Behind the Build

Shawn Bakker

Meet Shawn, Owner and Founder of Bakker Construction, where high-end renovation and the Design-Build process are not just about craftsmanship but about bringing each client's unique vision to life. His dedication to excellence has become synonymous with the elegance and bespoke quality of the homes on the Monterey Peninsula.

Shawn was born and raised in Golden, Colorado, and as a 4th generation builder, grew up watching and learning on family jobsites. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Psychology from Regis University in Denver, where he met his wife Amanda. Shawn co-founded ReVolve Construction in Colorado in the early 2000s and relocated with Amanda to the Monterey Peninsula in 2007.

Shawn founded Bakker Construction in 2008, and with relentless dedication, grew his vision from a small home-run business to the large award-winning firm it is today.  In 2023, they are celebrating 15 years of serving the Monterey Peninsula community with their client-centered, quality-driven, community-invested approach to the Design Build industry.

Amanda Bakker

Meet Amanda, co-owner of Bakker Construction and wife to Shawn Bakker. Amanda met Shawn while at Regis University in Denver, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Spanish. Shawn and Amanda were married in San Juan Bautista, CA in 2000, but started their life in Colorado.

In 2007, the Bakkers felt the call to relocate to Monterey County, where Amanda was born and raised, to grow their family and business. Amanda's lineage in Monterey County gives her deep roots as a 4th generation native and descendant of William E.P. Hartnell. 

Amanda embodies the spirit of community and family, a foundation upon which they've built their business. She brings to Bakker Construction her 19 years of experience in executive leadership in the nonprofit world, and 15 years of staging and coordinating photo shoots to put a beautiful book end on our remarkable projects. Together with Shawn and their three children, Olivia, Wyatt and Tatum, and Yorkie, Scout, the Bakkers love the San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors, exploring the great outdoors and road tripping across the country.

Chanelle Simpson

Meet Chanelle Simpson, co-owner of Bakker Construction. Chanelle is a Monterey County native who has always had a passion for style and design. She first joined the Bakker Construction team as a part-time Office Assistant in 2017, where she fell in love with design and honed her skill and fueled her desire to be more involved in the process and execution of quality projects. Chanelle soon moved into the role of Design and Development Coordinator in 2019, where her creative influence and eye for detail can be seen throughout the Builds page on the Bakker Construction website and in the homes of trusted clients.

In 2022, Chanelle was promoted to General Manager, and entrusted to not only oversee the Design and Development Process at Bakker but to ensure that her design visions were brought to life through the lens of Production.  After years of seeing her own design visions—and those of the Architects and Designers who collaborate with Bakker—come to life, Chanelle’s leadership within the team became evident and the Bakkers invited her to join them in ownership of Bakker Construction in 2023.

Chanelle takes pride in hearing and understanding her clients, building relationships and trust, and partnering with them to turn their houses into homes they love to live in. She is most motivated by seeing how happy a client is at the end of a project as they move into their home and invite our team back to enjoy the space with them. She and her husband Kaleb live in Monterey County with their Pit Bull, Bella, and cat, Harvey. In her free time, Chanelle loves working out in her home gym, hosting dinner parties for friends, and riding motorcycles with her husband.

  • Production Manager

    When it comes time to bring our clients’ design visions to life, they can count on our Production Manager, Tyler, to lead the way—coordinating and directing our carpenters and subcontractors in the field. Tyler has only been with the Bakker team for the last year, but brings 18 solid years of both residential and commercial construction industry experience to the table. He shares that his favorite things about his job are finding solutions to problems and crossing things off his to-do list. That’s how we get things done around here!

    Tyler is a transplant to Monterey County from Battle Ground, WA, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration. Aside from keeping our jobs running smoothly and efficiently, Tyler also enjoys working on his own home and cars and frequents Lowe’s on the weekends. His next personal goal is to finish the interior of his own home remodel. He loves hanging out with his lovely wife and their dog, Tucker, and even admits to also having 3 cats!

  • Design & Development Assistant

    The Bakker team is so thankful for the creativity and talent of our Design and Development Assistant, Brianna, who describes herself as ambitious, optimistic, and approachable—and we agree! Brianna has grown so much in the last year at Bakker, finding her true calling in the world of Project Design. She has a passion for guiding our clients through the adventure of designing their dream space and producing new and creative ideas. Brianna’s talent and infectious personality are truly gifts to our team and our clients alike.

    Brianna grew up in Los Banos, CA and recently attended California State University at Monterey Bay, where she studied Psychology. Although her early childhood ambitions of becoming a vet didn’t become a reality, she still loves animals, is a big supporter of the SPCA for Monterey County, and she and her boyfriend are hoping to own a beagle soon!

  • Interior Design Assistant

    Meet Erick, Bakker Construction’s new Interior Design Assistant. Erick hails from Pittsburg, CA and is a Class of 2023 graduate of Chico State University with a Degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture. He brings a passion for creative design and finding unique solutions to our Design team and loves the challenge of bringing a client’s vision to life.

    Erick has the professional goals of earning certification in LEED and NCIDQ in the coming year, but also has a personal goal of learning to grow his own vegetable garden. On his own time, Erick often finds himself doing something creative or stimulating, such as working on cars, drawing, sculpting, or riding his bike around Salinas. He also adores his beautiful cats, a Tuxedo Tabby named Sofia and a Black Tuxedo named Olivia, who are sisters. He says his favorite thing currently is waking up early to get the day started in the morning fog at our beautiful office setting up in Ryan Ranch.

  • Design & Project Manager

    Danielle is our newest team member here at Bakker Construction, and she brings us a wealth of knowledge and experience as a Designer and Project Manager. Danielle shares that she’s been dreaming up and designing houses since was a kid, playing the “Sims” video game or finding herself drawing floorplans and imagining homes on napkins. She says “I love being involved in the whole process from start to finish. I am a big 360⁰ thinker who loves seeing the whole story and being part of the entire journey.” Our clients will see that philosophy in action as she leads them through the Design and Development process, all the way through the finishing touches of production.

    Danielle grew up in the East Bay area of California, and then pursued her Bachelor of Art in Interior Architecture with a minor in Historic Preservation at the University of Oregon. In her free time, Danielle enjoys her many interests, such as spending time at the beach, on the farm, at a baseball game or relaxing and cooking a delicious meal. Her current goals include growing in areas where she needs growth, and stewarding wherever God has her. We couldn’t think of a better place for her to be than right here on our team.

  • Project Manager

    Joel is a Salinas Valley native and has been with Bakker Construction for 4 years now, and currently leads our field team as Construction Project Manager. He is hardworking and loyal and enjoys the sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing a project well. Clients most love Joel for his approachability and his unforgettable laugh!

    Joel is a devoted father to his sons and looks forward to seeing his oldest graduate this spring. During his free time, he enjoys listening to music, enjoying sports with his boys, and chilling with their pet turtle, “Crush.”

  • Carpenter

    Andoni has been a part of the Bakker family since 2018 as a Carpenter. He says he loves coming to work knowing he gets to do something different every day and is always pushed to grow and learn, seeing the process of building something from start to finish. He truly enjoys being a part of the team.

    Andoni describes himself as ambitious and competitive, and he once played out on the soccer field when he dreamed of being a professional soccer player as a boy. Now, his favorite thing to do in his free time is watch his son play the game he loves. Andoni and his son live in Salinas, where he enjoys good coffee, fresh mozzarella sticks, spending time with family, and watching soccer.

  • Project Manager

  • Project Manager

  • Carpenter

  • Carpenter