SDH Happenings

Gabbi DeGennaro joined the Southern Development Homes team in February 2026 as our newest Design Studio Advisor, bringing both creativity and a thoughtful eye for detail to the role. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design, with a minor in Art History, from VCUarts. With a lifelong passion for art and design, Gabbi enjoys helping homeowners bring their vision to life and guiding them through the exciting process of personalizing their home. Her warm personality and natural creativity make her a wonderful partner as homeowners explore finishes, textures, and design possibilities in the Design Studio.

Outside of work, Gabbi enjoys sewing, crafting, tackling puzzles, and playing volleyball. She also loves spending time with family and friends, and relaxing at home with her two cats, Spicy Sushi and Na’vi.

Shannon joined Southern Development Homes in 2025 as a New Home Advisor, bringing a diverse background in education, hospitality, event planning, and sales. Across every role, one thing has remained constant: Shannon genuinely enjoys helping people. She keeps buyers’ needs at the center of every interaction, breaking down the home buying process into clear, approachable steps that help clients feel informed and confident from start to finish.

A graduate of James Madison University, Shannon has called the Blue Ridge Mountains home for nearly two decades and chose to settle in Charlottesville after college. Outside of work, she enjoys caring for her rescue dogs, experimenting with new recipes in her home bakery, planning creative outings with friends and family, and diving into whatever new hobby catches her attention, from sourdough baking to thrifting.

Jacob joined Southern Development Homes in January 2026 and brings a strong mix of project management knowledge and hands-on construction experience. He graduated from Mary Baldwin University with a degree in Business Project Management.

While earning his degree, Jacob worked with his family’s construction company, where he learned the ins and outs of the building process and developed a solid understanding of how projects come together from start to finish. He enjoys being part of the construction process and contributing to well-built homes.

Outside of work, Jacob enjoys spending time with his family, cheering on the Orioles, and getting outdoors—whether that’s hunting or simply enjoying time in the woods.

Mike Weeks joined Southern Development Homes in January 2026 as a Construction Manager, bringing more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry. He began his career in 1993 as an apprentice, gaining hands-on experience across installation and management roles. In 1998, he became a Forbo Master Mechanic, specializing in flooring and wall installations for operating rooms, clean rooms, and chemistry buildings.

After more than 20 years as a small business owner focused on custom bathrooms, showers, and acoustical ceilings, Mike transitioned into construction management in Central Virginia. Over the past eight years, he has helped build 200+ homes and enjoys working closely with homeowners and trade partners to deliver quality homes.

Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and son and riding his motorcycle to events and destinations across different states.

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.