Meet Your Owner Builder Network® Team
At Owner Builder Network®, we’ve dedicated ourselves to assembling a skilled team of experts to guide our clients through the home construction process. Building a custom home is a journey that starts well before the first shovel hits the ground. Many talented individuals contribute to the success of each project, and we’re excited to introduce you to our team!
Patrick Powers
Patrick Powers, Co-Owner of Owner Builder Network® (OBN), has been a driving force since its inception. He lives in Mansfield with his wife, Amy, and their family in a home he built through OBN. Patrick’s passion for construction began in childhood, following his grandfather and learning invaluable lessons during summer work. He started as a project manager, juggling 50-70 homes annually, before moving into the custom home market, managing million-dollar residences. Alongside his partner, M.L. Laughlin, he established a custom home building company, focusing on homes between 2,500 and 4,500 square feet in the North Houston market. After many successful years, Patrick and Amy returned to the DFW area to be closer to family, leading to unexpected developments that lead to the opening of the Owner Builder concept in the North Texas area. Stay tuned for more!
M.L. Laughlin
M.L. Laughlin, Co-Owner of OBN, has been a longtime friend and partner of Patrick Powers. Previously, M.L. owned a successful tile business in the Houston area, where he and Patrick connected while working on custom homes. After divesting from his tile business, M.L. and Patrick formed a custom home building partnership. When Patrick and Amy decided to return to the DFW area, M.L. discovered the Owner Builder concept and was so impressed that he and Patrick reunited to launch their own business in the DFW area. As the saying goes, "…the rest is history." M.L. resides in Arlington.
Bob Powers
Bob Powers has been a vital part of Owner Builder Network® (OBN) since its inception. He enjoyed a successful career at TU Electric, where he held various positions, ultimately serving as Arlington District Manager before retiring in 1997. Shortly after, Bob found his stride at OBN, where he handles sales, client consultations in construction, and overall maintenance of the OBN budget documentation. Dedicated to ensuring his clients have everything they need for a positive building experience; Bob also makes time for an "occasional" game of golf! He resides in Mansfield in a home he built through OBN.
Debbie Manning
Debbie Manning was the sixth homeowner to build with Owner Builder Network® (OBN), signing on in 2001. She still holds the record for the fastest build time—just three months and one week from foundation pour to move-in! In the early days, Debbie served as a fantastic reference for OBN, and one day, M.L. jokingly suggested she should join the sales team. Little did he know she would still be with them all these years later!
Debbie loves working with the OBN team, bringing her management skills and authenticity to the role—after all, she has personally experienced the process she now sells to clients. She and her husband, Rusty, reside in Waxahachie in a home she built through OBN.
David Winchester
David Winchester has been a valued member of the OBN team for many years, specializing in house design services for our clients. A well-thought-out design is crucial to the building process, and David brings a wealth of experience and creative ideas to the table. He excels at helping clients create homes that align with their vision and budget. Be sure to ask him how he first heard about us and became our top referral for plan design work!
Stacey Glindmeyer
Stacey Glindmeyer has been a dedicated presence at the OBN office for many years. As a knowledgeable title attorney, she expertly ensures our clients’ titles are secure and assists them in navigating any title issues that may arise. On the day of construction loan closings, Stacey meets with clients to help them feel at ease as they take the significant step of signing documents to become their own builders with our support.
With all of the experience around the office at OBN, more than a combined 60 years, there is nothing we haven't seen. Any issue or "ditch" you find yourself in, we can help to pull you out. Debbie has been known to say, "I knew building a home was not rocket science. I needed to know what to do, when to do it, who to call and how much to pay." That is exactly what OBN provides. Over the years we have honed the building steps to be easy to understand and accurate for lay people. We formulate your budget and we have an amazing list of subcontractors who understand you are an owner who is also building your own home. Oh yeah, and don't forget, we are only a phone call away. Almsot 14 years ago the phone at the OBN office rang and it was Debbie Manning, her home was finished, there were no questions or schedules to discuss but she missed talking to the guys at OBN and was calling to check in! How many clients do you think do that with their builders at the end of their build jobs? Building with OBN makes you part of "The Family"!