Skillful Means

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Skillful Means combines decades of experience with straw-bale, rammed earth and conventional construction with a tradition of service to our clients.

Skillful Means has built more straw-bale buildings--large and small--than any other builder in California, and continues to lead in discovering and perfecting the technical and aesthetic qualities of this material.

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building/people
Dhonyot Lama, carpenter's apprentice, plasterer. Originally from Tibet, Dhonyot joined Skillful Means in 1998 as part of the bale crew.

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Vicki Vaughn, foreman. Vicki came to Skillful Means after college graduation and year as an Americor volunteer. Shown here with her friend Melong.

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Chris Alvey, crew chief. After graduating from environmental studies Chris joined Skillful Means for the project at Hidden Villa and decided to move to the West Coast. He now lives in Bodega Bay .


Janet Armstrong Johnston, crew chief and architect, and George Armstrong carpenter. Janet joined Skillful Means in 1995, and often leads trainings on straw-bale construction. Janet, George and their dog Sabina sometimes live on site while building..

Tony Styskal, crew chief. Tony is a licensed contractor and former union carpenter. Tony has worked with Skillful Means since 1995. Tony lives in Occidental.

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Ken Angella, supervisor. Ken has extensive experience in custom homebuilding and joined Skillful Means in 1998. Ken lives in Georgetown.

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John Swearingen, project manager. John has extensive experience in both residential and commercial construction and in design. John oversees all of Skillful Means's projects.


Steven Todorov, project manager. Steven joined Skillful Means after working in the San Francisco Presidio supervising their green building program. Steven lives in the Presidio, and is fond of restoring wooden boats.

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