As far back as she can remember, A-B Tech graduate Ashley Kepley-Steward, 36, recalls watching her grandmother climbing up and down ladders to remodel her Concord home. Whether painting cabinets, tearing out drop ceilings, or laying floor tiles, Kepley-Steward watched closely and often lent a hand.
“My grandpa was disabled,” Kepley-Steward said. “So, my grandma taught herself how to do everything on her own. I had great leadership in her and learned you could do anything you set your mind to.”
That early experience has paid off. After eight years at Red Tree Builders, Inc., an Asheville- based eco-luxury housing builder, Kepley-Steward, Director of Operations, was recently recognized by Pro Builder Media, as one of the nation’s 40 Under 40 innovative young leaders. Pro Builder is the American housing industry’s leading news resource and the official media partner of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Out of 100 people nominated, 40 were chosen and recognized by receiving a plaque at the NAHB International Builders Show (IBS) in Las Vegas on February 24.
Kepley-Steward, who has worn various hats at Red Tree over the years, began her career there through an internship at A-B Tech. In her current role, she does everything from assisting clients with planning their homes to construction site checks and quality control, ensuring the finished product meets sustainability standards.
“Every home involves a lot of careful planning,” Kepley-Steward said. “We specialize in custom-built sustainable green homes and every one is unique.”
Kepley-Steward recently discussed her path into her current position. She admitted that even though she knew in her teens that she loved working with her hands, landing a construction job in Charlotte, where she grew up, was no easy feat.
“I was female, and I was 100 pounds soaking wet so nobody gave me the opportunity,” she said. Kepley-Steward, who was raised by her grandmother from age 12, also felt disconnected from other kids her age. “School wasn’t for me. I had great grades, but there weren’t a lot of kids like me.”
At 16, Kepley-Steward decided to drop out so she could work full-time. She got her high school degree through a local community college, and soon after began working in the food industry. To her surprise, she was promoted to manager within six months of starting a job at McDonalds. A later job at a lumber shop yielded the same result. Realizing she has a knack for leadership, Kepley-Steward attributes much of her success to playing team sports as a kid. Track and softball helped her learn how to work together as a team, and how to relate to her teammates one-on-one. “I can talk to anyone about anything,’ she said. “I also have passion and drive. I am going to get the job done to the best of my ability.”
After managing shops for several years, Kepley-Steward, who enjoys helping people in meaningful ways, decided to go to school for personal training. But after eight years, she craved a career change.
“Personal training gets routine day after day,” she said. “I’m ADHD and I like variety and doing something different every day. I knew I would have more career opportunities and be able to do what I was passionate about in construction.”
Hoping to learn how to flip houses, Kepley-Steward enrolled full-time in A-B Tech’s construction program in 2017. She cites her former instructor Eric Hurley as key in helping guide her to her current management role. Hurley spent one-on-one time talking with Kepley-Steward about the many job options in construction.
You think it’s just a person pouring concrete, but it’s not. There are so many layers to it. It started clicking for me that I can tie my management experience to this,” Kepley-Steward said. “I started taking sustainability classes and it all aligned. Small business, building something impactful for people and the environment.”
In her time at Red Tree, Kepley-Steward has worked her way up from intern to project manager, building coordinator and operations manager, a role she earned three years ago. “If you would’ve told me eight years ago I would have managed a $10 million construction company, I never would’ve believed you.”
Yet, somehow, the 11-year-old helping lay floor tiles, the resourceful shop manager, and the empathetic personal trainer have all merged into one versatile and skilled leader.
“Ashley’s guidance has enabled us to achieve unprecedented growth and expansion,” Red Tree Owner Brandon Bryant said. “She is a treasured leader and an exceptional individual and I’m proud to call her a friend.”
In her time at Red Tree, Kepley-Steward also has helped to shape the company’ s wellness policies, which include time off for mental health. This, she said, is key in an industry that can be challenging and unpredictable. “If someone is having a rough day and needs a mental health day, I try to be as empathetic as possible,” she said.
While her day job is focused these days on overall company operations, Kepley-Steward still enjoys rolling up her sleeves and doing home improvement projects with her wife at their Asheville home. It’s one of the great perks of studying construction, she said, that she can transform her home into whatever she wants it to be. It’s the legacy her grandma left behind and it’s also what her talented granddaughter does best.
See below for more photos (hit the arrows to scroll through). Pictured below: Photos of Kepley-Steward with her grandma and at the recent NAHB International Builders Show (IBS) award ceremony, which took place on Monday, February 24 in Las Vegas. At the ceremony, she spoke on a panel about how women can build careers in construction "without a hammer."
