Our Team
Kitchens By Bruce began in 2006 as a young entrepreneur's dream, and a one-man operation with a little help from friends and family. Since then, we have hand-picked each member of our primary staff, and subcontractors. One thing that has not changed, despite our continued growth, is the small-business mentality; We support each other, and have developed a system of respect, trust, and communication that is rare in the industry. Happy employees are those that are treated well. In return, our team’s promise is to make our customers feel the same.
Bruce Gottier
Founder, CEO
Head of Operations
Bruce has always been an entrepreneur. He developed his love for construction early in his high-school years, and quickly picked up “tricks of the trade” by working with knowledgeable mentors. For some time, he worked with his family to remodel forsaken homes for resale and rent. Eventually, he was determined to start his own, small business, and persevered through the good and bad years.
Believe it or not, Bruce began his work as a one-man operation. As a result of his persistence, the business continues to grow, and he enjoys seeing his business from the mile-high view, in order to develop efficiency and scope of business. Years have been spent finding the people he enjoys working with.
Laura Gottier
Head of Sales & DesigN
General business Management
Behind every good man is an even better woman. Did you know that Laura, Bruce’s wife, is a Registered Nurse by trade? However, after marrying Bruce and helping him with sales and design, and the ins and outs of a small business, she fell in love with designing new spaces for customers.
Laura traded in-house visiting nursing for in-home design consults. She loves stepping into someone’s home and leaving with a concept of the space completely reimagined in her mind. And best of all, she gets to see these concepts come to life!
In addition to raising 3 wonderful kids, for years she managed sales, design, project management, book-keeping, and customer correspondence. Still today, Laura is the glue that holds Kitchens by Bruce together but we have since added a wonderful team of people to help her with her responsibilities.
Nathalie Thibodeau
Reception & Accounting
Project coordinator
Nathalie’s personality is like a warm hug. When you enter a building, the first impression you have is the front door. For Kitchens by Bruce, Nathalie fills that role perfectly, and more. You will meet her early on in the process if you decide to inquire about a project, and one of her favorite things to do is to meet new clients.
As a mother to a special needs child, she has a built in super power, namely patience, and this translates to the workplace. She is highly personable, an effective communicator, and extremely organized. Before beginning with Kitchens By Bruce, she spent numerous years in office settings, and has become capable at handling multiple tasks. If she had it her way, you’d find her in the great outdoors, with a quality cup of coffee nearby.
KATIE Hartig
Finance
Business Systems
Katie joins KBB with a wide range of experience spanning corporate finance, creative entrepreneurship, and operational leadership. She began her career by spending 10 years in the field of finance, accounting, and internal controls before pursuing her creative passions by founding and operating multiple small businesses, including photography and a rentable dart company.
Katie most recently served as COO of Located, where she applied her operational acumen to help scale the startup into a solid, growing enterprise. Katie is excited to be part of the KBB team, leveraging the robust knowledge-base acquired from her past roles and merging it with her commitment to working with amazing people in a high-growth environment with small family business values.
Outside of her professional life, Katie is known as "Mom" to her three school aged children and enjoys skiing, watching her kids play soccer, and spending time with her family, including their two pups and one cat.
Ben Wagenbach
SALES & DESIGN
CUSTOM WOODWORKING & FINISHING
If Ben looks familiar, that's because he has worked with Kitchens By Bruce for years through his own company Wagenbach Woodcraft. In 2023 Ben officially joined the KBB team, bringing with him an incredible knowledge of the finishing process and the ability to create anything from gorgeous furniture, custom mantels and built-in cabinetry to stunning wood countertop surfaces, cabinetry refinishing and so much more.
During his time building Wagenbach Woodcraft from the ground up, Ben built a very reputable company that came to be a dependable source of cabinetry refinishing and any other custom woodworking projects. His skill set and business owner mentality allowed a seamless transition to Kitchens by Bruce where he shines in sales and design as well as heading up the custom shop work and refinishing department. Ben is creative, accommodating, has a keen attention to detail, and loves what he does.
HEIDI BEUTEL
SALES & DESIGN
Heidi is a perfect and natural addition to the KBB team. She started out with over 13 years of experience working for a prominent website company where she designed and deployed hundreds of websites, earning her the skills to go from design to project completion. In 2021 she transitioned to working for a local kitchen and bath remodeler where she became a jack of all trades. From sales, design, and cabinetry finishing, she has vast experience in all aspects of home design and remodeling. We are so thankful to now have her on our team with her easy personality and efficient work ethic.
In her spare time Heidi likes to travel and spend time to with her family and friends.
Doug Flamino
SALES & PROJECT MANAGEMENT
EXTERIOR/aDDITION SPECIALIST
We are extremely thankful to have Doug on our team! With over 30 years in the industry, Doug has become a household name in the town of Ellington, and is loved by many for his exceptional work as owner of CD Builders. In 2022, Kitchens By Bruce acquired his reputable business and strives to uphold the same high standard of quality, professionalism, and integrity that the CD Builder named carried for decades. Doug's expertise and wisdom is invaluable to our sales and project management team here at Kitchens by Bruce.
When not in the office crunching numbers or visiting a job site, you'll find Doug relaxing at his home in Vermont, enjoying life at a (slightly) slower pace.
Heidi Virkler
head of Design & Cabinetry OrDERING
web services
Heidi has an impressive resume. She started with Kitchens by Bruce in 2017, and before that, she collected graphic design experience for over 17 years. As a talented designer, she has helped prominent businesses, and a host of other small business owners implement attractive marketing ideas, websites and visuals.
Personally, she loves helping people out with their wedding planning and design. She even designed her own house. Who else would you want on your side, when the heart of your home, or any other space needs updating?
dANIELLE LESSARD
REFINISH SPECIALIST
Danielle brings years of experience and expertise to our team, leading our cabinetry refinishing projects with skill and creativity. Before joining us here, she successfully ran her own refinishing and painting business, earning a reputation for quality work and attention to detail. We actually met her on a job for a mutual customer and noticed these attributes in her right away! Danielle has a true passion for transforming cabinetry and giving each piece new life, and her eye for color and finish helps clients achieve beautiful and lasting results.
She enjoys working as a team and focusing on the hands-on part of her work versus the business side of things. Her eye for detail and hands-on knowledge make her an essential part of our Kitchens by Bruce team.
Jason Cordeira
project management & OPERATIONS
Jason fills his project management role naturally and with ease. He handles the details and meets the challenges of remodeling with grace and is always ready with a smile. Jason is friendly, responsible and diligent. He is resourceful and able to make executive decisions on the fly. Our customers rave about working with Jason on their projects. Laura was helped by him multiple times at a local hardware store while building their home and was drawn to his respectable personality and attention to detail. She offered him a job on the spot, but he couldn’t accept at the time since he was currently in school. A couple years later, Jason graduated with a major in communications and a minor in business management systems and accepted a job at KBB. We feel so blessed to have him as part of our team!
Paul hills
project management & OPERATIONS
Paul is a perfect fit for project management. He has his roots in teaching, and has four years of combined experience teaching 4th and 5th grade. 5 years at UConn, and a Masters Degree in Curriculum & Instruction prepared Paul to make the decision that he desired a career change as of August, 2018.
He has a keen eye for detail and organization of the process for customers of Kitchens by Bruce, but also transfers that level of quality to carpentry on the job. When he is not checking off his office work, you can find him in the field, taking part in the hands-on process from demolition, all the way to finish. A well-oiled machine needs grease to maintain its efficiency, and Paul delivers the grease. Paul promises to keep you informed, and assisted.
STEPHEN PETRI
CARPENTRY & INSTALLATION
We dare you to find anyone else like Steve, there is no challenge too daunting for him provided he has finished his coffee. Keep an eye out for his trusty work table (and horse-hair hand broom passed down from his grandfather) or him in his brightly colored rain poncho under his EZ UP tent. He is a craftsman at heart, and his care for the finished product is evident.
He has certainly earned his place as our lead carpenter. Prior to joining the Kitchens By Bruce team, he put in countless hours with CD Builders. Many years of exterior work (windows, doors, siding), framing, and finish carpentry make him very experienced and well-rounded.
aMOS baHLER
CARPENTRY & INSTALLATION
Amos is a dedicated carpenter who brings precision and care to every project he works on. As part of our family-owned small business, he takes pride in creating high-quality craftsmanship that transforms our ideas into reality. Detail-oriented and motivated, Amos is always eager to expand his skills and learn new techniques of the trade. His commitment to excellence and continual growth makes him an invaluable part of our team and ensures every client's vision is built to last.
Oh, and the original KBB tool truck has never been more organized, thanks to Amos!
ELIAS MOREAU
CARPENTRY & INSTALLATION
Elias brings a wealth of hands-on experience to our team, having previously run his own handyman and carpentry business. His background has given him a strong foundation in customer service, problem-solving, precision, and quality craftsmanship. Now, as part of our KBB team, Elias enjoys focusing his skills on creating custom spaces that blend function and style. His independent work ethic and eye for detail make him a trusted member of our crew and a valuable resource for our clients. He’s able to bring our visions to life, which makes our customers very happy!