At the heart of every successful construction project is a leader who brings expertise, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. At Hearthfire, we’re proud to spotlight Dan Paetzold, our Senior Construction Manager, whose vast experience and leadership continue to shape our portfolio of best-in-class projects.

With over 22 years in real estate development and construction, Dan’s career journey is as diverse as it is impressive. He has managed a range of projects, from single-family and multi-family residential developments to retail banks, warehouses, and self-storage facilities. Most recently, he worked as a Project Manager Consultant for Extra Space Storage, where he successfully oversaw multiple projects across the Midwest and Northeast regions. Dan’s adaptability and expertise ensure that every project he leads maintains the highest industry standards.

From Disaster to Recovery: A Career-Defining Project

Among his many projects, one of Dan’s most challenging and rewarding experiences was working on the New Jersey Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, Elevation, and Mitigation (RREM) program—a large-scale disaster recovery initiative in response to Hurricane Sandy. The storm, which struck on October 29, 2012, devastated the Jersey Shore, leaving thousands of residents displaced and their homes uninhabitable.

Dan took on a leadership role as Deputy Program Manager, overseeing a team of 90+ professionals, including construction managers, inspectors, case managers, and customer service representatives. His team worked directly with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the Governor’s Office, developing and implementing program policies that would help thousands of New Jersey residents rebuild their homes and lives.

The RREM program was funded through a $1 billion+ Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from HUD, allowing homeowners to rebuild, rehabilitate, and elevate their properties to meet safety standards. Initially designed to assist 2,000 residents, the program rapidly expanded to serve over 6,000 homeowners as more funding became available.

One of the biggest challenges of the program was its sheer scale and complexity. Unlike similar recovery efforts in Texas and Louisiana, a program of this magnitude had never been implemented in New Jersey. Dan and his team brought in experts from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Ike recovery programs to share best practices while leveraging local knowledge to navigate the unique challenges of rebuilding in New Jersey’s municipalities. Managing residential projects across nine counties—each with its own regulatory requirements and code interpretations—required an innovative approach to coordination and execution.

To streamline the process, Dan and his team developed a web-based program management system that assigned unique project IDs to each case. Within the system, they stored budgets, construction documents, before-and-after photos, project scopes, correspondence with homeowners, and compliance materials. This centralized system allowed the team to stay organized, efficient, and focused, ultimately expediting the reconstruction process.

By the program’s completion, over 6,000 New Jersey residents were able to return to their safe, newly rebuilt homes—many of whom would not have been able to recover without the funding and support provided by RREM.

A Passion for Building—Both Professionally and Personally

Beyond his professional achievements, Dan is a devoted family man who enjoys spending time with his wife, Stephenie, and their three children, Jack, Molly, and Henry. When he’s not overseeing construction projects, you can find him coaching youth sports, cheering on his kids at school band performances, or enjoying the outdoors at the Jersey Shore. As a lifelong Phillies fan, he never misses an opportunity to take in a baseball game.

Shaping the Future of Construction at Hearthfire

Dan’s ability to navigate complex construction projects, develop strategic solutions, and lead teams with precision makes him an invaluable asset to our company. His contributions ensure that we continue to deliver high-quality, well-executed projects that meet and exceed industry standards.

His experience with disaster recovery, real estate development, and construction management speaks volumes about his leadership, adaptability, and commitment to excellence—qualities that define our approach to every project we take on.

We’re proud to have Dan on our team and look forward to the continued impact he brings to our projects and our company.