Meet Our Diamond Certified Expert Contributor

Lance Smith: A Dream Come True

By Matt Solis, Editor

For Lance Smith, the road to becoming a remodeling contractor started close to home. “My dad was a longtime roofer and he used to bring me to jobsites during the summer—by the time I was 10, I was learning how to build and fix things,” he explains. “After high school, I joined the carpenters’ union and developed my technical skills and ability to manage large-scale jobs. By 2017, I knew I was ready to strike out on my own, so I founded Smith & Son Construction.”

Today, Lance is proud to lead a growing construction firm with his wife, Kierra, who serves as vice president. He says his favorite part of his job is taking his clients’ ideas and bringing them to life. “I love getting to know my clients and helping them create their dream homes. Everyone has a story, so I enjoy being part of making something meaningful for them.”

A lifelong resident of the Bay Area, Lance currently lives in Vacaville with Kierra; their son, Maverick; and their two dogs. “I really like the quiet, rural atmosphere of Vacaville,” he says. “There aren’t a lot of people, it’s a really homey environment and it has great schools.”

Outside of work, Lance enjoys fishing in bass tournaments and riding bikes competitively—a passion he picked up as a kid—but his favorite part of his daily routine is coming home to his wife and son. “No matter how hard my day is, walking through the door and seeing my family makes it all worth it,” he affirms. “It’s everything a man could dream of.”

When asked what his life might look like if he retired tomorrow, Lance says he would take the opportunity to step back and count his blessings. “You only get so much time in this world, and it’s easy to get caught up in work and everything else, so if I retired tomorrow, I would take some time to relax and enjoy life with my family. But knowing me, I’d probably end up building another business as well. You know what they say, ‘Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.’”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person?
A: A dog person. We have an American Bully and an English Chocolate Labrador.

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Tommy’s Joynt in San Francisco.

Q: What’s your earliest memory?
A: Getting my first dirt bike when I was four years old.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Catch up on office work.

Q: What’s your favorite holiday?
A: Christmas. I like that everyone gets together.