Our Team
Employees are the most important. They are what makes our company come together and we could not do it without them. We hire qualified individuals that know the role of a contractor. Our employees are trustworthy, experienced and professional.
Stephen E. Howcroft
CPA, Developer and Home Builder
Stephen Howcroft graduated from BYU in 1971 in accounting and worked for an international CPA firm in Las Vegas for five years. Then went to work for the State of Utah as an Audit Manager, Assistant Director of Budget and Assistant Director of Finance over the next four years, while at the same time starting a private CPA practice with clients mostly in the construction business. In 1979 he went to work for one of his clients, Rindlesbach Construction. In 1980 he and a partner started Sunwood Homes and Delcon Development. Over the next 37 years he was co-owner, co-manager and sat on the board of over a dozen different businesses.
Mr. Howcroft has also sat on the Board of the Salt Lake Home Builders Association and the Utah State Home Builders Association. His companies have developed thousands of lots over the almost 40 years of business. They have built over 3500 homes and own residential rental communities along the Wasatch front. He is also a pilot with Commercial, Multi-engine, Jet and high altitude and other ratings. He continues to be involved in church, civic, scouting and charitable activities in the community. He has been and continues to be involved in American Indian Services which provide over two thousand scholarships per year to Native Americans.
Bret Howcroft
CEO and CPA
Bret Howcroft is the Chief Executive Officer for Sunwood Homes. He is responsible for fiscal management and planning, managing overall operations, developing and managing internal controls, and developing long-range planning.
Bret is a licensed CPA and holds an MBA from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Economics from Utah State University.
Prior to Sunwood Homes, Bret had a fourteen year career with the Defense Contract Audit Agency. As a Supervisory Auditor he developed an understanding of the business, organization, accounting systems and accounting procedures for two large multi-billion dollar defense contractors. In addition, he established strong skills in project management, process improvement, team management, and audit planning and execution. As Manager, he received several Agency performance awards for customer appreciation, meeting audit objectives and metrics, and undertaking special projects.
Bret enjoys riding Harley’s, off-roading, water sports, and spending time with his wife and three
kids.
C. Alex Cornwall
Associate Broker @ Be at Home Utah
Alex was born and raised in St. George. He went to school and graduated from both Dixie High and Dixie State University. Both of which are located in scenic St. George! This has truly been the center of his world. Alex knows the area like the back of his hand.
His family is the center of his life and there’s nothing he enjoys more than spending time with his 4 children fishing at their cabin, camping, hunting or general rough and tumble playtime. He’s a certified trainer and enjoys training at a local CrossFit gym. Oh, and Alex LOVES doughnuts.
Brent Baxter
Production Manager
Brent graduated from Viewmont High School in Centerville, Utah and attended Weber State University prior to serving our country in the United States Air Force. He has been a General Contractor since 1975 and moved to St. George 20 years ago.
Brent has extensive experience building homes in beautiful southern Utah and has built homes in several quality communities, such as Sunbrook and Entrada with Split Rock Construction. He has showcased his eye for detail and quality through building several homes for the St. George Area Parade of Homes.
Brent has been married for 37 years to Laura and has 2 children, as well as 5 grandchildren. He is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and his membership in the church has given him the opportunity to serve extensively in his community.
Sam Wells
Office Manager
Sam was born in Page, Arizona and grew up in Duchense, Utah, where her mother's family was from. It was a great place to grow up. She started off working for Smith's Pharmacy, then moved to McKesson Drug, where she was the computer room supervisor for 7 years. She then worked as a Food Broker for 15 years, doing administrative duties and running the day-t0-day computer maintenance. After that, she worked for Morgro, Inc. for 9 years as the National Sales Administrator.
In June 2016, she moved to St. George, Utah from Spanish Fork, Utah and currently works for Creative Excavating. She loves her job and the warm weather in southern Utah.
Sam has been married for 25 years and has 3 children (1 boy and 2 girls) as well as 10 grandkids that are the love of her life. Sam owns 5 horses that she rides and competes in Reining.
Stephen E. Howcroft
CPA, Developer and Home Builder
Stephen Howcroft graduated from BYU in 1971 in accounting and worked for an international CPA firm in Las Vegas for five years. Then went to work for the State of Utah as an Audit Manager, Assistant Director of Budget and Assistant Director of Finance over the next four years, while at the same time starting a private CPA practice with clients mostly in the construction business. In 1979 he went to work for one of his clients, Rindlesbach Construction. In 1980 he and a partner started Sunwood Homes and Delcon Development. Over the next 37 years he was co-owner, co-manager and sat on the board of the following business:
- Sunwood Homes and Delcon Development-Developing subdivisions and building homes (1980-1992).
- Sunwood Realty- New home sales (1983-1992).
- Aspenwood Realty-New and used home sales (1983-1992).
- Sunwood used car auto dealership (1985-1992).
- Celebrity Builders-Building homes (1992-2000).
- Celebrity used car auto dealership (1992-2000).
- Nuteam Development-Developing subdivisions (2000 to Present).
- Aim Mortgage- Financing new and used homes (1985-1987).
- South Valley Leasing-Built and leased modular office and storage units for construction sites.
Inventory of around 200 units (1987-1998). - Centurion Holdings, Blue Step and 4Care-Pharmaceutical and Software Companies for the
Assisted Living and Nursing Home Communities throughout the West. Chairman of the board
(2005-2013). - Traverse Mountain Development-A 3000-acre Master Planned Community at point of the mountain including approximately 4000 residential units and several hundred acres of commercial property including Cabela’s, Adobe, The Outlets, The Seasons, Harman’s and many
others (1997 to present). - The Outlets at Traverse Mountain-Investor and co-owner in the Outlet Mall (2012 to Present).
- The Seasons at Traverse Mountain-Investor and co-owner of a 440-unit apartment complex
(2015 to present). - Old Fart’s Garage-Used car auto Dealership (2010 to present).
- SJ Properties-Development of 377 lots in two subdivisions in Washington City (2013 to
Present)
Mr. Howcroft has also sat on the Board of the Salt Lake Home Builders Association and the Utah State Home Builders Association. His companies have developed thousands of lots over the almost 40 years of business. They have built over 3500 homes and own residential rental communities along the Wasatch front. He is also a pilot with Commercial, Multi-engine, Jet and high altitude and other ratings. He continues to be involved in church, civic, scouting and charitable activities in the community. He has been and continues to be involved in American Indian Services which provide over two thousand scholarships per year to Native Americans.
Bret Howcroft
CEO and CPA
Bret Howcroft is the Chief Executive Officer for Sunwood Homes. He is responsible for fiscal management and planning, managing overall operations, developing and managing internal controls, and developing long-range planning.
Bret is a licensed CPA and holds an MBA from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Economics from Utah State University.
Prior to Sunwood Homes, Bret had a fourteen year career with the Defense Contract Audit Agency. As a Supervisory Auditor he developed an understanding of the business, organization, accounting systems and accounting procedures for two large multi-billion dollar defense contractors. In addition, he established strong skills in project management, process improvement, team management, and audit planning and execution. As Manager, he received several Agency performance awards for customer appreciation, meeting audit objectives and metrics, and undertaking special projects.
Bret enjoys riding Harley’s, off-roading, water sports, and spending time with his wife and three
kids.
John Paulk
Broker
John graduated from Southern Utah University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1970. He acquired his Real Estate license in 1985 and 3 years later his Brokers license. John has been exclusively involved with new home construction for the past 33 years. He is a certified CEM (Customer Experience Manager), which he obtained while working for a national communications company.
John has been married for 30 years to his beautiful wife, Susie. They have a daughter, Jessica, and 2 boys, Nate and Jordan. He is active in the community through his church and political affiliations. He is also a certified instructor in Scuba Diving and Martial Arts. Presently his passion has been marathons and Spartan challenges.
Brent Baxter
Production Manager
Brent graduated from Viewmont High School in Centerville, Utah and attended Weber State University prior to serving our country in the United States Air Force. He has been a General Contractor since 1975 and moved to St. George 20 years ago.
Brent has extensive experience building homes in beautiful southern Utah and has built homes in several quality communities, such as Sunbrook and Entrada with Split Rock Construction. He has showcased his eye for detail and quality through building several homes for the St. George Area Parade of Homes.
Brent has been married for 37 years to Laura and has 2 children, as well as 5 grandchildren. He is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and his membership in the church has given him the opportunity to serve extensively in his community.
Sam Wells
Office Manager
Sam was born in Page, Arizona and grew up in Duchense, Utah, where her mother's family was from. It was a great place to grow up. She started off working for Smith's Pharmacy, then moved to McKesson Drug, where she was the computer room supervisor for 7 years. She then worked as a Food Broker for 15 years, doing administrative duties and running the day-t0-day computer maintenance. After that, she worked for Morgro, Inc. for 9 years as the National Sales Administrator.
In June 2016, she moved to St. George, Utah from Spanish Fork, Utah and currently works for Creative Excavating. She loves her job and the warm weather in southern Utah.
Sam has been married for 25 years and has 3 children (1 boy and 2 girls) as well as 10 grandkids that are the love of her life. Sam owns 5 horses that she rides and competes in Reining.