Forty Under 40: Jacob Tankersley

In retrospect, 2009 was a formidable year to start a construction company. But the enterprise was successful for Jacob Tankersley. Nearly a decade later, he has built and renovated more than 50 homes from Pea Ridge to Elkins and developed relationships that he cherishes.

“It was a difficult time to get started, and we’d just had our second kid,” he recalled. “But after a few years, the referrals start to kick in, and now we are extremely blessed and busy.”

Tankersley’s niche is a custom home on the edge of city limits with some acreage. He likes to add a pond or bridge and use green options. His homes generally have a contemporary feel and are at least 2,500 square feet.

“I still do all my own bidding and meet with my clients once a week, and we’ve developed relationships with some awesome subcontractors,” he said.

Tankersley focuses on keeping a good web presence and published a book, “Built on Solid Ground,” which he distributes free as a resource for people interested in custom homes. “It explains dos and don’ts and helps people make good decisions,” he said.

Tankersley has started to diversify by taking on small commercial projects, and he owns a self-storage facility.

“I really enjoy this business and building trust with my homeowners,” he said. “The process is not perfect, and I’m not perfect. But we go through a lot with each other. I like giving them a product they’re happy with.”

Tankersley earned a construction management degree from John Brown University, has been through LEED training, is a Certified Green Professional, and is a board member for the Northwest Arkansas Home Builders Association.