Cheryl Lee

About

Cheryl Lee is the President and Founder of CL Design-Build, a boutique custom residential firm offering clients a seamless, comprehensive package of architecture, interior design, and construction management for their one-of-a-kind home. With a career in construction spanning nearly four decades, Cheryl brings an unmatched multi-disciplinary perspective to the industry. Her extensive background encompasses commercial retail architecture, civil engineering, and hands-on field experience as both a Director of Architecture and a construction Superintendent for a major regional production builder. This rare fusion of design artistry, engineering precision, and on-site building grit ensures that every custom project is both architecturally stunning and built to last.

Beyond her private practice, Cheryl is an advocate shaping the regional and national housing landscape. She served as the 2024 & 2025 President of the Northern Illinois Home Builders Association (NIHBA). A fierce champion for housing affordability and workforce diversification, she initiated the charter of the NIHBA Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council in 2024 and currently serves as its 2026 Chair. Her leadership extends across critical NIHBA committees including Housing Advocacy, Workforce, and Budget & Finance, and she represents the region nationally as a multi-year delegate on the NAHB Leadership Council and a newly appointed trustee on the NAHB PWB Council.

In 2026, Cheryl is proudly leading the Women Build net zero home for the Habitat for Humanity and Nicor Gas in the Green Freedom neighborhood in Aurora IL and is currently a member of AIBD where she serves as a judge for the national SkillsUSA Architectural Drafting Competition. As a past president of the Aurora chapter of NAWIC, she also chaired the Block Kids program and the Design Drafting Competition. Throughout her career she has been dedicated to mentoring talent and future leaders, advocating for housing affordability, and working to increase visibility and access for women in construction.

She brings this same relentless dedication, advocacy, and meticulous attention to detail to her clients. By seamlessly bridging the gap between visionary design and complex construction, Cheryl protects her clients' investments and strives to bring predictability, transparency, and peace of mind to their home building journey. For Cheryl and the CL Design-Build team, custom home building is a collaborative partnership dedicated to bringing her clients' unique lifestyle to life in a home built beautifully for generations.