Mark Giorgetti
Principal & Founder
Palo Santo Designs
Santa Fe, NM USA
“Get comfortable with discomfort...it’s hard for me to imagine succeeding and being comfortable the whole time.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationMark Giorgetti
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
Born and raised in Connecticut.
Didn’t grow up in a family of builders or with any connection to the construction industry—admits that it wasn’t until his early twenties when he first picked up a powertool to build anything.
Attended the University of New Hampshire, where he received his degree in environmental science.
In the early 1990s, while still in college, he started working for a small company installing solar panels, before they had gained popularity, on homes.
Says he was inspired after reading a series of books about homes being built in Taos, New Mexico that were completely sustainable and made out of renewable materials.
Decided to take a roadtrip across the country to visit and learn more about sustainable ways of building—he began taking a variety of jobs to learn different construction skills and trades.
Earned his contractors license and, with no funding, he started Paolo Santo Designs, an award winning, green, design-build construction firm located in New Mexico.
He has also been a consultant for the United Nations’ UN-HABITAT project and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Santa Fe Area Home Builders' Association (SFAHBA).
Education
High School
Career
Principal & Founder
I design and build sustainable homes.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Engineering
Entrepreneurship
Building Things
Day to Day
I meet with clients or vendors to reach important milestones in design / selections or construction. Gain approval to proceed to the next level. There are many layers to the design and build process and the best part of my job is that I get to work on all of those levels. Since I am a general contractor, I don't specialize in any one area. Instead, I assist in helping to manifest all of our projects from conception to execution to completion.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
Learn the trade by working in the field. Schooling is great in so many ways, but in a trades career, practical experience is everything. You need to build "street cred" that proves you know how this industry works and that you are capable of solving the problems that come with this work.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"There are no guarantees."
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
Work Stress
First-Generation College Student
Interviewed By
Skill Powered
Finding rewarding work without a four-year degree
