|
There's a cheerfulness in the air at Hamptons Habitat Enterprises Corp.
offices in Westhampton Beach where Stephen, Barbara and Matthew Ramsay
carry out daily operations of their successful high end building company,
a company that they call "the glass half full company."
Hamptons Habitat Enterprises, Corp. has been building custom homes on
Long Island since 1982. A family business, Hamptons Habitat operates using
three basic principles: timely completion, quality and value. Work is
carried out on the East End as well as in Nassau County.
Full service general contractors, the company builds and renovates high
end homes and maintains them. Landscaping and cleaning are among the services.
"We tend to maintain most of the homes that we build. We try and
make it as much a one phone call operation as possible," Stephen
said.
While daily operations take place in the company's Westhampton Beach office,
job sites are equipped with a networked field office including telephone,
fax and computer. Job sites are also outfitted with custom work sheds
to store materials and allow work to continue through all weather conditions.
"Communications is key," said Barbara, explaining how the owner
can communicate with the project manager and the architect with the people
in the field and so on.
It was Barbara that began employing technology at Hamptons Habitat with
the creation of a website designed solely for the purpose of allowing
customers to see the progress of their homes. It was the Ramsay's son
Matthew who took the technology use to a level that is above and beyond
customary.
Matthew has been part of the company since he was young and worked in
the family businesses during time off from school. After completing college
with a major in finance, Matthew moved to California where he was employed
as a business consultant for a software development company.
"I realized a lot of stuff I was learning was applicable. I thought
I could help this company," said Matthew, who returned to New York
two and a half years ago to work full time with his parents at Hamptons
Habitat Enterprises Corp.
"It certainly brings some new ideas to the company," said Stephen,
who welcomes the high tech expertise offered by his son. "It really
is refreshing. Time change," he said.
The Ramsay's daughter, Jennifer, currently lives in Santa Cruz, California
where she is involved in marketing. Her marketing expertise is sought
from time to time tying her into the family oriented Hamptons Habitat
as well.
Stephen and Barbara Ramsay have been involved in and building construction
for decades. It was after carrying out a construction job in New York
City that Stephen and his crew where invited to work on a project for
Casa Bella Furniture Showrooms in Florida. That was the beginning of a
six year fruitful stay in the state with the Ramsays completing numerous
projects including shopping malls and residential projects like a 50-unit
condominium complex.
The family returned to their native Long Island and began Habitat Enterprises
in the early 1980s later changing the company name to Hamptons Habitat
Enterprises Corp.
It's the quality and value of the homes that have led the company to success,
according to Stephen who pays meticulous attention to details. "We
don't compromise with quality," he said. "We're able to produce
the same quality work at every price point. The workmanship is always
good."
Hamptons Habitat builds and renovates all types of homes with the tendency
especially on the East End leaning towards the construction of the "shingle
style traditional home." A sampling of Hamptons Habitat homes is
available for viewing via the company website at hamptonshabitat.com.
"We tend to do two or three large projects a year as well as scores
of smaller projects," said Stephen, who has always enjoyed working
with his hands.
Barbara, who currently oversees and handles just about anything that comes
along has always been a key player, years ago juggling the care of young
children and secretarial and accounting work for the business. "It
was all a lot of fun and still is," said Barbara.
The Ramsay's clearly enjoy working together and like the fact that their
employees are part of their extended family.
"This is a family oriented company," said Stephen, reiterating
that the approximately 25 people employed by Hamptons Habitat are like
family.
"They don't have to look someplace else," Barbara said, adding,
"Just about everyone can find a niche and grow."
"It's a good place to be successful. We don't hire people just to
get things done, we would rather not grow," said Stephen.
"Matthew agrees. "There's an unlimited upward mobility. We give
people as much responsibility as they can handle," he said.
To stress the fact that quality is of utmost importance, Stephen said,
"Growth has been very managed. We could have grown much faster if
we were to compromise who we were. We're careful not to over-extend ourselves."
|
