Meet the Chino Hills Team Behind Ellery ADU Studio Chino Hills
We’ve been designing and building ADUs in Chino Hills since 2015, and the crew you’ll actually see on your property is the same crew that’s handled garage conversions on Butterfield Ranch Road, detached units near English Springs Park, and JADUs up in Rolling Ridge. What ties us together isn’t corporate training. It’s that every one of us has had to explain a change order we didn’t create, and we don’t do that here. Under the Haven Standard, the price is written before work starts, the photos are documented on every visit, and if it’s not done right, we make it right. Nadia Ellery runs the studio, and these are the people who show up.
Our People
Marcus T. - Lead Technician, ADU Design & Permitting
Marcus has been reading Chino Hills building codes since before the city adopted its 2019 ADU ordinance update, which means he’s watched the permit counter move from the old Civic Center to the current location and change its interpretation of setback variances twice. He holds a California General Contractor license and spent six years as a plans examiner for a neighboring jurisdiction before crossing back to the private side. Marcus specializes in the gap between what a designer draws and what a plan checker will actually approve, which saves our clients about three weeks on average. On weekends he restores vintage motorcycles and has a running bet with the permit counter about whether his 1974 Honda will ever pass smog.
Dana L. - Senior Installer, Garage Conversion & Site Prep
Dana started in concrete and framing, moved into full garage conversions during the 2020 rush, and has completed 140+ ADU projects since joining us in 2018. She’s certified in James Hardie siding installation and is our go-to for any project involving a Tuff Shed or Boxabl modular unit that needs to tie into existing utilities. Dana’s particular skill is reading old slabs - she can tell you in ten minutes whether your 1980s garage foundation will carry a conversion or whether you’ll need a stem-wall upgrade, and she’ll say it in plain English with a dollar range attached. She keeps a collection of vintage tape measures in her truck, each one a gift from a retired contractor who trusted her to finish a job right.
Raj P. - Service Coordinator, Client Communications & Scheduling
Raj is the live person who answers when you call (951) 456-4467, including the calls that come in at 9 PM because a homeowner just found our site and has a question about their existing estimate. He’s been with Ellery ADU Studio since 2019 and knows the Chino Hills permit timeline well enough to tell you whether your garage conversion is likely to hit the April planning cycle or slip to June. Raj coordinates between our clients, the city, and the crews, and he’s the one who sends the documented photo record after every site visit. He grew up in Chino Hills, attended Ayala High, and still lives five minutes from the studio, which means he can meet clients at the permit counter on short notice when something needs explaining in person.
Jordan K. - Apprentice, Junior ADU & Interior Conversion
Jordan joined us in 2022 after completing the construction technology program at Chaffey College and working two years in residential remodeling. They’re apprenticing under Dana on interior conversions and under Marcus on permit sets, with a focus on the technical details that separate a legal JADU from an expensive mistake - separate metering, fire separation assemblies, and the kitchenette layout that actually passes final inspection. Jordan is certified in OSHA 30 and is currently studying for the California contractor’s license exam. They live in Pomona but spend enough time in Chino Hills that they’ve developed strong opinions about traffic on the 71 at 5 PM, which they will share if asked.
One Standard, Every Job
The Haven Standard applies to every Ellery ADU Studio project, whether it’s a $45,000 garage conversion on Pipeline Avenue or a $180,000 new detached unit near Vellano Country Club. Clause 1 means the written price is locked before any work starts - not an estimate, not a range that shifts, but a line-item quote you sign. Clause 5 means no surprises: the scope doesn’t grow unless you request a change and sign an amendment. The 365-Day Done Right Promise means that if the finished ADU doesn’t match the permitted drawings, we fix it. And the documented photo record means you receive evidence of what was found and what was done, not a summary of how it felt.
We’ve completed 900+ ADUs across California since 2015, and every one of them had a written price before work started and a photo record when work was complete. The Chino Hills crew handles our local projects from first site visit through final inspection, and we don’t hand you off to a subcontractor you’ve never met. If you have a written estimate already in hand, we’ll give you a free second opinion. If you don’t have one yet, call (951) 456-4467 and Raj will schedule your free estimate.
Written by Nadia Ellery, Owner at Ellery ADU Studio Chino Hills, serving Chino Hills since 2015.