Company History

Sun State Builders was founded in 1973 by Jim Chamberlain. Jim followed in the footsteps of two generations before him and drew on his experience in finance and construction to launch and successfully lead the company for 50 years. Under Jim’s leadership, Sun State Builders grew to become a leading Arizona general construction company with a team of more than 60 employees and a portfolio of commercial and residential projects throughout Arizona. Projects include ground-up builds in office, retail, industrial, hospitality and multifamily development, along with tenant improvement projects and renovations, ranging from 5,000 to 1,000,000 square feet. 

In 2020, after 46 years in business, Jim expanded the company’s ownership, adding three longtime employees – Curt Johannson, Mike Forst and Andrea Piering – as partners. Curt joined Sun State as a superintendent in 1993 and rose up the ranks to senior project manager, then production manager and eventually vice president overseeing quality control. Mike joined the company more than 20 years prior as finance and development manager. Andrea Piering was hired in 1998, learning the business and gaining expertise in project management overseeing more than $250 million in construction. 

In January 2024, Curt Johannson formally retired and Jim Chamberlain stepped down from his position as CEO. Jim continues to serve as an active advisor to the company in development, while Mike Forst takes the reins as CEO and Andrea Piering is president. Mike and Andrea share a vision for building on Sun State Builders’ strong foundation and moving the company forward with innovation and growth.