Blossom Construction

When Nathalie Monfiston bought her first home at nineteen, she thought she was achieving the dream of stability. Instead, she got a firsthand education in how vulnerable homebuyers can be. Contractors disappeared after taking deposits, timelines stretched endlessly, and trust was hard to come by. Years later, that early experience would become the foundation for her company, Blossom Construction, a Lehigh Acres-based general contracting firm rooted in transparency, quality, and service to the underserved. 

“I remember being nineteen, a single mom, and completely lost,” Monfiston said. “People took advantage because I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I promised myself that if I ever got the chance to change that experience for someone else, I would.” 

That promise has become her business. Blossom Construction focuses on affordable and community-based housing projects, partnering with local government programs and agencies like Human and Veteran Services to renovate, rebuild, and create safe living spaces for those who might otherwise be overlooked. 

Before founding Blossom, Monfiston built a multifaceted career that blended real estate, government contracting, and community outreach. After earning her real estate license, she specialized in helping low- and very-low-income buyers secure USDA housing loans. “The USDA program offers 100 percent financing for eligible families,” she said. “When I found that out, I couldn’t believe more people didn’t know about it. I wanted to make sure they did.” 

Her work as a certified loan packager and realtor placed her at the intersection of housing access and policy. When she repeatedly saw construction projects stall because builders walked away, she decided to fill the void herself. “I was managing projects for a contractor after Hurricane Ian, and one day he just stopped showing up,” she recalled. “I realized I was already running the jobs. So I took the test, got licensed, and made it official.” 

By December 2023, Blossom Construction was born. “I didn’t plan to start a construction company,” she said. “But looking back, every step I took led me right here.” 

Blossom’s mission is simple and powerful: to serve the underserved and to do it right the first time. 

Her company remains small by design. “It’s me, my partner, and a part-time worker, plus a large network of subcontractors who are all small businesses like us,” she said. “We keep it tight because that allows us to control quality and maintain relationships.” 

Much of their work centers on projects other firms decline, such as government-funded renovations and community housing improvements.

“We take the jobs others pass over,” Monfiston said. “These are people who are often told to just accept whatever they’re given because their budget is small or it’s a government project. We go in and show them that quality work belongs to everyone.” 

That philosophy has made Blossom a trusted name among agencies and residents alike. “Every project ends with a friendship,” she said. “People call to say thank you. They say no one ever shows up for them. We show up.” 

From the start, Monfiston sought guidance from the Florida SBDC at FGCU. Already familiar with the organization through her role as a SCORE mentor, she reached out for structured business support and found a long-term collaborator in Andrea Walker, SBDC marketing consultant. 

“I can honestly say the SBDC helped me turn a concept into an actual business,” she said. “I knew I wanted to help people and build homes, but I didn’t know how to put that into a structure that could grow. Andrea Walker helped me define who Blossom is.” 

Together, they developed a marketing plan, identified administrative gaps, and worked to balance growth with sustainability. “Andrea pushes me to think strategically,” Monfiston said. “She asked the hard questions: What is your mission? What makes you different? How will you maintain your identity as you grow?” 

That collaboration extended beyond marketing. The SBDC also connected her with experts in government contracting and operations. “They helped me build a foundation I didn’t even know I needed,” she said. “The SBDC is the reason I can call Blossom a business and not just a dream.” 

Like any young company, Blossom has faced its share of learning curves. “We took on a large commercial job early on, and I didn’t have the right personnel in place,” Monfiston said. “It taught me that every person who represents my business is a reflection of me. Since then, I’ve been very careful about who we partner with.” 

Her philosophy now centers on steady, deliberate growth. “We could take on more projects, but that’s not always the right move,” she said. “Fast growth can break a business just as easily as no growth at all. Andrea and I are working to scale at a pace that keeps our quality and integrity intact.” 

Beyond construction, Monfiston sees Blossom as an advocacy tool for housing education. “Owning a home changed my life,” she said. “It gave me stability when everything else was uncertain. I want others, especially young people and single parents, to have that same opportunity.” 

She continues to educate others about affordable housing programs, frequently speaking to community groups and mentoring through SCORE.

Her next goal, with guidance from the SBDC, is to expand Blossom’s outreach and public visibility through speaking engagements and digital media. 

“Marketing is not my strength,” she admitted with a laugh. “Andrea tells me I need to be out there more, sharing what we do. She’s right. I want people to know that affordable housing doesn’t mean poor quality. It means opportunity.” 

Blossom Construction is still small, but its impact reaches far beyond its size. The company is currently managing multiple active projects across Southwest Florida, including new construction builds for low-income families. 

“I love what I do,” Nathalie said. “Every home we build or restore is a step toward giving someone their dignity back.” 

She credits much of her company’s success to the SBDC’s guidance. “I tell every entrepreneur the same thing: show up, do the work, take the advice,” she said. “You will pay for consultants later in your journey, so why not take advantage of the incredible resources that are already here and free?” 

Her advice carries the conviction of someone who built a business from lived experience. “Blossom means renewal,” she said. “For me, it’s a second chance. For my clients, it’s the same thing. Every project is a reminder that something beautiful can grow from the hardest ground.”