Sherry Pruitt, founder and owner of Whodid It Designs and Remodeling, a design and remodeling firm located in Sugar Land, was introduced to the construction industry at an early age. Age 5 to be exact! She worked alongside her father whose favorite words of advice were: “How do you know you can’t do it you haven’t tried yet.” So, they tried tools like a hammer and a saw that he always used to build, repair and remodel anything someone needed help with. Sherry went along.
“It’s really in my blood. He included me on his projects, and taught me not just about construction, but to not be afraid to tackle your dreams and most importantly to always help others.”
That has always stayed with her, so through her church she has been on 18 mission trips all over the world, to help build churches from Africa to Mexico, schools in Haiti and Honduras, most of these with her two children, who she hopes will continue to pass on this heart of service to all our neighbors.
Advertisement
Fast-forward to 2014. Sherry was invited to an GHBA Remodelers Council (RMC) luncheon, and after that she was hooked. Tom Pelligran, incoming RMC president at the time, knowing her deep sense of serving those less fortunate, inspired her to volunteer immediately for the annual RMC Charity Project board position.
“I fell in love with being able to help facilitate giving back through the RMC. It was a privilege, not just a job with all the great people of RMC coming alongside to help our Houston community.”
Sherry, now a past president of the RMC board, is still committed to staying involved in community charity projects.
“We raise our money for the charity project through an annual garage sale that has been incredibly successful. For example, the revenue from garage sales from 2014 to 2019 was $98,883 and $91,104 of the expenditures were presented to other charities. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the RMC had to re-direct their 2020 charity project donations. The donated materials meant for the annual Garage Sale, were given to Family Promise of Lake Houston for future construction of their new Day Center.
In late May, Casa de Esperanza called upon Sherry to help a family in need in the Richmond area.
Sherry met with Marie Love, adoptive parents from Casa. Michael, her husband had fallen in their tub and after months in the hospital and diabetes had to have his leg amputated. Michael and Marie live in an older Habitat home and there was not going to be a way for him to safely get into the house and physically get into the one bathroom that was not ADA.
Sherry gathered her resources through the GHBA, HomeAid, her own subs and great Habitat volunteers and tackled the job, completing a handicap ramp to the house and complete ADA bathroom by the time Michael came home from rehab.
“My greatest reward from these projects is building a relationship with beautiful people like the Loves, helping in a way God gifted me.”
Sherry is passionate about maintaining her skills as a designer/general contractor to ensure she stays current within the industry to meet the demands of her clients. She also realizes the value of continuing education through the Education Department of the GHBA.
“Doing the work to acquire the valuable NAHB certifications helps to set myself apart. When I need to look for solutions and ideas for my business development, I am blessed to be able to go to fellow remodelers when needing advice, and to take classes offered at the Greater Houston Builders Association to further my knowledge.”
Within her first year as a GHBA member Sherry acquired her CGR and CAPS designations. In addition to the GHBA and the RMC, Sherry is also a member with the NAHB and TAB.
Since joining the GHBA in 2014, Sherry has been on the RMC board holding the position of Charity Project chair, vice president, and president in 2019 and past president in 2020, 2021. Sherry feels blessed to have received several Presidential Citations, the 2019 GHBA Remodeler of the Year, the 2019 NAHB September Remodeler of the Month Award, and the NAHB CADRE Award in 2016 and 2019.
“I could not have gotten where I am today without the great support, mentoring, education and friendships from the GHBA and Remodelers Council.”
“I love what I do. It is an honor to assist families to make their ordinary spaces become extraordinary places. My greatest reward is for the homeowner to tell me they love their space and it meets all their expectation and more.”