SDH Happenings

Born and raised in Charlottesville, Abigail is a proud Liberty University alum with a B.S. in Strategic Communications. Over the years, she’s worn a lot of hats — from Administrative Assistant to licensed Realtor with Story House Real Estate, and even working in the local wine and cider scene at Cunningham Creek Winery, Mount Ida, and Potter’s Cider. In August 2025, she joined the Southern Development Homes design team as a Design Studio Advisor, where she helps homeowners create spaces that feel uniquely theirs.

Outside of work, Abigail enjoys baking (and sharing treats with friends), building Lego sets, thrifting for hidden gems, and soaking up time outdoors. At home, she’s usually joined by her cat, Jill.

Sam Kessler grew up in Orange, Virginia, and is a proud Virginia Tech grad. He’s worn a lot of hats over the years—from running his own wood-fired pizza food truck to creating top-notch experiences for clients at Audi and Porsche USA. Sam joined the Southern Development Homes sales team in May 2025 and now calls Barboursville home, where he lives with his two dogs and enjoys fishing, hiking, cooking, and exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains and Virginia countryside.

Crystal is a Charlottesville native who loves being part of the local community. She joined the Southern Development Homes team in February 2025 as the Sales and Production Administrative Assistant. Crystal has a passion for sports, whether she’s playing basketball and softball or cheering on her favorite teams. Outside of work, she stays active on a co-ed softball team and enjoys attending UVA basketball and football games with her family. This fall, her daughter will be heading to Virginia Tech, so she’s excited to add Hokie sports to the mix!

Alice joined the Southern Development Homes team in December 2024, bringing over 6.5 years of experience as a New Construction Administrator. With a degree in Business Administration and Accounting, Alice has a strong background in office management and bookkeeping, and including expertise in machine controls. Originally from Charlotte, Alice relocated to Waynesboro in June 2024. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, gaming, cooking, and spending time with her partner, Eric.

Joe is the Land Development Field Manager at Southern Development. He oversees development projects, handling the engineering and construction aspects of design, development, and infrastructure installation until project completion. Joe holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UNC Charlotte and has worked on a wide range of construction projects, from single-family homes to large-scale industrial solar projects and nearly everything in between. He is passionate about creating a sense of place and building strong communities. Joe lives in Charlottesville with his wife, Kaitlyn, and their daughter, Vivian.

Aldrin joined Southern Development’s Service department in June 2023. He is a 2023 graduate of William Monroe High School, currently pursuing studies in construction management. Prior to his current academic pursuits, Aldrin gained experience by working for a custom home builder during his summer breaks. His early exposure to the construction field traces back to his grandfather, a skilled carpenter, where Aldrin’s hands-on involvement in building benches and tables sparked a lasting interest in the industry. Outside of work, Aldrin values quality time spent with family and friends. His leisure activities include snowboarding and playing basketball, providing a balance to his professional pursuits.

Bryan joined Southern Development Homes as a in July 2023. Since graduating from Virginia Tech in 2013, he has worked on projects up and down the east coast and has a background in Residential, Hospitality, Commercial, and Higher Education buildings.  He has worked on everything from sports bars to performing arts centers and enjoys all aspects of design, from a new concept sketch on a piece of scrap paper to the end of construction and handing the keys over to a new owner. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children in Crozet.

Sam joined Southern Development Homes in November 2022 as an Estimator.  A Charlottesville native who spent many years in various rolls in the UVA Library, Sam found his passion for building when he made the jump into estimating and project managing commercial construction projects around central Virginia in 2018.  Sam is very excited to be working for Southern Development helping to build quality homes for people in our community.  When he’s not working, Sam enjoys spending time with his wife, Aubrey, and cat, Sullivan Theodore German.  Sam’s many hobbies include music, photography, motorcycles, and building things.

David rejoined the Southern Development Homes team in May 2022 as the Chief Financial Officer. Prior to rejoining Southern Development Homes, David worked in the financial service industry as a group leader and operations manager. David received a Bachelor’s of Art degree in Economics from Denison University and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School. In his free time, David enjoys spending time on the Northern Neck of Virginia fishing and relaxing with his wife Lee, their two boys and three dogs!

Sara rejoined the team as an Online Sales Consultant in July 2021 and now serves as Southern Development’s Sales Manager. With a long-standing background in the homebuilding industry, she has held a variety of roles in sales, marketing, and management. Sara has sold and managed new home construction in both the Northern Virginia and Charlottesville markets and is passionate about Southern Development’s core values of community and customer care. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her husband and two daughters, going for outdoor runs, and relaxing with her pugs.