Custom home construction often carries a reputation for being exclusively for the wealthy, but this common belief needs to be scrutinized so that you have a clear understanding of the advantages of having a custom home built just for you.
Building your dream home from scratch has become more accessible and affordable than many realize.
Diana Benson, Finishes & Client Coordinator
Diana brings a considerable depth of residential design experience to Lamar Valley Craftsman having
graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Interior Design and a minor in Construction
Management. Diana guides and informs clients during the entire construction process enabling them to
co-create a cohesive design. Diana’s passion for gathering interesting finishes and materials to create an
impressive and yet comfortable custom home makes the process less overwhelming for clients.
Diana joined Lamar Valley Craftsman in 2020. Her construction management experience sets her apart
from most interior designers and this technical knowledge is a highly valuable skill for the dynamic and
effective team at Lamar Valley Craftsman.
Diana grew up in Overland Park Kansas and came to Fort Collins to attend C.S.U. She grew up coming to
Estes Park and the YMCA every summer as well as spring breaks to ski. Her love of the mountains and
the outdoors has given her a place to call home. Our beautiful state has so much to offer us for
inspiration!
John Burfeind, Site Superintendent
John Burfeind , Fort Collins & Northern Colorado Residential Builder, born in Upstate New York, yet he’s right at home here in Colorado, with family nearby and a newfound love for our beautiful landscape and climate. Fort Collins is the perfect location for exploring the mountains; one of his favorite things to do is enjoying the outdoors with his Golden Retriever, Walter. A good game of golf or breaking in some fresh powder is what the Doctor ordered.
He studied architectural design with an emphasis in Physics. Before college he served in the US ARMY, where the young Sergeant gathered many awards & Graduated high honors in PLDC (leadership school) His interest in building came early, as his Grandfather had a dairy farm & Relative’s were German Craftsman. John was much better at wood working then milking cows, so it seemed like the likely path. Working for his Uncle before the ARMY , while on leave and once honorably discharged, he honed his skills. 1988 John started his own company in the tree enriched upstate NY, relocating in Colorado in 1993. He loves being a hands on Builder, always saying, “we design and build your dreams”. A life-long Motocross rider & fan, having worked to the professional level, racing across the country had him pushing for excellence. “Trying to be just a little bit better then the day before” was his motto. loves to travel and has had the opportunity to build in the jungles of Peru with his Church. God is always teaching how to be a better pursuer of The love of Christ.
As a builder in Colorado since 1993, John has always been looking for a Team to assemble that shared his values. John believes in being Proactive , Having Integrity, Being Adaptable, Always Respectful , & Team – Oriented. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. “
APRIL 2022, John joined Lamar Valley Craftsman as a Team Member. “Having a great foundation is crucial for any building to have a solid base and having a great team is essential for any project from start to finish.”
I’ve found that Team.
John is a member of the following professional organizations:
Christ Community Church
Faith In Action
Extreme Athlete Bible study
AMA
RMRA
MSC
RMXA
J.D.BURFEIND & Son Construction
Kelly Pytluk, Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper
Kelly has over 10 years of accounting experience and is a certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor. She has worked with Lamar Valley Craftsman for over 9 years. Kelly specializes in Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable & month end closes with Lamar Valley Craftsman as well as owning and operating her own bookkeeping firm. Kelly and her husband, Ken, are parents to two wonderful boys, and they enjoy playing FlingGolf as a family and hiking with their Golden Retrievers.