Our Team

Experience, Dedication, Craftsmanship

Our greatest assets are our level of experience, dedication, and craftsmanship we bring to each project. We have learned that integrity, attention to all details, and honesty each step of the way, creates the best working environment for everyone. We like to get to know our customers and create meaningful relationships. We listen to your desires and needs so that you end up with exactly what you envision for your project. We treat you like one of the family.

Close-up portrait of a young woman with wavy brown hair, glasses, and a nose ring, smiling outdoors with a blurred green background.

Maddy Cantrell

CO-OWNER
PROJECT DEVELOPER

EMAIL
  • Maddy was born and raised here in Olympia. She has been with Lifespan since 2016 as the Office Manager and transitioned to a Project Developer after two years. In 2023 she became Co-Owner with her parents, Chris and Jennie McDonald.

    After graduating from Tumwater High School, Maddy participated in AmeriCorps NCCC where she learned about everything from remediation of flooded homes to fundraising for non-profit organizations and has a great desire to give back to her community. In her free time she enjoys taking her dog, Annie, to the dog park or beach, reading books or listening to audiobooks, camping in her RV with her husband (and Production Manager!) Ryan and being a new mom.

Portrait of a middle-aged man with white hair, wearing a white shirt and a gray zipped sweater, smiling outdoors with a blurred green and brown background.

Chris McDonald

CO-OWNER
PROJECT DEVELOPER

EMAIL
  • Chris and Jennie, Lifespan owners, partnered in 2010 to form a remodeling company from the ground up.  After working in the trades and owning another design build firm in Olympia for a decade, the skills and know-how were in place and Lifespan was born. Fast forward 15 years and they couldn't be prouder of what Lifespan has become. A great staff, skilled subs, proven suppliers, and most of all a history of happy clients, brings great joy to our owners.  When not touching in here and there with company matters, Chris and Jennie love to travel, camp, veggie garden, and work on projects around the house.

A woman with shoulder-length gray hair smiling outdoors with blurred green and yellow background.

Jennie McDonald

CO-OWNER
ADMIN SUPPORT

EMAIL
  • Chris and Jennie, Lifespan owners, partnered in 2010 to form a remodeling company from the ground up.  After working in the trades and owning another design build firm in Olympia for a decade, the skills and know-how were in place and Lifespan was born. Fast forward 15 years and they couldn't be prouder of what Lifespan has become. A great staff, skilled subs, proven suppliers, and most of all a history of happy clients, brings great joy to our owners.  When not touching in here and there with company matters, Chris and Jennie love to travel, camp, veggie garden, and work on projects around the house.

A woman with long blonde hair smiling outdoors with a blurred green background.

Lindsey Barnes

PROJECT DEVELOPER
INTERIOR DESIGNER

EMAIL
  • Lindsey is an experienced Project Developer and Interior Designer, bringing over 15 years of industry experience to Lifespan Construction, which she joined in 2015. She is skilled in design software programs, sales, management, renovations, and construction.

    Lindsey holds a Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design, Sustainability Studies & Visual Merchandising from The Evergreen State College, and she is also a certified AKBD Kitchen/Bath Designer with the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association).


    Outside of work, Lindsey and her husband, Calvin, enjoy exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest, whether it's sailing around the San Juan Islands or skiing at White Pass, depending on the weather​!

A young man with blue eyes, light brown hair, and a beard smiling outdoors against a blurred green background.

Ryan Cantrell

PRODUCTION
MANAGER

EMAIL
Close-up of a young woman with shoulder-length brown hair and light brown eyes, smiling outdoors with blurred green background.
  • Ryan was born in Spokane and moved to this side of the mountains as a child. He went to Black Hills High school and then went directly into the trades. He had 5 years of experience in welding fire suppression systems before finding his way to Lifespan in 2018. He quickly showed how much of an asset to the team he was and started leading his own projects in less than a year, and transitioned to Production Manager in 2024. His peers describe Ryan as hardworking with a calm and focused demeanor.

    In his spare time you can find Ryan golfing of the ball and disc type, going for hikes and camping, and playing board games, like Catan, with his family.

Tamara Corona

PROJECT DEVELOPER
ASSISTANT

EMAIL
  • Tamara has a background in real estate with Spivey Realty as well as knowledge from her time at Earthwise Architectural Salvage. She has earned her Interior Design certification from the New York Institute of Art and Design and is eager to keep the list growing!

    When Tamara is not in the office, you can find her and her boyfriend playing with their cat, Ditto and spending time with their nieces and nephew. She is a regular at thrift and antique stores and she is currently teaching herself how to flip furniture for fun!

A smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing glasses and a dark shirt, outdoors with blurred greenery in the background.

Debbie Otos

OFFICE
ADMINISTRATOR

EMAIL
  • Debbie, our Office Administrator, has been with Lifespan since 2022. With an extensive history in payroll and bookkeeping, and her remarkable attention to detail, Debbie utilizes her expertise to handle all things financial as well as managing all of our project orders.

    A lifelong Washingtonian, she enjoys time with family, hiking, and traveling. Debbie enjoys spending time with her three adult children, one being our very own Production Manager, Ryan! Debbie has a great sense of humor and we can always count on her positive attitude.

Portrait of a middle-aged man with short dark hair and slight beard, wearing a green jacket over a plaid shirt, standing outdoors with blurred green trees in background.

Jason Search

SPECIALTY SURFACE
INSTALLER

EMAIL
  • ADD BIO

Close-up of a smiling middle-aged man with gray hair and beard, blue eyes, wearing a dark shirt, outdoors with blurred green background.

Rava McLaine

LEAD
CARPENTER

EMAIL
  • Rava McLaine has been with Lifespan Construction since 2013. Rava is our go-to employee when it comes to highly detailed work. His artistic talent really shines when it comes to putting cabinetry and trim together to create finished spaces. Rava is a quiet contemplator who has an eye for figuring out how things go together.


    Rava grew up in Seattle around many craftsmen and took every opportunity to learn from them. He also has lived in Eastern WA and did a small stint as an Engineer in the Alaskan fishing industry. Rava is a killer guitar player, a proud father who likes to spend time with his family eating good food, and playing with their bernedoodle Lola.

Close-up of a middle-aged man with glasses, graying hair, and a beard, smiling outdoors with a blurred green background.

Sean Reidel

LEAD
CARPENTER

EMAIL
  • Sean is one of our most talented carpenters on the crew and especially excels in large framing jobs. He has been a part of countless home builds from start to finish over the years. He has worked with Lifespan since 2016. Sean is an efficient worker who isn’t afraid of complex projects.

    In his free-time, he enjoys boating, waterskiing, and spending time with his adult children.

Headshot of a bald man with a long gray beard, wearing a dark collared shirt, smiling outdoors with a blurred green background.

Frankie van Gelder

LEAD
CARPENTER

EMAIL
  • Frankie van Gelder is a seasoned carpenter with over 20 years of hands-on experience in the construction industry. For the past 8 years, he has served as a foreman, leading teams on a wide range of projects - from detailed interior trim work to large-scale commercial builds including parking garages, hotels, and bridges. Frankie's depth of knowledge and leadership on the job site make him a trusted and respected figure among crews and clients alike. His versatility and commitment to quality have earned him a reputation for getting the job done right, no matter the scope or complexity. 

    When not working, Frankie is a devoted husband and proud father of four. He shares his home with two dogs and spends his free time enjoying his favorite hobby: bass fishing.

A man wearing glasses, a black polo shirt, and a blue cap, smiling outdoors with a blurred green background.

Derrick Kingston

LEAD
CARPENTER

EMAIL
  • Derrick enjoys working with his hands and finding creative solutions if necessary. He is always looking to learn something new along the way. He is a happy-to-help hand out in the field that our more seasoned field staff can rely on.

    Derrick spends as much time in the woods as he can - hiking, running, camping, and hanging out with his dogs, Otis and Ava. He also loves cooking, staying active and taking on fun projects that keep him learning and growing.

Young man with light brown hair, glasses, and fair skin outdoors with a blurred green background.

Luke Hernstedt

LEAD
CARPENTER

EMAIL
  • Luke is a hardworking carpenter who takes pride in doing the job right. He supports our staff through dump-runs, coordination of vehicle maintenance, inventory or supply drop-offs, and much more! Without Luke, our world wouldn’t run as smoothly.

    He’s lived in Washington his whole life and loves spending time outdoors hiking and camping. When he’s not working, he enjoys working out, driving, and fixing up his project car. Luke also grew up playing the drums and brings a great energy and rhythm to the team.

AWARD-WINNING DESIGN

Awards and Affiliations

2000-2025 - Tour of Homes Awards, Olympia Master Builders
1999-2025 - Remodeling Excellence Awards (REX), Olympia Master Builders
2003, 16, 17, 18, 23 - Remodeler of the Year, Olympia Master Builders, Chris, Maddy & Jennie
2016 - Golden Hammer Award, Rebuilding Together Thurston County, Chris
2013 - NW Design Award, Seattle Design Center
2002 - Golden Hammer Award, Olympia Master Builders
2006-08 - Best Place to Work, Business Examiner
2005 - 40 Under 40, Business Examiner
2005 - Big 50, Remodeling Magazine

Senior Action Network - Board Member, 2010-11
National Kitchen & Bath Association - Member since 2015
National Association of Home Builders - Member since 1998
Past Certified Aging in Place Specialist – NAHB, 2005
Past
Certified Graduate Remodeler – NAHB, 2004

Logos of various organizations including the NKBA, NAHB, CAPS, EPA Lead-Safe, CMB Olympia Master Builders, and Houzz.
We are not a team because we work together. We are a team because we respect, trust, and care for each other.
— VALA ALSHAR