For 20 years, C&M Home Builders and Real Estate has played a key role in shaping the communities of West Central Wisconsin.

As they celebrate their 20th anniversary, the locally owned company is reflecting not just on years in business, but on the lasting neighborhoods they’ve helped create. C&M has built thousands of homes – each one designed to bring people together and support the way families live, work, and grow.

Long before the company moved into its flagship office on Eau Claire’s south side – and before it grew into a 48-person team – founders Molly Reijo and Cody Filipczak were just two local students, working and learning in the city they would later help transform.

While Molly fell in love with the area during her time as a UW-Eau Claire student, Cody hit the ground running right out of high school working in construction. “We just knew we wanted to make our life here,” Molly said. “Today, a day doesn’t go by where we don’t run into someone we’ve worked with over the years at the grocery store or out and about; All those relationships add to the sense of community here.”

Taking their leap of faith into the local business community required an all-in investment, especially because of the timing: years ago, C&M was getting on its feet when the 2008 housing crash hit.

“We were coming in at a weird time, but we really loved what we were doing,” Molly said. “Then, people were happy with our work, and word-of-mouth did a lot for us.”

“I think when you love what you do, and you do a good job, that gets you somewhere,” Cody continued. “Now here we are, 20 years later.”

While there were many milestones that helped C&M grow – from humble beginnings around a dining room table, to a makeshift office in the garage, and ultimately their permanent headquarters on Eau Claire’s south side—one move, in particular, changed everything: the introduction of twin homes to the Chippewa Valley.

“We led the charge to change local zoning and make twin homes possible – and we were the first to build them,” Cody said. “That first development opened people’s eyes to a more affordable, accessible path to homeownership. It didn’t just meet demand – it reshaped the entire housing landscape in the Chippewa Valley.”

An introduction of twin homes to the area wasn’t the only thing C&M committed to early on. For the past 15 years, C&M has been a Focus on Energy builder, marking their pointed effort to reach higher energy efficiency standards than the norm requires. While energy efficiency also adds value to a home over time, it also plays into a big part of what C&M is known for: a concerted effort to ensure comfort.

“What makes our approach unique is how much we care about the feeling you get the moment you walk through the door,” Molly said. “A home should feel like yours – warm, welcoming, and deeply personal. At the end of the day, it should be a true reflection of who you are.”

That sense of comfort isn’t just a design goal – it’s been the heart of C&M’s approach for the past 20 years. And for Molly, comfort doesn’t come with a price tag. “Our role is to educate people on their options and help them achieve their vision, no matter their budget,” she said. “Working within someone’s price range doesn’t mean limiting what’s possible – it means helping them make choices that reflect who they are and how they want to live.”

Today, while C&M builds homes throughout the region, their roots remain deeply planted in Eau Claire. For Molly and Cody, giving back has always been part of how they do business – not for recognition, but because it’s simply the right thing to do.

For more than a decade, they’ve partnered with the Eau Claire Community Foundation and quietly supported a range of local efforts, from The Golden Apple Awards and The Community Table to the Boys & Girls Club of the Chippewa Valley. Their support is steady, thoughtful, and always focused on strengthening the place they proudly call home.

Community is central to C&M’s vision moving forward. “We want to keep doing what we’re doing – just on a bigger scale,” Cody said. “If we can continue working with municipalities like Eau Claire, Altoona, Fall Creek, and others to develop neighborhoods and expand access to affordable housing, we’re all in. That’s the kind of growth that matters.”

On their 20th anniversary, the C&M team has recommitted to supporting and shaping the community their journey started in, two decades ago. Keep up with C&M Home Builders and Real Estate online or reach out to learn more.

C&M Home Builders and Real Estate

Phone: (715) 5861-1903

Email: admin@candmhomebuilders.com

Address: 6176 Sandstone Rd., Eau Claire

Online: candmhomebuilders.com

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