Elena Lupan, Operations & HR Manager

Elena has been with the ACH Group since 2016 — longer than most people on the team. She started as an Office Manager when the company was still called Basement Masters, and she's grown alongside every expansion, every new process, and every new challenge since.

She didn't come from construction. She built her knowledge from the ground up. And now she's the person who makes sure everything — and everyone — stays on track.

From Moldova to Maryland

Elena is originally from Moldova, in Eastern Europe, and speaks three languages: Romanian, Russian, and English. Before joining the company, she spent a year working as an Au Pair. When she moved to Maryland and joined Basement Masters as an Office Manager, she had no background in construction — just a sharp mind, a strong sense of organization, and the willingness to learn whatever the job required.

Over the years, that willingness paid off. She gradually took on permitting, inspections, floor plan review, and project coordination. As the company grew into BasementRemodeling.com, her role grew with it — expanding into operations, HR, fleet management, scheduling, and working directly with ownership on special projects. Almost everything she knows, she learned by doing it.

The Person Who Keeps Everything Moving

On any given day, Elena is doing more than most people realize. She starts the morning reviewing emails from current and past clients — including homeowners who need warranty support — and processing new contracts to make sure everything is accurate before a project moves forward.

She's often the main point of contact for homeowners after they sign a contract, bridging the gap before a project manager is assigned. She answers questions, explains next steps, and makes sure clients feel comfortable and informed going in.

Beyond client communication, she monitors permits and inspections, coordinates warranty work, oversees scheduling, manages fleet maintenance, handles employee concerns, maintains company policies, evaluates subcontractor performance, and supports the owner on operational decisions. A lot of her work is invisible — until something needs it, and it's already handled.

Her greatest strength, by her own account, is organization. Teammates come to her when they need to untangle a process, build a system, or find a better way to get something done. She builds the workflows and procedures that allow the rest of the team to function efficiently.

What Homeowners Can Expect

Homeowners who interact with Elena can expect clear communication, honesty, and consistent follow-through. She's not the kind of person who lets things fall through the cracks — if she's told something will happen, it happens.

For clients post-contract, she's a reliable guide through the early stages of the project. And once a project wraps up, she oversees warranty coordination to make sure any covered items are handled promptly and correctly.

One moment she's especially proud of: a past client returned to work with the company again — this time on a bathroom remodel. Elena has been involved in the design conversations, combining her operations background with a growing passion for interior design. Seeing clients trust the team enough to come back is, for her, one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

Beyond the Job Site

Outside of work, Elena is happiest with her family. They spend time hiking, camping, playing soccer, and exploring the outdoors together. She also makes time for wellness retreats and close friendships — intentional rest that keeps her sharp for a role that never really stops.

The fun fact her coworkers might not expect: beneath all the systems and spreadsheets is someone who genuinely loves interior design. Given the chance to be creative — to help a homeowner pick finishes, plan a layout, or bring a vision to life — Elena is all in. It's a side of her that shows up more and more as the company grows.

Her motto says something about how she's navigated a career built entirely on learning and adapting:

"Something and people may break your heart, but it's really just fixing your vision of life."

That's Elena — organized, grounded, and always moving forward.