Mendocino County in the early 1970s in search of a back-to-the-land livelihood where carbon energy consumption was minimized and environmental practices were the norm. He spent ten years working and living off the grid — apprenticing with experienced north coast builders, and constructing barns, passive solar homes, and a 250-foot suspension bridge, all while milking goats for the morning coffee.

After a decade of rural pursuits, including courses at the Farallones Institute Rural Center, Bill moved to San Francisco to found Jetton Construction. Taken by the unique display of architectural vernacular in early Bay Area housing, the company began restoring these gems. Soon Jetton Construction expanded into custom home building, collaborating with some of the most talented architects and designers in the area.

Pulling together the myriad components and systems that comprise a modern dwelling is not for the faint of heart. The resourcefulness and teamwork learned in those early rural years became the foundation for a resilient and creative company. Much of our success can be attributed to our dedicated staff of 35, including Jim Williams, Steve Weaver, John Lancaster and Lisa Suardana who have all been with us for decades.

As we begin this exciting new phase, Jetton maintains our dedication to building both strong relationships and beautiful homes with enthusiasm and integrity.