About Koogler HomesMeet the Team

Mike Rifai leads the team at Koogler, bringing more than 30 years of hands-on construction experience to every project. His career has spanned nearly every facet of the trade, from concrete, drywall, stucco, and metal framing to tile work, painting, and cabinet installation, and he has built and run successful businesses across each of these specialties.

A Florida State Certified General Contractor for over 20 years, Mike oversees projects ranging from detailed remodels to complete ground-up builds. That breadth of experience means he understands not just how a home comes together, but how every trade fits together to get it right.

Mike’s relationship with founder Don Koogler spans more than 25 years, including the last four working side by side. Together they have shaped the culture behind every project the company takes on: the belief that each home should be a masterpiece worthy of being called a Koogler build.

Don Koogler founded Koogler Homes in 2001 and spent decades building it into a name synonymous with quality craftsmanship. With roughly 50 years in the construction industry, Don has seen — and built through — nearly every era of the business.

More than the homes themselves, Don built relationships. The long-standing partnerships he’s cultivated with subcontractors over the years are the heart of Koogler Homes.

Don hasn’t slowed down and remains closely involved in every project on the selection and design side, where his eye for detail and decades of experience continue to shape the homes Koogler builds today.

Lindsey Meeks is the office manager and accounting specialist at Koogler Homes, where she has been the backbone of the company’s day-to-day operations since 2017. A graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University with a degree in accounting, Lindsey brings a strong financial foundation to every part of the business. She manages all billing and invoicing, keeps impeccable records across accounting and selections, and coordinates material deliveries to keep every project on schedule.

Her accounting background means the numbers behind every home are handled with accuracy and care, and her steady communication keeps clients and subcontractors on the same page from start to finish. Lindsey’s dedication and organization have made her a true staple at Koogler Homes, giving the company the strong office foundation it depends on every day.

Nick Cheatham joined Koogler Homes in 2023, bringing more than a decade of experience as a construction superintendent since 2012. Before joining our team, Nick built his skills with prominent builders including Stock Development, Knauf/Koenig Homes, and Conner & Gaskins, giving him a broad perspective on what it takes to deliver a quality home. At Koogler, he has trained closely under Don Koogler and Mike Rifai, and that hands-on mentorship has sharpened the eye for quality he brings to every project.

Nick is on our jobsites every day, keeping work on schedule and built to Koogler’s high standards. He coordinates subcontractors to keep each project moving efficiently, without losing sight of the details that turn a house into a home.

Once a home receives its Certificate of Occupancy, Nick personally walks the home and completes every last detail so the finished home is one Koogler is proud to put its name on. Working directly with homeowners through closeout and the warranty period can be demanding, but Nick handles every request with pride, patience, and care. His steady, thoughtful approach gives our customers confidence that their home, and their concerns, are in good hands.

Lindsay Parks brings a fresh perspective and a sharp, analytical mind to the Koogler team. A graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University with a degree in Biology, Lindsay originally set her sights on becoming an orthodontist. That path took an unexpected turn during an internship as personal assistant to Mike Rifai, where her interest in construction quickly grew into a genuine passion, and over the past five years, that passion has become her career.

Lindsay is involved in every part of the construction process. She works directly with clients to develop their designs and guide them through each selection, always keeping their budget in mind so their vision stays both beautiful and achievable. Beyond the design table, she is out in the field and on the jobsites, coordinating schedules and working hand in hand with subcontractors and project managers to keep every build on track. She also handles permitting and works directly with the city, bringing her understanding of the process full circle from first idea to finished home.

Having learned the trade from both Don Koogler and Mike Rifai, Lindsay has been shaped by decades of experience and craftsmanship, and she has become a true force in the industry. As one of a growing number of young women building careers in construction, she is helping to shape what the next generation of the trade looks like. Lindsay is now pursuing her Florida General Contractor’s license, continuing her commitment to delivering the quality that defines every Koogler build.