in the engineering and construction of Wine Caves, Tasting Rooms & Production FacilitiesUnparalleled expertise

Craig comes from a long line of builders that reaches back to his great grandfather – a carpenter who moved to California from the Midwest in 1936 – and roots in Sonoma County, where he and his three brothers were raised. The brothers spent their formative years working alongside their father Wendell Nordby, who founded Nordby Construction in 1978. A strong work ethic was a given. Craig joined Nordby Construction, after graduating with a degree in business and marketing at Sonoma State University, (and writing a thesis on family-owned businesses). 

Craig came up through the family business not in the field, but in operations. His business background gave him the ability to study the business and see the gaps – in marketing, business development, technology innovation, insurance and, as he jokingly describes it, “everything no one else wanted to do.” He proved himself valuable in a short period of time, and at the age of 36, took over operations. Along the way, he had developed a global view of the company that would prove invaluable in eventually leading it. Company ownership gradually evolved as first one brother, then his father, then his second brother transitioned out of the company. With a straightforward leadership style, a head for business, and perhaps most importantly, an affinity for people and partnerships, Craig has fostered an entrepreneurial outlook that has come to be one of the defining features of the Nordby Companies as a whole, and for each of its divisions as well.

As is true of any company with a history that spans multiple generations, the company has weathered ownership changes along with the highs and lows of multiple economic cycles. Along the way, Nordby launched the Wine Caves and Nordby Signature Homes divisions, both timely and targeted responses to opportunities in the market that the company was uniquely positioned to meet. The launch of these divisions early in his career trajectory would prove to be a defining moment for Craig, revealing a talent and taste for entrepreneurship. 

The company’s growth and successes in the years since the recession of 2008 stem from a singular emphasis on customer service and quality over quantity of work. He describes his leadership style as a combination of strategic thinking and fortitude. “After the recession, our remaining team was made up of leaders, highly focused on customer service. We also had the creative confidence to know our worth.” The transition to this latest phase in the company’s history gave Craig the opportunity to bring on people who are truly aligned in their objectives, creating what he likes to call “a space for possibilities.” One of his favorite phrases sums up the company ethos he has created: “It’s all about opportunity.”

Rick had always envisioned himself as a coach, drawn to the leadership and organization skills it required. His interest in the built environment began with a high school drafting class, (the first academic pursuit that had excited him outside of athletics),. This later led to a degree in civil engineering, and an early career as an engineer within a large construction company – a pivotal introduction to the field of construction.

For Rick, construction represents a fusion of the leadership and organizational skills he admired in coaching and the math involved in the more technical aspects of building, and the critical reasoning required to run a successful business. Early in his career, he began branching out into other aspects of the construction business – human resources, safety protocols – learning as he went. A series of conversations with Craig, who served on several boards with Rick, uncovered a shared outlook and entrepreneurial bent. Rick then joined Nordby Wine Caves as a partner, charged with expanding the division – formed in 1996 in response to the burgeoning market – to meet growing demand.

Born in the 1970s and 1980s, wine caves have evolved from glorified mines to finished structures, ranging in use from straightforward barrel storage to highly developed venues for hospitality. With a breadth of expertise across divisions, the Nordby Companies possess a unique ability to provide winery construction services from start to finish. Rick cites the caves at Inglenook Winery in Napa – excavated by the Wine Caves division and finished by the Construction division – as an example of the company’s seamless process.

With his low-key leadership style, Rick has developed a broad range of successful relationships throughout the industry, built upon trust and mutual respect. He places a high value on his positive relationships with the leadership team at Nordby, who share his dedication to hands-on leadership and collaboration.