Herschel Atkinson is a lifelong resident of the Indianapolis area, and has called Johnson County his home for many years.  From his youth, Atkinson was fascinated with architecture, and the concept of creating a structure from an idea on paper to completion.  Atkinson knew, however, that a career behind a desk was not for him, and was unsure at first how to channel this interest into a career. A self-motivated, independent thinker, he also knew that he was best suited for self-employment.  So, after receiving his Bachelor’s Degree from Franklin College, he decided to pursue a career in real estate, moving quickly from Real Estate Salesperson to Broker/Co-Owner of the one of the most successful Century 21 offices in the city.  Still feeling the creative tug of architecture, Atkinson drew home plans as a hobby, and offered his services to several custom builders.  He then began purchasing homes in need of refurbishment, re-modeling and selling them.  He enjoyed this process so much that he soon decided to pursue building his first custom home from the ground up, and a lifelong career as a homebuilder was born.

“For me, it (homebuilding) is a creative issue.  My satisfaction comes from starting with my own or someone else’s idea, getting that idea down on paper, and then taking it from the ground up and producing something I can be proud of.  It is about challenging myself every time I walk onto the job to do everything I can to make it great, and then seeing the result at the end. ”

Since 1989, Atkinson has consistently delivered a superior home to the marketplace, and is held in high regard by his many happy clients.  In 1999, he expanded his business further by partnering on two successful land development projects, and formed Atkinson Homes, Inc, in 2006, with the idea of streamlining processes and pricing to better serve his clients.  Atkinson has been repeatedly recognized by his peers for his outstanding reputation and his willingness to serve the industry through volunteerism.  Most recently, he served as 2005 President of the Builder’s Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI), and was awarded 2005 Outstanding Builder of the Year, both by BAGI and by the Johnson County Builder’s Council.  He resides in White River Township with his wife, Laura, and their daughter Lindsey, and has two grown children who live out-of-state.  His spare time is spent with his family.

QUICK FACTS
Bachelor of Science in History from Franklin College
President of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity
President of Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni Association
Member of Builder’s Association of Greater Indianapolis since 1987
1999 President of Johnson County Builder’s Council
1997 recipient of Outstanding Builder of the Year for Johnson County Builder’s Council
2005 President of Builder’s Association of Greater Indianapolis
2005 recipient of Outstanding Builder of the Year for the Builder’s Association of Greater Indianapolis
2005 recipient of Outstanding Builder of the Year by the Johnson County Builder’s Council

Wendy McClellan has resided Johnson County her whole life.  A graduate of Center Grove High School and Franklin College, McClellan began working part-time in the building industry as a college student. “The company’s main client was a southside builder who specialized in entry level housing. As I was nearing graduation, my manager told me that the builder was looking to fill a marketing position and had expressed an interest in me.  It sounded intriguing, so I pursued the opportunity.  So my first job after college was with a homebuilder!  I moved into sales just three short months later, and fell in love with this career and with working with people to build their dream home.”   Realizing quickly that quality and customer care appeared to be a struggle for many of the larger building companies, and wanting to be able to help clients design a truly unique home perfectly suited to their needs; she made the decision that a small, more custom builder was a better fit.  She moved quickly through the ranks, with a promotion from Sales Consultant to Sales Manager in just one year, eventually becoming Vice-President of Sales and Operations.  As the company grew, McClellan once again began to crave a smaller, more intimate atmosphere where she could continue to have the hands-on contact with her clients, which is her first love, while managing her own company as well.

“When Hersh invited me to join him at Atkinson Homes, I knew that I had found exactly what I was looking for.  I can do what I do best, which is to personally deliver outstanding customer service and create a pleasant and enjoyable experience for my client, while always feeling completely assured that the home I have sold is in expert hands.  And I get to partner with someone for whom I have tremendous respect.” 

In addition to her hands-on role with Atkinson Homes, McClellan also takes time to give back to the industry that she loves.  She is currently in her second term as an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Builder’s Association of Greater Indianapolis, and serves on a variety of committees as a volunteer.  She resides in White River Township with her husband, Phil, and their two spoiled pets, and is an avid runner and enjoys travel in her spare time.

QUICK FACTS:
Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Franklin College Pulliam School of Journalism
Certified New Homes Sales Professional by the National Association of Home Builders
Licensed Mortgage Broker since 2001
Elected Member of the BAGI Board of Directors since 2003