MEET THE Team

Hugh Stearns, President, Owner and Founder
Hugh Stearns ran Stearns Design-Build as a one person operation when he founded it in 1993. He has been the first employee of virtually every position in the company. He grew up in College Station and Bryan and graduated from Texas A&M. His background in philosophy and psychology has helped develop the design theory that drives the company’s unique approach to residential design and green building. He took his first class in green building in 1976 and has remained a student of building science ever since. His passion for remodeling and custom home design are a large part of what has driven our growth and award winning recognition for customer service.

DESIGN TEAM

Joseph Garavito, Designer
 Joseph received his Bachelors of Architecture in 2001 from the Universidad Regiomontana in Mexico. Prior to joining the Stearns Design-Build Team as our newest Designer, he was a Designer for Mirador in Houston, Texas. Prior to that, Joseph worked for Archodesign; a multi-disciplinary firm in Monterrey, Mexico.  His work history provides Joseph with a diverse knowledge of many projects including residential, restaurants, office and furniture. Much of his on-site working knowledge has provided a direct understanding of the construction process.  Joseph views architecture not as a creation of static three-dimensional objects, but also one that includes time and the movement of people that inhabit it. His strengths are in the creation of habitat spaces and of functional geometries with a pleasing aesthetic. Joseph focuses on the human-side of design and takes great care understanding the needs of the end-user. In his free time, he actively participates in the Scouts and values teamwork and a strong sense of ethics which is cast onto all of his projects.

Chuck Gryska, Estimator
Chuck began his construction career as a field carpenter at the age of sixteen. He attended Chapman College in Orange, California, and the University of Texas before rejoining the construction industry. Since then, he has worked as a residential designer and draftsman, the Site Manager of a 3200 acre planned community in New Jersey, the Production Manager and Designer for three custom home builders in Texas, and the owner of a general contracting and custom home building company in Texas. He was also the Production Housing Superintendent for various development companies in New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware, where he was named Superintendent of the Year by First State Inspections Services. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, woodworking, and spending time with his two grandsons.

Production Team  

John Orgovan, Job Manager
John has been involved in remodeling and construction since he was seven-years-old. John has worked all over the country learning different building techniques. Most recently, he was actively involved in the beautiful carpentry work done at Santa’s Wonderland in College Station, Texas. As part of John’s position at Stearns Design Build, he will be performing carpentry, sheetrock, trim, paint and oversight. In his free time, John enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and his niece who will be starting at Texas A&M University this year. 

Ronnie Cupit, Job Manager                                                                                     Ronnie began his interest in construction by obtaining his diploma in cabinet making from J.F. Ingram Tech College in Montgomery, Alabama in 1992. During this same time, he also attended Central Alabama Community College where he received an Associates Degree in Science. As a former owner of a cabinet shop and remodeling contractor, Ronnie brings a great deal of skills and expertise to the Stearns Design Build Team. When he is not building cabinets and doing trim carpentry work,he assists in painting and job oversight. In addition to volunteering for the American Legion Post 88, Ronnie also enjoys being outdoors, barbecuing, fishing and hunting.