Our Team

Joey O’Brien

TREC #20959

Owner/Inspector/New Construction Specialist

Joey was born in Austin and raised in Round Rock, Texas. He has lived in this great state his entire life. He has been in the business for 18 years and knows the Austin area well. During his career, he has had the privilege of working for some of Austin’s Premier builders. This background enabled him to gain extensive knowledge and expertise of the construction process. Joey is attentive to detail and produces easy to interpret reports for all of his clients. He guarantees same day reports and often has them within hours of completing the inspection. He is licensed by the Texas Agricultural Commission for wood destroying insects, NAWT (National Association of Wastewater Transporters), and holds a Professional Home Inspector license by the Texas Real Estate Commission. In addition to playing a big role in today’s real estate market here in the Austin area, Joey is also an OEF veteran. Through both his construction and military backgrounds, Joey provides a wealth of knowledge allowing him to tackle any job with utmost respect and integrity. If you would like to read reviews about Joey and his team, please click the link below.


Kenneth Cook

TREC #23265

Lead Inspector

A sixth generation Texan, Kenneth was born in Dallas and moved to Austin during his high school years. Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, who was a Marine aviator with the infamous Black sheep Squadron in WWII, Kenneth knew becoming a marine was his calling. After his service in the Marine Corps, he worked as an automotive mechanic for many years, which included time as a state of Texas safety and emissions inspector. In recent years he was drawn to an opportunity to work for one of Austin’s premier luxury home builders, which provided a dynamic experience and expertise in all stages of the construction process. The detailed nature of home inspections and the team structure of Inspect It Austin combined with his interest in real estate is why Kenneth decided to study and become a licensed home inspector. Kenneth is licensed with the TREC (Texas Real Estate Commission) and NAWT (National Association of Wastewater Transporters).


Ben McCue

TREC #23628

Lead Inspector

Ben was born in Houston and raised in Lubbock, and later moved to Round Rock with his family during his high school years and has resided here in the Austin area ever since. Ben is a Licensed Professional Home Inspectors through TREC (Texas Real Estate Commission) and is proud to be a part of the amazing team of Inspectors at Inspect It Austin. Not only has Ben acquired his license as a Professional Home Inspector, he has also founded a CrossFit gym and has successfully operated that business with his wife for the past 9 years. In his experience as a coach and business professional, Ben has developed various skills that enhance his proficiency with home inspections such as awareness to detail, personability, and communication with customers. When Ben is not inspecting homes or coaching CrossFit at his family’s gym, he enjoys spending time camping with his wife, their two daughters, and three dogs.


Steven Short

TREC #23461

Inspector/New Construction Specialist

Steven is proud to be a member of a multi-generation native Texan family. Born in Austin, Steven spent his formative years splitting time between the Texas Hill Country and the foothills of Colorado.

While in high school, Steven spent his time outside of class working as an apprentice electrician under his father, while simultaneously honing his skills in the family construction business. After graduating from LBJ High School in Johnson City, Steven chose to follow the example set by his father, and enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served 5 years as an Automotive Maintainer & Technician. During his time in service to the country, Steven was privileged to employ his skills maintaining an assortment of vehicles including HUMMVE and MRAPs while serving in stateside, and multiple combat deployed locations.

Upon completing his time in service, Steven moved home to Texas and married his wife Casey. They have been blessed with two beautiful children, a girl McKenna, and boy Steven Michael. While completing his Bachelors’s degree in Business from Texas Tech University, Steven worked jobs in Ranch Management, Metal Fabrication, and Stucco application for some of Central Texas’ premier homes.

While his time in service impressed on him the importance of honor and integrity in all aspects of life; his history in construction, has taught him that success comes from being detail-oriented and treating every aspect of the job as being the most important.

Steven is licensed with the Texas Real Estate Commission and the Texas Department of Agriculture.

When he isn’t working Steven loves camping, bow fishing, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with his family.


Darin Morgan

TREC #25253

Inspector/ New Construction Specialist

Darin was born in San Diego and raised in Rancho Cucamonga, California. After High School he was inspired to join the U.S. Army after seeing the events unfold in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993. He joined the Army as a Field Artilleryman and served in the units of the 10th Mountain, 2d Infantry, 82d Airborne and 1st Cavalry Divisions. A veteran of three combat tours in Iraq with the 82d Airborne, he retired with over 20 years of service. He settled down in Leander with his wife Liz who is a native Texan and also an Army retiree with over 22 years of service. After retirement, he built production homes for 5 years with one of Austins top builders and is well versed in all phases of residential construction.

Darin holds a Professional Real Estate Inspector license through the Texas Real Estate Commission and is also licensed by the Texas Agricultural Commission for wood destroying insects. He joined the Inspect It Austin team to provide a critical service to the residents of Central Texas, while replicating the camaraderie he enjoyed in the Army with his team mates here. His service enabled him to hone attributes such as competence, technical proficiency, leading by example and focus on detail.

While he isn’t working, Darin values his time with his wife Liz and their two dogs, Daisy and Lola. He also spends time riding his Harley, enjoys shooting sports and is an avid movie buff.


Jorge Fuentes

TREC #24946

Inspector/ New Construction Specialist

Jorge was born and raised in South Florida, spending his adolescent years in both Miami and Key Largo. While growing up on the coast, Jorge nurtured an early love for all things fishing and developed a passion for auto mechanics and architectural drawing. These early interests in being outdoors and finding unique answers to solving problems were a harbinger of what would be a consistent theme spanning a majority of Jorges early life.

Shortly after graduation, Jorge’s future became clear. Growing up the son of immigrants, who had fled communism, he found his gratitude and appreciation for the United States compelled him to enlist in the US Army as an Infantry man. During his enlistment, Jorge was honored to serve his country, subsequently spending some time in Texas, as well as multiple combat deployments.

After his time in the Army, Jorge returned to Florida, only to realize he missed Texas, eventually finding his way back a year later. Initially settling in Corpus Christi, Jorge’s passion for being outdoors and finding answers to problems made him a natural fit for the state’s abundant oilfields. Over the next 20 years Jorge flourished, becoming a Senior Drilling Fluids Engineer out of Laredo where he would transition into a role lending his expertise as an industry consultant. Jorge has worked for several major oil and natural gas companies throughout the US and Mexico.

Closing the oilfield chapter of his life, Jorge moved to the Austin area in search of a new career in which to channel his efforts. This search initially led him to residential construction, where he built homes with one of Austin’s largest builders, and then to the team here at Inspect It Austin. Jorge is licensed by the Texas Agricultural Commission for wood destroying insects and holds a Professional home inspector license through TREC.

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Clay Mundell

TREC #24457

Inspector/ New Construction Specialist

Born and raised in San Angelo, Clay spent his early years enjoying the outdoors, and spending long hours on the tennis courts. His tennis prowess eventually took him to the collegiate level before he received a degree in Biology and Chemistry from Angelo State University.

Clay spent his summers in college teaching tennis, and working at a construction masonry company. It was this construction experience that helped Clay to realize his preference for a career that would keep him working outdoors.
Being raised in a family of realtors, Clay decided to pursue a career in the real estate arena, but found a career in home inspections to be a better fit for his interests. His initial start in the field brought Clay and his family (wife Lauren and daughter Audrey) to San Antonio, where he found success working for a competitor before joining the Inspect it Austin team.

Clay is licensed through The Texas Real Estate Commission as a Professional Home Inspector, the Texas Department of Agriculture for wood destroying insects, and holds a septic certification through InterNACHI, which has also led to him becoming highly proficient in performing Sewer Camera Inspections.


Brian Hensel

TREC #26293

Inspector

​Brian was born and raised in the central TX area. He grew up helping out on his family’s farm. After high school, he worked for Williamson County Road and Bridge Department before moving to Stephenville. While there,​ he completed his bachelors degree in industrial technologies from Tarleton State University.

After college, he had the chance to start his career in the​ home building industry. He had a combined 10 years of building experience from multiple builders in the Austin area until he decided to switch to​ inspecting houses rather than building them.

When he is not working, Brian enjoys spending time outdoors hunting and fishing and spending time with​ his wife, Amanda, and their 2 kids, Kynley and Mason.


Brandi O’Brien

Director of Marketing

Brandi is a native Texan, growing up mostly in Round Rock. She attended Texas State University in San Marcos and received a degree in Marketing. After college, she was a 7th grade Math teacher but decided to stay home after having her daughter, Harper. As well as being the wife of Inspect It Austin owner, Joey O’Brien, she is also mother to their 4 children, Maddie, Brooklyn, Harper and Haven. Through Joey’s inspection success and the ongoing request for his services, they have decided to expand the business and have her fill the spot of Marketing Director for Inspect It Austin. She loves cooking, Crossfit and hanging out with her loving family.


Wendy Kough

Office Manager

Wendy was born in California and has lived in many places all over the U.S. She came to Texas 14 years ago and has raised her two children in Cypress, San Antonio, and Liberty Hill. She graduated from Northeast Missouri State University with a B.A. in English Literature. She was a stay-at-home mom for 28 years. When she is not enjoying her son and daughter and beloved Frenchie, Wendy likes to read crochet and travel.