Our Team - New Spaces

Jennifer McClellan

HOMEOWNER ADVISOR

Jennifer loves spending time with her husband and 4 adult children, and any kind of animal big or small.

Jennifer McClellan

HOMEOWNER ADVISOR

Jennifer loves spending time with her husband and 4 adult children, and any kind of animal big or small. She ❤️’s them all especially her dog, Ms. Molly McClellan and two Savannah cats, Amara and Zyla! In her free time Jennifer’s hobbies include reading, exploring the outdoors, pickleball, repurposing and finishing used furniture, and planning elaborate themed parties for her family and friends!

Favorite Ice Cream: Kemps Peppermint Bon Bon

Professional Profile: Jennifer has proudly been serving New Spaces clients and their families since early 2011! She is the first point of contact for our clients in the South and East metro, as well for New Spaces legacy clients!

If you were to ask Jennifer two of her favorite things about being part of the New Spaces team she would quickly say “growing and fostering relationships with her colleagues and clients and helping New Spaces clients uncover their homes hidden potential”!

Bjorn Freudenthal

HOMEOWNER ADVISOR

Bjorn is a dual citizen who grew up in Helsinki, Finland and will always feel at home in the Scandinavian countries.

Bjorn Freudenthal

HOMEOWNER ADVISOR

Bjorn is a dual citizen who grew up in Helsinki, Finland and will always feel at home in the Scandinavian countries. He has an appreciation for cultural differences and loves spending time fishing & boating with his wife and 2 grown children at the family Cabin in Finland, on The Gulf of Finland/Baltic Sea.

Bjorn is the Chef of his household and likes cooking and experimenting with new recipes. He has been known to host traditional Finnish Cray Fish Parties for his past clients.

Favorite Ice Cream: Salmiakki (Finnish Salted Black Licorice).

Professional Profile: Bjorn is a Qualifying Builder & Certified Aging in Place Specialist, who loves good design and he has been building and remodeling design award winning projects all over the Twin Cities for over 20 years. Bjorn has served on the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI MN) Board of Directors between 2006-2011, as President of NARI MN in 2007, and as Vice-Chair for the Strategic Planning Committee for NARI National 2011-2013.

Chris Johnson

Project Controller

Chris is married and has 3 children, and he is active in the Shakopee youth hockey association.

Chris Johnson

Project Controller

Chris is married and has 3 children, and he is active in the Shakopee youth hockey association. His outdoor insterests include Camping, Hunting, Golf, and amateur level cooking.

Favorite Ice Cream: Ben and Jerry’s Salted Caramel Brownie

Professional Profile: Project Manager and Exteriors Leader Chris Johnson previously worked in Auto Sales and Services for 9 years, handling operations and business development. Chris believes that to be successful, you have to care about all aspects of your career, your customers, your fellow employees, the company, and yourself. His charisma and effective leadership traits continues to be driven by his belief that no one should be judged by their failures, but instead judged by how they recover from them.

Chris served six years in the US Army Reserve and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant. His experience working 30 years in the automotive industry includes a diverse amount of roles including, but not limited to, service writing, technician and overall management.

Shawn Nelson

President, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer

Shawn wishes he could golf a lot more than he has been lately.

Shawn Nelson

President, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer

Shawn wishes he could golf a lot more than he has been lately. He makes a mean spaghetti sauce and is allowed to move dirt if no one else is available.

Favorite Ice Cream: Strawberry

Professional Profile: Shawn grew up working every kind of job at New Spaces with a first-hand look at remodeling and the difference it could make in a family’s life. He earned a B.A. from Valparaiso University in Business and an MBA from the University of Saint Thomas – School of Business. His favorite tool is his computer. Shawn is most proud of the way New Spaces helps their customers discover the right project for them – one that fits their needs and their budget. Shawn started early in the business. Though it may have violated some child labor laws, we have photographic proof of him out on a job with his dad when he was a young kid.

Ed Finneseth

Production Manager

When he isn’t at work building things out of wood, he’s at home building things out of wood.

Ed Finneseth

Production Manager

When he isn’t at work building things out of wood, he’s at home building things out of wood. Loves to golf, garden and read. Has two grandsons who are about to get their first hammer.

Favorite Ice Cream: Cherry

Professional Profile: Ed has always been a carpenter. He started out building custom homes, but quickly found his calling as a remodeler. He says, “I love remodeling. I love the new challenges that come with every job. I can’t imagine doing anything else.” New Spaces has been fortunate to have Ed on the team since 1996.

Courtney Johnson

Lead Designer

Courtney Johnson has been in the interior design and remodeling industry for nearly 19 years, after getting her undergraduate degree in interior design.

Courtney Johnson

Lead Designer

‍Hobbies: Gardening, remodeling my own home, cooking/baking, spending time with my family.

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‍Favorite ice cream: Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia

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‍Courtney Johnson has been in the interior design and remodeling industry for nearly 19 years, after getting her undergraduate degree in interior design. Her diverse background working in high end residential interior design as well as new construction for 4 years has led her to become a renowned, award-winning creative in the Twin Cities. For 15 years and counting she has been in the remodeling sphere, working in both the sales and design sectors.

Jayme Lennon

Lead Designer

When not working, Jayme loves to spend time with her husband, her daughter, and their 2 chihuahua-mixes.

Jayme Lennon

Lead Designer

When not working, Jayme loves to spend time with her husband, Nick, her daughter, Maycee, and their 2 chihuahua-mixes, Archie & Birdie. She is an avid cook, which furthers her passion for kitchen design.

Favorite Ice Cream: Spumoni

Professional Profile: Jayme began as an intern in 2006 and she has been a full-time lead designer for 10 years at New Spaces. Jayme has been designing beautiful and unique spaces for our clients at New Spaces for over 15 years. She prides herself in always designing one-of-a-kind projects tailored to her client’s needs. One of her favorite parts of her position is getting to know her clients, their families, and helping them to be inspired by the space in which they live. While Jayme loves all things retro and mid-century modern, she enjoys designing spaces of all styles, with no two projects ever looking the same.

Ali Boran

Lead Designer

Ali’s life is filled with kids, pets and family activities. Her husband, Connor, is a self-taught Chef but Ali decides on the Kitchen Design and features!

Ali Boran

Lead Designer

Ali’s life is filled with kids, pets and family activities. Her husband, Connor, is a self-taught Chef but Ali decides on the Kitchen Design and features! Ali is a devoted mom to Kira (6) & Quinn (4) and their Husky Australian Shepherd, Belle.

Favorite Ice Cream: Mint Chocolate Chip

Professional Profile: Ali was born to be a Designer, she has spent the last 12 years perfecting the various disciplines of Design – Space Planning, Cabinetry Design, and the intricate details around Finish Material Selections before coming to New Spaces. Ali loves great design of many styles and the process of learning about people, their stories, and how they want to live in order help them find their optimal plan for their home.

David Hagens

Lead Carpenter

Sean Seal

Lead Carpenter – Production

Sean enjoys cooking, relaxing with his cats, and spending time with his family outside of work.

Sean Seal

Lead Carpenter – Production

Sean enjoys cooking, relaxing with his cats, and spending time with his family outside of work.

Favorite ice cream: Coffee

Professional Profile: Sean is an experienced remodeler with 7 years in the business. He had his introduction to remodeling helping the contractor remodel his parents’ kitchen in high school, then later started an apprenticeship with a local remodeling company in the Chicagoland area. With the help of several master carpenters, he quickly developed skills in all aspects of carpentry from frame to finish. He has a strong attention to detail and enjoys the satisfaction of seeing the result of all the hard work that goes into a project.

Tate Murchison

Carpenter

In his free time, Tate enjoys exercising, snowboarding, hiking and anything outdoors.

Tate Murchison

Carpenter

In his free time, Tate enjoys exercising, snowboarding, hiking and anything outdoors.

Ice Cream: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Professional Profile: Tate is a graduate of the Minneapolis Community and Technical College where he studied architectural technology. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.

Tate has vast experience in being a technician for different concentrations whether it be engineering or architecture and planning. His proactive learning capabilities sets Tate apart, and his enthusiasm for residential construction is contagious among the New Spaces team.

Mateo Johnson

Carpenter Assistant

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