Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel VP Named to Pro Remodeler's 40 Under 40

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rachel Cantor-Walker, Vice President of Operations at Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel, has been named to Pro Remodeler's prestigious 40 Under 40 list for 2025. This recognition celebrates Cantor-Walker's leadership and innovation in San Diego's design-build industry, coinciding with Murray Lampert's milestone 50th anniversary.

As we celebrate 50 years in business, it's important to recognize Rachel as a crucial part in building and maintaining the Murray Lampert Experience, not only for our team, but for the communities we serve.

Read on for her interview that won her Pro Remodeler's 40 Under 40.

Question: "Please name a professional accomplishment you are most proud of, and why?"

One professional accomplishment I am most proud of is reaching Murray Lampert DBR's 50th anniversary this year. This milestone reflects the incredible growth and transformation we've experienced. We've evolved from a construction-focused company into a true design-build firm by adding an in-house design team, embracing technology, and refining our processes. This shift has elevated our brand and allowed us to deliver a unique experience to our clients. We've grown into a team of 25, moved into a new office that better represents who we are, and become more intentional in choosing the right clients and projects that align with our values. Personally, transitioning from design to operations and management has been an exciting challenge, giving me the opportunity to help shape the company's direction and support our team's development. Reaching this milestone is a testament to the strength and contributions of each generation, and I'm excited about what's next as we continue building on this legacy.

Question: "Thinking about the past 18 months, what is the largest professional challenge you & your company faced? How are you tackling that challenge?"

The largest professional challenge we faced over the past 18 months was preparing for my four-month maternity leave while maintaining seamless operations. This required extensive planning and trust in the team. We created detailed SOPs and a structured delegation plan, breaking the transition into three key phases: tell, show, watch. The results were incredible. Not only did our team rise to the challenge, but they also uncovered new efficiencies and grew stronger as a result. By the time I returned, I found a more capable, empowered team that had improved many processes on their own. This experience reinforced the value of clear systems, thorough preparation, and trusting your people to step up.

Question: "What is your Best Business Innovation?"

Our best business innovation has been a combination of several forward-thinking initiatives that have transformed how we operate and enhanced the client experience. We developed custom estimating tools, which help our team produce more accurate estimates and also empowers our prospective clients with early budgeting insights. They are able to utilize these tools before we even meet. Additionally, we brought Interior Design in-house to create a more seamless and cohesive client journey. This change gave us better control over the design process and allowed us to offer a truly integrated design-build experience, improving efficiency and client satisfaction. Finally, we've embraced cutting-edge technology, incorporating drone surveying, LiDAR scanning, and Revit modeling to produce accurate and detailed designs. This innovation not only improves our internal processes but also ensures our clients have a clearer vision of their projects from start to finish. All of these initiatives have allowed us to set expectations more clearly and maintain a solid follow through.

Question: "What is your favorite book/podcast/blog?"

Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman has been a game-changer for our company. With guidance from our business coach, our leadership team worked through the book together and implemented many of its core concepts. We now have a company scorecard that keeps us focused on key metrics, a clearly defined niche, and a meaningful core values that aligns and inspires our entire team. We've built regular check-ins into our process to ensure these elements remain top of mind and evolve as needed. Tools like the People Analyzer have helped us assess our team's alignment with our core values, giving us a consistent framework for making decisions and maintaining accountability. Overall, Traction has provided us with a structure that keeps us organized, intentional, and continually improving.

Question: "How do you have fun outside of work?"

These days, most of my free time is spent with my baby girl, Eleanor. My husband and I both work full time, so we cherish every extra moment we get to spend together as a family, including our standard poodle, Phoebe. We're lucky to have our large families here in San Diego, which means lots of time spent celebrating holidays, birthdays, and other family gatherings. When we do get the rare chance for just the two of us, we love attending food festivals and trying new restaurants. One day, we hope to get back to traveling and exploring new places, this time with Eleanor in tow!

Visit the Pro Remodeler 40 Under 40 Website: https://www.proremodeler.com/

Thoughts From the 4^th Generation Ownership- Rachel's thoughts on celebrating 50 years in business : https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/celebrating-5-decades-of-san-diego-design--build-thoughts-from-the-4th-generation-ownership-302363624.html tronger as a result. By the time I returned, I found a more capable, empowered team that had improved many processes on their own. This experience reinforced the value of clear systems, thorough preparation, and trusting your people to step up."

Innovation in Custom Home Remodeling "Our best business innovation has been a combination of several forward-thinking initiatives that have transformed how we operate and enhanced the client experience. We developed custom estimating tools, which help our team produce more accurate estimates and also empower our prospective clients with early budgeting insights. They are able to utilize these tools before we even meet. Additionally, we brought Interior Design in-house to create a more seamless and cohesive client journey. This change gave us better control over the design process and allowed us to offer a truly integrated design-build experience, improving efficiency and client satisfaction. Finally, we've embraced cutting-edge technology, incorporating drone surveying, LiDAR scanning, and Revit modeling to produce accurate and detailed designs. This innovation not only improves our internal processes but also ensures our clients have a clearer vision of their projects from start to finish. All of these initiatives have allowed us to set expectations more clearly and maintain solid follow-through."

Business Leadership Inspiration "Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman has been a game-changer for our company. With guidance from our business coach, our leadership team worked through the book together and implemented many of its core concepts. We now have a company scorecard that keeps us focused on key metrics, a clearly defined niche, and meaningful core values that align and inspire our entire team. We've built regular check-ins into our process to ensure these elements remain top of mind and evolve as needed. Tools like the People Analyzer have helped us assess our team's alignment with our core values, giving us a consistent framework for making decisions and maintaining accountability. Overall, Traction has provided us with a structure that keeps us organized, intentional, and continually improving."

Work-Life Balance in San Diego "These days, most of my free time is spent with my baby girl, Eleanor. My husband and I both work full time, so we cherish every extra moment we get to spend together as a family, including our standard poodle, Phoebe. We're lucky to have our large families here in San Diego, which means lots of time spent celebrating holidays, birthdays, and other family gatherings. When we do get the rare chance for just the two of us, we love attending food festivals and trying new restaurants. One day, we hope to get back to traveling and exploring new places, this time with Eleanor in tow!"

For more information about Pro Remodeler's 40 Under 40 program, visit Pro Remodeler's website.

Read more about Murray Lampert's 50-year legacy in San Diego home remodeling in their recent press release about celebrating five decades of San Diego design and build excellence.

About Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel Since 1975, Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel has served San Diego homeowners with premium design-build services, specializing in custom home renovations, additions, and whole-house remodels. As a fourth-generation family-owned business, they bring 50 years of expertise and innovation to every project, maintaining an A+ BBB rating and delivering award-winning service to San Diego communities.

SOURCE Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel