Meet The Home Remodeling Expert

Jacob Hamilton
Chief Executive Officer

Jacob Hamilton is a visionary leader in the real estate and remodeling industry, serving as the CEO of Character Companies Inc. With extensive experience and a passion for property transformation, he has positioned the company as a premier provider of remodeling services in the Northern Virginia area.

Jacob’s journey began at a young age when he obtained his Virginia Real Estate license at 18, displaying early aptitude and passion. Most of Jacob’s real estate sales career was spent working with institutional sized real estate investment companies and family offices, speculating on properties and analyzing what remodeling projects would yield the best return on investment for his clients. Jacob learned the remodeling business by assisting these investors in remodeling and repositioning their single family homes throughout Northern Virginia. As his career progressed, he too began purchasing lots to build custom homes and houses to perform large scale renovation projects.

Jacob’s expertise contributes to his ability to be able to advise homeowners on the best remodeling projects to perform with the highest return on investment. In his free time, Jacob serves the community as a mentor to local teenagers guiding on their own path through the journey of entrepreneurship. Additionally, he enjoys golfing, fly fishing, and spending time with his wife, Claire and their dog, Greg.

Kara Jean-Baptiste
Production Manager

From initial sketches to finished construction, Kara witnesses our team’s efforts come to life as Production Manager. She takes pride in enhancing outreach through strategic website updates, showcasing our capabilities to potential clients. Every day presents new challenges, from logistics to creative problem-solving, but finding solutions that propel projects forward brings her fulfillment and drives the team’s success. In her downtime, she cherishes moments with her dog, Hendrix, the perfect escape to unwind and recharge outside of work.

Vernon Landis
Superintendent

With a passion for home remodeling and building, Vernon thrives on witnessing the transformation of each project from start to finish. He takes pride in his work, ensuring every detail is meticulously attended to, and finds great satisfaction in seeing a project come to life and exceeding clients’ expectations. His patience and attention to detail make him an invaluable part of our team, ensuring smooth operations and top-quality results on every job. 

Outside of work, Vernon is an avid golfer and fisherman, always looking for his next competitive challenge. Whether on the job site or enjoying a day on the course or water, Vernon’s commitment to excellence shines through in everything he does.

Abby Atkinson
Lead Designer

Abby designs timeless, personalized spaces that seamlessly blend classic charm with everyday functionality, drawing inspiration from Old Town Alexandria. While aesthetics are essential to great design, she believes spaces should also be practical and tailored to how you live—thoughtfully balancing style, functionality, and budget.

As the visionary of the design team, she keeps projects moving by managing design scheduling and guiding clients through the key decisions that bring their vision to life. Because let’s be honest—making design choices can be overwhelming, and sometimes picking a paint color feels harder than naming your firstborn.

With her warm and approachable nature, Abby makes the design process feel easy and enjoyable—always ready to tackle design challenges, problem solve onsite issues and answer any questions along the way.

Allie Philips
Operations Manager

Allie thrives on solving problems and developing more efficient, organized processes that enhance the company’s project flow. With a keen eye for detail and a proactive approach, Allie helps make sure the business is running smoothly so the production team can focus on ensuring that every remodeling project is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. Known for her positive attitude and resourcefulness, Allie fosters strong relationships with clients, vendors, and team members alike. She is passionate about optimizing operations and continually finding ways to improve the company’s overall performance.

Outside of work, Allie enjoys challenging herself with crossword puzzles, rock climbing, and embracing new experiences. Her love for learning and exploring new challenges mirrors her approach to her role—always looking for ways to grow and improve.

Claire Hamilton
Director of Marketing

Claire is passionate about connecting homeowners with tailored solutions for their remodeling needs. With a background in cognitive science and architecture, she blends her love for design with an understanding of human behavior. Claire’s professional journey spans brand marketing to employee engagement, where she excels in creating meaningful connections that drive business growth and cultivate a positive company culture.

Outside of her role here, you’ll find her coaching fitness classes at [solidcore], running along the George Washington Parkway, and escaping to the beach when the weather is right. Together with her husband, Jacob, they are dedicated to making their community’s homes as remarkable as the people living in them.

Greg Hamilton
Outdoor Living Consultant

Meet Greg Hamilton, our esteemed Outdoor Living Consultant at Character Companies! As a loyal canine member of our team, Greg brings a unique charm and perspective to our outdoor projects. With a keen nose for sniffing out the best design ideas and a wagging tail for every client meeting, Greg’s boundless energy infuses every project with joy and tail-wagging delight. Whether he’s lounging in the sun, chasing squirrels for inspiration, or lending a paw with design sketches (or rather, paw prints), Greg’s love for the great outdoors shines through. With Greg by our side, we’re sure to create outdoor spaces that are as fun-loving and relaxing as he is!