Our Story
Modern Roots is an Iowa City residential construction company made up of five equal partner/owners. With a long history of working together, each partner brings a wide range of unique skills and experiences to your project. Modern Roots mission is to create a collaborative environment with you, the homeowner, to guide you through the design and construction process, and to create a living space that is beyond your expectations. Our in house design build process ensures that everything stays coordinated from beginning to end. We are also committed to doing good in the local community and using products and materials that help protect our environment whenever possible.
Olga Badovinac - Designer
Olga Badovinac received her Masters of Architectural Engineering degree from the University of Belgrade School of Architecture in 1996. She then worked at The Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments of Serbia. Olga began working in the Iowa City area as a designer in 2006. Her specialty is versatility and she has worked on a wide range of projects from historic restorations to modernist new constructions.
John Martinek - Project Development
John is in charge of development, estimating, and scheduling for our projects. He began building cabinets in a local shop in 1990 and has been a woodworker ever since, except for a 3 year hiatus teaching art in Turkey. John is a member of the board of directors for the Englert Theatre. He is also an active artist and is represented locally by Iowa Artisan’s Gallery. John received a bachelors degree from Knox College and an MFA from the University of Iowa in Printmaking.
Damon Callahan - Project Manager
Damon is perhaps the most well rounded carpenter at Modern Roots. After working for several years as a cabinet and fine furniture maker in the 1990’s, he moved to Montana to build traditional log homes. Damon returned to work as a carpenter and cabinetmaker in the Iowa City area in 2002, and has a strong background of experience in residential construction. He is responsible for managing the on-site aspects of our projects. Damon is a graduate of Ellsworth and Kirkwood Community College.
Eric “Ike” Eichhorn - Project Manager
Ike began working as a carpenter in the Iowa City area in 2005. He is our financial officer and also manages many of our projects. Ike handles the management of our woodworking and cabinetry production and is responsible for in-house painting, staining, and fine finishing. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa.
John “Chauncy” Farmer - Project Manager
Chauncy began his career in 2001, working for 9 years as a heating and air technician. He began working as a carpenter in 2010 and has been doing that ever since. From 2015-2018 he ran his own business before deciding to return to work with our group. He also has a small farm where he raises pigs, cows, goats, chickens and three sons.