our team
The Blue Heel team is highly skilled in managing all aspects of the development and construction process, including acquisition, entitlement, infrastructure development, vertical construction, sales and marketing. Because of the wide-ranging experience of our team, Blue Heel can be opportunistic and adaptable in its response to each project with the unique approach each site deserves. Our focus is on commercial, multi-family, and residential development projects in the Charlotte and Raleigh regional markets.
We are a close-knit team of very honest and trustworthy folks who take pride in their work and always try to do the right thing. We custom design our homes for our individual projects to meet the needs of the community, the homeowner, and the surrounding neighborhoods. We believe this differentiates us from merely having a stock of plans that we use up and down the East Coast. We believe the customization of the elevation, the thoughtfulness of the streetscape, the front elevation colors, the walkability of the neighborhoods can all make a difference.
We strive to have our neighborhoods look and feel more people-friendly and give more attention to the curb appeal and the use of the community as a whole. We all live in this community and want to continue to be part of it for years to come. We're not interested in being a franchise and just setting up a model and going all over the country. Our goal is to do a nice job in the community in which we live and where we grew up, and hopefully leave a nice legacy for future generations.
our leadership
Blue Heel is led by an entrepreneurial, highly experienced team of real estate development and finance professionals with over 75 years of combined real estate development and finance experience in multiple asset classes (office, medical office, industrial, multifamily, and residential). We are experienced in managing all aspects of the development and construction process, including acquisition, entitlement, infrastructure development, vertical construction, leasing, sales and marketing. Because of the wide-ranging experience of our team, Blue Heel can be opportunistic and adaptable in its response to each project with the unique approach each site deserves.
KYLE GROVES
CEO
Kyle is the co-founder of Blue Heel Development and is responsible for investment strategy and capital relationships. His diverse finance background extends across multiple asset classes in real estate and across various disciplines as an investor, developer, lender, and lender to lenders.
Over his career, Kyle has underwritten over $1 billion in real estate projects and has developed relationships with a diverse group of equity and debt sources. This has positioned Blue Heel to capitalize on opportunities and creatively structure projects that align the interests of all stakeholders.
Prior to forming Blue Heel Development, Kyle was involved as a partner and investor in multiple real estate finance companies, including Carolina Private Lending, the American Association of Private Lending, and RBA Capital, a lender finance company in partnership with a Philadelphia based bank.
Kyle received his BSBA from Georgetown University and his MBA from Duke University, and resides in Raleigh with his wife and four sons.
JULIE GAVAGHAN
COO
Julie Gavaghan is a highly regarded real estate professional who brings significant experience in commercial, industrial, and residential development, as well as years of brokerage and property management experience to the Blue Heel team.
She is the Lead Developer for the Blue Heel Raleigh Office and also leads the Commercial Development efforts for the company. Julie previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Keystone Corporation for 16 years. Julie was responsible for managing and coordinating the efforts of the entire Development and Construction Team, including design, construction, financing, property management, and leasing.
She has supervised the completion of +/- 2.1 million SF of Class “A” Office, Single-Story R&D, and Warehouse commercial properties and +/-1.3 million SF of residential developments in the Triangle area.
Julie graduated Summa Cum Laude from NC State with degrees in business management and finance.
JACK ROLLINS
CFO
Jack Rollins is a seasoned real estate finance professional with experience in all phases of real estate investment, development, finance, and accounting. Over his career, Jack has served as CFO for multiple real estate development companies with developments across the country including in Florida, Missouri, Hawaii, Tennessee, and North Carlina. In this capacity, Jack had the ultimate responsibilities for overseeing all finance and accounting functions for real estate development activities. This included land development as well as single and multi-family construction.
In addition, he has also served as a financial due diligence auditor for a real estate finance company and an audit manager for a national public accounting firm specializing in the financial statement audits of real estate development clients. Jack was also involved as a partner and founding member of the American Association of Private Lenders.
Jack is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a BSBA from The University of Florida in Business Administration and a BSBA from The University of Central Florida in Accounting.
MIKE IRVIN
Development Manager, Charlotte
Mike is Blue Heel’s development manager for the Charlotte office and the sales coordinator for both the Charlotte and Raleigh offices.
His primary role consists of managing the land and vertical development of our townhome and active adult communities. He also plays a part in the development and implementation of our internal systems and processes. Mike previously worked as the lead analyst for a Real Estate zoning firm and before that the lead investment associate for a wealth management group.
He has been with Blue Heel for over 2 years now. He graduated Clemson University with a Corporate Finance major and an accounting minor. He also holds his NC real estate brokers license.
MATT GALLAGHER
Lead Development, Charlotte
Matt Gallagher is a seasoned expert in residential development and new home construction with over twenty years of real estate experience in the greater Charlotte area. Matt has worked on projects ranging from large master planned single family, townhome and condominium communities, to traditional neighborhood developments with mixed use components. Matt has expertise in strategic infill construction in high growth areas.
Previously, Matt worked for Gandy Communities managing their sales and marketing and was responsible for 15 neighborhoods in four counties, with sales of over 1500 units. With longevity in the marketplace Matt continues to build relationships to find new opportunities, creating value with entitlements and development, and in the sales and marketing of new homes and communities.
Matt has an undergraduate degree from Liberty University in Virginia and a MBA from University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
TRIPP MCDUFFIE
Vice President of Construction
Tripp joins Blue Heel with over 20 years of experience in residential and commercial construction in the Raleigh and surrounding area. Tripp has managed several aspects of new home construction in both large production communities and smaller custom-built neighborhoods.
He started his career with Anderson Homes and spent 12 years climbing the advancement ladder. During his career he has served as a Construction Manager, a Community Sales Manager, Production Manager, and Land Acquisition Manager. Tripp also has experience in custom built houses, Energy Star Programs, and Water Sense Programs. With a short three year stint in commercial construction, Tripp served as a Project Manager responsible for written scopes, design scopes, and project execution with large scale general contractors.
Tripp graduated from Appalachian State University and holds a NC General Contractors License. He currently lives in Raleigh with his wife and two sons.
CRAIG NARDI
Asset Manager
Craig arrived at Blue Heel with a career in Property Management spanning over 27 years, throughout several large markets including Phoenix, Washington D.C., and Maryland. Within the industry, Craig has a background that is well rounded and has experienced Class A, Lease Up, Single Family Management, Mid Rise Buildings, Property Rehab and Renovations, along with commercial management experience.
In 2009 Craig earned his Certified Property Manager (CPM) credential through IREM and currently holds his North Carolina Brokers License. Craig has served as President of IREM’s Greater Raleigh-Durham Chapter as well as President of the Triangle Apartment Association. He currently sits on the Legislative Committee for the National Apartment Association and holds a holds board seats on the Triangle Apartment Association, Political Action Committee as well as on the Triangle Government Alliance.
Craig earned his bachelor’s degree from the Kean University and currently resides in Cary, NC with his wife and three children.
NIKOLE MELAMED
Purchasing Manager
Nikole joins the Blue Heel team as the Purchasing Manager for our Raleigh and Charlotte offices. She brings with her over two decades of home-building experience, including bidding and contracting trades, job cost analysis, construction administration, architectural design, and plan management.
Nikole graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design as a major in Historic PreservaGon and has an Architectural Technology degree from Wake Technical Community College. She has two grown daughters and currently lives in Durham, NC with her husband and two dogs.
ERIC VEST
Asst Construction Manager
Eric joins the Blue Heel construction team’s Charlotte office as an Assitant Construction Manager. With over 8 years of real estate experience, Eric has built a rental portfolio of his own, buying and selling properties.
Right out of high school, he purchased his first home starting the beginning of his rental portfolio. Since then he has built a business by buying value-added properties and putting good management practices into play.
He prides himself with his entrepreneurial mindset and love for the industry. With that his experience spreads wide from purchasing, development, and construction to leasing, selling, and scaling.
TRAVIS COOKE
Construction Manager
Travis Cooke is a Construction manager based in our Charlotte office. Originally from Asheville, NC, Travis is a licensed general contractor with 18 years of building and construction management experience in townhomes, single-family and custom homes.
He moved to Lake Norman in 2014 and currently resides in Davidson with his wife. He has one daughter and two grandchildren.