Meet Our Team
Building extraordinary custom homes, renovations & additions in the western suburbs of Chicago
Building extraordinary custom homes, renovations & additions in the western suburbs of Chicago
We believe building a home is more than just construction—it’s about creating spaces that reflect your dreams, lifestyle, and vision. Behind every home we build is a team of dedicated professionals who bring years of experience, passion, and expertise to every project.
With more than 35 years of experience designing and building custom homes, additions and renovations in the western suburbs of Chicago, our team is at the forefront of luxury construction in Glen Ellyn, Wheaton and the surrounding western suburbs. Our hands-on approach, commitment to quality and client focused philosophy make us one of the most trusted custom home builders in the area.
Here’s an insiders peek at the senior management team who guide our team members to create extraordinary masterpieces for our clients.
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At Rite-Way Custom Homes, we’ve always believed that the quality of a home starts with the quality of the people building it.
Walt Arway and I founded Rite-Way Custom Homes in 1990 with a simple goal: to build extraordinary custom homes in Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, and the surrounding western suburbs of Chicago.
Over the years we’ve also completed dozens upon dozens of renovations and additions, but the focus has always remained the same — craftsmanship, professionalism, and strong relationships with our clients.
Terri Smith-Pfeiffer joined us in 2004 as our Chief Financial Officer. Terri has helped guide our business through every phase of the real estate market, including the housing bubble of 2008.
Terri is not only responsible for all of our financial details — including making sure each of our staff, subcontractors, and suppliers are paid on time — but she also heads up our human resources department and serves as our key liaison to the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Alliance of Glen Ellyn, and the Village of Glen Ellyn.
But what really makes our company special is the team that works alongside us every day.
Our staff carpenters — Miguel, Connor, and Jesus — have each been part of Rite-Way for more than a decade.
Chuck, our construction project supervisor, brings decades of construction management experience and keeps our projects running smoothly in the field.
And then there’s Julie, who oversees our social media, event planning, marketing direction, utility coordination, gifting programs, and about a hundred other important details. Around here we simply call Julie our Head of Getting Stuff Done. We honestly don’t know what we’d do without her.
We’re also fortunate to work with dozens of outstanding subcontractors and suppliers, most of whom have partnered with us for ten years or more. We maintain very close relationships with each of them because they are key contributors to nearly every project we complete.
The end result? When clients build with Rite-Way, they’re not just hiring a builder — they’re working with a seasoned team of professionals who collaborate closely, communicate clearly, and take great pride in building homes the Rite-Way.
We’d love to talk with you about your new home, renovation, or addition. When you’re ready, please give us a call.
Our Management Team
Walt Arway
Co-Founder & Head of Construction
Walt has been building homes since the very beginning of his career. Growing up on the East Coast as the son of a home builder, Walt developed a deep understanding of the art and science of construction at an early age.
After graduating from college, Walt moved to Glen Ellyn to pursue his passion for custom home building. In 1990, he co-founded Rite-Way Custom Homes with Marv, bringing his vision to life by creating extraordinary homes tailored to each client’s unique needs. Marv’s last name, Arway, forms the “Way” in Rite-Way, a testament to the personal dedication Walt brings to every project.
Walt’s Role at Rite-Way
- Leads construction management and project execution.
- Coordinates our construction staff, material suppliers and sub-contractor team.
- Works directly with clients to translate their vision into a beautifully designed home.
- Oversees the entire building process from blueprint to final walkthrough.
Walt is known for his ability to take our homeowner’s ideas and bring them to life in three-dimensional form. His eye for design, structural expertise, and commitment to perfection have resulted in some of the most admired homes in the western suburbs of Chicago.
When he’s not in the office or at a job site, Walt spends his time with his wife Laura, their five adult children and their grandchildren .
Marv Ritter
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Marv Ritter’s journey to custom home building began in a small Iowa farm town, where he learned the value of hard work, precision, and integrity. After leaving for college and graduate school, Marv moved to Glen Ellyn, where he spent most of his career in technology and finance, including 16 years as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for a global professional services firm.
In 1990, Marv partnered with Walt to co-found Rite-Way Custom Homes, combining his financial acumen with Walt’s expertise in construction. Marv’s last name, Ritter, forms the “Rite” in Rite-Way, symbolizing his dedication to doing things the right way.
Marv’s Role at Rite-Way
Marv runs the business of the business, including:
- Oversees acquisition and business strategy.
- Creates vision for our marketing and charitable activities.
- Designs 2D, 3D and Virtual Reality concept designs for Rite-Way’s custom homes, additions and renovations..
Works directly with clilents to define, design and prepare fixed cost proposals for their projects.
Brings a strategic approach to homebuilding, while balancing innovation, technology and efficiency.
Marv and his wife Deb live in Glen Ellyn, where they raised their two adult children. They frequently travel to Door County, WI, where they enjoy summer weekends and year round retreats.
Terri Smith-Pfeiffer
Chief Financial Officer
Terri Smith-Pfeiffer has been an integral part of Rite-Way Custom Homes since 2004, bringing years of financial and management experience to the company. Before joining Rite-Way, she worked for a commercial builder in the western suburbs of Chicago and served as the Financial Manager for the construction division of Marshall Fields.
Terri’s Role at Rite-Way
- Manages financial planning, budgeting, and cost control for all projects.
- Works closely with our clients to ensure financial transparency and smooth project execution.
- Oversees contractor partnerships and project accounting.
- Heads all human resources, investment banking, company & sub-contractor insurance compliance.
Managing all banking and lending relationships. - Managing all banking and lending relationships.
Terri has lived almost all of her adult life in Glen Ellyn with her husband Steve and their adult son, Ereck. Their family shares a love of travel and adventure, frequently visiting Cancun, Mexico, and spending time with her niece’s triplet daughters who have bloomed into exceptional young women. Terri lovingly refers to them as the girls, JA, HR, and KP whom she adores with all her heart.
Beyond her role at Rite-Way, Terri is deeply involved in the Glen Ellyn community. She and her husband currently sit on the board of the Ed Posh Scholarship Fund, Terri has served more than a dozen years on the Board of the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce, including three years as President, two as Vice President, four years as Tresurer, and one year as Secretary and has dedicated years of service to PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter). Terri’s passion for community engagement and giving back makes her a valued leader both inside and outside the company.
We are truly blessed to have Terri as a business partner and key member of our executive management team.
A Team Dedicated to Excellence in Homebuilding
Our leadership team is more than just a group of professionals—we are passionate homebuilders, community members, and trusted advisors. Our mission is to help homeowners in Glen Ellyn, Wheaton and the surrounding western suburbs of Chicago create extraordinary living spaces, whether through custom home building, luxury home additions, or major renovations.
We take pride in our personalized approach, attention to detail, and ability to bring each client’s unique vision to life. When you choose Rite-Way Custom Homes, you’re not just working with an individual home builder—you’re working with a team that genuinely cares about your home, your experience, and your satisfaction.
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Meet Our Team!
Meet the Team Behind Rite-Way Custom Homes
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Great homes don’t just happen. They’re built by great people.
This video gives a small glimpse into the team behind Rite-Way Custom Homes, a family-owned custom home builder based in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Since 1990, our company has designed and built luxury custom homes, major home renovations, and large additions throughout Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, and the surrounding western suburbs of Chicago.
While most of our clients know us from design meetings, job sites, and walkthroughs, this video captures something a little different — one of our quarterly team outings. Our staff members and their families spent the evening together playing bocce ball at Pinstripes in Oakbrook, celebrating three team birthdays and enjoying time together outside the construction world.
At Rite-Way, we believe the strength of the homes we build comes directly from the strength of the team building them. Many members of our team — including our carpenters, project supervisor, and office staff — have been working together for more than a decade. That continuity and shared experience allows us to deliver the level of craftsmanship our clients expect when building a custom home in Glen Ellyn or remodeling an existing home in DuPage County.
Over the past 35+ years, our team has completed hundreds of construction projects, including:
- Luxury custom homes in Glen Ellyn
- New homes throughout Wheaton and DuPage County
- Whole-home renovations and historic home restorations
- Major home additions
- High-end kitchen remodeling projects
- Luxury basement finishing and lower level remodeling
- Custom Amish-built cabinetry installations
- Boutique residential developments including luxury townhomes
Many of these projects take place in the very communities where our team members live and raise their families. That connection to the neighborhoods we build in — especially Glen Ellyn and the surrounding western suburbs of Chicago — is something we take seriously.
Our quarterly outings are just one small way we celebrate the people behind the work. The homes we build may get the attention, but the relationships and teamwork behind them are what truly make Rite-Way Custom Homes special.
If you’re considering building a custom home in Glen Ellyn, planning a home renovation or addition, or looking for an experienced DuPage County custom home builder, our team would be happy to talk with you.
Our Team at the Bean!
Not only are we homebuilders, but we dabble at cooking!
Meet Our Team in the western suburbs of Chicago & Start Your Dream Home Today
If you’re planning to build a custom home in the western suburbs of Chicago, or want to learn more about our expert team and homebuilding process, we would love to hear from you. Whether you’re looking for a new custom home, a luxury addition, or a major renovation, our team is ready to bring your vision to life with expert craftsmanship and personalized service in the western suburbs of Chicago, including Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, and the surrounding DuPage County areas. Contact us today at (630) 790-8144 to schedule a consultation and meet with our homebuilding experts. Let’s build something extraordinary together!
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