Our People
Kiel Kellow
OWNER
Kiel Kellow is an anomaly in the building trade, a design focused builder who believes that estimating and design should always go hand in hand. As the leader of Kellow Construction, Kiel’s approach ensures that all design work is not just creative and beautiful, but practical and aligned with the client’s investment range. This philosophy reduces the typical back and forth between design and construction, making the process more efficient and cohesive.
A highly attuned business owner, Kiel is a naturally calm and effective leader who values ethics, hard work, and communication above all else. He is not your typical builder, he genuinely loves the process of guiding clients through projects that might initially feel overwhelming or out of reach. Helping people accomplish something transformative while balancing design vision with real world practicality is one of his greatest skills.
Kiel grew up in both Tillamook County, Oregon, and Bainbridge Island, Washington. He honed his carpentry skills while living on his 1934 wooden sailboat in the Bainbridge harbor, working on boats, high end custom homes, and in a cabinet shop crafting all things wood. Eventually, he recognized that his passion for client collaboration and project implementation meant starting his own business.
After moving to Portland, Oregon, Kiel became a lead carpenter with an award winning design/build firm specializing in restaurant build outs. There, he mastered the art of integrating complex architectural details into functional spaces, particularly in light commercial projects.
Today, as the owner of Kellow Construction, Kiel brings together design, estimating, and building with a commitment to quality craftsmanship and client satisfaction. His philosophy is simple: build classic structures that endure and create spaces people love. At the heart of it all, Kiel uses his skills to help people bring their dreams to life, combining creativity with practical execution to make the process as rewarding as the final result.
Emily Kellow
OFFICE MANAGER Emily Kellow was born and raised in Santa Barbara and cares deeply about this community. She attended Starr King Parent Child Workshop, Monte Vista Grammar School, La Colina Junior High, and San Marcos High School. Like many locals, she spent her summers on the beach as a Junior Lifeguard, and she still feels grateful every day to live and raise her family in a place with such extraordinary natural beauty and public lands. After graduating from UC Davis in 2007, Emily moved to Portland, Oregon for what she thought would be a short adventure. Instead, she ended up spending more than a decade there building and running her own residential real estate brokerage. Helping people buy, sell, lease, and renovate the amazing older homes of Portland. That experience gave her a deep appreciation for the complexity of construction projects and the importance of clear communication, strong systems, and financial stewardship. Today at Kellow Construction, Emily works mostly behind the scenes making sure the company runs smoothly for clients and the team alike. She oversees accounting, contracts, insurance, payroll, purchasing, and the systems that keep projects organized and moving forward. If something requires patience, persistence, or a very long hold time on the phone, Emily is usually the one handling it. Emily enjoys helping bring a sense of order and calm to complex projects so clients can focus on the exciting parts of building or remodeling their homes. Outside of work, she loves long walks without a destination, beach days with friends and children, podcasts and audiobooks, cultivating peace and positivity, and volunteering at her son’s neighborhood public school.
Rudy
PROJECT MANAGER Rudy grew up in Santa Barbara and has been part of the local construction scene since the days when Paseo Nuevo Mall was still Piccadilly Square, he even worked on the project himself. With more than two decades of experience supervising and managing residential remodels, Rudy brings a deep understanding of what it takes to keep projects organized, efficient, and running smoothly. His sharp eye for quality craftsmanship and well run job sites makes him a natural fit for the Kellow Construction team and helps ensure our projects stay on schedule and on budget. At Kellow Construction, Rudy plays a key role in supporting the kind of thoughtful, high quality work our clients expect. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, a high school teacher at Dos Pueblos High School, and their daughter. He also plays drums and music at church on Sundays and enjoys making the most of the beautiful hometown he’s proud to call home, Santa Barbara.
Jason
PROJECT MANAGER
Born and raised on the Upper East Side of Santa Barbara, and a proud Santa Barbara Don, Jason brings over 15 years of hands-on carpentry experience to his role as PM. He manages scopes, the day to day activity on site, oversees our subcontractors and production team, and often jumps in with tools on to lend a hand wherever needed.
When he's not on the job, Jason enjoys spending time with his wife Ashley, going on long bike rides, and enjoying the company of his many animals, all while living in the town he’s proud to call home.
Crystal
DESIGNER Crystal brings a rare combination of architectural design insight and deep local permitting expertise to the Kellow Construction team. With over a decade of experience, she has worked extensively within Santa Barbara County’s complex regulatory environment, guiding residential projects from early feasibility through full permit approval, spending four years at local heavy hitting planning office in Santa Barbara.
Her experience spans remodels, additions, ADUs, and new construction, where she has coordinated closely with clients, consultants, and local agencies to keep projects moving forward efficiently and compliantly. Crystal has led a large amount residential development projects through the entitlement process, giving her a practical understanding of what it takes to turn an idea into an approved, buildable plan.
At Kellow Construction, Crystal plays a key role in bridging the gap between design, planning, and execution. She supports project development with feasibility analysis, zoning research, and thoughtful design coordination, helping clients avoid costly surprises and make informed decisions early in the process.
Known for her organization, responsiveness, and calm, solutions-oriented approach, Crystal keeps projects on track while making the experience feel clear and manageable for clients. Her ability to navigate both the creative and technical sides of a project makes her an invaluable part of delivering projects the right way, from the very beginning.
Our Carpenters
Kellow Construction runs a team of highly skilled carpenters and foremen in the field. Our strict and comprehensive hiring process has proven to be an effective tool at attracting the best people, and repelling those that are not a great fit. We are uncompromising in our hiring process, and make sure that all our team members commit to adhering strictly to our company values with no exceptions. You can be certain that anyone who works for us has “it” and will handle your project with the care, attention, and respect it deserves.
Juan
Fabian
Raul
Office Staff
Sasha
OFFICE ASSISTANT
Sasha hails from our close neighbor, Santa Maria! She is currently a devoted student at UCSB, pursuing a degree in Accounting and Finance. Between studying and working she doesn’t have time for much else, but when she can she loves to surf, drink coffee and enjoy all that Santa Barbara has to offer. She is also a world famous jewelry maker and makes beautiful threaded pieces you can check them out here. When Sasha is working you can always find the office cat Frannie sitting on her lap. She assists Emily in pretty much everything she does and is an absolute WHIP when it comes to the numbers, and also making things look beautiful. She is a critical component that keeps Kellow Construction running smooth as silk.
Subcontractors
We partner with local subcontractors and vendors who have a commitment to excellence just like us. Our subs spend time upfront studying the site conditions and the scope of work. They do things right the first time, minimizing project management and oversight fees from us. We bring in the A-Teams which means you are in good hands, all the way down the line.
Conscientious
Construction
Kellow Construction is currently the only contractor in California to hold the Earth Advantage Sustainable Homes Professionals (SHP) designation. We are proud to hold this title and hope it displays our commitment to building and running our company in a way that will reduce not only our carbon footprint, but also our client’s. Read more about the Earth Advantage SHP program or download a copy of our certificate.
