Our Crew

Stephen Malcom
Owner & President

Steve began Boothbay Home Builders in 1978 with a little more that a year’s worth of carpentry experience under his tool belt. Steve parlayed a craftsman’s eye and sharp business acuity into one of Down East’s most successful construction companies. Although Steve is the CEO of a burgeoning corporation, he maintains a consistent presence on the job site.

In the mid-1980s, Steve created Knickerbocker Woodworking to answer an increasing customer demand for interior finish work. The paint and design companies were added in for the same reason at the turn of the century.

Steve graduated from Hamilton College in 1974. He is a recovering amateur hockey player. When he is not managing the affairs of Knickerbocker, he and wife Martha attempt to manage the lives of their two young sons.

“Building houses is part design, part construction, and a whole lot of psychology.”

Steve Berger
Construction Supervisor & Office Manager

Steve grew up outside of Philadelphia, and graduated from Muhlenberg College in 1975, earning a BA in history and teaching certification in secondary education. Steve spent 2.5 years in Senegal, West Africa, working for the Peace Corps organizing small scale construction and repair projects. Steve moved to Maine in 1979, working for different area builders, and finally working with Steve Malcom in 1983. After numerous years of being a field lead carpenter, Steve moved into our office. He now concentrates on estimate pricing, coordinating our crew and managing our office, among other numerous tasks. Steve enjoys outdoor activities such as kayaking with his teenage son, Karl. Newlyweds, Steve and his wife Cathy make their home in Boothbay Harbor and enjoy gardening and training Sirus, their small dog.

“There’s nothing better than hearing an owner say: ‘That’s just the way I had envisioned it’.”

R. Dustin (Dusty) Batley:
CFO; HR; Butler

Dusty first met Steve Malcom at Hamilton College in the early 70’s and followed Steve to Boothbay Harbor.  He was Steve’s first employee when Boothbay Home Builders was started in 1978, but left construction to pursue opportunities in the seafood industry, including fishing, trucking, sales, marketing, and processing.  Eventually landing in Camden, Maine, he worked for a, then, young smoked seafood company, Ducktrap River Fish Farm.  As the Operations Manager for Ducktrap, he helped guide the company into an international seafood brand and a leader in the smoked seafood industry before leaving there to rejoin Steve and the Knickerbocker Group in 2004.  Dusty is responsible for the business and money management of the K Group, along with Human Resources and the daily brewing of coffee.  Dusty currently lives in Cushing, ME with his wife Diane, and has two daughters  who are attending university in Canada. When not working you will find him singing tenor with various choirs, competitive sailing, or finding ways to get outside to hike, camp or kayak.

Rick Nelson
Architect

Rick joined our Design staff in November 2005.  He brings with him 9 years of varied design experience including small residential renovations, large and small-scale commercial projects and high-end single-family homes.  Rick takes pride in finding simple, aesthetically pleasing solutions for even the most difficult programs.  He is an architectural graduate from Norwich University in Vermont and received his license to practice architecture in Maine in 2003.  When not working, Rick can be found spending time with his wife and daughter, as well as riding and racing mountain bikes-year round. 

Fred Lilly
Construction Manager

Fred joined our team in December of 2004.  Having trained on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, he is well versed in the traditional architecture of New England.  Along with his 7 years of design experience, he brings several years of construction management skills to the table.  He enjoys working  with clients and craftsmen to create comfortable, livable spaces.  He currently lives in a 250 year old farmhouse with his wife and daughter and their dog, Dugan.

Val Coolong 
Home Services Manager

Val manages our property management and repair division, Knickerbocker Home Services.  She and her staff handle small jobs, painting, cleaning, light construction and remodeling projects, as well as basic care taking and comprehensive property management.  Val’s nine years of management experience in banking has helped build a cohesive team that excels in getting the job done efficiently while delivering great customer service.  When she is not working, Val and her son spend as much time on the water as possible: boating, sailing, fishing, or just loafing!    

Walter Shea
General Manager, Knickerbocker Woodworking Company

Walter grew up in New Jersey. He has spent the last 20 years working various positions in cabinetmaking shops around New England. He came to work for the Knickerbocker Woodworking Company back in 1993, and in more recent years became our shop manager. Now, Walter oversees and lays out the jobs and projects that come through our shop and works closely with Elaine on design and our clients. Walter and his two children, Walt Jr. and Carley, live on a family farm in Jefferson. He spends his spare time training oxen and draft horses for pulling, competing at local fairs and events.

Marcus Golding
Construction Manager

Marcus joined the Knickerbocker Group after working in a variety construction markets from Hollywood, California to Freeport, Maine.  He has been involved in everything from entertainment facilities, museums and galleries, as well as “green” residential construction.  His extensive experience in managing building projects, as well as production shops, is invaluable to our Group’s commitment to delivering your project on time.  Marcus lives in Brunswick with his wife and daughter.  He spends his free time restoring and renovating older homes.  Thirteen homes in the last six years! Go Marcus

Sue Mendleson
Designer

Sue is our building designer at Knickerbocker Design. She joined our design department in April of 2004, bringing with her 15 years experience at architectural firms in Seattle and Camden. An architectural graduate of MIT with a Masters of Architecture from the University of Washington, Sue is technically savvy with first-rate CAD skills for our document production. Sue enjoys the challenge of bringing a client's ideas to life while assuring these ideas are buildable "to keep the guys in the field happy."

Elaine Murdoch, CKD, CBD
Designer

Elaine has a fine arts education and over 25 years of diverse design experience. A kitchen and bath specialist since 1987, she is a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) and a Certified Bath Designer (CBD) and one of only ten people in Maine to hold both certifications. Additionally, her design expertise encompasses the creation of individual furniture pieces and architectural casework for home theaters, offices and libraries. Elaine has prospered in many settings, including Moscow, Russia where she was the principal designer for a Danish design and remodeling firm, and a housing officer for the U.S. State Department. Returning to Maine after living and working in the “gold coast” area of Connecticut's Fairfield County, she's delighted to again be sailing on Linekin Bay. Her client list includes a governor of Maine and a Bolshoi ballerina.

Danielle Betts
Civil Engineer

Danielle manages our fastest growing division, Knickerbocker Design Company.  She is a  registered professional Civil Engineer in Maryland and Maine.  Her twelve years of experience includes conceptual through final site design of residential housing communities, hotels, schools and commercial developments.  She can handle Federal and State site development negotiations, as well as local Zoning and planning issues. She is also a member of Maine’s Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.  Danielle, her husband Brad and their two boys enjoy spending as much time together outdoors as possible.

Keith Warren
Designer

Keith joined our Design Team in January of 2007 and brings his expertise in home renovation to our group. After receiving an Engineering degree from Arizona State University, Keith worked primarily in the medical device industry as a design engineer and project manager. During the last ten years he has built and renovated numerous residential structures. Keith’s hands-on experience helps to create detailed, practical renovation designs for our customers. Keith enjoys the outdoor offerings of midcoast Maine and can be found hiking, boating with his wife and two children, or tinkering with an antique car.

Nora Wilson
Designer

Born and raised in Bath, ME, Nora began her career in construction early as a stone mason tender at 17 leading to her interest in the built sculptural form.  A part-time student at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Nora will be completing her Bachelors in Architecture degree this upcoming spring.  Nora has five years of professional practice working as an associate designer in both Massachusetts and Maine.  Her design experience has encompassed high-end residential on and around Cape Cod, institutional, commercial, medical facilities, mill building restoration and reuse, and she has worked on affordable housing projects in both Plymouth and New Bedford, MA.

Nora lives in Topsham, ME with her husband and two children and spends her free time enjoying them.  Nora is a member of the Topsham Planning board and has an avid enjoyment of the arts in all its forms.

Sarah Shea
Designer

Sarah, who hails from Waterville, ME, recently acquired the status of Wentworth Institute of Technology alumnus. A past intern of K-Design, she joined the company full time in fall ’07 as a designer and 3D modeler extraordinaire.  In her free time she enjoys kickin’ it with her friends on the water or in the mountains, photography, and expanding her musical horizons.

Other Knicherbocker Staff