When we started our suspended ceiling T-Bar construction business in 1995 (C and D Acoustics), we were very
fortunate that our supplier, Cal-Ply of Redlands, totally supported us 100%. The people there "took us under their wings"
and taught us so much.
Although Curtis had many, many years of construction experience, I didn't know a darn thing about it. The
paperwork was overwhelming to say the least. Many thanks to Bob Baxter, Cathy Northcutt and Barbara Walker, for showing us
the processes involved with generating preliminary notices, which release to use when, how to process progress invoices, etc.
In 2000 I (Diane) started this website because there was so little out there at the time to help contractors
to succeed. I started out with posting information based on our and other contractors' experiences and gradually I added downloadable
construction forms.
I was amazed at the response I received, it showed that there really was a need for the information and forms
that I was posting here.
From 2000 through 2004 I ran the office portion of my husband's (Curtis) construction business and did everything
I could to keep up with the ever increasing demand for the website.
Finally in 2004 (due to Curtis' health and our son's health) Curtis made the difficult decision to close the
construction business and allow me to focus on the website 100%.
Curtis has Epilepsy with active grand-mal seizures which makes working on a scaffold that much more dangerous
and that combined with our son's deteriorating health (read more here) and my Fibromyalgia, dictated that we both needed to be home as much as we could. This website and the incredible
amount of support we've received has allowed us to do that. :)
I used to publish a monthly newsletter but our son's health and increasing needs have caused me to have to
cut back severely on that (currently I publish no more than once per quarter).
Although I've had to cut back I still plan on keeping on "forever" (40,000+ orders and still going), until
I'm no longer of this world. It's the only thing that has allowed us to work with our son and bring him along as far as we
have. With all the time we have to spend on him and his needs, there's no way we could hold full-time jobs out of the house.
In December of 2006 we moved our family from California to Washington, sight unseen, with the goal of getting
help for our son. While we miss California (I was born and raised there) we absolutely love our new home in Washington.
We are on beautiful Whidbey Island and the support we are now receiving for our son is absolutely tremendous. Our days and nights are still extremely
difficult but we can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel, and for once it doesn't look like an on-coming train! :)
We sincerely hope that you find this website useful. We are always open to suggestions, comments, questions,
complaints, etc. so please feel free to email us!
Have a great day! :)
Diane and Curtis Dennis
ps: We also have a beautiful, smart, talented daughter
and we are so fortunate that she is a part of our lives. :) She even has her own website!
Diane Dennis Enterprises
(aka TheContractorsGroup.com & C and D Acoustics)
555 NW Fairhaven Drive
Oak Harbor WA 98277
- Why we don't have a voice number any longer -
Fax Number: (866) 480-7105
Email Address: diane@TheContractorsGroup.com