Redbud Development: Two Decades of Dream Design

Photos courtesy of Redbud Development.

Redbud Development, one of the area’s premier creators of outdoor living spaces, is thrilled to be approaching their 20 year anniversary this August. The business, founded by husband and wife duo Geffrey and Karen Redick, was started in earnest back in 2004. For the past two decades, Redbud Development has been helping countless residents discover, or sometimes rediscover, that their current house truly is the house of their dreams, all through the redesign process. The business has faced its share of obstacles through those years, from the difficulty of starting up a new company to a global pandemic, but has navigated every challenge. 

On Day 1, Karen and Geffrey founded the business on three principles: creativity, integrity, and reliability. While the business has evolved and grown throughout the years, these principles still hold as true as ever. 

A graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, Geffrey received his bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture in 1993. He worked in Glens Falls for four years before moving to Long Island after marrying Karen. While living there, he worked for several years under other licensed architects and gained his own license in the process. 

In June of 2004, Karen and Geffrey decided to move back to the upstate area. Karen has a background in business with a bachelor’s degree in International Language/Business from the University of Scranton and a master’s degree in Finance from CUNY Baruch. They decided that their combined skills would make for a successful company. “We thought together as a team we would be well equipped to handle our own company,” Karen said. She handles the business end of Redbud Development, including contracts, insurance, and marketing, while Geffrey handles the front end tasks like designing and construction management.

During their 20 years in business, Karen and Geffrey have faced many challenges, one of the biggest being in 2020 during the onset of Covid-19. The global pandemic forced their business to shut down for several months, but once it was safe to do, so they started working again and even saw an increase in sales. 

“We did notice an actual increase in business because people were interested in improving their outdoor spaces,” Karen explained. However, supplies were much harder to get during this time and took longer to arrive. This didn’t stop them; they did everything they could to find alternative solutions and make replacements that still achieved the client’s goals in a timely manner. 

Despite the difficult environment, their business continued growing and they were able to help many people improve their spaces. This commitment to their customers is what continues to drive their business today. Geffrey makes sure to learn about each customer and what they are trying to achieve. Beyond just the physical appearance, he wants to understand the experience that they are looking for with their space.

 “It’s all about the client’s personal needs and desires,” Karen explained. Their goal is to do right by their customers first and foremost. “He’s honest almost to a fault,” Karen shared about Geffrey, “He will not just give a client something that they want if it’s going to harm their interest.” 

Geffrey’s experience and skills allow him to make smart decisions and help clients achieve the experience they desire without damaging the value of their house. He is always honest with them and this is what has given Redbud Development its trusted reputation. “I think people realize that,” said Karen, “They see the honesty and straightforward answers.” 

Over the past two decades, Geffrey and Karen have cultivated numerous relationships with clients and industry partners. Their extensive network of subcontractors allows them to meet any client’s needs, and their personal connections often extend beyond work, with invitations to clients’ barbecues and parties. 

“I look back on so many years of clients that have become friends,” Karen reflected. Redbud Development has built a strong legacy and is poised for many more successful years. 

“We still want to grow; we’re not done yet,” Karen said. “We look forward to taking on bigger and better projects.” 

Karen also highlighted Geffrey’s dedication, noting, “He’s very hardworking and never gives up, so here we are twenty years later.” As Redbud Development celebrates this landmark anniversary, they remain dedicated to their founding principles of creativity, integrity, and reliability. Here’s to continuing a legacy that grows more impressive with each passing year.

To learn more, visit their website at www.redbuddevelopment.com