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Team Biographies
 
Chris Robusto
President and Sales Manager
What is your role at LiveWell Homes?
My overall role is managing and leading the LiveWell team in executing processes and the strategic plan. My focus as a team member is to identify the market opportunities and evaluate the overall market place. Identify lots and land, review, analyze and procure the best lot and land deals in the market place.
What is your experience in the industry and in Charlotte?
I started in Charlotte in 1996, but my experience really began in my early childhood with my father, who was a builder and taught me about homebuilding.
Why did you choose to start LiveWell Homes?
Having worked for several larger builders, I saw firsthand how they have grown out of touch with local markets and conditions. The market conditions of Florida, Las Vegas and California are not exactly what are occurring in Charlotte, NC, so a different strategy needs to be used rather than one plan fits all. When the overall economy started its decline 24 months ago, the big builders did not view their employees as individuals or families that worked for them, they were merely numbers. After my last position was eliminated, I looked around the Charlotte market and was amazed to find the amount of talent that was also on the sideline due to being a number.
With all of those talented people, it only made sense to gather them together and start a new company with local expertise and local operations to provide the best home and buying experience in the market. Our ability to focus on the customer from the home design and location of community to then draw on the talents of the team to execute, will position us to be the builder of choice in the Charlotte market. LiveWell Homes is all about building the best things in life into your home, Live Well.
Jeff Gerdes
Purchasing and Operations Manager
What is your role at LiveWell Homes?
My role is to ensure that we have the products, systems and trade partners necessary to deliver a high quality home that is of great value for our customers today and into the future.
What is your experience in the industry and in Charlotte?
Due to my father being a custom homebuilder, I have never been far from the homebuilding industry. After spending three years post college in an engineering environment, I returned to homebuilding and found a unique match for my skills and talents within the operations side of the business. I moved to Charlotte in 2004, changing roles from overseeing product/plan development to being the Director of Operations for the first out of state launch for a national homebuilder.
Why did you choose to join the LiveWell Homes team?
Knowing and understanding pricing and processes, I know that most homebuilders still operate as they did decades ago. There is excessive waste and poor communication between trade partners and the builder that increase costs which are in turn passed along to the buyer in the sales price. I have seen the market yearn for homebuilding to enter the 21st century and improve the way it operates and what it can deliver to customers.
I know my unique experiences combined with those of my teammates will allow us to deliver a great value to our customers creating communities that will stand the test of time.
Kirby LaForce
Land Manager
What is your role at LiveWell Homes?
My role is to identify and acquire both land and lots for future communities. In addition to acquisition I oversee site development, perform feasibility studies, and obtain appropriate entitlements.
What is your experience in the industry and in Charlotte?
Since 1999 I have been a land acquisition professional for 3 national builders in the Charlotte market. Prior to homebuilding I spent five years at national bank headquartered in Charlotte.
Why did you choose to join the LiveWell Homes team?
After spending 10 plus years with the national homebuilders and living through the last few tumultuous years in construction I realized there had to be a better way to run a homebuilding operation. My close friend Chris started Live Well Homes with a focus on the customers and the employees which was very appealing after years of focusing only on the bottom line. I realized Chris had created a special organization that cared about its people so I jumped at the opportunity to join the team.
Matt Oljeski
Construction Manager
What is your role at LiveWell Homes?
My overall role is to oversee all aspects of new home construction at Live Well Homes. I work closely with
all team members and customers to ensure proper expectations are set, quality standards are exceeded
and that all homes are constructed in a timely manner.
What is your experience in the industry and in Charlotte?
My experience in the homebuilding industry began in 1993 while attending Appalachian State University in the Construction Management program. In 1997 I began my career in construction working for a large national homebuilding company in Charlotte where I met Chris Robusto. I have since overseen the construction and completion of over 300 new homes in the Charlotte area.
Why did you choose to join the LiveWell Homes team?
For me, the opportunity to join a team of successful new home construction experts was very exciting. Everyone involved with Live Well Homes is a top professional in the industry and I am thrilled to be able to contribute my own personal professional new home construction experience to the organization.
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