Our Team

Ed Cuming

Ed Cuming is a custom home builder and the founder of Ed Cuming Custom Homes, a premier custom home building company established on the Central Coast of California in 2003. Born in Yuma, Arizona, Ed grew up in a family of farmers who had been tending the land since the early 1900s. Initially, he planned to follow in his family’s footsteps and studied plant science in college. However, a year off school to work in construction planted a seed that would grow into a passion for building and shape his future career.

After completing his education, Ed worked in asset management at a mortgage company, where he gained valuable insights into the business and finance side of construction. He worked closely with a general contractor, visiting job sites every Wednesday. Before long, Ed realized Wednesdays were his favorite day of the week, and he eventually made the jump to pursue a career in building and construction.

Around this time, Ed, his wife Cheryl, and their wonderful dog Stanley made the life-changing move to the Central Coast. There, Ed worked for general contractors while earning his own license. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to start a tiling template product business with a partner, which provided him with invaluable business experience. Realizing his true passion lay in the artistry of custom home building, Ed transitioned to focusing on creating unique, beautiful homes for his clients in his own solo business in 2003.

Since starting Ed Cuming Custom Homes, Ed has built a reputation for excellence and a client-centric approach. For the first 15 years, he “wore his bags” and was hands-on, doing most of the physical labor himself until a mentor’s advice prompted him to shift his focus to the administrative side of the business, planning for long-term growth and success. Today, Ed is dedicated to enhancing the quality of his work and ensuring an exceptional client experience, and is grateful to be supported by a team of like-minded professionals.

Ed's "heart forward" philosophy emphasizes genuine connections with clients, treating each project as a unique work of art. His recent experience renovating his 120-year-old home with Cheryl has given him a renewed perspective on guiding clients through the building process.

Outside of his professional life, Ed enjoys spending time with Cheryl, who he describes as his #1 cheerleader, the love of his life, and his best friend. He also enjoys deep-sea fishing, fly fishing, kiteboarding, cycling, and off-road dirt biking. His artist’s heart, adventurous spirit, and dedication to his craft continue to drive him in both his personal and professional pursuits. Ed's passion for excellence, creativity, and client satisfaction makes Ed Cuming Custom Homes a trusted name in custom home building on the Central Coast.

Chris Bahr — Project Manager / Builder

Chris Bahr is a Project Manager and Builder at Ed Cuming Custom Homes, where he leverages over 30 years of experience in the construction industry. Chris excels in collaborating with homeowners, architects, designers, and subcontractors to create custom homes that are both unique and thoughtfully crafted.
Chris began his career in 1991 as a finish carpenter’s apprentice while studying at the College of the Sequoias Building Trades Construction Program, later transferring to CSU Sacramento and earning a BS in Engineering Construction Management in 1996. He then joined Turner Construction Company in Los Angeles, working on complex, large-scale projects.
In 2001, Chris moved to San Luis Obispo, where he obtained his contractor’s license and founded Silver Oak Construction & Concrete. The company performed structural and site concrete work as well as small residential remodels until Chris sold his interest to his partner in 2008. Moving to Los Angeles for his wife’s career, Chris founded Bahr Builders, Inc. and focused on seismic retrofitting and foundation work before returning to SLO in 2019 to build custom homes.
Chris now offers a range of construction services to homeowners and contractors. He provides general contractors with project management, scheduling, and field supervision, while also working directly with homeowners as the general contractor for home builds and remodels. Chris ensures that every project is completed successfully, delivering an enjoyable experience to all his clients. To learn more, visit BahrBuildersInc.com.
When not working, Chris can be found in his garden, hiking or riding through the hills of the Central Coast, or backpacking in the Sierra Nevadas.

Kathy Sherman — Estimator / Project Coordinator

Kathy loves her work in estimating and project coordination for new construction, remodels, and custom home builds. Her extensive experience has provided her with a solid foundation in residential construction, and she has honed a keen attention to detail in budget tracking for clients and trade partners. Kathy excels in coordinating product selections with clients and providers, ensuring that every project runs smoothly.
This work is especially fulfilling for Kathy, given her deep appreciation for beautiful buildings—a fascination that began at an early age. The variety of architectural styles she encountered while traveling—from Victorian to Mid-Century Modern, Revivalist, Colonial, and European—captivated her imagination and “felt magical” she says. Over the years, she envisioned herself living in many of these homes, which fueled her dream of working in the building industry, with a particular passion for home construction.
Outside of work, Kathy enjoys reading, nurturing a budding interest in gardening, and cooking. Her greatest joy comes from spending time with her growing family.

Bonnie Blyth — Administrative Specialist

Bonnie is an accomplished administrative professional with a strong background in the high-tech industry. Her drive, motivation, and high energy are evident in all aspects of her work. Since settling on the Central Coast in 2020, she has thrived in both her professional and personal pursuits.
In her professional life, Bonnie excels in managing administrative tasks with efficiency and precision. Her dedication to her work is matched only by her passion for continuous improvement and growth. With a keen eye for detail and a proactive approach, she consistently contributes to the success of her team and organization.
Outside of the office, Bonnie finds joy and rejuvenation in the great outdoors. She is an avid hiker and kayaker, often exploring the stunning landscapes and waterways that the Central Coast has to offer. Her love for nature not only provides her with physical activity but also serves as a source of inspiration and relaxation.
Bonnie embodies the spirit of adventure both in her career and personal life, making the most of every opportunity that comes her way. Whether navigating the complexities of the workplace or navigating a winding river, she approaches each opportunity with enthusiasm and determination, leaving a positive impact wherever she goes.

Cheryl Cuming — Marketing

Cheryl’s career has included public relations, marketing, brand development, advertising, sales operations and BID administration. Her experience extends to both public and private sectors with businesses of all sizes – spanning from owning a 10-person ad agency / graphic design firm to McClatchy Media Corporation, and most recently working as a contracted CAO managing several tourism marketing districts. She brings a keen understanding of relationship-based service and process implementation.

Since 2010 Cheryl has been the contracted CAO of the unincorporated San Luis Obispo County Tourism BID, known as Highaway1RoadTrip. For the last 7 years she has also contracted with the Santa Maria Valley Tourism District working in conjunction with the SMV Chamber. Cheryl focuses on marketing strategy and district administration, leading a team of 24 contracted marketing and administrative professionals in partnership with 6 advertising firms across 9 districts with over 50 constituent board members. Her sweet-spot is building collaborative relationships across communities while implementing strategic programs that create results.

She also enjoys being involved in the community she loves, serving on the boards of the SLO Museum of Art, YMCA, SLO Coast Wine Collective, SLO Chamber of Commerce (Chair 2015), the Hearst Cancer Center, and Cal Poly’s Experiential Management Advisory Council.

Mariko Kriege — Marketing

Supporting Ed Cuming Custom Homes since 2020, Mariko provides comprehensive marketing, design, and writing services. With her business Mariko Creative, Mariko’s mission is to use her skills to help people, businesses, and nonprofits share their message and connect with their audiences in ways that further their mission, making the world a better, more connected place.

Mariko brings creative thinking, thoughtful communication, and problem-solving with a personal touch to every project, working closely with clients to deliver results that are authentic and aligned with their mission and brand.

With a background in grant writing, fundraising, community outreach, technical writing, and teaching, Mariko is particularly passionate about serving nonprofits but enjoys partnering with all types of clients. She holds an MA in English from Cal Poly and a BA in English from UC Berkeley.

Mariko resides in San Luis Obispo with her husband, two young children, and two cats. She loves exploring SLO County's hiking trails, beaches, and food and wine scene. In her free time, she enjoys reading fiction, watching horror movies, and gardening.

Hollie West — Social Media

Hollie loves all things communication work. Between her full time job at the SLO Chamber and her freelance digital communication business, she is rooted in the local business community and enjoys helping small businesses thrive.

Allison Palm — Accounting

Allison Palm is a Partner and co-founder of Connect Accounting. Allison’s expertise includes professional services, high net-worth individuals, real estate, hospitality, and construction. Her roles include client advisory services such as, cash-flow management, implementation of financial systems, preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and management reporting for use in decision making. Allison serves as a primary point of contact between clients and other professionals such as bankers, attorneys, and CPAs.
In her role, Allison especially enjoys providing one-on-one education of financial results based on data-driven information. She enjoys completing complex accounting projects to provide a full accounting service her clients can trust.
Allison began her career in public accounting, where she gained experience in income tax return preparation, financial audits, general ledger management, accounts receivable and payable, and fixed-asset accounting. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Cal Poly in 2001. She is a California Certified Public Accountant and a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
In addition to her work at Connect Accounting, Allison has contributed as an educator and reviewer in Income Tax Preparation classes at Allan Hancock College and the United Way of Santa Barbara County. She lives on the Central Coast with her husband and two daughters. In her free time, Allison enjoys the challenge of CrossFit, hiking with her two labs, and engaging with her family's sporting events.

Kelly Donohue — Photography

As a long time resident on the Central Coast, Kelly was primed to discover her passion for photography living in what some call a photographer's wonderland. Kelly has well over a decade of experience in communications, photography, and marketing, with a true passion for creative storytelling. She has always felt compelled to bring life to ideas that serve non-profits, communities, and businesses. This is evident by her years of service on multiple boards and committees, including SLOU40, The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, and the Imagine SLO Economic Development Project.