Paul Connolly, APLD

Owner/Designer

Paul received a BFA in Graphic Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology and is a licensed contractor with over 30 years of experience in the landscape industry. His extensive training in art and design, combined with his hands-on knowledge and understanding of construction has enabled Paul to create some of the finest landscapes in southern Arizona. Recognized as a leader in the industry, Paul has received numerous awards for his creative and sustainable landscape designs, including being named ‘2013 International Landscape Designer of the Year’ by the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. “Establishing relationships between people, architecture and nature” is a philosophy Paul developed to describe his approach to design and business. Creating a space to fit each individual home and homeowner is an important aspect of his designs. Equally important is building trusting relationships with homeowners, employees, suppliers, and tradespeople. At Sundrea Design/Build we strive for the highest level of quality workmanship, management, and communication. Paul realizes his high standards are met by surrounding himself with the best installation crew in the industry. When not at work, Paul enjoys hiking, biking and exploring the desert southwest.

Jason Mellinger

Project Specialist

Jason, a Tucson native, joined Sundrea in 2011 where his keen eye for detail is invaluable to achieving the high standards expected by our discerning clients. He has over 15 years of experience in the landscape industry and enjoys being able to combine his affection for plants and the outdoors with his passion for art and design. Jason has exceptional leadership skills and a wide range of talents. He can manage any job from horticulture and irrigation to masonry and metalwork. With his artistic talent and knowledge of landscape design, he excels at taking complex designs and turning them into beautiful landscapes as well as creating custom artwork and sculptures.

Eric Rosales

Project Specialist

 
 
 
Eric has over 25 years of landscaping experience in Tucson. In 2013 he joined Sundrea where his knowledge and hard work are appreciated. Eric is organized and has excellent customer service skills. He is self-motivated and comfortable working on his own or with a crew, always taking pride in his work whether it’s a simple clean-up job or complicated planting project.

Mark Hiemstra

Project Specialist

Mark has over 40 years of experience in masonry and is also skilled in concrete, stucco, rough carpentry, plants, irrigation, and lighting. “Mark-Gyver” as he has been affectionately nicknamed by the crew for his problem-solving talents on complex projects, has been with Sundrea since 2012. Now at a point in his career where he has been able to semi-retire, Mark remains a well-respected and valuable member of the team. We are fortunate to have him here part-time where he can mentor the “young guys” and pass on his vast knowledge.

Jon Walker

Crew Leader

Jon is a Tucson native who spends most of his time outdoors. After joining the Sundrea team in the fall of 2021 Jon discovered he enjoys working with metal and welding. He is excited to learn more welding skills and likes to apply his new talents to his hobby of working on cars.

Brandon Coyne

Crew Member

Brandon is a Tucson native who grew up outside in the sunshine and desert. His family owned a tree service so hard work has always been a big part of his life. He is grateful for the lessons he learned in the value of work and earning a paycheck as well as the skills he has been able to bring with him to Sundrea. He joined Sundrea in 2023 and is quickly proving himself to be an essential part of the team with his positive attitude and willingness to float between construction jobs and maintenance. Brandon believes there is no limit to what he can learn and accomplish with Sundrea and is eager to take on new challenges. Brandon taught himself to play guitar through high school and in his free time he likes to strum along with his favorite songs as well as work on his car and truck but only as often as needed.

Danine Becraft

Administrative Manager

Danine started her administrative career as a temporary receptionist and has since worked her way up to over 35 years of experience. She joined the Sundrea team in the Spring of 2019 and then like many others, in 2020 started working from home and faced the challenges of keeping the office running efficiently from a distance. After working remotely for almost 2 years Danine was presented with the opportunity to move to Gillette, Wyoming to be close to her family. With the office already running smoothly from her Tucson home, the transition to relocate to another state was relatively seamless. She found herself in the best of both worlds, able to keep the job she enjoys with people she has built good working relationships with, both co-workers and clients, and the ability to be close to her family.

Danine’s goals are to continue to build positive relationships with co-workers, clients, and vendors and to use innovative processes and her ability to problem solve to maintain a highly functioning administrative office.