42 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE Through their work as an integrated design-build company, they get to know their clients and understand how they live in a house. “Home is the backdrop for where life happens,” Lindsay said. “Do the homeowners like to cook Christmas dinner for 30 grandchildren, but most of the time, it’s just two people? The homes we do are showpieces in and of themselves, but they really shine because they support those family traditions.” Traditions are important to the Cullum family. “When our kids were growing up, my parents and Rod’s parents were 2 miles in either direction. So, we have always had an extended family of children, parents, grandchildren, cousins, aunts and uncles close to us. That’s important to me,” Kim said. Also important is giving back to the community they’ve built their business in. Lindsay recalls volunteering for National Charity League with her mom as a girl. “It’s just what we did. It’s always been a part of the family,” she said. The Cullums have brought their philanthropy to the company as well. They’ve been involved with Habitat for Humanity for many years and recently dedicated the first Cullum Homes-sponsored Habitat house. “We were part of the construction team,” Kim said. “That offered us the opportunity to have many shifts for our team members. It’s optional, but many of them chose to do that. The homeowner was there too, which was great. She’s a single mom with two teenagers and we’ve gotten to know them really well.” Once a quarter, the Cullum Homes team volunteers at Feed My Starving Children. “It’s fun and competitive,” Paul said. “We take our kids, and it’s good to see them enjoying it too.” With holidays approaching, the family is making a punch list of plans. Each year, Kim and Rod host a Christmas Eve soup supper. Paul’s parents usually come in from Texas,

FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE | 43 and everyone enjoys a late afternoon family get-together before heading off to church, to visit in-laws or to other holiday plans. The family also tries to take in some type of artistic production for the season. It will be “Elf” at the Phoenix Theatre Company this year. “Phoenix Theatre is near and dear to us,” Kim said. “Lindsay and I just co-chaired their gala, which is their big annual fundraising event.” Somewhere in the season, too, the family tries to sneak in a shift at Feed My Starving Children. “They welcome children age 5 and up. It’s a great introduction to charitable work for a really young child,” Kim said. And in a nod to Rod and Kim’s meet-cute beginnings, they make time for a trip to snow country each winter. “We have been going as a family to Park City since my parents started about 30 years ago,” Kim said. “Our grandkids are now learning how to ski, and they are quite good.” At this stage of life, Rod and Kim do a lot of honoring tradition while looking to the future. “It’s been a very long journey for us — 38 years,” Kim said. “We’ve seen Arizona grow and change and are proud to employ a lot of people. We always wanted to stay here, raise our family here, and now Paul and Lindsay are raising their kids here.” So, has the family’s special skill passed to a third generation of builders? It’s too soon to tell, but Brendan, 7, seems to have inherited his father’s process-type personality, while Annaleigh, 8, is more creative. “She likes to debate and push the limits,” Paul said. Together, they enjoy building with bricks during their off-time — as a family, they’re really into Legos. They just finished a Cat D11 bulldozer, and they’ve built the Home Alone house, Disney Castle and massive Hogwarts Castle. These days, it is Paul and Lindsay who haul their kids to jobs, just as Rod carted Lindsay in his truck when she a child. “They both enjoy going to job sites,” Paul said. “Even yesterday, we had to stop at some sites on the way to work. We carpooled and our kids got to go with us. They were anxious to get out and see what was going on.” Earlier this year, members of the Cullum Homes team constructed a house for Habitat for Humanity. Annaleigh and Brendan Colwell are the newest generation to enjoy a favorite family hobby: skiing.