Kate (Katy/Kates/QDawg) Havel was born and raised in Marquette and immediately left the area after graduating high school, swearing she would never return. She spent the next 11 years in lower Michigan, New York and Chicago fiercely trying to get back to Marquette. In 2010 she and her then fiance (of many, many years) Pat, jumped at an employment opportunity for him, which would allow the couple to move back to the area. With no employment plan in place for Kate, she began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and FELL. IN. LOVE with power tools. In between working as an H.R. Professional and raising children, she converted her garage into a workshop and became self-taught in the basics of building and design.  Kate has since expanded her skill-set and taught countless women/girls how to overcome the intimidation of power tools through workshops and individual consulting. 

 

Kate and Pat still happily reside in Marquette with their two awesome kids, two mostly-awesome dogs and a cat.  Kate is currently enrolled in the Building Technology program at Northern Michigan University, after which she will acquire her builder's license.