Relationship-based
Projects are built on people, not paperwork.
Built on Craft.
Driven by People.
Butte Construction is a Chico-based general contractor built on old-school craftsmanship, modern professionalism, and a genuine commitment to the people and places we build for. We're experts at what we do, and we're good people to do it with.
Four Generations. One Standard.
In 1938, Jack Starnes started a roofing and insulation company out of Chico. He wasn't trying to build a legacy. He was just trying to do good work. He did. And then his kids did. And then their kids did.
2026
Butte Construction Company invests in a new brand identity inspired by its rich history.
1938
Jack Starnes founds Valley Roof and Insulation Co.
1950
Jack partners with his two sons, Ted and Robert, and they rename Valley Roof and Insulation to Butte Roofing Company.
1962
Ted Starnes takes over Butte Roofing after Jack passes away.
1997
Ted's son, Mike, takes over ownership after 25 years in the business.
Human Problems in the Construction Industry
Imagination, creativity, and listening aren't words you typically hear from a general contractor. We think that's exactly why they matter.
Nick StarnesFounder & Owner
Nick wasn't the kid who dreamed of building things. What pulls him in are complex problems that need energy to come unstuck — and when you look closely, most problems in construction are human problems.
From Chico to the Bay Area and back
After studying Construction Management at Chico State, Nick spent years in the Bay Area running large public works projects. The technical education was real. But the relationships were transactional — one job, then gone.
Coming home to start a family meant coming home to a different kind of business — one where relationships are measured in years, not contracts.
Distill, Don't Copy
When Nick founded Butte Construction, the goal was to distill everything he'd watched work and fail, and build something genuinely better from it.
We exist to empower people and give them opportunities that stretch them — clients and employees alike. When we find the right people, the ones who share our values and are willing to work hard, we link arms. That's what we were built on. That's what we keep building on.
— Nick Starnes, Founder
Good Work Starts With Good People
Butte Construction is only as good as the people who show up every day. That's why we've built a team of experienced superintendents, project managers, and tradespeople who don't just know what they're doing, they care about doing it well. These are the people you'll actually work with. And we think you're going to like them.
Hard work
No substitute, no shortcut.
Growth minded
Always trying to be better than today.
Can-do attitude
Show up ready to solve it.
Our values cut both ways. We hold ourselves to them, and we look for them in the clients we partner with.
Field Team
Dewey Engle
Superintendent
Ray Stowie
Superintendent
Micah
Field Lead
Jayden
Field Lead
Moises
Field Lead
Humberto Aneda
Assistant Superintendent
AJ Buss
Assistant Superintendent
Josef Madamba
Office Team
Nick Carney
Estimator
Brayden Arnovick
Junior Estimator
Isabel Ortiz
HR Assistant Manager
Aura Aragon
Compliance Specialist
Kason Strickland
Controller
Leadership Team
Sierra Brodleit
Business Development and Integrator
CL
Celina Layton
Chief Operating Officer
Nick Starnes
Owner & Visionary
Our Proven Process
- Step 01
Meet & Chat
Let's grab coffee and talk through your vision. We ask the right questions to understand your project - and make sure we're the right fit for each other. Come as you are: ideas in your head, a napkin sketch, or full concepts.
- Step 02
Advise & Design
What's your timeline? Your budget? Your vision? Based on your goals, we'll recommend the best path forward - then bring your project to life on paper. Drawings, permits, scheduling: we handle it all before a single shovel breaks ground.
- Step 03
Develop & Build
We take the wheel. Daily on-site supervision, seamless coordination with architects and subcontractors, and proactive navigation of permits and regulatory requirements - we manage every detail so you don't have to.
- Step 04
Do It Again
Our favorite clients are the ones who come back. We build more than structures - we build relationships. When your next project comes around, we'll be ready. That's the standard we hold ourselves to every single time.
Got a Project in Mind? Let's Talk.
No pressure. No jargon. Just a straightforward conversation about your project and how we can help.