Ed Venerable’s career is marked by a willingness to chase new opportunities and the nerve to learn on the fly. While a leading home builder today, he had no experience in the market when he got his start. What Venerable has always had, however, is the determination to achieve and an adaptive spirit. Putting real-world experience before formal expertise, Venerable’s success story is undoubtedly unique.
Building From the Ground Up
The only formal training that Venerable can claim is an undergraduate degree in economics, which he earned from the University of Colorado in 1992. While economic education can apply to several fields, it couldn’t fully prepare him to launch a home-building enterprise; however, that’s precisely what he did. Venerable launched Paragon Homes after graduating from college, leaping headfirst into an unfamiliar industry.
“Although I didn’t have any formal training in construction or development, I jumped into the industry and taught myself along the way,” Venerable shared. “I like to say that ‘I was too dumb to know that I didn’t know anything.’ As with most things in life, the school of hard knocks is always the best teaching.”
Turning Challenges Into Learning Moments
Learning how to navigate the industry on the fly, Venerable quickly built Paragon Homes into a model of success. He applied his knowledge of economics as a launchpad; though he made some early mistakes, these moments served as his formal training. Unfortunately for Venerable and many other home builders, 2008 was just around the corner.
“2008 was one of the most difficult times that I’ve experienced,” Venerable said. “Nearly 80% of custom home builders and developers went out of business… [but] I fought through this challenging time. I told my wife that ‘I [might] lose all my money, but I won’t give up my credit.’ We worked out every deal over the next five years—I ended up losing half my net worth, but kept my credit rating.”
Paragon Homes as a Market Leader
After 33 years of operation, facing several challenging market cycles and difficult learning moments, Venerable has built Paragon Homes into a market leader. Today, the company stands out as a premier ultra-luxury development company in the United States. Venerable has been recognized as an industry leader, featuring twice in Colorado Homes and Lifestyle for outstanding custom home design and construction.
Creating a One-of-a-Kind Product
With the rise of automation, Venerable has also come to view custom home building as one of the last hand-built things in the world today. Alongside bespoke cars and watches, a truly unique home is a one-of-a-kind item. This is what Venerable has learned to provide for his customers through Paragon Homes, and this approach has led the company to the top of its market. Moving forward, this determined focus will surely lead Venerable to greater success.
“The Paragon brand has always been at the top of any market we’re in,” Venerable stated. “I chose the name Paragon because it’s synonymous with perfection. We continue to push the boundaries of what we do and competitors are always chasing and emulating our development projects. I am always proud of that, because imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.”
Disclaimer: Written in partnership with APG.
