Marks-Woods Construction is now the top choice for major additions, kitchen renovations, interior design, and a variety of other major residential construction services. With hundreds of projects completed, Marks-Woods continues to grow and hopes to expand to more geographical areas in future years.
Marks-Woods Construction offers an array of design and building services to the DC and Northern Virginia areas. Instead of contracting all its work out, Marks-Woods Construction performs many trades in-house in order to ensure excellent quality and premium service.
While Marks-Woods Construction is known for its specialized design-build capabilities in kitchens, baths, additions, and renovations, it is not limited to design-build. Many times, top local architects refer their clients to Marks-Woods Construction for the build portion of various types of projects. Additionally, Marks-Woods Construction offers superior interior design services to assist with the selection of materials along with kitchen and bath design.
A Marks-Woods Construction distinctive is our ability to value engineer projects in order to meet each client’s specific scope and budget requirements instead of offering a one size fits all approach. Our process focuses on high-level communication throughout each project to ensure that every detail is attended to along the way.
Marks-Woods Construction believes that a successful project requires that the client is completely satisfied not only with the end result, but with the customer experience and expertise demonstrated by our team during every step of the process. Our priority is to partner with clients who are a good fit for our company and offer the best value when it comes to cost, process, management, and quality. By offering the highest quality work and materials at a fair price, Marks-Woods Construction delivers stunning outcomes for its clients. Our reputation speaks for itself and is apparent to prospective clients by way of countless positive reviews, repeat clients, and client referrals.
A Marks-Woods Construction distinctive is our expert interior design team. Though not offered by traditional contractors, Marks-Woods believes that interior design plays an important role in all home projects. We are proud to offer varying levels of design input when it comes to the selection of materials and design. Each project includes full interior design services, adding yet another level of value to our services.
Greg Marks is from Raleigh, NC. Many of Greg’s family are members of the construction industry, so Greg grew up with a respect and desire to learn the trade. Construction has been a lifelong passion of Greg’s as evidenced by his lifetime working in the field. As soon as he was old enough, Greg worked construction as a high school student and continued to learn new skills on the job throughout his college career. At the same time, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from East Carolina University in 1999. After college, Greg worked for Hensel Phelps Construction as a field and office engineer. During his time in this position, he was assigned to a project based in Baltimore which brought him to the DC metro area. Next, Greg worked for Holder Construction and finally went on to found Marks-Woods Construction with Byron Woods, a colleague he met while working at Hensel Phelps.
Today, Greg serves as Director of Business Development at Marks-Woods Construction. Oftentimes, Greg is the first team member a potential client meets. His friendly and professional personality makes Greg easy to work with and a great resource for clients every step of the way. Because Greg has been inside hundreds of homes, he is the go-to expert when it comes to existing conditions and renovation planning. Greg oversees the pre-construction phase for all projects including design management and the material selection process. Additionally, business development including all advertising, social media, lead services, and client performance reviews are in Greg’s purview. Greg is dedicated to continuing the reputation of excellence that Marks-Woods has demonstrated to its clients and communities.
Greg Marks is an elected member of the esteemed Construction Management Advisory Board at East Carolina University. Greg’s involvement on the board allows him the opportunity to invest in the future of construction through the board’s commitment to educating students as well as the privilege of taking an active role in the advancement and innovation of various aspects of the industry.
Greg is a family man, spending much of his free time with his wife, daughters, and dogs. He enjoys traveling, cooking BBQ, and cheering on the Washington Nationals.
Byron Woods is from the small town of Mclain, Mississippi. In 1998, Byron graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. Upon graduation, Byron accepted a position with Hensel Phelps which took him on location across the country to states including Oklahoma, Florida, Mississippi, and eventually Maryland, where he met Greg Marks on the job. From there, Byron and Greg went on to found Marks-Woods Construction in 2002.
Byron is the Marks-Woods Construction Contracts Manager. His responsibilities include providing all clients with estimates, proposals, and contracts. Byron is very detail-oriented and demonstrates a commitment to excellence down to the smallest detail when it comes to process and outcomes. Additionally, Byron oversees all financial aspects of Marks-Woods Construction such as cost-control, overhead trackings, cash flow, and accounting. Lastly, Byron manages all licensing and planning. Marks-Woods is grateful for a level-headed, systematic thinker like Byron to handle the inner workings of its operations.
At home, Byron likes to spend time with his wife, three children, and dog. The family enjoys playing games and taking advantage of community activities. Byron and his wife volunteer at their local church by teaching their preschool son’s Sunday school class.
Drew Marks is originally from Raleigh, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina with a degree in Management & Society. While attending college, Drew worked an internship with Marks-Woods. Upon graduating college, Drew worked in the telecommunications industry for a few years in Raleigh before relocating to the DC area to accept a position with Marks-Woods Construction.
Drew was originally hired on as a Project Manager and quickly advanced to Operations Manager & partner position. Clients who work with Drew quickly appreciate his driven and dedicated demeanor, along with his expert care for their project. Drew manages all labor, subcontractors, and material orders. Additionally, he monitors the project management team and implements all project processes and standards.
Away from work, Drew enjoys time spent with his wife and two sons. Drew is a serious sports fan; many know him to be a Tar Heels fanatic and supporter of local teams like the Nationals, Redskins, and Wizards. Drew also loves music and has been playing the drums since the young age of twelve.
Director of Marketing
Kara has lived in Northern Virginia her whole life. She currently resides in Old Town Alexandria with her husband and two dogs. She graduated with honors from Virginia Tech in 2009 and then attended the NYU Publishing Institute. She joined the Marks-Woods team as an independent consultant in 2018 and has since expanded her role into a full time position as our Director of Marketing.
As the Director of Marketing, Kara is responsible for increasing awareness of Marks-Woods to those prospective clients who would most benefit from our services. She has implemented new content marketing initiatives, overhauled the overall look and feel of all branded material, expanded the role Marks-Woods plays in the community and created the presentations and submissions that resulted in over two dozen awards from various organizations.
Kara currently serves on the Board of Directors for Professional Remodeling Organization (PRO) Mid-Atlantic and won Marketing Manager of the Year from NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry). She serves on two committees within the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and writes for Alexandria Stylebook. In her spare time, Kara enjoys running, reading and spending time with family and friends in Old Town Alexandria.
Danielle Steele is from Winchester, VA. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Virginia Tech and has a background in industrial design and business. A true Hokie (most of her family also attended VT), Danielle graduated with honors, and her major is NKBA & NCIDQ accredited. Danielle is gifted in 2020 Design and Chief Architect. She draws heavily on architecture and art influences as a designer.
Danielle was selected for NKBA’s Thirty Under 30 Class of 2021, a prestigious honor recognizing young professionals who are the future of kitchen and bath design.
Danielle’s areas of responsibility at Marks-Woods include drafting cabinetry layouts and aiding clients in material selections. Danielle loves getting to know each client individually and understanding the unique style and vision the client has in mind. Danielle’s passion is helping homeowners create a sustainable living design that they will love for years to come.
Danielle enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She is drawn to the great outdoors and spends much of her time away from work enjoying outdoor activities.
Yuri Morataya is a Northern Virginia native and a graduate of Langley High School. Yuri went on to study criminal justice at Northern Virginia Community College. Next, she spent several years in the banking industry and became a Virginia Notary Public. Yuri began her time at Marks-Woods in an office administration position and soon became the Office Manager.
Working as a Marks-Woods Construction team member has given Yuri hands-on experience in the construction field, and as Yuri cultivates new skills, her responsibilities at Marks-Woods Construction also grow. Yuri assists in material selections, orders, and tracking to the point of installation. Yuri loves being a part of the Marks-Woods family and looks forward to working with the company for many years to come.
Yuri enjoys time spent with her husband and three sons as well as cooking, going to church, and taking the time to rest and relax.
Matt Galassi is from Springfield, Virginia and got his start in construction at an early age. Before joining the Marks-Woods team, Matt benefited from years of construction experience working in various industry positions.
Today, Matt works as a project manager. Matt is assigned projects that he oversees from start to finish, with responsibilities including labor management, subcontractor coordination, material supply, and point of contact for clients. Matt’s expertise and experience in the construction industry combined with his excellent personal skills make him a highly proficient project manager.
Aside from his work at Marks-Woods, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and son, involvement in his son’s athletics, and being a part of the Marks-Woods BBQ competition team.
Kitchen and Bath Designer/Studio Manager
Nadia is from Maryland and currently lives in D.C. with her husband, infant son, and dog Cassy. You may have seen Cassy on our Instagram a few times. Nadia is the Studio Manager for Braemar Custom Cabinetry. She has been an Interior Designer for 16 years and has been part of our team since February 2019. She received her degree at Montgomery College.
Nadias main tasks as a Studio Manager are design custom cabinetry, space planning, and ordering materials. Her favorite part of working as an interior designer is being able to express herself creatively. She loves how rewarding it feels to come up with a design for someone’s dream home and watching it come to life. She loves modern and contemporary design. Her favorite project was the Hosking Project with Marks-Woods. She loved the interesting aspects of the project such as custom brass shelves, glass cabinets, and very diverse materials. Her favorite project exclusively at Braemar was the Bohan Project. It was a contemporary kitchen with matte glass cabinets and pantry doors made from metal and antique mirrors.
Nadia is very artistic. In her free time she designs and makes jewelry and paints. She’s traveled to many places, her favorite being Turkey.
Lead Carpenter
Armando grew up in Guatemala and moved to the area to pursue a work opportunity. He lives in Manassa with his wife and two daughters. They have two dogs named Snoopy and Coco. Armando is Marks-Woods Lead Foreman and has been with the company for 18 years.
As our Lead Foreman, Armando manages all crafts and trains new carpenters. He is a master carpenter that has been in the industry for 25 years. His favorite part of being a Lead Foreman is problem solving and teaching others. Armando’s most memorable MW project was the Shafer Project because it involved a lot of custom built-in cabinets.
Aside from being a master carpenter, Armando was an accountant in Guatemala. He enjoys fishing and biking. In his freetime, he spends his time with family, working on small engine repairs, and traveling. His favorite place to visit is Hilton Head Island, SC.
Interior Designer
Megan Bell is originally from Michigan. She moved to the DC area to attend Howard University for her undergraduate degree in Interior Design. Megan has been in the Interior Design community for 16 years and has been with Marks-Woods for more than a year now.
As an interior designer, Megan assists our clients in making material selections. She uses Sketchup to produce high quality, rendered images to make it easier for our clients to visualize their dream spaces. Megan’s favorite thing about working for Marks-Woods is being able to use her creativity to help clients and the fun environment. Megan loves how much the interior design industry changes and how anything can be creative and fresh.
In her freetime, Megan is passionate about taking care of her house plants. She also loves checking out new restaurants in the area, dance fitness, and traveling. Her favorite place she’s traveled to so far is London.
Estimator
Yonatan, originally from Ethiopia, lives in Alexandria with his wife and two sons. He is part of Marks-Woods estimating team. Yonatan has his B.S. in Civil Engineering, Associates Degree in Science, Information Tech, and Mathematics, and is a member of American Society of Civil Engineers. He has been in the industry for 10 years.
As an Estimator, Yonatan uses his many years of experience and education to assist in writing proposals, conceptual estimating, and take offs. He loves that being an estimator is never redundant and in the last year, has completed 400 proposals.
Outside of being an estimator, Yonatan enjoys playing video games, listening to music, and going to church. He loves spending time with his children and going to the gym. Yonatan also has his own podcast and Youtube channel.
Design Manager
Heidi is from Middletown, MD. She lived in Florida for many years and returned to pursue a job opportunity. She now resides in Bethesda, MD with her husband, younger son, and his two cats. She is also close to her older son, Daughter in Law, and grandson. She graduated from Palm Beach College with a degree in Interior Design. She is Marks-Woods Design Manager and been with the team since May 2022.
As a Design Manager, Heidi consults with our clients, the architects, and our design team, to ensure the design phase of our projects go as smoothly as possible. She has been in the design industry for 25 years. Her favorite part of working at Marks-Woods is being able to use those years of experience in in design and renovation, while also learning more about the construction process. She is NCIDQ (National Council of Interior Design Qualification) certified and has had the honor of being a part of several ShowHouses. She has worked on projects from Rockland, ME to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, to Dana Point, CA to the Hamptons, NY.
On the weekends, Heidi loves spending time with her husband listening to live music. They explore local bands and concerts. She also loves spending time with her children participating in water skiing, boating, and camping. Heidi is also an avid traveler.
Kitchen and Bath Designer
Sooz is from Northern Virginia and currently lives here with her husband, son, and two step children. They have a cat, two snakes, and fish. She has a degree in Interior Design and worked in the industry for more than 20 years. She has been with our company since April 2022 and is a Senior Cabinet Designer.
Sooz loves the people and location of Marks-Woods. She won a COTY award for kitchen design and has been published in two different MFG catalogs. Her favorite style is Mid Century Modern. Her goal is to always make sure the client gets what they really want and need to live in a functional space.
When Sooz has freetime, she enjoys sewing and crafts. She is also passionate about cosplay and foamsmithing.
Client Relations Coordinator
Emily Ostrom is from a small town in Indiana and moved to Virginia when she was 6. She is a licensed Esthetician and worked in the field for a few years before being a stay at home mom. When she decided to return to the workforce, she joined the Marks-Woods team as a Client Relations Coordinator.
In this position, Emily is the first point of contact for all prospective clients. She facilitates all of the proposal meetings with Greg Marks, organizes all information needed for the meeting and helps explain the company’s design-build process to new clients, while also assisting in office administrative responsibilities. Emily enjoys being a part of the Marks-Woods team and hopes to be here for many years to come.
In Emily’s freetime she enjoys being with her two daughters and the rest of her family. Additionally, Emily spends her time cooking, keeping up with the esthetician world, and spending time with her friends.
Interior Designer
Michaela grew up in Haymarket and lived in New York City for six years. She has a twin brother, her mom and dad, and an Aussiedoodle named Otis, that brought her back to the Virginia area. She currently lives in Arlington to be closer to friends and family. Michaela is one of our Interior Designers.
As an Interior Designer, Michaela helps clients with material selections, creates design packets to review, and meets with her clients to help facilitate open communication in the design process. She loves that interior design allows her to be creative daily and how each day can be different. Michaela went to American Music and Dramatic Academy in New York. From there, she worked for a high end fashion company before moving to Virginia to focus on interior design.
Michaela is an avid shopper and loves live music. She is a huge Washington Capitals fan. Her favorite pastime is being on the water in St. Michaels with friends and family.
