Justin Barnett O.D.
Owner
My journey began in my grandfather’s garage, which had been converted into a woodworking shop. When visiting my grandparents, I was typically in that garage learning how to use tools I was much too young for. I was blessed to have the time I had with my grandfather and after watching him build birdhouses (mansions), my creative outlet was ignited. Now, forty years later, my creative outlet has dramatically expanded in scope as I love learning everything there is to know about best building practices while pushing the boundaries of what is possible in design. Regardless of scope, my goal is always the same…implement best building practices, ensure the finished project looks original to the home, and educate the homeowner from beginning to end to ensure the result is exceeds their original vision.
“I’m not sure how old I was, but I knew very early that design and construction was my creative outlet.” -Justin
My Path to TCP
My path to construction and TCP was a bit circuitous. Even as a small child, I was focused on how things were put together and I also knew I liked helping others. I always planned to have a career in medicine but I also loved to design and build. I attended high school in the Dallas area and then graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown. I majored in business knowing that I needed to prepare to run a business and I minored in chemistry while on the pre-med route. I was blessed to play baseball while attending Southwestern, and I finished my athletic career as an All-American (kudos to any pre-med student athletes out there). Taking Organic Chemistry II during the spring baseball season definitely prepared me for graduate school (and the future). It was a wonderful challenge.
Justin Barnett, O.D.
Following Southwestern, I moved to Houston to attend the University of Houston College of Optometry to pursue my doctorate. I have always had a passion for education and the concept of knowledge creation has always fascinated me. I spent two of my summers in optometry school doing research deciding if pursuing the PhD program was the right path for me. Ultimately, I decided I enjoyed clinic and patient relationships more than research, so I focused on my clinical career. My biggest accomplishment at optometry school was meeting my wife, Valerie. We have two beautiful girls and a border collie (Abi).
How do the skills and experiences you gained as an optometrist contribute to your success at TCP?
I am fascinated by the similarities that all businesses share but it was great for TCP for me to use my analytical background to rethink many of our systems as well as our focus on education. In any medical discipline, the doctors are required to obtain yearly continuing education to help maintain proficiency. In construction, there is typically no requirement to grow in knowledge or even maintain skill levels. We are required to hold ourselves accountable, and there is no minimum level of knowledge required. At TCP, we focus on being at the forefront of knowledge and pushing the boundaries of design while always maintaining best building practices.
JB @ TCP
During optometry school, I formed a close friendship with Steven Schell (owner), who was launching his patio and pergola design-build business in Houston. As the years passed, our friendship grew, and I became increasingly more involved with Steven's company, Texas Custom Patios.
Today, the we are co-owners of the Dallas-Fort Worth TCP office. For me, designing and building outdoor spaces offers a perfect blend of creativity and practicality, allowing me to help homeowners design their dream outdoor space and then make it come to life. I love being able to educate homeowners on best practices, and the right way to build. Construction is rapidly evolving and much like taking continuing education classes in medicine, construction requires the same level on dedication to learning to stay at the forefront of best practices. That’s where we excel. Every day in construction presents something new and exciting, and the field continues to inspire me.
