James Crawford i Managing Partner
James Crawford brings over a decade of hands-on experience in construction, project management, and operations leadership. As Managing Partner at Steel Roots, he oversees day-to-day execution, vendor coordination, and on-site management, drawing from a diverse background that spans residential remodeling, modular manufacturing, and commercial property oversight.
Prior to Steel Roots, James served as VP of Production at Containing Luxury, where he led safety, procurement, and factory workflow in a startup manufacturing environment. His earlier roles include project management and superintendent leadership with general contracting firms, as well as operating his construction consultancy, CAC Renovations LLC, since 2015. James holds a General Contractors License Course certification from Gold Coast School of Construction and is known for his ability to manage complex timelines, uphold safety standards, and build strong relationships across teams and trades.
Karen Matthews i Managing Partner
Karen Matthews is a strategic leader with a background in business consulting, housing development, and operational design. As Managing Partner of Steel Roots, she leads vision, strategic partnerships, and advisory services—leveraging her expertise in modular housing systems, development planning, and cross-sector collaboration.
Karen is also the founder of KAM Business Solutions, where she supports clients across construction, manufacturing, real estate, institutional investors, and professional services with executive-level consulting. Her strength lies in connecting people, systems, and opportunities to bring bold housing ideas to life.
Our experts
Paul Chavoustie – Land Use & Development Strategist
Brian Lamotte, PE – Land Use Strategist & Land Development Engineer
Brian Lamotte, PE – Land Use Strategist & Land Development Engineer
Paul Chavoustie is a seasoned real estate developer, builder, and consultant with more than 25 years of experience in land acquisition, site planning, entitlements, and development execution. He has led numerous zoning approvals, municipal engagements, and infrastructure projects, guiding developers through complex regulatory environments
Paul Chavoustie is a seasoned real estate developer, builder, and consultant with more than 25 years of experience in land acquisition, site planning, entitlements, and development execution. He has led numerous zoning approvals, municipal engagements, and infrastructure projects, guiding developers through complex regulatory environments while maximizing investment potential.
Paul previously served as Mayor of Granby, Colorado, where he drove economic revitalization, infrastructure improvements, and public-private partnerships to support sustainable growth. His leadership in redevelopment and community planning has been featured in The New York Times. With expertise in permitting, site design, and project execution, Paul provides strategic insight for development teams navigating both public and private sector projects.
Brian Lamotte, PE – Land Use Strategist & Land Development Engineer
Brian Lamotte, PE – Land Use Strategist & Land Development Engineer
Brian Lamotte, PE – Land Use Strategist & Land Development Engineer
Brian Lamotte is a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida and North Carolina with more than 40 years of experience in land development, site engineering, and regulatory compliance. His expertise includes civil engineering design, water management systems, underground utilities, infrastructure procurement, and permitting coordination. H
Brian Lamotte is a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida and North Carolina with more than 40 years of experience in land development, site engineering, and regulatory compliance. His expertise includes civil engineering design, water management systems, underground utilities, infrastructure procurement, and permitting coordination. He has extensive experience working with municipal, county, state, and federal agencies to move projects efficiently through entitlement and approval processes.
Brian also brings significant experience in zoning, permitting, infrastructure planning, and business development strategy. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida and serves as an elected member of the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District. He is actively involved in the Florida Engineering Society, the American Association of Civil Engineers, and the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.
Jeb Harrison – Construction Management Consultant
Jeb Harrison – Construction Management Consultant
Jeb Harrison – Construction Management Consultant
Jeb Harrison has extensive experience in real estate development and construction, spanning large-scale residential and commercial projects. At WCI Homes, he oversaw the acquisition and development of more than 2,000 single-family lots in South Florida. He later managed more than $100M in civil construction projects and directly developed
Jeb Harrison has extensive experience in real estate development and construction, spanning large-scale residential and commercial projects. At WCI Homes, he oversaw the acquisition and development of more than 2,000 single-family lots in South Florida. He later managed more than $100M in civil construction projects and directly developed 3,000 residential lots and 2,100 apartment units across South Florida and Puerto Rico.
His expertise includes underwriting, entitlements, project approvals, construction, and project close-out for high-end residential developments. Jeb is also the founder of HarCon FL, a Florida subcontractor specializing in sitework and retaining walls, serving developers such as Kolter Homes and Mattamy Homes. He holds a B.S. in Agriculture Operations Management from the University of Florida.
Andrew Evans – Construction Management Consultant
Jeb Harrison – Construction Management Consultant
Jeb Harrison – Construction Management Consultant
Andrew Evans is a multi-state licensed Unlimited General Contractor with significant experience managing billion-dollar construction projects across the United States. He played key roles in projects such as Nashville Yards (2018–2021), a $1.8 billion, 19-acre redevelopment in downtown Nashville featuring a 28-story hotel, residential tow
Andrew Evans is a multi-state licensed Unlimited General Contractor with significant experience managing billion-dollar construction projects across the United States. He played key roles in projects such as Nashville Yards (2018–2021), a $1.8 billion, 19-acre redevelopment in downtown Nashville featuring a 28-story hotel, residential tower, and more than 2 million square feet of Class A office space. He also contributed to the Miami Beach Convention Center Addition and Renovation (2017–2018), an $820 million phased project requiring annual re-openings for Art Basel during construction.
From 2015 to 2017, Andrew was part of the second construction team for Apple Campus 2, helping deliver the $5 billion, 175-acre campus in Cupertino, California. Earlier in his career (2011–2014), he managed highly specialized, mission-critical data center builds throughout the Southeast, totaling $2.2 billion. His ability to deliver on complex, high-value projects makes him a key asset in managing large-scale construction efforts for Steel Roots.