About Us

Meet the Cornerstone team

Commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and design is not just our profession — it's a reflection of who we are.

Cornerstone

Leadership

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AJ Ballantine

Owner

With 18 years in the remodeling industry, A.J. founded Cornerstone Remodeling, heralded for its success and community impact. His approach to growing companies led to the founding of Rendr, a remote engagement solution for home improvement. A.J. balances professional success with happy family life in Frederick County, where he enjoys being a husband and father, as well as volunteering in humanitarian projects overseas.

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Lauren Weber

General Manager

Lauren holds a B.S. from Virginia Tech in the NKBA-accredited Kitchen and Bath Design program and joined Cornerstone in 2015 as our first in-house designer. In 2022 she took on the role of General Manager, fostering a creative and collaborative culture within the office and field teams. Outside of work you can find her running around with her two girls, chasing her dog down the street, and hiding Amazon packages from her husband.

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Chris Hogsten

Operations Manager

With 17 years of industry experience, Chris joined Cornerstone in 2014 as a site supervisor, progressing to Project Manager and later leading the sales team as Project Developer. Known for meticulous attention to detail, he is heavily involved in the planning, bidding, and organization of each project in the Exploration/Design phase. He spends his free time on home projects and relaxing with his wife and two children.

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Heath Runkles

Production Manager

Heath has been building since his teens, first alongside his father and later on his own. Since joining Cornerstone in 2018, he's led the field team with calm expertise and a love for the craft. He lives in Frederick County with his wife and four kids and can often be found working in his shop.

Cornerstone

Office team

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Kara Windebank

Project Consultant

15+ years in remodeling and real estate across residential and commercial markets. Strategic, design-forward, and a strong client advocate — clients feel genuinely heard and supported.

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Annamarie Hamilton

Designer

B.S. in Mathematics from Mount Saint Mary's; joined the design team in 2022. Loved for her attention to detail and for finding unique solutions to design dilemmas.

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Molly Grubor

Designer

Joined as office manager in 2022 and swiftly transitioned to designer. A lifelong maker — painting, sewing, crochet — who loves contributing to others' happiness.

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Kyle Myers

Architectural Designer

B.A. in Architecture from Miami University of Ohio. Handles all drafting and drawings, bridging the gap between office and field from planning to production.

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Lorrie Somerville

Production Coordinator

Grew up in construction; degrees in Interior Design and Business from East Carolina. Runs material orders, warranty calls, and production scheduling behind the scenes.

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Jeff Varnon

Project Estimator

Over 10 years of home repair and renovation experience across Maryland and DC. Outdoors with his wife and son, or lost in a good book.

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Zack Lazo

Marketing & Content Director

Filming and editing since age 11; Digital Media degree. Handles all things photo, video, and marketing — he can't design your dream home, but he can take a pretty good picture of it.

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Kim Sheeler

Administrative Assistant

Years of administrative experience; keeps things organized behind the scenes so projects run smoothly. Lives in Carroll County with her partner and two little ones.

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Beth Redcay

Finance Manager

B.S. in Accounting from UMD with 22+ years in accounting and finance. Serves on the board of her local ice hockey organization and travels to support her boys' games.

Cornerstone

Field team

Mike David

Mike David

Project Manager
Kevin Ortiz

Kevin Ortiz

Project Manager
Phil Carlacci

Phil Carlacci

Project Manager
Nick Goodman

Nick Goodman

Carpenter
Jesse Runkles

Jesse Runkles

Carpenter
Eric Picotte

Eric Picotte

Carpenter
Mason Hoffman

Mason Hoffman

Carpenter
Ethan Parker

Ethan Parker

Carpenter
The Cornerstone team
Cornerstone project

Ready to meet the team?

Let's discuss your goals and create a plan that gets results. Every project starts with a conversation.

410-336-7011

Send us a message