Treasurer

Craig Rakowski, James Craig Builders, Wauwatosa, WI
Craig Rakowski, James Craig Builders, WI

Craig Rakowski was raised in New Berlin, WI. His parent’s home was one of the first homes built in a 200+ lot subdivision so at a young age he got to see firsthand what it took to be a builder.  While growing up he also enjoyed spending summers with his brothers on their family farm in Missouri. The eldest of four boys, Craig was the first to go to college. In 1981, he graduated from UW-Whitewater, Magna Cum Laude with a B.B.A in Accounting.

After graduating Craig went to work at the public accounting firm of Deloitte, formally Touche Ross, where he specialized in the construction industry but also worked with large publicly held companies. Because of his love for homebuilding, nine years later Craig took a job as Executive Vice President for a large volume homebuilder in the Milwaukee area. With his knowledge of both finance and construction he decided to start his own company in 1998.

Craig created James Craig Builders based on the idea of striving to make a difference by enhancing the lives of their clients. In 2008, this vision was recognized when James Craig was awarded the National Pacesetter Award for Outstanding Customer Service. Craig also wanted to set new standards for home construction and educate consumers about the value of sound building practices. Craig developed his “Advanced Building Practices” with these thoughts in mind.  He is proud to be part of the “green” movement taking place in the construction industry and has felt that his homes have met these standards of sustainability from the very beginning.  James Craig Builders is a certified Green and Energy Star Builder and a developer of conservancy subdivisions. James Craig Builders and their team of suppliers and subcontractors currently work with 12-15 semi–custom to custom homebuilding clients per year.

During 2005 Craig was President of the Metropolitan Builders Association and throughout the years he has taken on numerous roles with that Association including Chairman of the Construction Arbitration Board, Parade of Homes and Political Affairs Committees. Craig was the Metropolitan Builders Association’s 2003 Associates Choice Builder and their 2007 Builder of the Year. Craig has also made an impact state wide serving as a Director of the Wisconsin Builders Association for many years; in 2006, he was honored to receive the Rising Star Award from that Association. Since 2004, Craig has also been a Director of the National Association of Home Builders.

When he is not working Craig enjoys traveling, skiing and snow shoeing with his son, daughter, and wife; as well as enjoying the Wisconsin summers outdoors at his cottage on Big Cedar Lake.