Three new windows, a safer home, and good businesses that keep showing up.

July - October 2026

When I first introduced you to Ashley and Jesse's family in our SeaTac Project, they were still trying to figure out how to move forward after losing more than $34,000 to Construction Kings, a contractor that left dozens of families across Western Washington with unfinished projects and significant financial losses.

Their covered deck remained unfinished and unpermitted, and the windows they had paid to replace were never installed. One bedroom window didn't lock, leaving Ashley and Jesse uncomfortable putting their young daughter to sleep in that room. Two large picture windows also couldn't open, making it difficult to keep their home comfortable during the warmer months.

Today, I'm thrilled to share that all three windows have been replaced, completely in-kind, thanks to two incredible businesses! And that's not the only progress we've made.

Good businesses making a difference

When Jim Burbridge of American Dream Design Build first volunteered to evaluate Ashley and Jesse's property, he quickly recognized that replacing the windows was something we could accomplish while working through the more complicated deck repairs.

Jim connected me with Josiah McGinnis at Pella Windows, who immediately expressed interest in helping. After learning about the family's experience, Pella generously donated more than $1,100 worth of brand-new windows.

Jim and his team then stepped in to donate the installation labor, valued at over $3,800, bringing this portion of the project across the finish line at no cost to the family.

For Ashley and Jesse, this means more than three new windows. It means their daughter can finally sleep in her bedroom with a window that locks securely and it means better ventilation and comfort throughout their home. It also means one more reminder that, despite everything they've experienced, there are businesses they can count on.

Ashley shared with me what these new windows have meant to her family:

"We have had our windows open everyday, and it has been incredible. I cannot tell you what a difference this has made so far. We are also finally in the process of moving our daughter into her permanent bedroom now that the window in that room is secure. This is a huge step forward and and exciting one for all of us."

This is one of my favorite parts of leading Restoring Trust. What might seem like a relatively straightforward home improvement project to a contractor can make an enormous difference for a family that's been living with the consequences of someone else's unethical actions.

I'm incredibly grateful to Jim, his team, Josiah, and Pella for making this possible.

Turning an unfinished deck into a path forward

While the window installation was a major victory, the unfinished covered deck has presented a different kind of challenge.

As we shared in our first update, Jim helped us identify structural deficiencies in the original construction and recommended that we bring in a licensed structural engineer before proceeding.

That's where Aaron MacCoy of MacCoy Home Solutions came in. Aaron previously led our remarkable Shoreline Restoring Trust Project and has continued volunteering his time and connections to help us expand our impact in Washington. We've since recognized him as our first Restoring Trust Regional Ambassador, Washington, a well-deserved title for someone who consistently goes above and beyond to help others.

Aaron introduced us to Jordan Jones of JP Jones Engineering, who donated a comprehensive structural assessment to identify the corrections needed to make the deck safe and move toward permitting.

Unfortunately, as Ashley began working with the City of SeaTac, another issue surfaced.

The existing house was built close to the property line, and the unfinished deck extended into an area where new construction isn't permitted under current setback requirements. That meant the original design couldn't be approved as submitted, even with the structural corrections Jordan had identified.

For Ashley and Jesse, it was another frustrating obstacle in a project that had already cost them so much.

But here's what I love about the businesses involved in Restoring Trust: they didn't simply identify the problem and walk away. They kept helping us find a path forward.

Jim volunteered additional time to visit the property, take measurements, meet with City planning staff himself, and help Ashley understand exactly what needed to change.

Ashley then worked with OutDraft, the company that prepared her architectural drawings, to redesign the deck and roof so they would meet the City's required 5-foot setback.

And when we sent the updated plans back to Jordan at JP Jones, he generously reviewed them again at no cost and provided a stamped engineering bulletin outlining the additional structural support needed for the revised design.

Altogether, JP Jones Engineering has now donated more than $1,500 in professional engineering services, helping this family navigate a process that would otherwise have been another significant financial burden.

Thanks to this collaboration, Ashley now has revised architectural plans and engineering documentation to submit to the City.

The deck isn't finished yet, and we still have some important steps ahead. But for the first time, the family has a much clearer understanding of what it will take to move forward.

What comes next?

Our next milestone is getting the revised plans through the City's permitting process. Once the City approves the plans and the necessary permits are in place, Jim can evaluate the remaining construction work and provide an estimate for modifying and completing the deck.

From there, we'll determine what additional resources may be available through Restoring Trust and our network of community-minded businesses.

What stands out to me most is how much these businesses have contributed beyond the physical work itself. They've shared their expertise, made introductions, answered questions, visited the property, coordinated with the City, and continued showing up when new challenges arose. All while running their own businesses and serving their customers.

That generosity is what makes Restoring Trust possible.

To Jim and his team at American Dream Design Build, Josiah and Pella Windows, Aaron MacCoy, and Jordan Jones: thank you for reminding this family, and everyone following their story, what ethical businesses can accomplish when they come together.

And to Ashley and Jesse, thank you for continuing to trust us through this process and allowing us to share your story.

I look forward to sharing the next chapter of the SeaTac Project as we continue working toward a resolution.

Want to get involved with Restoring Trust? Whether you're a business interested in contributing your expertise, labor, or materials, or someone who knows a family who may need help, we'd love to hear from you. Please reach out to me at [email protected].

Yours in trust,
Meghan Conradt, Director of BBB Foundation

Changing the ending

May - 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 SeaTac Project.

Unlike some of the other projects we've taken on, this one is part of something much larger.

Over the past year, BBB has received an increasing number of complaints involving a Washington contractor called Construction Kings. Homeowners across the Puget Sound region have shared remarkably similar stories. Large deposits were collected and projects began with optimism. Then communication slowed, work stopped altogether, and families were left with unfinished home projects, damaged property, and little hope of recovering the money they had invested.

As our Investigations team gathered more information, it became clear that these weren't isolated incidents. News outlets throughout Western Washington began reporting on the growing number of homeowners who believed they had been victimized by the company. Today, Construction Kings has left behind a trail of 30+ families trying to figure out how to recover after trusting the wrong contractor.

One of those families is Ashley’s. When Ashley and her husband Jesse first reached out to me, they weren’t looking for sympathy. They simply wanted to know where to go from here.

Ashley and her husband had invested more than $34,000 into what was supposed to be a straightforward home improvement project that included replacing windows and building a covered deck where their family could spend time together.

Instead, they were left with partially completed (and unpermitted) work, an unfinished patio, construction debris throughout their backyard, and windows that were never installed.

One of those windows no longer locks, creating an ongoing safety concern for their young daughter. The two large picture windows that were supposed to be replaced still don't open, leaving the family with very little ventilation during the summer months when indoor temperatures can climb well into the 90s.

Like so many fraud survivors I meet, Ashley had already exhausted nearly every avenue available before finding Restoring Trust.

She filed complaints with the Washington Attorney General's Office, BBB, and other state agencies. She explored legal options, only to learn that pursuing the contractor would likely cost more than any recovery she might receive. Meanwhile, the unfinished project remained exactly where it had been left.

Ashley and her husband had already depleted much of their savings after years of fertility treatments to welcome their daughter into the world. To pay for this project, they opened a home equity line of credit, believing they were making an investment in their family's future.

Instead, they found themselves making payments on work that wasn't completed.

Despite everything, Ashley has remained remarkably positive. She told me she'd be grateful for any help we could provide and hoped that by sharing her story she could prevent another family from experiencing the same nightmare.

That's exactly why Restoring Trust exists; and our first step was finding businesses willing to evaluate the situation honestly.

Jim Burbridge of American Dream Design Build is a longtime BBB Board Member, Restoring Trust Committee Member and nearly 20-year Accredited Business. He generously volunteered his time to inspect the property and help us understand what would be required to safely move the project forward. He advised that we find a structural engineer to evaluate the current build, determine what needs to be updated to meet code, and create new drawings to submit to the City for permitting.

I reached out to our old friend and Restoring Trust partner, Aaron MacCoy with MacCoy Home Solutions – an Accredited Business, BBB Torch Awards winner, and outstanding community member. From there, he introduced me to structural engineer Jordan Jones with JP Jones Engineering, who donated a comprehensive engineering assessment to identify what would be needed to bring the deck into compliance and begin the permitting process. This contribution was valued at over $1,100, which was an incredible help to Ashley and Jesse during this time.

At the same time, another opportunity began taking shape. Jim Burbidge introduced me to his window supplier, Josiah McGinnis at Pella Windows, who immediately wanted to talk about donating windows to support the cause. Ultimately, Pella donated over $2,000 worth of brand-new windows to support the habitability of the home. Together with Jim, they're now working on the window installation plan, restoring both safety and comfort while we continue evaluating the larger patio project. 

Those conversations reminded me why I love leading this program. One unethical contractor created this situation, and several good businesses are now working together to solve it.

As the SeaTac Project continues, I'll be sharing updates about the window installation, permitting, finishing the deck and the businesses stepping forward to help Ashley's family recover. My hope is that every update reinforces the same message:

Bad contractors may break trust, but good businesses can rebuild it.

Do you want to get involved with Restoring Trust? Whether you're a business interested in donating your time or services, or someone who knows a family who may need help, we'd love to hear from you. Please reach out to me: [email protected]

Yours in trust,
Meghan Conradt, Director of BBB Foundation