Springfield - Our Team

Curt Trampe

Although Curt’s Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Wheaton College may not be so related to the remodeling industry, his desire to own his own business combined with his attitude of continuous learning has positioned him as a small business owner since 1999. He has earned many industry credentials over the years – Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) and Certified Bath Designer (CBD) through the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) & Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

What does he like about his job? “Collaborating with clients and other staff members to deliver a space that will enhance a client’s daily living environment and provide a place to generate life long memories.”

And what does he like to do outside of work? “Working in the yard; great food & wine; hanging with best friend (Deb); enjoying the moments God has blessed me with (all of them).”

Team: Greenbay Packers

Kevin King

From Havana, IL, Kevin joined DreamMaker in 2014 and has been in the remodeling industry for 29 years. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL, where he used his God-given height of 6’7″ playing basketball. Today, we use his height to change light bulbs, get cobwebs down, etc. here in the office.

His hands-on experience remodeling over the years — every room of his home, helping friends with their homes, building decks, roofing, digging trenches, etc. is invaluable when helping clients envision possibilities for their home. In his words, “I like being able to create a new space for clients and help them visualize their finished project. It’s a good feeling when the project is complete in the time frame we tell them and everything looks beautiful.”

When he isn’t working, he is likely tailgating at his son’s football games.

Team: Chicago Bears

Nathan joined the DreamMaker team in 2020, and without any effort at all, lowers the average age of office employees here in the showroom.

Seriously and more importantly, he brings a sincere passion for (and over 12 years working experience in), connecting with and serving people well. How he answered the question regarding what he enjoys about his role is revealing…

“I enjoy working with people to assist in delivering great service that leads to exceptional results with every project possible. I like to think of my role in sales/design as a way to deliver a solution to a problem and not so much selling a product.”

Nathan maximizes his off work time – “I love spending time with my family. We enjoy being outdoorsy and enjoying nature. I enjoy working out and staying active with sports activities. I also enjoy volunteering with my church to serve my community in any way I can!”

Unique fact about Nathan? He is from a small town in southern Illinois called Oblong, which is the only Oblong in the world!

Joining the team in 2022, Chris is a Springfield native and no stranger to the area (Springfield, Girard, Divernon, Quincy, Pawnee – you might call him the connoisseur of the small towns).

He is also no stranger to the kitchen and bath industry. He may look familiar as he has worked in the industry for 21+ years, specifically in the world of kitchen cabinet and kitchen design since 2016.

When working with homeowners and clients, he likes “making a difference in people’s lives, seeing amazing transformations, and coming up with solutions for everyday problems.”

On the personal side of things, we asked what he enjoys doing outside of work and he said, “playing poker, watching sports, remodeling and doing home improvement projects, trying new foods and spending time with family.”

Although being a hockey player would have been his first choice of professions, he is a great addition to the Design Team here at DreamMaker.

Favorite Team: Chicago Blackhawks

So if you played the game “who traveled the farthest…”, David would be our winner. He joined our team in 2020.

Born and raised in CD. Juarez, Mexico, David came to the United States at age 18, and is now a permanent resident. When asked about why he wanted to come to the US, he smiled and said, “The women… and work opportunities.” He grew up learning how to be a mechanic and would some day like to get his degree. Right now, he is transferring his skills to the carpentry trade very well. Here at DreamMaker he likes “the great communication that is a part of the projects and enjoys the learning experience”. We enjoy his sense of humor and his fast talking.

When not on the jobsite, he enjoys “cooking, spending time with his kids, playing soccer and helping others.”

Dan comes to DreamMaker (2022) with 18 years of experience in carpentry and a passion for always learning. He likes to think of himself as a self taught man who has gained much of his knowledge and different skills from each job he has worked and every tool he has used. We are thrilled to have him join the team!

Regarding work, he said, “…I like that I get to help people achieve their visions while also honing my skills and furthering my knowledge about different techniques…. I can always learn something new. My job is something that is always needed. Someone always needs work done around the house and it is a skill not everyone has. It makes me feel good to share my experience with others.”

His passion for learning, helping and working with his hands transitions seamlessly to his family time. In his words, “I love to spend time with my family. Everything I do is for them and it is the dream to have a profession to teach my children and better my home. I have two amazing kids and a beautiful wife that I can’t wait to get home to.”

He loves to explore the terrain with his Jeep (and a great group of friends), to travel and plan for the next adventure, to cook, grill and work on cars. So don’t ask him which team he roots for, ask him about the rubs he has developed for smoking meats!

We are happy to introduce Luke Tomkins, a Carpenter Assistant, on path to become a Lead Carpenter here at DreamMaker (2021). He has been learning the trade for the past several years and is a fantastic candidate for our training program. When we asked him what he liked about his job, he said, “I enjoy working with my hands. It is great to work with such wonderful people and for a great business. It is always satisfying to see the end result of a project.”

He has grown up in the Springfield area and is a true family guy – “I love spending time with my family. My wife and my 1 year old baby girl are my world. I also enjoy working out, and TV of course.”

Robyn Stephens

Born and raised in the Springfield area, Robyn joined the DreamMaker team back in 2010. She has held similar positions in the prior 25 years and has likely left each one more organized than when she started there. Lucky for us, she enjoys it and isn’t afraid to help with other duties as needed. And if you need a list of 500 ways to use a binder clip, she could provide that!

When asked what she likes about her job, “My job is different every day – from processing contracts to driving the forklift. I enjoy the challenge of keeping everything organized and running smoothly.”

Her other important roles include: Wife to Craig; Mom of two grown children; Grandma of three awesome grandkids. She keeps busy outside of work with bowling, reading, yard work, crafting, playing with grandkids, singing and community theatre.

Driver: Denny Hamlin

Deb Trampe

I’m Deb, and you are learning a little about the rest of the team through my eyes. I came on board with DreamMaker in 2010 and have enjoyed watching all of the changes over the years, the tweaks that have been made to our processes as we learn and grow, and the opportunities that are always out there to do better, be more efficient, or learn something new.

I have a Bachelors Degree in Finance from Illinois State University but really have no desire to work with money. My primary role is handling the marketing needs for our company and secondary role is supporting my boss and husband, Curt. My days vary, but include updating our website, scheduling and planning events, writing content for blog posts, or going to jobsites for photo shoots. It is fun marketing a brand and a service that I believe in.

Outside of work I am often working in the yard, baking cookies (or brownies, or cakes), checking in on our three kids, or enjoying life with my husband.

Team: Alabama Crimson Tide Football