Home Builders in Charlottesville
Contractors Past & Present
Ace Contracting was founded in 1976 by Geoff Pitts, a public-school-educated UVA grad with a station wagon, a ladder, and a dream. His wife, Judi, worked as the company’s bookkeeper and office manager long before there was an office to manage. In 1980, Geoff’s brother, John Pitts, joined them and brought his framing expertise and A-game to the business. Together, they transformed the sole proprietorship into a corporation, and John became a full-time field supervisor. Jim Pitts joined the team as its first official employee shortly after that. Under Geoff’s mentorship, he became a field supervisor and one of the firm’s most capable carpenters and anglers. In 1989, the Pitts brothers hired Tim Painter, a talented young man whose drive, conscientiousness, and deeply felt moral sense dovetailed with their personal and business ethos. Twenty years later, Tim became a full partner for Ace Contracting.
Between 2018 and 2022, Geoff and Jim brought in two new partners: Scott and Mark. Scott Abbott is a residential and commercial home builder, and Mark McCullough is an artistic designer and architectural project director. Today, Scott and Mark co-own the firm. They pride themselves on maintaining the humor, integrity, and heart-led company culture established by the original founders. Today’s team includes four project managers, five site supervisors, and fourteen field carpenters, all dedicated to the values and client success standards that have become synonymous with Ace.
To read more about the current team, click here.
More About the Founders
Geoff Pitts
Geoff was born long ago, the oldest of the three Pitts brothers. He attended Charlottesville public schools and entered the University of Virginia in the fall of 1967. He married Judi in 1971 and was a Team Coordinator at Arlington House Psychiatric Hospital when they opened their doors in 1972. In 1976, he started a one-man business named “Ace Contracting,” the rest is history. After many years in the field, Geoff began spending more and more time in the office
doing estimates, billing, PR, fire extinguishing, and related administrative tasks. He officially retired in December 2022. Today, Geoff lives in northern Albemarle County in a home he designed with his beloved Judi, featuring heart pine cabinetry, exposed posts and beams, and lots of stone. They have three children and three truly remarkable grandsons. Geoff and Judi’s son, Josh, continue working at Ace on payroll, invoicing, and other office management tasks.
John Pitts
John, the second of the three brothers, was born in 1952. John worked as a carpenter and eventually started his own business as a framing subcontractor. In 1980, John returned to Charlottesville and joined forces with his brothers at Ace. Sadly, John passed away in 2022. His wife, Myriam, and their two daughters have a beautiful home dramatically perched on Piney Mountain just north of the Airport.
Jim Pitts
Jim was born in 1956. He worked at Ace Contracting while at VA Tech and spent years as a carpenter, angler, and field supervisor overseeing projects, lining up subcontractors, meeting with owners and architects, etc. In 2021, Jim passed away, leaving behind his beloved Pat, two sons, and countless adoring clients.
Tim Painter
The Pitts brothers hired Tim in the spring of 1989, on a day that felt lucky forever. Over the years, Tim’s skills and desire to “get it right” made him a natural candidate for a leadership role in the business, and in January 2010, he was welcomed as a full partner. Tim retired in 2018; today, he and his wife, Karen, live way up on the side of Naked Mountain in Lovingston, where they and their dogs coexist with an endless supply of rattlesnakes.
Judi Pitts
While perhaps not technically a brother, no mention of the Ace bureaucracy would be complete without including Judi. Often referred to as “the power behind the throne,” Judi worked as Ace’s office manager and helped keep Ace on an even keel despite the antics of her husband and brothers-in-law. After decades of Ace, she earned her well-earned retirement. Sadly, Judi passed away in 2024. She remains a beloved wife, mother, and leader whose heart indelibly impacted Ace’s people and spirit.