The Final Steps Home

July 2026

When I last shared the Kiowa Project, Innovative Renovations had just completed the first phase of their incredible donation by installing the main stair railing in Devree's home.

At the time, I knew the railing was important. What I didn't fully appreciate was just how significant that single piece of work would become.

Shortly after the railing was installed, Devree received one of the milestones she had been working toward for more than two years: her Certificate of Occupancy.

For anyone who has built a home, you know what that represents. It's the moment a structure officially becomes a home. After years of setbacks, contractor failures, financial hardship, and living in an RV on her own property, Devree finally received approval from the county to occupy the home she and her late husband had dreamed of building together.

That milestone would not have been possible without the stair railing Eli and the Innovative Renovations team donated through Restoring Trust. It was an incredible reminder that sometimes the smallest scope of work can create the biggest impact.

But the project wasn't finished yet. Just a few weeks later, Eli and his team made the trip back to Kiowa to complete the remaining scope of work they had so generously committed to.

They installed a beautiful staircase in the living area that will soon become home to Devree's daughter and son-in-law, along with a ladder leading to the loft space in Devree's portion of the home. Together with the new railing, these additions significantly improved the accessibility, functionality, and habitability of this multi-generational home.

From the very beginning, Eli approached this project with the kind of generosity that makes the Restoring Trust program possible. His team donated more than $14,400 in labor and materials, traveled more than an hour each way to a rural community, and invested countless hours helping someone truly in need.

When I asked Innovative Renovations why they chose to get involved, their answer reflected exactly what we hope Restoring Trust inspires.

"After learning about the homeowner's situation and what she had been through, we wanted to help. As a local company, we believe in giving back to our community, and this was an opportunity to contribute."

They also had a message for other businesses who may be considering participating in the program.

"We would definitely encourage other businesses to participate. It is a great opportunity to use your skills and resources to give back to the community and make a meaningful difference for someone who truly needs the support."

That generosity has changed the trajectory of this project.

Another meaningful message I received from Devree came after the work was complete.

"I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything that you were able to accomplish for me. There will be an open house party soon. I will definitely send you an invite."

Reading those words made me smile. Because after everything she's endured, she's finally talking about hosting family and friends in her home instead of simply trying to survive another construction setback. And that's a remarkable transformation.

This project also represents something important for the future of Restoring Trust.

Many charitable programs naturally concentrate their efforts in larger metropolitan areas where businesses, volunteers, and resources are more readily available. Rural communities often have limited options, longer travel distances, and fewer organizations able to respond when something goes wrong.

Kiowa reminded us that those families deserve help just as much.

I'm incredibly proud that Restoring Trust continues expanding its reach beyond our major population centers to ensure that people living in underserved communities also have access to trustworthy businesses willing to help them recover.

Thank you to Eli Torres, Melissa, Ana and everyone at Innovative Renovations for choosing to use your talents to lift someone else up. Thank you to AJ Kirkegaard Contractors for making the introduction that brought this partnership together. And thank you to Jaclyn Allen and Denver7 for helping us tell stories that remind our communities there are still businesses choosing integrity every single day.

Interested in supporting this work? I'd love to discuss this with you: [email protected] 

Yours in trust,
Meghan Conradt, Director of BBB Foundation

She lost her husband. Then the contractors started letting her down.

April - June 2026

My name is Meghan Conradt and I'm the Director of Foundation for Better Business Bureau. One of the greatest privileges of my job is leading BBB Foundation's Restoring Trust® program, where we connect people who have been harmed by fraud or unethical business practices with trustworthy businesses that want to help.

The idea behind Restoring Trust is simple: every day, BBB hears from consumers whose lives have been disrupted by scams, contractor fraud, and other harmful business experiences. At the same time, we know there are incredible businesses in our communities that genuinely care about helping people. Restoring Trust exists to bring those two groups together and show that while bad actors may break trust, good businesses can help rebuild it.

Today, I'd like to introduce you to our newest project: the Kiowa Project. 

When I first spoke with Devree, it was immediately clear that her story was about much more than construction problems.

A couple years ago, Devree and her husband began building a large multi-generational home on Colorado's eastern plains. The vision was simple and beautiful: create a place where family could live together, support one another, and build memories for years to come.

Then tragedy struck.

In May 2024, shortly after construction began, Devree's husband unexpectedly passed away from a pulmonary embolism. Instead of planning a future together, she suddenly found herself grieving the loss of her partner while trying to navigate an enormous construction project alone.

Unfortunately, the challenges didn't stop there.

As construction progressed, Devree experienced a series of troubling contractor issues. She discovered major budgeting errors, construction deficiencies, poor workmanship, and unfinished work that left the project significantly behind schedule and far more expensive than originally anticipated. According to Devree, one contractor underbudgeted the project by more than $250,000 and failed to account for many standard building components that would ultimately be required to finish the home. Other work had to be repaired or redone entirely.

What was originally supposed to be a temporary living arrangement turned into something much longer.

After selling her previous home, Devree moved into an RV on the property while waiting for construction to be completed. At times, she endured freezing temperatures without running water and spent months living in conditions no homeowner expects when building their dream home. Through it all, she continued pushing forward, managing subcontractors herself, solving problems as they arose, and doing whatever work she could personally handle to keep the project moving.

What stood out to me most during our conversations was not the frustration. It was the determination.

Despite everything she has endured, Devree continues showing up every day with the singular goal of finishing the home she and her husband dreamed of building together.

One of the biggest remaining obstacles involved the home's stair systems. Two staircases still needed to be installed, and a stair raiing needed to be put on before the project could move closer to obtaining a certificate of occupancy, which would finally allow Devree to move out of her RV and into her home after more than two years.

I began reaching out to businesses that might be able to help. One of my first calls was to AJ Kirkegaard Contractors, who led the incredible Cook St. Project in Denver. They suggested I contact Eli Torres with Innovative Renovations.

Eli had previously helped with the Cook St. Project that AJ Kirkegaard led and was known for both his craftsmanship and generosity. When I explained Devree's situation, he didn't hesitate.

He agreed to drive more than an hour to Kiowa to evaluate the project and determine whether he could help. That may sound simple, but for many rural homeowners, even getting a contractor to visit the property can be a significant challenge. Time spent evaluating a project is time away from other paying work, and many businesses simply don't have the capacity to travel long distances without knowing what they'll find.

A few days after his site visit, Eli called me. Not only was he willing to help, he wanted to donate the labor and materials for all three stair-related scopes of work. The stair railing, the spiral staircase and the modular staircase. All of it. More than $14,000 worth of labor and materials, donated completely in-kind.

When I later met Eli and his team at the property as they began installing the main stair railing, I was joined by our media partner Jaclyn Allen with Denver7, who recognized how powerful Devree's story was. Watching the installation begin and hearing Devree describe what this support meant to her was one of those moments that reminds me exactly why Restoring Trust exists.

With tears in her eyes, she told Denver7:

"I have no words to say how grateful I am for what he has done. This is the first help I've received genuinely from the heart."

For Eli, the decision was straightforward.

"Personally, it's just lending a hand, doing our part, letting people know there's still good guys out there. There is a lot of bad contractors, but there's also good ones, too."

That statement captures the mission of Restoring Trust better than anything I could write.

This project is not just about stairs.

It's about helping a widow finish the home she and her husband envisioned together. It's about ensuring someone who has spent years overcoming setback after setback can finally cross the finish line. And it's about proving that even after trust has been broken, there are businesses willing to step forward and restore it.

As work continues on the Kiowa Project, we'll be sharing updates on the spiral and modular staircases Eli plans to install next. I'm excited for you to meet the businesses and community members helping make this possible, and even more excited for the day we get to celebrate Devree receiving her certificate of occupancy and finally moving into her home.

Because that's what Restoring Trust is all about: not just rebuilding projects, but rebuilding confidence that good people and good businesses still exist.

Yours in trust,
Meghan Conradt, Director of BBB Foundation

ELBERT COUNTY, Colo. — Denver7 Investigates hears too often how a contractor can make or break a project.

For one widow in Elbert County, it’s been a two‑year ordeal since her husband died with budget mistakes and failed inspections slowing her dream of moving into her home.

“We bought the 36 acres out here,” said Devree Kidman, looking out over the Eastern Plains. “And it was amazing. We came out every Sunday and we’d spend Sunday having lunch and driving around on our quads, and just enjoying each other.”