Co-founders Aaron Genova and Cal Detwiler, acquire Jon Kitchell and Lorenzo Perez’s interest in Venue Builders, Re-focusing the firm on Sophisticated Custom Residential Projects
Phoenix based Venue Builders, known for crafting some of the Valley’s inspired hospitality and residential environments like The Desert Botanical Garden, The Newton, The Douglas Scottsdale, and The Orchard to name a few, has a new name, and a renewed focus.
Jon Kitchell and Lorenzo Perez, owners and partners at Venue Projects, have opted to convey their interest in Venue Builders to fellow founders Aaron Genova and Cal Detwiler, who have renamed the company Genova-Detwiler Custom Builders.
Genova and Detwiler are two of the luxury construction market’s strongest leaders with decades of experience delivering sophisticated resort scale residences with premium brands in the custom home market including Desert Star Construction, Linthicum Custom Builders, and Kitchell Custom Homes.
“While this is a change of name for the business, everything else remains the same operationally, including the people, systems, location and leadership,” said Cal Detwiler. “The change is a natural transition for the growth of both Venue Projects, as developer, and Venue Builders, as contractor and serves to simplify and streamline both entities going forward.”
Detwiler and Genova combined offer more than 40 years of construction industry experience, both are graduates of the Del E. Webb School of Construction Management at ASU and both hail from multi-generational custom building families. Detwiler offers a deep understanding of building systems and processes, while Genova has been a driving force behind some of the Valley’s most recognizable and award winning custom homes.
“We’re excited to return to our roots and focus our energy on our custom building clients,” said Genova. “Crafting sophisticated environments is where our core experience lies and where we have the most fun. We are excited to re-focus our energy where we can benefit our clients the most.”
Since Detwiler and Genova joined forces in 2012, the company has grown its management team to 10 and its revenues have grown ten-fold. In addition to their presence in the custom home market, their luxury residential expertise is in demand in the high-end production and multi-family markets as they successfully delivered the Douglas Scottsdale, and now provide pre-construction advisory on two prominent high end residential developments, including Cahava Springs and most recently were invited to build the Villas at Baker Park with the Empire Group.
“I think there is a movement to up the game at the top end of the townhome, condo and production market. The intelligent builders occupying that space realize that they need to deliver to those customers in a different way. They’re reaching out to us and others with similar experience to team on those projects. We’ve been able to help enhance their delivery experience and the quality of the projects we’ve been involved in, and that’s always a feel-good win when you can have a positive impact on a project,” said Genova.
Moving forward Genova-Detwiler and Venue Projects will continue to co-office out of their Phoenix office.
Genova-Detwiler Custom Builders is located at 4650 E. Thomas Road in Phoenix and welcomes the opportunity to discuss your next building project. Please visit for more information or call (602) 368-8582.
About Genova-Detwiler Custom Builders
Genova-Detwiler Custom Builders (formerly Venue Builders) was founded in 2012 by a group of the Valley’s leading builders around a dedication to innovative, honest and collaborative practices.
Under the leadership of its founders, longtime Paradise Valley builders Aaron Genova and Cal Detwiler, Genova-Detwiler has been shaped to be personal and efficient. Intentionally scaled to provide the attention and flexibility of a boutique builder combined with the professional discipline and systems of prominent commercial contractors. This model enables GD to provide clients with sensitive leadership, focused execution, unsurpassed craftsmanship and value.
