HOME
Woman'sTouch
From custom to green, she's a proven
builder in a field dominated by men.
Robyn Gorell
Special to the Jewish News
...I ' ' 7 ?". .... . .7 "1 ... .... . ...7..1_
.. . . . a .7 s. :::, '''' .. 1 , . ,2i. .,:. 7 1 . '"*..
1 ., ,...
:1
. . . :. ■ . . -
: . i : . i _ 7.17 . . . 77 . . . .. . .7 .r, z. . . , : . t . . : . : " „ " . ...:........
. .:::
. . . ,. . , . t. t . . .7 . . . _ , y. 4 . . _ z , . . T . : : 1 . 2 7 "Z . 2. . . . : . ' . 7 ! . . " : . r . 74. . 7 . : . 7. . 7 . . , . . 1.7 .. , . _ . .... ...": " . . . , 4 " % . . n E u . . . . _. l 7 "' . . : : . . . " . . ...,TT
: . " . 7 . . : . v 4 . H . , . _ z . 77 . . . , . 7. , : . " _ . t obi . . :. . . :
challenge exhilarating. When her family
sk Ilene Techner whether
many general contractors and
licensed builders in Michigan
are women and she shakes
her head. Inquire if any of those are
Jewish and Techner smiles and com-
ments, "I may be the only one."
The fact that construction is an
uncommon profession for females
doesn't faze Techner, a general con-
tractor and licensed builder who
owns Itec Enterprises, LLC., based in
refused to move again, her completed
projects and growing reputation result-
ed in referrals for additional renovations
....,. ....
. jet
. ..
. z
. , . . . . . ., . . . , . t
. . .
..
-"t"t"....."."'""'"""*
.7. pji : ...rs.. ........
.
. """:
....
:
....:',..r. ,. ..4.,,. , '„, ... ....4 ........=', ..,'.
.....w, .....• '
•,......
..,,,,. ...„, .......
,Z... .....,
;'"'
""':.".: :"..'"Z: : . : ., ""%:"'":'
.
r.g.. """" 7:. r:=
. '""";""r"' '": " ".'-
' -....''
'"" : ' i 4"
7
...":„. . . . .e ' . ""' %.,,
....f
":.........
,,z.. ..".
. „. t!.,
,......z
from friends and other clients. She
underwent formal training and became
a licensed builder.
Techner has held her Michigan
Residential Builders License for nine
years. She has undergone additional
training in residential building, build-
ing law, ongoing education in energy
efficient building, green building and
Birmingham. Her company specializes
in residential renovations and additions,
including high-end, custom "spec"
the new energy codes. She currently is
engaged in the complete renovation of
a home in Bloomfield Township, incor-
homes. The company also has com-
pleted a number of commercial renova-
tions and interior build-outs for offices
porating all environmentally responsible
materials, techniques and products.
"Most of us today recognize that what
and studios.
Itec handles a wide range of build-
we leave behind may be toxic for gener-
ations to come and the natural resourc-
ing projects and general maintenance.
es we imagined would be around forever
are depleting at an alarming rate," says
Techner. "The onus is on us to do more
Recently, the company has undertaken
several "green" residential and com-
mercial projects
. i......
....
..:7...
.:
.
to support the environment."
Techner's business ethic is based on
personal attention to detail, being flex-
ible, creative and organized, with jobs
To that end, Itec thoroughly research-
es and seeks out resources and materi-
als that are energy efficient, recycled,
completed on time and on budget.
"Nowadays, I have many clients I call
my 'lifers' — people I've worked for
recyclable and biodegradable, and do
not cause harm. Techner loves educat-
ing clients and subcontractors about
who periodically return to me for addi-
being responsible.
Sta ff p ho to by Ang ie Baan
A
had renovated seven houses for her
family over a 20-year period, finding the
Builder Ilene Techner in a home she renovated.
day in plenty of time before Shabbat or
when a holiday begins.
Similarly, when designing bathrooms
and bedrooms for an Orthodox home,
she appreciates there are certain priva-
Professional Validation
Techner is adept at multitasking. Once,
on a family skiing vacation, she received
a cell phone call from a bereaved widow
wanting to donate her late husband's
clothing. Without missing a beat, Ilene
Orthodox Niche
cy and modesty issues to contend with.
Among the many projects she has
built for Jewish homeowners are sukkot
Born in Cleveland, Techner grew up in
Techner also has paved a niche market
in the local Orthodox community, devel-
that can be assembled and disassem-
bled easily as well as special Pesach
Detroit, the daughter of funeral director
oping a growing clientele through word
kitchens.
Herb Kaufman of Ira Kaufman Chapel in
Southfield and his wife, Babs. She grad-
uated from Wayne State University in
of mouth.
"You know how people talk," she
says. "I completed my first project in
Satisfied Client
Ruchie Weisberg of Southfield has
skis in the other hand.
Fellow building contractor Rick
Detroit with a BSN in nursing, complet-
ing postgraduate studies in psychiatric
the community and the homeowners
were very happy. They spoke highly
about me. I `go the extra mile' to earn
hired Techner to renovate and build two
bathrooms, one of them a luxurious,
spa-like master bathroom, a fireplace
Silverman has consulted on several
projects with Techner and views her as
an associate and friend.
and retain my reputation for quality
work and for doing what I say I will."
In the Orthodox community, she is
that was a 60th birthday gift from
Ruchie to her husband, ltzy, a deck and
a sukkah. The deck was designed with
"She is as technically capable as any
contractor out there, and has a wonder-
ful eye and good design abilities," he
families find community resources and
answers.
She is married to David Techner,
sensitive to specific religious require-
ments. Techner says there is a greater
comfort level for Orthodox families if
special grooves to accommodate the
sukkah's wall panels.
"Ilene is the nicest person to work
says. "She gives personal attention to
all her jobs and employs a very highly
skilled and dependable group of sub-
also a funeral director at Ira Kaufman
Chapel. They have three grown chil-
dren, Ari, Chad and Stephanie.
she — as a female, rather than a man
— is overseeing the project, spending
with," says Weisberg. "She's a real
pleasure, very caring, professional,
creative and she wants her customers
contractors."
In addition to Techner, Itec has two
employees: a full time assistant-project
happy. She's punctual, and her people
are friendly and clean up after them-
selves. I hope to have her do more for
manager and a part-time bookkeeper.
The company has a list of preferred
me in the future."
were nearly $2 million.
tional projects," she says.
The Early Years
nursing. She worked in several nursing
positions before developing AfterCare
Services at her family's funeral home.
For that program, she helps grieving
Ilene Techner's entry into the building
time with the woman of the house.
Techner closely supervises her sub-
contractors to ensure they are appropri-
ately dressed, don't bring food or drink
industry came about indirectly. Techner
into the homes, and are finished for the
Entering The Trade
Techner provided useful advice, gently
ended the conversation and answered
another call from a subcontractor.
Meanwhile, she continued her climb up
the snow-covered slope, carrying her
subcontractors. In 2007, its revenues
❑
May 21 . 2009
A53