Meet our Team - Amarx Construction

AMARX CONSTRUCTION

A Team Approach

AMARX CONSTRUCTION

A Team Approach

Amarx Construction’s foundation comes from a collaborative team with over 60 years of combined experience and a trusted reputation for building luxury custom homes in Western North Carolina. But what really makes Amarx better than other builders in the area, is their authentic and sincere approach to every project. From their no-nonsense sales process, to their realistic estimations, to their honest and direct communications throughout the build, Amarx provides an exceptional construction experience that makes the most out of a client’s budget. And because of their direct building style, projects are completed on time, within budget, and beyond expectations.

Kyle Gilliland

President

Kyle has been in the building industry for 20 years. After graduating college at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a business degree, Kyle and his wife Brandi moved to Asheville.

In 2005 Kyle began Amarx Construction. Kyle is an active member to the Asheville Home Builders Association, the Green Building Council, and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. When he is not helping you build your dream home, he enjoys being outdoors, playing golf, and spending time with his 11 year old son and 5 year old daughter. Kyle is passionate about his job and prides himself on quality work.

email: kyle@amarx.net

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Derrick Meeks

Operations Manager

Derrick is a 2001 graduate of Appalachian State University and is a licensed general contractor in North Carolina. He has worked in the construction industry since 2001 specializing in management and estimating.

His experience has afforded him the opportunities to be involved with a wide variety of project types and sizes ranging from single-family residential, multi-family residential, education, government, medical and religious facilities.

Derrick moved to Asheville in 2002 where he currently resides with his wife Julia and their two children, Camdyn and Carter.

email: derrick@amarx.net

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Mike Romero

VP of Development

Mike has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate and development arena, specializing in asset management, construction, branding, marketing and sales. Mike holds a NC General Contractor Building License along with a NC Real Estate Broker’s License.

At Amarx Construction, Mike is responsible for land acquisition and development as well as business development strategies – to develop marketing initiatives, acquire new business opportunities, retain and develop existing business and create brand awareness.

When he’s not at work, Mike can be found spending time with his wife and two kids. He has a love/hate relationship with the game of golf and is always planning his next annual hiking trip with his friends. Mike serves on the board for Mountain Housing Opportunities, a non-profit community development corporation.

email: mike@amarx.net

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Tracy McLaughlin

Office Manager

Tracy has worked in the office administrative field for 28 years. She started as an administrative assistant and worked her way up through bookkeeping and soon became an office administrator.

She owned a small retail company for 3 years. Throughout her career, Tracy has helped many local businesses grow and become successful. Tracy has been married to her husband, Tim, for 30 years. Together they have 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

email: tracy@amarx.net

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Amanda Caldwell

Accounts Payable Manager

Amanda Caldwell was born and raised in Western North Carolina. She has 15 years of experience in construction office management. Amanda has been married to her husband, Samuel for 10 years.

They are blessed with two children Dalton and Waylon. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys spending time with her family and friends and church.

email: amanda@amarx.net

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Hayley Carter

Administrative Assistant

Hayley grew up in Asheville area her whole life. She previously worked in the medical field before joining the Amarx team. She has two wonderful dogs and a Husband who she Married March 2022. Hayley enjoys spending time with family and friends outside of working.

email: hayley@amarx.net

Mark Gattis

Custom Home Division Manager

Mark is a graduate of the University of North Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Building Construction Management. As a Certified General Contractor, he was owner of a Custom Home Building business for 16 years in Florida before moving to Western North Carolina.

He derives great satisfaction in helping clients take an idea and crafting it into a beautiful home for their family for many years. In addition to building, he has been involved in several high schools as a Head Varsity Baseball Coach and coached many showcase teams throughout the southeast.

Mark and his wife Neissa have raised three wonderful children and actively dote on two grandkids. In his spare time he loves to coach baseball, play golf and get outside onto the beautiful WNC trails with his wife and friends.

email: mark@amarx.net

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Cole Maier

Project Manager

Cole grew up in Charlotte, NC and through his intrigue of the mountains, chose to attend college at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. It was here where Cole fell in love with Western NC and met his future wife.

Cole holds a bachelor of science degree in business management from the Walker College of Business at ASU and brings years of experience in the building industry in which he takes great pride.

In his spare time, Cole loves spending time with his family and enjoying all the unique and exciting activities that the Asheville area has to offer.

email: cole@amarx.net

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Stephen Turvaville

Project Manager

Stephen was born and raised on the gulf coast of Florida. After high school, he attended Santa Fe Comm College in Gainesville Fl. In 1998 he moved to Memphis TN to continue his college education at the University of Memphis.

Stephen began his construction career in 2004 as a Construction Manager building single-family homes in Memphis and surrounding areas. In 2010 he earned his General Contractor license and opened his own contracting firm which he ran for 8 years in western Tennessee. After having his 2nd child Stephen and his wife moved their family to Black Mtn North Carolina. Since 2017 he has continued his career as a Construction Manager in the Asheville area.

When he is not working Stephen enjoys being with his family outdoors or playing sports. Whether that be camping, hunting, or playing ball he values his time with his 2 boys and loving wife.

email: stephen@amarx.net

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Bryan Babb

Project Manager

Bryan grew up in the Florida Panhandle where he started his formal education in the field of engineering at the University of Florida. He later attended Florida State University broadening his perspective with creative writing & literature.

After college, his construction career began with shipbuilding at Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. in Panama City, FL building Offshore Supply Vessels, Passenger Ferries, & Commercial Fishing Vessels. After moving to Asheville, NC this was later followed by work for a general contractor, Hathaway Construction, whose primary emphasis was on multifamily/commercial construction. He has completed over 1200 units in the multifamily division including several projects in Asheville, Arden, & Skyland.

Bryan fell in love with Asheville’s beautiful landscapes and craft beer scene during his travels and decided that it was the perfect place to settle into a prolific construction career due to its rapid growth and culturally diverse environment. In his leisure time, he enjoys home brewing, hiking, as well as soaking up the culinary, musical, & artistic atmosphere of Asheville.

email: bryan@amarx.net

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Frank Turchi

Project Manager

Frank was born and raised in Central Indiana, and he attended Ivy Technical college where he studied CAD/Design. After school he began his construction life working with his Father then moved to Asheville in 1991. He continued in the construction field working for a local company in Black Mountain.

In 1995 he was instrumental in the startup of a construction company where he worked for 26 years. Frank has been building Custom homes for decades with expert level knowledge in all aspects of the home building process. Frank raised one son that is married with a child on the way and they currently reside in Hawaii. In Frank’s spare time he enjoys playing golf with his friend.

email: frank@amarx.net

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Steve Payne

Project Manager

I am a life-long resident of Western North Carolina. I graduated from Enka High School 1985, Appalachian State University 1989 and received my master’s degree from Gardner Webb University in 2012.

Building houses has always been my lifelong dream. I watched my Grandfather and Uncles build many homes hoping that one day I could be just like them.I love supporting the Mountaineers football program and attend many of their home football games. I love the outdoors hunting, fishing and football. I am married to the most beautiful woman in the world Kristie and together we have 3 children Hunter, Kyra and Kamya. We have 5 wonderful Golden Retrievers and love them dearly.

email: stevep@amarx.net

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Ian Girard

Project Manager

Ian Girard grew up in Black Mountain, North Carolina. After high school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he traveled the world and had many life experiences. Upon his completion of his duties, he decided to return home and go to school.

Ian received his associates degree in construction management. Ian also has his NCBA superintendent certification, along with many other certificates. He is married to his best friend Brooke. They have two amazing children together, Skylar and Jaxon. Ian is an avid sportsman and enjoys, hunting, fishing, boating, golfing, shooting, and most of all, spending time with his family. Ian has been in construction for 12 years and supervising custom homes for 5 of those 12 years. Ian enjoys making people’s dream home come true.

email: ian@amarx.net

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Tim Woodcock

Estimator

Tim grew up in Syracuse New York and graduated from St Lawrence University in Canton NY with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology.

Tim moved to Wilmington, NC and worked as a firefighter and construction, he also met his wife there. In 2006 they moved to Asheville, where he has worked in various facets of the construction industry in WNC. As a result he has worked on numerous projects ranging from residential to commercial, industry, and hospitality. Tim brings this broad knowledge to the Amarx team.

In his spare time, Tim and his wife Kristy enjoy spending time with their two kids exploring the mountains and camping whenever possible.

email: tim@amarx.net

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Jim Doney

Construction Manager

Jim has been in the building industry since 1982, working for Raymond La Chase contractors at Fort Drum, NY and Northland Associated in Syracuse, NY. He moved to North Carolina in 1997 with his wife Cindy, and 3 young children.

Before coming to Amarx homes, Jim worked 18 years for a local construction company in Asheville, concentrating in commercial and residential construction as a superintendent. In his spare time Jim enjoys spending time with his family, including 4 grandchildren, hiking, fishing and various outdoor activities.

email: jim@amarx.net

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Ricky Ball

Construction Manager

Raised in Barnardsville, a small town right outside of Asheville, Ricky learned woodworking and welding while in high school. He quickly acquired new skills in hanging steal, iron work, and other contract commercial work.

For 25 years, Ricky built turn-key houses from the grading to the finishing touches. In 2015 he began working for Amarx. When he is not at work, Ricky, a father of 4, enjoys camping with his family as well as deer hunting.

email: ricky@amarx.net

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Richard Bell

Construction Manager

Richard was born and raised in a small town in SC. He’s a country boy through and through and can be easily recognized with his Cowboy hat and boots. He was raised with old school values where your word and a handshake is better than any contract.

Richard served his country in the Army after high school where he learned discipline and countless lessons.
He’s a loving husband, doting father of 7 and proud grandfather of 2 boys.
Richard has been building and running equipment since a young age with his father. He’s taken those priceless experiences and learned the trade with an aggressive attitude to build quality, beautiful homes. Richard has experience in commercial and the residential field. He prides himself on having a wonderful relationship with his clients, colleagues and sub-contractors.
When Richard isn’t working or spending time with his loved ones you can find him outside working in the garden, building a new project or just dreaming of his retirement years off grid in Alaska, hunting, fishing and watching the Northern lights up close and personal.

email: richard@amarx.net

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Jared White

Construction Manager

Jared grew up on Hilton Head Island, SC as the youngest of four boys. After graduating high school, he attended Prescott College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Community Development.

After graduating college Jared was based in Atlanta, GA as a superintendent in the commercial industry where he traveled throughout the country managing projects. Before coming to work at Amarx he moved to Asheville to live with his fiancé Ashley.
During his free time Jared loves taking his three dogs on hikes, fishing, golf, spending time with his family and live music.

email: jared@amarx.net

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John Nick Setterlind

Construction Manager

John Nick grew up here in Western North Carolina. Moved to Lynchburg, Virginia after completing High School to attend Liberty University to play football and

study communications. He is married to his wife, Amber. They currently have one son John Nicholas Setterlind II but he goes by Deuce and he means the world to them. When not working John Nick enjoys Fly Fishing with his wife, son, and working out. He loves watching Florida State University Football, New Orleans Saints, and the Atlanta Braves. Most of his family live here locally including Mom, Dad, CB and family, Jake, Lauren, and his other brother Jordon and his family live in Suffolk Virginia. He has worked in the residential construction industry for 7 years after leaving college working mainly on custom homes. He enjoys the whole process of building quality homes and strives to give every client their dream home.

email: johnnick@amarx.net

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Andrew Moore

Construction Manager

Andrew is a lifelong resident of Fairview, North Carolina and a high school graduate of A.C. Reynolds. Prior to becoming apart of the Amarx team,

Andrew worked in the commercial construction industry as a project superintendent. Andrew is married to his lovely wife Courtney, he enjoys the outdoors, football, and, spending time riding motocross.

email: andrew@amarx.net

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Mark Barnhart

Construction Manager

Mark grew up in northern Illinois spending the majority of his youth playing hockey in the colder months and backpacking in the summers.

While taking a trip through the Southeast in 2006, he fell in the love with the Asheville area and all the outdoor wonders therein. Spending most weekends on the trails with his wife, son and rescue dog. Transitioning from restaurant management to construction 8 years ago, and finding the desire to build housing for people just as deep as feeding them. Mark brings dedication to effectively bring structures to life from drawings, materials and the people who make it all coalesce.

email: markb@amarx.net

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Doyle McLaughlin

Warranty Manager

Doyle was the maintenance manager for Day Associates for almost 20 years overseeing the facilities maintenance for the Fun Depot, Brookstone Lodge and all developments owned by Day Associates.

He joined the Amarx team March of 2022 as a Warranty manager.
On His off time, he enjoys spending time at his camper on lake James with his wife of 33 years.

email: doyle@amarx.net

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Ashley Taylor

Assistant Construction Manager

Ashley is a lifelong resident of Asheville, NC. She is a graduate of Clyde A. Erwin High School and attended Mars Hill University.

She worked in the Aggregate Industry for 23 years before becoming a member of the Amarx Team, and brings much experience and expertise with her. She has been married to her husband Eddie for 20 years and loves their miniature schnauzer, Nash. She enjoys their lake home at Lake James, and traveling the Caribbean Islands with family and friends.

email: ashley@amarx.net

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Kacia Jurdi

Interior Designer

Kacia is an Interior Design Consultant with over twenty years of successful experience in designing and renovating homes. She has worked with, and designed for, a diverse clientele.

At Amarx Construction, Kacia specializes in guiding clients through the design process by balancing creativity, & functionality while carefully listening to the client’s needs. She enjoys the collaboration as well as organizing & managing the details. Kacia believes that beautiful interiors, along with well-planned spaces, can transform everyday life. It is her passion to help clients create their timeless homes.

Before working at Amarx, Kacia was the Lead Designer and Studio Manager for a national builder in Austin, TX where she built and created an award-winning design studio, model homes, and design team. She previously lived in New Hampshire and used her creative talents as a Retail Designer, Purchasing Manager and Visual Merchandiser for a leading home furnishing company.

Kacia is a graduate of Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, WI where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Design (ASID, FIDER), with an emphasis on Historic Preservation, Renovation and Art History. Throughout college Kacia worked as a Designer for an architectural firm, a lighting company, retail store.

When Kacia is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter traveling, being outdoors, attending her husband’s music concerts and volunteering with school activities & parent council.

email: kacia@amarx.net

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Maggie Julcher

Interior Designer

Maggie is originally from the northern suburbs of Chicago, IL. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Minor in Art History from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

She then received her Master’s in Arts of Interior Design from Harrington College of Design in Chicago. While earning her degree she worked for a small, high-end interior design firm on the Chicago North Shore.

After graduating, Maggie moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where she worked for Ann Sacks as a Design Sales Consultant. She earned the distinction of being in the top 10% of sales for the nation 2 years in succession. She enjoyed spending time outdoors in the Bay Area exploring nearby regional parks, national parks and national monuments with camping and hiking trips with friends.

Maggie made the move to Asheville, and the East Coast in the Fall of 2020. When Maggie is not working, she enjoys spending time with her two dogs, camping and hiking while exploring the beauty of Western North Carolina.

email: maggie@amarx.net

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