New Blaine business is different, charitable

By Tara Nelson

Ever wonder where you can turn when you need space planning, life coaching and trim carpentry all in one business?

Becca and William Crossno think they have the answer. The couple opened their new home-based business “Team Honey Do” earlier this month, offering a range of services from 3D AutoCad design and editing to general repair, life coaching and custom children’s furniture.
Becca said she and her husband started the business when they were looking for a way to spend more time at home with their children, Jack, 4, and Sam, 2.

“We basically do everything from handyman to general contractor work,” she said. “We also offer home and life services such as if someone has errands that they don’t have time to do, we can help.”
Becca earned her bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. and worked for 10 years in the mental health field. A Canadian-certified crisis intervention counselor, former weight training coach and professional interior painter, she said she’s also completed course work in addictions, early childhood education, and conflict resolution. 

William said he has nearly 20 years of experience working in design and production for various tradeshows across the country and apprenticed with a master carpenter for almost two years.
He added that his design background gives him the ability to “conceptualize and bring forth just about any project.” 

Becca said the couple discovered Blaine while traveling from their home in Atlanta, Georgia to visit her family in Vancouver, B.C.

“Blaine was a pit stop while waiting for William’s NEXUS pass to be processed and we just fell in love with the town,” she said. “It’s a really close-knit community.”

The couple also recently organized a group of nine Whatcom County residents to complete volunteer home repair services for low-income residents.

Becca said she and her husband were inspired to create the group after reading Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” which advocates volunteering time and skills to community groups or individuals in need.

Becca said they liked the idea so much, they incorporated it into their business plan and will be offering 10 percent of their time as volunteer work per year to financially disadvantaged residents. Their first project will be to complete a partial home makeover for an elderly Blaine resident on Portal Way.

“It just made sense inside the group,” she said. “We thought, if we can do this as a group, why can’t we do this as a business. So if you can’t afford to have a handy man come in and paint or fix things, we will donate 10 percent of our time personally every month to people in the community.”

She said the Bellingham-based RE Store has also offered donations of used building materials to the project but the group is still looking for volunteers as well as professional contractors willing to donate some of their time.

“The whole vision is to get a group of people together every three or four months and do a project that benefits the community,” she said. “Maybe some people have a washer and dryer sitting around that they might want to donate. Or maybe we’ll have so many people respond to this we’ll be able to get it all done in a day.”

Crossno said the project will begin at 9 a.m., November 18. For more information, or to volunteer, call Becca at 306-5667, or visit www.teamhoneydo.com.