We are an owner-managed company that is licensed, bonded and insured.
- Established 2003 (19 years)
- Owner Managed (John Moody, III)
- Licensed
- Insured
- Bonded
- John was elected to NARI (National Assoc of the Remodeling Industry) Board of Directors in 2013 and served at its Treasurer for 2 terms and in 2018 he was elected as Vice President. In 2020 he was instrumental in spinning off the local chapter to PRO Mid Atlantic and served as it’s President in 2020.
MEET THE OWNER
Hi! I'm John, the Owner of Thomas Archer, LLC.
In 2003 I started Thomas Archer LLC, named after my third great grandfather Thomas Archer Moody to fulfill a gap that I found in most construction companies. You see, most construction companies have the construction part down, but not the company part. Running a successful construction company is about more than wood and nails. It is about the lessons that most of us have learned in corporate America.
When I started Thomas Archer, I wanted to be different; I wanted to focus those lessons that I learned with my passion for construction. At TA we focus everything we do around the client.
We use a methodical requirements gathering process, and manage staff, subcontractors, vendors, and scheduling with a commitment to superior craftsmanship. In fact, every person that works for our team, including subcontractors, has signed our code of ethics and understands that we are obligated to leave our clients' property in a better condition that we found it, to spend our clients' money as if it were our own and to put forth the best in everything we do.
As you explore our company, keep in mind that 95% of our clients are referrals. While we maintain a stuffy office downtown, my goal is to be the easiest construction company to do business with, which means being on site at your job and orchestrating my team to build your dream. I make sure everything runs smoothly from permits and demolition to cleanup and moving in. And when we hit a snag, (I've been doing this too long to pretend we won't) I make sure it gets resolved quickly and effectively and that the project stays on track.
Meet the Experts
THE MASTER OF ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK
Master Carpenter James Marshall is a master millwork specialist with specialized knowledge of woods and paneling systems. His career spans more than 46 years with a legacy that inspired the style and approaches used in wood and panel fabrication of many custom builders, architects and designers alike. At Thomas Archer James serves as an adviser and inspector for millwork projects, including all field inspections and in-house fabrications. Some of his more notable clients include: the Thurgood Marshall Museum; the National Gallery of Art; the Museum of Natural History; the Catholic University of America; the University of Virginia; Barnes & Noble; the U.S. Marine Corp-Navy Yard; Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter; and the FBI J. Edgar Hoover Building.
THE HISTORICAL RENOVATION AND RESTORATION SPECIALIST
EL’Avery Al-Mulakim is the firm’s Project Engineer and Director of Development. His experience in the building trades reaches back to 1973, and has been developed through his work on various construction projects throughout the U.S. and several countries in Europe, South America, and Africa. EL’Avery began as an interior plasterer with Gipser Hilberer, a German firm doing difficult Cornice Interior plastering for several cathedrals on the Eastern coast of the U.S. from Massachusetts to New York and Baltimore. Quickly graduating into all fields of interior and exterior wall construction (wet and dry), he has received Journeyman status in a variety of interior and exterior trades, including marbleized plastered walls, cornice work, Sto and Dryvit systems, custom column construction and stone pilasters. This is illustrated by one of his passions, the artistic replication of ornamental plaster columns. EL’Avery joined various unions as Plasterer, Finisher, and Drywall Carpenter, specializing in Core and TI work, Shaft wall construction, Black and Red Iron, and acoustical ceiling systems.
EL’Avery’s most notable past projects include: Columbia University Renovation – NYC; Cathedral of Saint John the Divine – NYC; AT&T Building – Manhattan headquarters, NYC; Cully Brothers Complex – NYC; DNI Labs – Los Angeles, CA; Corte Ingles Renovation – Valencia, Spain; Specialty Column Wraps, Atlanta, GA; Royal Peacock (period) Renovation – Atlanta, GA; and Georgia State Capitol Building.
THE SHOP ARCHITECT
Martin Martinez has more than 30 years in the construction industry, and is the firm’s Shop Architect. He specializes in custom and commercial millwork, custom cabinetry, office fabrications, and restoration. Martin began his career at a very young age fabricating thousands of doors for multi-family buildings in Mexico City. He developed an eye for detail and was quickly recognized for his artistic talents and became an expert in wood finishes – first mastering the difficult alcohol staining process and then graduating to lacquer, oil- and water-based stains. Martin was also previously the Director of Production for a custom furniture manufacturer creating rustic Mexican furniture exported to Spain and France.
In the U.S., Mr. Martinez worked as the Managing Finisher for Ornamental Iron Works before continuing his career in millwork. His background in finishing, color, wood, metal and artistry enables him to use innovative approaches to achieve unique and perfectly-matched finishes on almost any medium. In addition to his projects with numerous law firms, private homes, apartment complexes, and commercial buildings throughout DC, Maryland and Virginia, his woodworking craftsmanship is known in the Halls of the U.S. Government. More specifically, Martin has completed restoration and new fabrications for many agencies, including: The FBI at Quantico; the U.S. Department of Justice; the U.S. Department of the Interior; U.S. Court of Appeals; the World Bank; the National Museum of History; and the U.S. Capital Building Complex. Some of his most notable work was at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building where he restored many historic millwork pieces including environmentally protected doors and trim.
THE STONE, TERRA COTTA AND MARBLE SPECIALIST
From his beginnings in Portugal, Fernando Silva has been building, repairing and installing high quality stone, brick and block walls, as well as working on Terra Cotta and Marble for more than 32 years. The foundation of his apprenticeship was laid in Portugal after he married into a stone masonry family and was taught the trade by four generations of stone masons. Fernando has been with Thomas Archer for seven years, and has worked on such notable projects as: the 325 East Capitol Street Complex; Lincoln Park Restoration Project; M&M Estates Walls; National Restoration Projects (National Parks), and numerous others.