Le Backyard Barn: Renovation, Westfield NJ

When he is not fishing, you can find Alex building…almost anything. With over 15 years industry experience, Alex is a master of tiling, carpentry, and just about anything to do with building.

As Office Manager, Lisa keeps records, spreadsheets, marketing and inventory in line. Trained in traditional marketing at Unilever and Pfizer, with an undergraduate degree from Cornell and an MBA from NYU, Lisa has always been unwavering about her passion for design and construction projects. When she is not in the office, she is hanging out with her 3 children, and can likely be overheard asking her husband what they can renovate next.

For over 5 years, George has been a master at all of the endless odds and ends of construction. George is there to lend a hand when needed (which is likely all the time). In his spare time, he enjoys a competitive match of volleyball.

Kerry’s architectural foundation – over a decade in residential remodeling – and expertise in space planning gives her the ability to take ideas from concept to execution with both high function and high design in mind. Her expertise with computer-generated drawings enables clients to visualize their goals seamlessly. When she is not creating perfect spaces, Kerry enjoys running, tennis and strolling through her hometown (Westfield, of course!) with her husband.

Biggest fans (and offspring) of Mike and Ellie. When these 2 brothers and best friends aren’t playing football or basketball, they can often be found with their hammers at demo sites and offering advice on opening up homes.

While she would vehemently disagree (gracefully), there is little Ellie cannot do — besides actual construction, which she leaves to her partner in life, Mike. After capturing Mike’s heart in Westfield High School, Ellie went on to Cornell, where she mastered Spanish and explored her passion for marketing, fashion and design. While she traveled abroad and explored teaching, building and design was never far from her heart. Ellie merged valuable experience at both Gandalf Restorations and REDCO Construction with her zeal for design at the inception of MRC. Her role as in-house interior decorator and design expert has added tremendously to client satisfaction and to adding that elusive je ne sais quoi to MRC’s projects. Whether it is working with clients to select the perfect knob, countertop, or furnishings, Ellie’s philosophy of creating spaces that give clients joy every day is clearly apparent. She has been recognized as a force in the industry, being selected as a showcase designer at the Housing Works Design on a Dime fundraiser. When she is not acting in her role as powerhouse design/build husband/wife team, Ellie enjoys working out, and above all else, spending quality time with her two sweet towheaded sons, Jack and Liam.

Born and raised in Westfield, NJ, Mike Mroz has maintained strong ties to his hometown, where he resides with his family and runs his business. Mike was born with a passion for building and remodeling; at age 2 he could often be found disassembling and reassembling household objects, much to the amusement (and chagrin) of his parents. From tree forts to full bathrooms to whole house remodels, Mike’s talents and hobbies burgeoned into a full-fledged business soon after graduating from Valparaiso University. 

After gaining valuable industry experience at Kara Homes, Anthony James Construction and Gandalf Renovations, Mike launched Michael Robert Construction in 2005.  The company soon became well recognized for building high-end, detail-oriented projects, as well as exceeding customer expectations, winning “Best of houzz” in various categories in consecutive years, and winning first place for best historic renovation from Community Builders and Remodelers of NJ. 

While Mike is most proud of the lasting relationships he has built with his clients, he also knows the importance of continuing education, and strives to remain ahead of the industry’s curve by being active in various local and national organizations and attending a wide array of industry and business-specific courses.

In line with his philosophy of the whole-house approach to remodeling, Mike is co-owner of Green Energy Improvements, a Building Performance Institute accredited company that performs home energy audits and energy efficient renovations throughout NJ. 

While not working tirelessly to make client’s dream homes a reality, Mike enjoys working out, including regularly bench pressing and faux-wrestling his two adorable apprentices (and sons), Jack and Liam.