Our Story
Casa Bonita Builders grew out of a lifelong respect for hard work and doing things the right way. Founder Jack Ramirez Jr. learned early that craftsmanship is about integrity as much as skill, showing up, working honestly, and standing behind your work. After years of hands-on experience as a carpenter and learning from master builders, Casa Bonita Builders was formed in 2010 with a simple goal: to build homes thoughtfully, treat people well, and create work that would speak for itself.
Built From the Ground Up
From a young age, Jack worked alongside his father on construction jobs after school and on weekends. The lessons were simple and lasting: show up, work hard, and do right by people. That foundation of integrity and responsibility still defines how we operate today.
After college, Jack briefly pursued a different career before renovating his first home and rediscovering his love for building. When his family relocated to Minneapolis for a season, he apprenticed with a respected restorative builder and learned how thoughtful construction bridges old and new, and how strong leadership builds strong teams.
When he returned to Pasadena and founded Casa Bonita Builders in 2010, the company grew one project at a time through referrals, relationships, and trust earned on job sites. Bathrooms led to kitchens. Kitchens led to full remodels. Remodels led to long-standing partnerships with architects and designers.
“I’ve always loved bringing people together to build something well. It’s never been about doing it all myself. It’s about building the right team and doing the work with integrity.”
Today, Casa Bonita Builders is a collaborative team taking on more fully integrated design build projects, partnering with designers and homeowners to contribute thoughtfully to the beauty of Pasadena and surrounding communities.
We are Casa Bonita Builders
Today, Casa Bonita Builders is a close-knit team rooted in collaboration, trust, and experience. We work closely with homeowners, architects, and designers to bring clarity to complex projects and guide them from concept through completion. Our team brings together technical expertise, problem-solving, and an appreciation for detail, always with the understanding that we are building spaces where real life happens. We take pride in being steady partners through a process that can otherwise feel overwhelming.
Meet the team dedicated to walking with you through every step of the remodeling and building process.
Our Team
Jack Ramirez Jr.
FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL
Jack Ramirez Jr. is the Founder and Principal of Casa Bonita Builders, leading the company with a steady commitment to craftsmanship, clarity, and long term trust. A Southern California native, he earned his contractor’s license in 2009 and established the company with the intention of building thoughtfully and responsibly. His foundation in construction began at a young age working alongside his father, where he learned the value of hard work, integrity, and doing things the right way even when no one is watching. Today, Jack spends much of his time walking job sites, meeting with clients, reviewing upcoming work, and thinking a season or two ahead to ensure projects move at a healthy pace. He believes construction should feel organized, honest, and well guided rather than chaotic. The culture of calm communication and clean job sites begins with him. He stays closely involved in defining project scope, pricing decisions, and key moments in the field, always focused on protecting both quality and relationships. He finds particular satisfaction in the framing stage of a home, when the structure stands complete and a family’s vision starts to take shape. When he is not on a job site, Jack values time in his backyard under the shade of large oak trees or exploring the outdoors with his family. Those moments of stillness ground him and keep his perspective rooted in what home truly means.
Sarah Hamilton
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & DESIGN LEAD
Sarah is the Director of Operations at Casa Bonita Builders, guiding projects from early planning through completion while supporting and mentoring the project management team. She joined the company in 2015 as a coordinator and quickly discovered she could bring her eye for design into the construction process, helping bridge the space between thoughtful planning and careful execution. Over the years, she has grown into a leadership role, shaping both the systems that keep projects moving and the details that make a home feel truly complete. Sarah cares deeply about how spaces come together, paying close attention to how materials meet, how light moves through a room, and how proportion and layout affect the way a home feels every day. Much of her work happens long before the finishes are installed, thinking through details across trades so that when everything comes together, it feels cohesive and intentional. She is known for her calm presence, clear communication, and steady problem solving. What has kept her at Casa Bonita Builders is the people and the culture of kindness, teamwork, and long term care that guide how the team works. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, visiting art museums, gardening, and painting.
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Dafne Cisneros
PROJECT MANAGER
Dafne joined Casa Bonita Builders in 2021 and has become an integral part of the team, serving as Project Manager and helping bring projects from planning to completion. With roots in Pasadena, the work feels close to home and deeply personal. She spends her days coordinating trades, preparing for upcoming phases, and helping homeowners understand what’s ahead without overwhelming them. She especially loves the moment when drywall goes up and a space finally starts to feel real. Known for never skipping a paint schedule, Dafne believes clear communication prevents mistakes and builds trust. If something is not right, particularly when it comes to safety, she addresses it. She values the supportive team culture at Casa Bonita and takes pride in helping strengthen neighborhoods like Altadena. Outside of work, she recharges with family time, long walks with her German Shepherd Husky mix, and small moments of self care that help her slow down.
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Joel Lopez
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Joel joined Casa Bonita Builders in 2024 and quickly became the team’s steady utility player. As Project Coordinator, he adapts to whatever the job requires on a given day, whether that means reorganizing crews, solving unexpected site issues, or helping homeowners understand the next step in the process. Having grown up in construction and observed high-volume production building in Texas, he developed a deep respect for craftsmanship done with care rather than scale. He values being part of a close-knit team that takes pride in thoughtful, custom work. Supporting families rebuilding after the Altadena fires has been especially meaningful to him, particularly in the moments when homeowners begin to see their homes come back to life. He enjoys spending time with friends and appreciates a well-earned reset at the end of the day.
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Michael Ching
Michael joined Casa Bonita Builders in 2025 and supports the company’s continued growth and internal alignment. Based in Pasadena, he values contributing to the neighborhoods his own family calls home. Michael works alongside the leadership team to strengthen process, clarify communication, and ensure that daily project work reflects the company’s long-term standards. He focuses on building thoughtful systems that support craftsmanship in the field without adding unnecessary complexity. Drawn to Casa Bonita Builders’ commitment to clarity, accountability, and steady execution, he believes strong companies are built the same way lasting homes are built, with care, intention, and long-term perspective. That same perspective shapes his life beyond the office, where he spends time in nature with his family and prioritizes creating meaningful memories together.