Matt has certainly done a thorough “hands on” apprenticeship in managing high quality residential builds. He started listening and asking lots of questions from the very early days, whilst still clearing up house sites, digging holes and shoveling mulch. His time spent on site at all of the different stages of building has provided a very solid understanding of what should be happening now and what needs to be right for what comes next.
Fast forward 12 years of this continuous learning and Matt has now built broad expertise in estimating, project coordination, programming, customer relations, purchasing, construction methodology and project management. His regular progression through the ranks has come from enthusiastically applying his experience, his attention to detail and his “can do” approach to please his clients wherever he possibly can. Now he is a highly regarded Senior Project Manager at Lowe Design & Build and leads our Project Management team.
But as well as building many great homes for his clients, Matt and his wife Sarah have also built a great family together at their own home in Carrum. Their 3-year-old daughter Poppy, their new baby Bodhi and their 4-year-old curly-coated retriever, Sadie, are all full of energy so there are always plenty of reasons for a laugh and a wind-down walk at the end of a busy day!
Building has been in Ryan’s blood since birth, and being a builder like his Dad was always his childhood dream. Growing up in a small town in rural NSW instilled a great sense of community in Ryan, and he has always been keen to “play his part”.
As per his plan, he set off to study Construction when he finished high school but then, almost to his surprise, he discovered that his strengths actually lay in building Design rather than in managing construction operations. He found that he not only loved building digitally in 3D – he was really good at it!
Now, after gaining his Design qualifications and nearly a decade of designing custom residential homes in Darwin and in Melbourne, in every possible style, he has recently joined Lowe Design & Build to augment our design team. We are thrilled to have Ryan on board – he adds so much value and his style and approach fit in perfectly. One of his standout attributes is how he listens so carefully to what his Clients are seeking to achieve and then “partners” with them during the design process to bring their ideas and preferences to life.
So why did someone with so much experience and success decide to make the move to Lowe? Ryan explains that it was a very carefully considered decision, and that there were 3 main reasons. Firstly, he wanted to work in the community he lives in and play his part locally, just as he did growing up. Living in Chelsea, being a member of the Edithvale CFA and working in Mordialloc has certainly ticked that box!
Secondly, he wanted to work for a business that was as community-minded as he was and was very impressed by all of the sponsorships and community involvement that is deeply woven into how Lowe Design & Build does business. And finally he was looking for a design and build company with a high quality product, and says that this part has been totally satisfied!
So Ryan has quickly “settled in” – he is loving the positivity of the teamwork and how everyone combines their input to a project, contributing their different strengths, and he has been a real hit with his clients and his colleagues. Ryan and his wife Renae, and of course their wonderful rescue dog Patch, have found “home” with us here in Bayside, and we are certainly delighted to have them on the team!
If you looked up “humble” in the dictionary, Alice’s picture would be there! She would so much rather talk to other people about what they want than talk about herself, and it’s just about impossible to get her to tell you what she is good at!
But, as anyone who knows her or her work will confirm, she is very good at what she does. After completing a 4 year degree in Interior Architecture at Monash, Alice worked for a boutique firm in Prahran before joining us at Lowe Design & Build, and she has now been with us for nearly 10 years!
Alice says she has “grown up” at Lowe and has learned so much. She loves the leadership she receives and the positive people environment at work, and says many of them are so much more to her than colleagues. And unsurprisingly, people love working with Alice! She is so familiar with the whole design and build process now, from feasibility studies through to handover, and her creativity, attention to detail and amazing ability to “get on the same wavelength” as her clients mean that she makes an immense contribution to the quality and individuality of each project.
Alice is also a new Mum, and she and her husband Brad love nothing more than going home to Black Rock to chill out and play with their beautiful daughter Olivia.
So what should you expect if you are working on a project with Alice? She will listen carefully, and as one client recently said – “she never stops thinking and offering ideas and possible solutions”. She excels at floor plans and details and if she is ever stuck with a construction challenge she will go straight to the construction team and get it solved. Alice is simply passionate about great design, is an experienced “solution-finder” and a highly effective communicator (except about her strengths) – what a brilliant value combination she brings to the team!
Troy started his working life on top of the world! Roof tiling was his first job, before he moved from Sydney to Melbourne to begin his career in Real Estate. Over the years, Troy has gained experience in all facets of real estate, and has also built a reputation for excellence and authenticity. It’s not many Real Estate agents who repeatedly earn 5 Star reviews from both Vendors and Buyers!
At just the right time in Lowe Design & Build’s development, Troy became intrigued with our innovative development model. Today, he is an integral member of the Lowe team and helps put Homeowners who love where they live but need to modernise the quality and livability of their homes together with Buyers who want to access design excellence in otherwise unachievable locations! Those are the results that put him on top of the world nowadays! That, and golf of course!
Contact Troy on 0468 930 166 or email troy.nelson@lowedesignbuild.com.au
Andrew grew up in the country and applies a practical and straight-forward approach to his successful career in building. After 14 years with Lowe Design & Build, he now manages the whole delivery end of our business – from procurement to completion.
Andrew leads a highly competent and loyal team who share his work ethic, values and standards. Client satisfaction has always been Andrew’s greatest driver, and he loves nothing more than knowing his team has “nailed the brief” – that Lowe Design & Build have delivered the home that our clients have dreamed of and now love. So if quality or professionalism ever start to slip, everyone knows they will soon be getting a call from Andrew!
But building isn’t Andrew’s only interest – he also loves being a racehorse owner and regularly heads off with his partner Luisa to watch one of their horses run and then either celebrate (or commiserate) with a good meal afterwards.
Simon has been with Lowe Design & Build for 12 years, and started as a Drafty but now leads a team of over a dozen professionals covering Drafting, Design, Planning, Contracts and Estimating!
How did this happen? Well Simon says it’s because he found great mentors, room to grow, continuing opportunities to learn and a product that he loves. And it’s also because Simon insists on getting the quality and detail exactly right. From concept design to handover, Simon and his team focus closely on what will work best for their clients, and the results speak for themselves in every Lowe home.
When he’s not working, Simon is usually biking, running, playing hockey or taking his girls camping or to the beach with his wife Caroline. And at home, their two little girls, their Labrador and their cat are just perfect for creating enough mess to balance out all of that daily attention to detail!
Reagan joined Lowe Design & Build because he wanted to see his creative designs put into effect as was intended. He knew that only a “full service” business providing in-house planning, design and construction can fully control the integrity of design. Six years on and Reagan is still enjoying seeing his design work come to life as intended.
With an Advanced Diploma of Building Design and Bachelor Degree in Architecture, Reagan’s a real team player. Indeed, he feels that Lowe’s highly collaborative approach, where each team member protects both the design aspirations and the budget, provides an essential point of difference in delivering the best result for our clients.
Creating solutions where results are not compromised takes concentration and focus, but once at home he and his wife Lauren love heading for the beach, for a run or down to the park with their two highly active preschoolers! Such a great way to clear your mind!
Michael’s professional career in accounting and finance has always been focused on property, real estate and building, and this extensive experience and familiarity with our sector means everyone dealing with him quickly develop confidence and trust in his professional advice.
He is a very positive person with a default attitude of “We can probably do it”. He energetically digs in and looks at things from all angles, and has built a reputation for making well-considered assessments and communicating them well. This, combined with his professional accountancy education and experience, make him a highly valued member of the Lowe Design & Build team.
Michael has always lived a full life – university, world travel adventures and then representing Australia for several years in basketball, and now wrangling his two very active children. Originally from Bairnsdale, he and his family are now firmly planted in Bayside!
Dani’s been fascinated by property since she was 12, when she told her Mum that she wanted to buy a house for herself! So Real Estate was the obvious choice after school, and she excelled. After a few years, she jumped when an opportunity to meet with Lowe Design & Build arose, because as a born and bred Bayside girl, she already knew Lowe’s reputation and loved their designs.
Daniela brings her energetic love of her work with her every day, and gets a real buzz from helping people understand the Lowe development model – “I love the model, especially the opportunities that Pre-sale can bring. When people realise their dream of a brand new home is more attainable then they initially thought, it’s a really exciting conversation to be a part of!”
Dani and her fiancée are big foodies, love travelling, and enjoy nothing more than exploring the beaches along the Peninsula with Chip, their Golden Retriever.
Contact Daniela on 0413 687 533 or email daniela.schell@lowedesignbuild.com.au