What happens when a remodeling company is born from service instead of sales? We sit down with Houston’s Marlon Stepp to unpack how a volunteer effort after floods and hurricanes became a design-build firm trusted by homeowners, hospitals, gyms, restaurants, and neighborhood nonprofits. The throughline is simple and rare: show up first, do what you say, and put displaced families at the front of the schedule. That relentless focus on people fueled referrals, opened doors to commercial projects, and shaped a brand that leads with integrity.

We talk about the early days of small repair jobs and how consistent delivery led to bigger tables and better conversations. Marlon breaks down how his team grew by tapping classmates and long-time friends with deep trade experience, building a bench of subcontractors who are as reliable as they are skilled. When disaster strikes, they flex timelines to get families back home, and that compassion turns into future work. On the business side, we map the shift from painful downtime to a steady pipeline through raw social video, a clear website, and reviews that travel further than any pitch deck.

Community impact sits at the center. From outfitting outreach kitchens to installing mini libraries in underserved neighborhoods, Marlon’s crew treats service as part of the job—not a marketing afterthought. We dig into why those stories resonate with media and why PR is a natural next step. Then we look ahead: short-term rentals, flips, and a move toward ground-up development that creates housing, supports local needs, and positions the company as a go-to partner when crises hit.

If you’re a remodeler battling slow seasons, a designer eyeing commercial work, or a property owner who values character as much as craftsmanship, this conversation offers a roadmap. You’ll hear how to document your process without overproducing, how to build trust at scale, and how to turn experience on job sites into smart investments and long-term resilience. Enjoy the story, take the tactics, and if it sparks ideas for your own practice, subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to help others find the show.

If you would like to get the links and show notes for this episode, click on the link below:​

• www.designerdiscussions.com/episodes/episode-158-talking-with-Marlon-Stepp/

Transform your marketing with Designer Discussions Academy. In weekly face-to-face sessions, we equip busy business owners with cutting-edge PR strategies, marketing insights, and time-saving tools to not just work in your business, but on your business. Join us to outshine competitors and elevate your business.

Join us for our Academy sessions and workshops: https://app.gohighlevel.com/v2/preview/ZSwvvC5WwqxlumxrUtzv

Designer Discussions is an educational interior design podcast on marketing, PR and related business topics.

Download our FREE Client Avatar Guide https://designerdiscussionsmarketing.studio/store.

Designer Discussions is a partnership of three experts: Jason Lockhart, CEO of KABMS; Maria Martin, founder of DesignAppy; and Mirjam Lippuner, founder of Get Ink DIY