Why Budget Blinds of Ames

As your local window covering expert, we take the time to understand you and your unique needs to deliver the best custom window covering solution designed for the way you live.

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Meet Your Budget Blinds Team Serving Ames!

  • Owner Gabriel Bio

    Gabe Haugland

    Owner

    Gabriel Haugland is proud to serve the Budget Blinds of Ames Team owner! In 2007, Gabriel attended Drake Law School before joining the Iowa National Guard and serving as an Infantry Officer and JAG Officer. As a combat Veteran of Afghanistan, owning his own business is a new and exciting journey for his family and he is enjoying every minute of it. Gabriel has lived in Clear Lake since returning from Afghanistan in 2011 and loves calling the area home. He loves to fish, hunt, and attend Twins games with his family. He also enjoys spending time serving his local church in Clear Lake. He is married to his wife, Carolyn, and they have two beautiful children,Grace and Nick. Gabriel greatly appreciates the support of the local community and looks forward to working with each and everyone of you!

  • Ressa

    Ressa Thompson

    General Manager

    Let's all take a moment to celebrate and give a warm welcome to our amazing General Manager, Ressa Thompson! Ressa started her journey with Budget Blinds as an office assistant and worked her way up the ranks to become our GM. She is truly a valuable asset to our team.

    Ressa brings a special set of skills to the table and is affectionately known as our "mother hen." She loves the flexibility her job offers and takes pride in being able to grow as both an employee and a person. She was born and raised in the Albert Lea area and has lived there her entire life.

    When she's not working hard to ensure our customers have a positive experience, Ressa loves spending time with her family, going on walks, trying new recipes, and baking. She's a huge hockey fan and loves watching Minnesota Wild games with her husband and 4-year-old son, who is absolutely obsessed with hockey.

    Speaking of family, Ressa recently got married to her husband in December 2021, and they welcomed their beautiful daughter into the world in October 2022. They also have two golden retrievers named Rex and Honey.

    We are so fortunate to have Ressa as part of our team at Budget Blinds and we know she will continue to bring her positivity, expertise, and passion to everything she does. Cheers to you, Ressa!

  • Lisa Salmonson

    Lisa Salmonson

    Lead Showroom Manager

    Welcome to Ames, Iowa! Here at our branch, we have so many great team members—and we always love to take some time and recognize individuals for their contributions, both to our brand and within our community! So who are we recognizing this week?

    That would be Lisa Salmonson! She’s our Lead Showroom Manager. What that means for you is, if you stop in at our location to take a look at our showroom, there’s a good chance you’ll get to meet her!

    Lisa brings so much to this role. She’s always been willing to learn—and that shines through in everything that she does. Lisa’s attention to detail is exacting, and when you work with her, you’ll recognize her unparalleled customer service skills. Give us a call, and you’ll discover she’s just as great on the phone as in person, too. Perhaps that warmth comes from her background as a certified CNA.

    One of the great things about Lisa is that she’s quite familiar with the culture around here. While she’s lived in Ames for the last six years, she grew up in Aplington, Iowa.

    So what does Lisa do when she’s not here at work with us? She loves crocheting, plants, and gardening. She also loves spending time with her family—her husband, daughter, a dog named Bolt, and a cat named Loki.

    Join us in celebrating everything that Lisa does here at Budget Blinds! You’ll love working with her just as much as we do!

  • Dana

    Dana Albright

    Design Consultant

    Today, we’re going to highlight one of the amazing team members who works here at our Ames location! Dana Albright is a highly skilled Design Consultant who brings over 22 years of experience as an interior designer to our team. She started with us in July of 2020—and we’ve discovered that she’s passionate about helping customers choose the right products to enhance their space. She also loves the variety that her work here provides.

    Originally from the suburbs of Des Moines, Dana now resides in Waukee. She has a lake house in Clear Lake, and she loves boating and fishing in her free time. Dana is also an avid workout enthusiast who practices Ferrell’s Kickboxing daily. In addition to her hobbies, she enjoys decorating, shopping, crafting, and spending time with friends and family.

    Dana is happily married to her husband David, and she has two adult children, three grandchildren, and one furry companion—a dog named Berkley. She attended Drake University for Adult Education and Interior Design as well as an online interior decorating program. In 2001 and 2002, Dana was an award-winning Interior Designer at the DSM HBA Home Show.

    With so many accomplishments under her belt, plus her wealth of design knowledge, Dana has been a joy to have around—and you’ll love working with her, too!

  • Ryan Becker

    Ryan Becker

    Installation Technician

    Let's give a big round of applause to one of our talented installers, Ryan Becker, who has been an integral part of the Budget Blinds team.

    Ryan brings an exceptional set of skills to our team, including his punctuality and dedication to ensuring every installation is done to perfection. He takes immense pride in seeing our customers satisfied with their new window treatments.

    Although Ryan has lived in Alexandria for a few years, he grew up in Clear Lake, giving him a deep understanding and connection to our service area. We're lucky to have him on our team!

    When Ryan isn't installing window treatments, you can find him indulging in his hobbies, such as fishing, hunting, hiking, snowboarding, and traveling. He's always up for an adventure!

    Ryan is dedicated to providing top-notch service to all of our customers. His work speaks for itself, and we couldn't be more proud to have him on our team.

    Join us in thanking Ryan for his hard work and commitment to excellence. Budget Blinds is lucky to have such a talented installer on our team!

  • Austin Kuper

    Austin Kuper

    Installation Technician

    Attention all Budget Blinds customers and fans! We would like to take a moment to highlight one of our amazing team members, Austin Kuper (AKA Ozzy), who is an installer on our team. Ozzy brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from his previous work in construction, including bricklaying. He enjoys the freedom of the job and not being in the same place day after day.

    Originally from Independence, Iowa, Ozzy moved to Clear Lake when he started his job with Budget Blinds. He has been a valuable member of our team since then and has been an essential part of our success in serving the surrounding areas.

    When he's not on the job, Ozzy enjoys spending time with his daughter, Izzy, who is 6 years old. His hobbies include fishing, and he's especially fond of chasing walleyes.

    We want to express our appreciation for all of Ozzy's hard work and dedication to providing excellent customer service and high-quality installations for our clients. We're lucky to have him on our team! Join us in giving Ozzy a round of applause for his fantastic work at Budget Blinds!

  • Travis Tarr

    Travis Tarr

    Commercial Project Manager

    Hello, Budget Blinds fans! We want to introduce you to one of our star employees, Travis Tarr, who serves as our Commercial Project Manager. Travis brings over 20 years of experience as an estimator and project manager, which has made him an invaluable member of our team. He loves meeting new people and working with contractors, and he's equally at home in the office or out in the field.

    Although Travis is originally from Clear Lake, Iowa, he has been a part of the surrounding communities for many years. When he's not hard at work on commercial projects, he enjoys coaching his children in sports and fishing in his free time.

    Travis has an impressive educational background, having earned a 4-year degree from the University of Northern Iowa in their Construction Management Program. He brings this expertise and skill to every project he oversees, and his attention to detail is second to none.

    We are incredibly lucky to have Travis as part of our team at Budget Blinds, and we want to thank him for his hard work and dedication to making our commercial projects a success. Join us in giving Travis a big round of applause for his contributions to our community and to our company!

  • Al Attig

    Al Attig

    Installation/Service Manager

    We are thrilled to shine the spotlight on one of our exceptional team members at Budget Blinds. Meet Al Attig, our incredible Installation/Service Manager, who has been with us since 2004 and brings a wealth of expertise to our team.

    Al is our go-to person when it comes to fixing blinds of any style. His extensive experience and special skills make him an invaluable asset to our customers and the entire team. If you have a blinds-related challenge, Al is the guy to call!

    Born and raised right here in Albert Lea, Al's deep-rooted connection to the community shines through his exceptional service and dedication. He has been a resident of this town his entire life, and his commitment to delivering outstanding results is unparalleled.

    When he's not busy exceeding customer expectations, Al loves spending time pursuing his hobbies. Whether it's boating, golfing, or bow hunting, he knows how to embrace the great outdoors and enjoy life to the fullest. Al is also a proud husband and father of two wonderful daughters, making family time an essential part of his life.

    Let's all raise a toast to Al Attig, a true rockstar in our team! We appreciate his hard work, his exceptional skills, and his unwavering commitment to our customers. Thank you, Al, for making Budget Blinds the best in the business!

We're Budget Blinds of Ames

We look forward to working with you!

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Isn’t it time you framed your windows and your lifestyle beautifully with custom window treatments from Budget Blinds of Ames? One call does it all, and we do it all for you. Click or call today and see what homeowners in Ames are buzzing about!

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