Chapter 06 · The Family · CEO & Co-Founder
Cathy Canales.
The face of the company, and the standard behind every conversation, contract, and finish.
Her Story
Cathy didn't set out to run an ADU company. She married into a family of builders, watched her father-in-law Eric swing a hammer for decades, and raised her family in homes his crews framed by hand. She saw what it looks like when a home is built by people who genuinely care about it.
By 2021, she was tired of watching California families get squeezed by housing costs: kids who couldn't afford to live near their parents, aging parents with nowhere to land. And the existing options were failing everyone, from slow and expensive site builds to modular companies with no transparency to contractors who vanished mid-project.
So she did the only thing she knew how to do. She started a family company, built on 40+ years of building experience. Eric, our co-founder and Craftsman Trainer, sets the craftsmanship standard. Her son Austin runs operations and the factory. Her son Joshua handles the marketing. Cathy leads sales and sets the tone for every conversation, every contract, every finish. Her name shows up often in our Google reviews, because when you walk into the factory in Salinas, you'll often meet her in person.
Your first call is with a member of our team, a real person here, not an offshore call center. We'll connect you with the right specialist who can talk you through whether an ADU makes sense, even when the honest answer is "not yet." Then, when you book the factory tour, you'll often meet Cathy herself.
Cathy Canales CEO · Co-Founder
Her Story, In Order
From a family of builders to a company of her own.
Married into a family of builders.
Cathy watched her father-in-law Eric swing a hammer for decades and raised her family in homes his crews framed by hand.
Watched families get squeezed out.
Kids who couldn't afford to live near their parents. Aging parents with nowhere to land. Every existing option, slow site builds, opaque modular companies, vanishing contractors, was failing families like hers.
Co-founded Framework First.
Built on 40+ years of family building experience, with Eric setting the craftsmanship standard, Austin running operations and the factory, and Joshua handling the marketing.
Leads sales, sets the tone.
Every conversation, every contract, every finish. Her name shows up often in our Google reviews, and you'll often meet her in person at the factory tour.
What Clients Say
Real reviews. Real families.
“Everything we would have picked out was already in there.”
“I could tell that it was made very well. Everything looks top of the line: the fixtures, the windows, the kitchen… it’s awesome.”
“We are so excited. We cannot believe it’s already here!”
The Family
Cathy doesn't build alone.
Skip the Form
Just call our team.
Weekdays 8am to 5pm Pacific. A member of our team picks up and connects you with the right specialist, no offshore call center, no queue. You'll often meet Cathy herself when you tour the factory in Salinas.