Our Story
UUpon graduating from the University of Vermont in 1970, Earle Simpson returned to his home town of Rochester, Vermont and started Simpson Construction as a one man operation. With his plumbing and electrical licenses in hand he steadily grew the small residential construction firm to a large general contracting business that was building schools, courthouses, airport terminals, industrial parks, and numerous other commercial projects throughout the state of Vermont. In the early 1980’s Earle saw an opportunity for creating planned residential communities in the Upper Valley region near Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. He relocated his family to the area in 1988 and has since built more than 600 homes over the past 30+ years throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.
Now with the second generation of the Simpson family on-board, The Simpson Companies has continued to adapt to stand the test of time and respond to changing economies. We have added a real estate brokerage division, facility management division, rent management division and specialty construction division to handle renovation and remodeling work. The Simpson Companies has achieved success in various market conditions, continued to exceed clients’ expectations and achieved a level of distinction among industry peers.
OUR MISSION
We strive to provide the highest standards and quality of workmanship on every project we develop and bring efficiency and convenience to the real estate and construction experience
The Team
Earle Simpson
Earle is the CEO and founder of The Simpson Companies. After graduating from the University of Vermont in 1970 with a degree in computer science, he returned to his hometown of Rochester, Vermont, to build a successful commercial construction company. He used the operation management, financial management and negotiation skills he honed as a contractor to establish and operate The Simpson Companies.
Jim Petrillo
Jim is President of Simpson Construction and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the company. Jim is a graduate of Lehigh University where he earned a degree in business administration. He has been an integral part of The Simpson Companies since 1983 and brings more than 50 years of residential, commercial, and industrial construction experience to the organization. Jim oversees the management of personnel, equipment, and business development for the construction company.
Dennis Marquise
Dennis is the Principal Broker and Director of Development for The Simpson Companies. He holds a real estate brokerage license in both Vermont and New Hampshire. Dennis has been with the organization since 1987. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland and Vermont Law School. He oversees permit approvals, permit compliance, and has overall responsibility for all development projects. Dennis has been actively involved in the development of real estate for more than 45 years. He is a licensed attorney in three jurisdictions and works with legal counsel on the legal affairs of the company.
Ben Simpson
Ben is Executive Vice President of Simpson Construction. He oversees all employees and subcontractors in The Simpson Companies’ field construction projects. Ben has worked for The Simpson Companies full time since graduating from the University of Vermont in 1999 with a degree in business studies.
Sadie Simpson
Sadie is Executive Vice President for The Simpson Companies. She oversees the management of corporate personnel and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the company. She also administers a number of corporate strategy projects for the company. Sadie joined The Simpson Companies in 2016 after working for leading real estate developers in Washington, DC, San Francisco and New York City. After graduating from American University in 2002 with a degree in business administration Sadie joined The Donohoe Companies, Washington DC’s oldest real estate firm as a Business Development Coordinator. She then transitioned into a Sales and Marketing Manager role with PN Hoffman, trendsetters in the Washington, DC residential real estate community, and just prior to joining the family business in Vermont worked for Crescent Heights ®, the nation’s leading real estate brand, as a Marketing Manager in San Francisco and an Asset Manager in New York City.
Sandra Sullivan
Sandra is Finance Manager for The Simpson Companies and is responsible for the finance, accounting, reporting, auditing, and budgeting for all of the Simpson Companies. Born and raised in Peru, Sandra attended the Universidad del Pacifico in Lima and ultimately received a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance from Franklin Pierce University in 2013. Sandra has lived in the US since 2006 and is fluent in her native Spanish, English and French. She joined The Simpson Companies in 2012 and also holds a license and practices massage therapy.
Rachel Bertrand
Rachel Bertrand is the Facilities Manager at The Simpson Companies, responsible for overseeing the company’s property portfolio and third-party building management services. She handles general operations, tenant relations, and property improvements, keeping everything on track while ensuring compliance with regulations and community standards.
Rachel is also a licensed Real Estate Agent in Vermont and New Hampshire with Fidelity Real Estate. She holds certifications as a Certified Occupancy Specialist and Certified Financial Specialist. Since joining The Simpson Companies in 2001, she has played a key role in property management and rental operations.
An Upper Valley native, Rachel enjoys a good adventure, whether it’s traveling, road trips, or exploring new places. She values quality time with friends, family, and her menagerie of animals.
Sara Barton
Sara Barton has been a dedicated team member at The Simpson Companies since 2019, serving as the Payroll/Accounts Payable Specialist. In this role, she ensures the timely and accurate processing of payroll, manages accounts payable, and plays a key part in supporting the company’s financial operations. Outside of her professional duties, Sara is a proud mother to an amazing son and a devoted pet parent to two dogs. She has lived in the Upper Valley most of her life and enjoys being close to her family.
Sharon Walter
Sharon Walter is the Assistant Facilities Manager at The Simpson Companies, where she assists in managing the company’s rental properties. She holds the Certified Occupancy Specialist certification for affordable housing. Sharon joined The Simpson Companies in 2020, bringing 15 years of experience in property management and customer service from her previous role with another company. Outside of her professional work, Sharon is dedicated to giving back to her community. She volunteers with Special Olympics New Hampshire, supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities, and enjoys hiking in her spare time.
Alison Nadeau
Alison Nadeau is an Accounting Clerk for The Simpson Companies and is responsible for Accounts Receivable. She graduated from Castleton University in 2019 with her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and secondary education. Since then, she has furthered her education in Accounting and has been with The Simpson Companies since 2023. In her free time, she enjoys tending to houseplants and spending time with family.
