It’s a business partnership that has been a lifetime in the making. Literally.

Rick Boyette has been building custom homes since the ’70s, before his daughter was even born. Now, decades later, with years of industry experience under her own (tool)belt, Nicole Wilson has teamed up with her dad, and they both agree it has been a natural fit. Through Rick Boyette Construction, Inc., the father/daughter duo specializes in custom residential builds that allow them to work closely with their clients and turn dreams into reality.

*Four-year-old Nicole enjoys hanging out with her father at Magic Springs during the summer of 1983.*

While the partnership has been quite fulfilling, it was not an idea that Rick or Nicole ever considered until recently. “My dad is a 2nd generation builder and has been constructing high-end custom homes my whole life, so I’ve grown up watching that, but I actually went to school to be a teacher,” Nicole said. During undergrad, she took a Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) class and learned how to create blueprints and designs, which she did on the side throughout college and a teaching career. “I’ve been designing blueprints since the early 2000s, which sounds like a long time ago,” she laughed. Eventually, Nicole decided to leave the teaching field and worked with a residential construction firm, Parkinson Building Group, in Little Rock for nearly 10 years. “I learned a lot about the business side of it, and I got to work with some really great people, and on projects that were super ahead of trends, Southern Living homes and things like that, and I really enjoyed it.”

*During the summer of 1987, Nicole “helped” her dad build a swimming pool at their house.*

When Nicole and her husband, Matt, moved to Texarkana in 2017, it was their family’s new home for which Rick and Nicole first teamed up. “I guess that was kind of the test to see if we could work together,” Nicole said. “It worked really well. There were no egos clashing. I think I can listen really well when I need to, which really helps when your dad is the boss!” Rick agreed that it was a special project to work on together, and the duo has continued taking on custom projects. As general contractor, Rick oversees the “technical applications and structural situations.” Nicole jokes that she takes care of the rest – including, but not limited to, designing blueprints, most client interactions, scheduling, etc. “I love that the scope of work changes with each year, each project,” Nicole said. “Working closely with clients is so much fun, but I still enjoy being out in the field with Dad.”

*Last summer, Nicole and Rick vacationed to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with her children, Wyn and Ben.*

Like most successful relationships, Rick and Nicole have built upon a foundation of trust and respect. “The best part about working with my dad is that he is a technical wizard on the job site, and that gives me so much confidence in these projects. If there is ever any issue, Dad knows every piece of each part of it,” Nicole said. She also admits that some of her motivation may be a little selfish. “As I have gotten older, I realize how important family is. I’m grateful for this opportunity to spend so much time together. And I’m hoping I can soak up as much of his knowledge as possible.”

*Rick escorts Nicole during Matt and Nicole’s wedding in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in 2008.*

Together, Rick and Nicole pair expertise with excitement. “Since 1976, every year from then until now, I’ve had at least one project in the works,” Rick said. “Having done this for 40 or 50 years, and watching trends change with the decades, I’ve done a little bit of everything. What I’m really thankful for is that we can take on projects one at a time and really focus on each client’s particular needs and desires. Our work is very client-driven.” Nicole agrees that their specialty is in the details. “These days, with so many options to look at on Instagram or Pinterest or whatever – the trend is that there really is no trend,” she said. “I love working with clients to pull in their personal aesthetic and customize exactly what they need and want.”

For the Boyette family, building and creating is truly a family effort. “Both of my grandfathers, Charles Boyette, and my mom’s father, Dorsey Edwards, were journeymen carpenters whose craftsmanship helped hone Dad’s skills,” Nicole said. “Boyette Construction has always been a partnership with my mom, Wanda, working alongside Dad, overseeing accounting, and providing support in almost all areas. My sister-in-law, Hollis Boyette, is a very talented interior designer in Texarkana that I love to consult with, and my younger brother, Casey Boyette, is in the process of building his own construction company. It’s a passion that keeps growing within our family.”

Rick Boyette and Nicole Wilson are excited to pursue future projects and grateful to be able to do it together. Regardless of what trends come and go, their family’s legacy is built on a strong foundation and the shared belief that “taking someone else’s ideas and dreams and turning it into something three-dimensional, building a home, is always an honor.”

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Built On A Strong Foundation