Meet Our Team.

For Timothy, there is no greater reward than visiting homeowners 2, 5, or 10 years after their remodel is complete and seeing that the home still looks and functions great. He loves stories about how an addition or new kitchen has enhanced the family’s life in daily experience and special events. Creating these one-of-a-kind, personalized remodeling solutions for peoples’ homes is why he started Bluestem and what fuels his passion.

In over 20 years of remodeling projects, Timothy has done every step himself. This deep, direct experience gives him great insight, which, along with creativity, allows him to solve almost any type of remodeling challenge. Expanding on his formal education in the Arts, he is always developing his knowledge with additional certifications and professional training.

Maintaining a strong team that shares his values & passion is one of Timothy’s primary focuses for bringing fantastic remodeling experiences to homeowners. Our clients say they benefit from his careful listening, and trust they, and their homes, are both getting the care they deserve.

Bio Coming soon! 

You’ll always get a smile and an exuberant greeting when Cody comes to your house. His technical proficiencies began with a background in theatrical and AV arts. Helping coordinate and running the AV for big events at the Mall of America is one of his favorite memories. Now, he is our guy who can “fix almost everything” and joyfully keeps the shop tidy and organized.
 

Emily is a graphic designer and marketing professional with a background in advertising, customer service, and theater. Based out of the Bay of Fundy area of Nova Scotia, she is actively involved with her local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters where she and her wife are big siblings to a great teen. In her spare time she can be found playing the piano, painting with Bob Ross, or hiking with her goldendoodle, Margaret Houlihan.

Emily was drawn to the renovation industry after taking a keen interest in carpentry and interior home design after purchasing her first home. She loves getting the chance to be a part of such a collaborative and artistic process on the daily, and is overjoyed at getting to see home transformations come to life. Always aware of the unique challenges that come with renovating, she is dedicated to open and honest communication with the clients that Bluestem serves.

Jen is a self proclaimed Home Renovation Enthusiast! She loves all things design: building, woodworking, painting, sewing, organizing, & graphic design. What she enjoys most about remodeling is finding creative solutions to problems, and being part of a collaborative team of designers & builders. She’s passionate about reimagining spaces to create final products that are both beautiful & functional. Jen has a strong desire to help others, and finds it fulfilling to help other homeowners create better spaces in their homes.

Growing up in 100+ year old homes, Jen appreciated the beauty and challenges of architecture at a young age. She was an avid fort builder and artist, and by age 10, knew very well how to reset blown electrical fuses. As a teen, she regularly rearranged her room, and took advantage of every drafting, woodworking, photography and art class she could. She went on to earn a BS in Architecture from Ohio State University.

Jen volunteers as a Girl Scout Leader, and is an active School PTO member, organizing events and helping her community any way she can. She values community, and encourages her kids to always be kind and inclusive. 

Stefanie has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Architecture and minor in Classical Studies. She has numerous years experience in the remodeling industry, doing everything from  checking lumber in big box stores to designing decks to millwork sales to carpentry. She’s extremely passionate about home design, and loves “bridging the gap between an idea and something real.”

One thing Stefanie enjoys about home remodeling is how every single project and homeowner is different. She appreciates getting the opportunity to see one-of-a-kind details in homes and understands how precious homes are. “Everyone brings their own unique experience to the process, and it’s so rewarding to help people personalize their spaces – functionally and  aesthetically. Sometimes people only see their home in a way they’re used to, and it’s fun when homeowners are surprised by the potential they hadn’t imagined before!”

Stefanie is a Minnesotan through and through, and loves to be connected to the outdoors and experience the changing of the seasons. She is prone to taking the scenic route, and finds herself inspired and motivated by nature. She loves gardening, snuggling with her cats, and raising butterflies in a beautiful little pollinator garden she maintains at her home.

Shira has many years of experience working in marketing and sales with varied companies throughout the Twin Cities, predominately in theater, attractions and entertainment. She’s an active part of the local theater community, but these days spends most of her onstage time in her backyard, or miscellaneous public places, fulfilling the performance requests of her 6-year-old daughter and doing duets to songs from Gabby’s Dollhouse, My Little Pony, Frozen and other Disney movies.

One thing she loves about the remodeling and the design build process is seeing projects go from ideas to wonderful new spaces, involving art and craft and creativity and innovation. She also loves the collaboration and true teamwork that’s involved in the process, and seeing frustrating home spaces become wonderful new ones that homeowners love and adore and make their lives better.

Having undergone a partial home remodel herself, Shira is very familiar with the process and greatly enjoys doing her part to help other homeowners have a wonderful experience with it!

Joey Mihm has a degree in Agriculture Systems Management/Agricultural Engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Besides his previous experience in construction for residential homes, his wide array of experiences and expertise includes: being a groundskeeper foreman, metalworking, golf course maintenance and other outdoor and landscape work.

In his spare time, Joey enjoys golfing and fishing.

When it comes to residential remodeling, Joey enjoys taking a homeowner’s vision on paper and making it a reality.

When it comes to remodeling and design, what Jaleel loves most is seeing homeowners’ faces light up when they are able to use their new homes and new spaces.

He aims to always view the remodeling journey through the eyes of each homeowner he works with, to be able to understand – and address – their individual needs as much as possible. He recognizes that the remodeling process can be stressful, and works to help make that process as smooth and enjoyable for homeowners as he can.

Jaleel has a Culinary Arts degree, and when not helping homeowners create more enjoyable and functional homes, he enjoys cooking and baking. (If you ever visit a Bluestem project on a home tour, you might just find him in the kitchen preparing baked goods for guests!)

Jaleel always brings a smile and a listening ear to the room, and homeowners love working with him as their home remodeling goals are turned from ideas to reality.

With more than 20 years in remodeling and management, Jennifer Thoennes brings strong leadership, organization, and innovation to Bluestem Remodeling. As Operations Director, she plays a key role in refining company processes, ensuring projects run smoothly and teams collaborate effectively.

Jennifer is passionate about fostering teamwork among designers, builders, and clients to create a well-coordinated remodeling experience. She’s dedicated to improving workflows, mentoring her team, and supporting an environment where people can do their best work.

Known for her quick wit and candid humor, Jennifer brings energy to every project. A wife and mom of three, she’s now enjoying life as an empty nester—exploring new places, catching Timberwolves games, and always reading or listening to a good book. When she’s not on the water or with her dog, Daisy, she’s likely planning her next adventure. And if you sense a bit of Boston in her personality, you wouldn’t be wrong.

Jason started out in the building industry as a child, helping at his dad’s cabinetry shop. Realizing he had a passion for the craft, he went on to earn a degree in carpentry, later ending up in the remodeling industry. He worked a variety of positions in the field to learn as much as he could and continue to hone his craft. 

One thing Jason loves about home remodeling is how every project is different, and every project comes with a new and different set of challenges. He thrives on having the opportunity to find the best solutions for each home and project. Jason takes pride in working with homeowners on their remodeling journeys, and being able to to guide them through the process. He enjoys talking to and getting to know clients, and being able to answer questions as they arise. Jason takes great care in everything he does, and homeowners love his calming presence, cheerful attitude and dedication to great craftsmanship.

In his free time, Jason enjoys playing volleyball, hunting with his dogs, fishing and hiking. He loves being outdoors, and remains physically active as much as possible. If Jason could be any appliance, it would be a refrigerator. Why? “It contains food”. What’s his favorite thing about home remodeling? “Watching homeowners’ excitement as they progress through their projects, and then sharing in their joy when the project is complete.”

Kiefer started his career in the remodeling industry by working as an apprentice for a master carpenter after high school. He ended up staying with the company for years, discovering a love for the craft and wanting to continue honing his skills. He later moved on to explore working on commercial projects, but ultimately decided residential remodeling was what he enjoyed most. In particular, he loves getting to know homeowners – and their pets!

Another thing Kiefer enjoys about remodeling is that “every project, and every day, comes with a new challenge. Thinking outside the box and finding solutions is very rewarding.” He loves being able to keep learning, and is a true perfectionist – striving to make sure everything he does is as close to “perfect” as possible. “It feels so much better completing a task beautifully rather than just getting it done as quickly as you can.” 

Homeowners adore having Kiefer work in their homes because of his warm, friendly personality, keen attention to detail, and true dedication to every project he works on. He is very close with his family, and finds motivation in life by striving to be a good role model for his younger brothers. In his spare time, Kiefer loves watching UFC, spending time outside, and playing the occasional video game here and there.

– Elegance Custom Cabinetry  |  @elegance_custom_cabinetry

– NRH Plumbing  |  @nrhplumbing

– Northern Home Seal  |  @northernhomeseal

– Perfection Heating & Air Conditioning      

– Impact Electric

“Bluestem partners with high quality trades-people so the workmanship was very good.” Deb, Maple Grove