By Donna Heiderstadt

At an age when many young teens are more obsessed with hanging out with their friends than thinking about future careers, Zoe Roberson took a welding class during her freshman year of high school — and was hooked. The Massachusetts native moved to North Carolina at age 19 and worked in commercial and industrial welding for several years, specializing in HVAC ductwork. Now 26, Zoe is a licensed general contractor and owner of Rocky Mount, NC-based Wallflower Remodeling. “I love working on remodels and truly making someone’s house feel like home,” she says.

Her own home is a busy one. As the mom of a five-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son, Zoe endeavors to build her work days around her children’s schedules, and being a general contractor offers flexibility. While being a business owner who typically juggles three or four home renovations at a time is a major accomplishment, Zoe views her family as her highest achievement. “I am most proud of being a mother,” she says. “My son and daughter mean the world to be and they continue to make me proud every day.”

Zoe’s most memorable project was also centered on family. After she completed a recent home addition for an elderly couple who needed to move in with their children, the couple came up to her. “The woman was just smiling ear to ear and said, ‘I really hated having to downsize because we’ve always been on our own, but this space for us is something else,’” Zoe recalls. “Seeing them so thrilled to have their own space again that included a kitchenette and a large handicap accessible bathroom, made me feel like I made a positive difference in someone’s life who needed it.”

Although she describes herself as “dedicated,” Zoe has also nurtured a creative side throughout her life. She enjoyed making jewelry with her mother and grandmother as a child, along with redecorating her bedroom and creating metal sculptures in welding class. Her personal design style is equally down to earth. “I love modern organic and cottage-core houses and styles,” she says. “If it screams ‘I want to live on a homestead with chickens,’ I will probably love it.”

When she’s not helping others create their dream homes, Zoe enjoys hiking and spending time with her children, her boyfriend, and her German Shorthaired Pointer, Brook, and kitten, Pepper. And, of course, her favorite place to visit is her hometown of Fairhaven, MA. “Growing up there I failed to appreciate its uniqueness and architecture, especially in the neighboring city of New Bedford,” she says. “The food is amazing and the beach views are very relaxing.”