Mike Winstead Jr.
Mike Winstead Jr.
MEMBER/MANAGER
As a child, Mike thought he’d be an actor or a race car driver when he grew up. After receiving his degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992, though, he found that his passion for housing-related causes was what he wanted to pursue as a career. Mike began his career in real estate in the early 1990s in property management, and by the late 1990s he was developing and acquiring his own properties. In 1999 Mike met Joe McKinney, Jr., and the two began working together. In 2004, along with Joe, he formed a company to manage the rental properties developed and constructed by the team. 2004 also marked the beginning of Mike’s time as a County Commissioner for Guilford County, where he ultimately served several terms (2004-2012). Mike and his team formed Evolve Companies around 2010 for the purpose of branding the portfolio. Since Evolve’s formation, Mike has been inspired by the people he works with and his personal goal to help them be successful. The most interesting part of working with the team at Evolve for Mike is the process of putting deals together and creating new communities, which have been clear points in his career. Throughout his career, he has partnered in the development and construction of thousands of multifamily units, both conventional and student housing properties. He is a licensed NC Real Estate Broker and holds a contractor’s license in NC, SC, Tennessee, WV, Georgia, and Florida. Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife, Torri; his daughter, Morgan; and their three dogs (who he calls “the best doggies ever”), Mylo, Malibu, and Twister. He also dedicates his free time to his favorite hobby: Padel (check out @evolve_padel on Instagram for updates)! Mike is a hard-working person with many goals, but a major bucket-list item he has is to travel Europe.
Joe McKinney
Joe McKinney
MEMBER/MANAGER
DIRECTOR OF QUALITY CONTROL
Mr. McKinney is a co-owner and co-founder of Evolve Construction, LLC. Mr. McKinney began acquiring investment real estate in the early 1980’s. Since that time Mr. McKinney has acquired and/or developed a vast collection of income producing properties, including rental houses, retail shopping centers, office, industrial and warehouse spaces along with his holdings associated with Evolve.
Tammy Buckland
Tammy Buckland
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Ms. Buckland joined Evolve in early 2010. Ms. Buckland began her career in construction financial management in 1997 with a regional construction company specializing in steel buildings. In 2001 she became the Chief Financial Officer for a real estate company in Greensboro.
Frank Forde
Frank Forde
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Frank joined Evolve Construction in early 2007. He began his career in real estate in New York City as a commercial real estate paralegal specializing in land use and development. He was a commercial real estate paralegal in Greensboro, North Carolina for over 15 years prior to joining Evolve. His favorite part about working at Evolve is the people he is surrounded by, and the results the team achieves together inspire him. Frank enjoys surf fishing and spending time with his wife, son (who also works at Evolve!), and dog, Cooper, outside of work.
Matt Rogers
Matt Rogers
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Matt has always appreciated the following Mark Twain quote: “Find your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life.” As someone who enjoys developing ideas and building communities with the Evolve team (or, as Matt calls them, the Evolve Family), it’s safe to say that he found his passion. Matt began working in real estate development in 2009. Since then, he has led several commercial development projects from initial concept to operating businesses, with responsibilities including market/site analysis, design, entitlements, financing, and construction. Matt has acquired, developed, and continues to manage his personal real estate investments. At Evolve, Matt is responsible for the daily operation and strategic management of land analysis, negotiations, relationship management, purchase agreements and land packages. Matt attended the college of engineering at North Carolina State University and graduated in 2005 with a BS degree. Matt holds a general contractors license in NC, VA, AL & FL. In his free time, Matt is a “girl dad” who enjoys spending time with his three daughters, wife, and their golden doodle, Butter. Something few people know about Matt is that he is able to juggle 5 balls at once and balance things on his head; he was destined for the circus, but we’re lucky he chose to join us here! He admires the tennis player Roger Federer because he genuinely loves his career and all the people around him, which is an atmosphere Matt brings to Evolve each day.
Parker Umstead
Parker Umstead
DIRECTOR OF PRE-CONSTRUCTION
Parker has been with Evolve Construction since early 2001. Throughout his career, he has personally overseen the construction of over 2,000 residential units. Beginning as a site superintendent and then moving onto project manager, Parker now oversees all pre-construction operations. His favorite part of working with Evolve is the people he works with, and the relationship the staff has inspires him each day. He has been friends with some members of the team for over 40 years, which is a testament to his loyalty, dependability, and hard work! Outside of the office Parker enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his wife, four kids, and their dog, a poodle named Bella. He hopes to travel to Alaska someday.
Jackie Morelli
Jackie Morelli
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
As the Director of Operations, Jackie is responsible for the operating strategy and portfolio of Evolve Management Group, LLC. Jackie began her career in property management in 1998 and has experience in acquisitions and takeovers, property stabilization and maximizing performance. She has extensive experience in both student and conventional properties, new construction lease ups, capital improvement and renovation oversight, distressed asset turnaround and third-party fee management. Jackie has managed approximately 15,000 apartments throughout the course of her career. She consistently does what it takes to deliver a superior living experience for residents and excels in shaping high performance teams to build great residential communities. The teamwork, celebrations of individual and group achievements (both professional and personal), and relationships built from mutual trust and integrity at Evolve inspire Jackie each day.
As an alumna of Leadership Greensboro and a licensed real estate broker, Jackie has earned many designations and awards including: Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor, Certified Apartment Manager, National Apartment Leasing Professional, Regional Manager of the Year award from the Piedmont Apartment Association; and has been recognized by the National Apartment Association for which she has served on the board of directors as the co-chair of the membership and education committees, as well as secretary. She is currently active on the organization’s Government Affairs committee and is an active member of the Dolley Madison’s Women’s Club. Jackie enjoys spending time with her active family and pets (a boxer, Eleven, named by her daughter, and 2 rescue terrier mixes named Rossi and Gemma), playing pickleball, and going to the beach. She and her daughter, Angelina Rose, dedicate their shared free time to supporting their parish food bank and making meals for those in need within their community. She hopes to acquire a waterfront home at some point to make life-long memories with her family and friends!
Patrick Perez
PATRICK PEREZ
Mr. Perez began his tenure at Evolve in 2023 as Director of Site Development. Patrick works with both the Development and Construction teams over the full course of a project to make sure the site design and construction meet Evolve standards. He is instrumental in assuring that the sites are the perfect combination of form and function.
Originally from Wilmington, NC, he graduated with degrees in Environmental and Civil Engineering from NC State University. Since then, for nearly 30 years, he has worked in site development, first in land surveying/platting then site design and permitting. He also has DOT roadway and hydraulics design experience.
Outside of his professional achievements, Patrick enjoys travelling, exploring the outdoors and spending time with his wife and family.
Danielle Mai
Danielle Mai
CONTROLLER
Danielle D. Mai joined Evolve in March of 2024 as Controller. As part of Evolve’s Construction Team, she supports and collaborates with the Director of Development in preparing draw requests for the multitude of construction projects that are currently underway. Danielle graduated from Elon College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and has over 25+ years of experience in the business industry with vast expertise in accounting and construction management. Maintaining and analyzing job cost detail from development to construction completion is a fundamental component in her role. While away from work, Danielle loves walking, running and cheering on NC State, as her 2 daughters currently attend and son graduated from State, Go Wolfpack!
Michael Buckland
Michael Buckland
DEVELPOMENT MANAGER
Michael recently joined Evolve as the Development Manager and helps ensure that our current projects stay on track. He works with our project managers and superintendents to maintain accurate project schedules. Prior to joining Evolve in the Summer of 2020, Michael earned his BBA from Lipscomb University in Corporate Management and Corporate Marketing while playing basketball.
John McDonald
JOHN MCDONALD
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
John started with Evolve in 2021. His responsibilities include site selection, acquisitions, entitlements, budgeting, and building relationships with investment partners. Originally from Greensboro, NC, John received his undergraduate degree in finance from NC State University. He then lived in New York City for 3 years before pursuing a master’s in real estate development from Clemson University. John enjoys the culture in the Evolve working environment and is inspired by the act of developing quality housing for people across the southeast. In his free time John enjoys spending time with family – namely his wife and three boys – and friends, as well as hiking and backpacking in the mountains of NC.
Hunter Young
HUNTER YOUNG
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Since he was a child, Hunter has had an interest in the construction and real estate industries; he wanted to be involved in construction like his grandpa and uncles first, and as a sixth grader he wrote that he wanted to be a real estate agent in a time capsule assignment. That lifelong interest has certainly paid off. Hunter Joined the Evolve team in 2022. He originally moved to the area from Greensboro in 2011 to pursue a Finance degree at the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Throughout his academic tenure, Hunter took advantage of local business opportunities, interning at NAI Piedmont, becoming a member of the Cameron Executive Network, and working as a research assistant for his Real Estate Investments professor. He moved to the Wilmington area permanently in 2018, where he joined a boutique Wrightsville Beach real estate firm as licensed real estate agent. Hunter is responsible for site selection, acquisitions, broker outreach, investment analysis, and the development process of turning raw land into a beautiful Evolve Community. His favorite part of working at Evolve is the great team, atmosphere, and the day-to-day tasks and challenges associated with his job. He is inspired by his job because he is able to bring a plan and vision to life by creating something from nothing, where he is able to learn and grow as a person. Outside of work Hunter enjoys being outdoors, specifically by golfing, fishing, hunting, and being on the water. He has an English cream golden retriever named Cash, and he hopes to visit all the countries around the Mediterranean Sea at some point.
Jack Campbell
JACK CAMPBELL
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Jack joined Evolve in November of 2022 as a Development Manager. He has a background in construction management focused on multi-family projects in the coastal region of North Carolina. He has also served as a renovation project manager for a multi-family property management team. Jack is now focused on development giving him a background in all stages of project management. To Jack, the most inspiring part of his job is knowing that what he and the Evolve team provide could be the stepping stone for a new life and future for people across the Southeast. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville with a Business Management Degree. He currently works in the Greensboro office and focuses on projects in the Carolinas. The best piece of advice Jack has ever been given is to surround yourself with people that support you, which is something he has found in the culture and people who make up the Evolve team. Outside of work he enjoys mountain biking, fishing, and listening to live music, along with spending time with his fiancé and two dogs, Samson and Leo. He hopes to fly fish in Alaska and mountain bike in Montana at some point in his future.
Shawna Raines
SHAWNA RAINES
DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING COORDINATOR
Shawna joined Evolve in January 2015 as a leasing agent at one of Evolve’s student housing properties in West Virginia. After becoming a Community Manager with Evolve, Shawna has moved from area to area, working at 5 Evolve communities! In 2022 she made the transition to Evolve’s Development & Marketing Coordinator. Shawna was born in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania and attended nursing school prior to her career in property management. As an Evolve team member, she finds herself inspired by her ability to support and assist in the success her fellow team members through positivity and encouragement. She loves the open door and open communication culture of Evolve, where any and all team members have access to the team’s directors and owners. Throughout her career at evolve, she has been grateful to receive support in growing within the company. In her free time, she enjoys relaxing in the pool and spending time with her husband, three dogs, Sage, Spike and Scout.
Kim Worrell
KIM WORRELL
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
Kim joined Evolve Construction in 2017 as our Staff Accountant. She assists our construction team with various admin and financial operations, and always does so with a smile on her face! When not at work, Kim enjoys spending time with her family.
Leslie MacDonald
LESLIE MACDONALD
DESIGN MANAGER
Leslie joined Evolve in February 2016 as the Administrative Assistant for the office in Wilmington, NC. She is now Evolve’s Design Manager and assists with various design items within the Development and Construction departments. Leslie was born in New York City and went to the UK for school where she attended the University of Greenwich, London and graduated with BA in Economics. She resided in the UK for 17 years before moving to Wilmington, NC. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, films and travel as well as spending time with her daughter in NYC.
Tonya Mason
TONYA MASON
STAFF ACCOUNTANT/HR
Tonya joined the Evolve team in 2015 with more than six years of experience in accounting, with more than two of those years being in property management. Tonya grew up in Otego, New York, and she made her way to North Carolina to receive her accounting degree from Guilford College in Greensboro. In addition to her current accounting position, she is responsible for the Evolve Management Group, LLC portfolio and holds the Human Resource position alongside the Director of Operations. The part of working at Evolve that inspires Tonya each day is the amazing Evolve family that never fails to step up and work as a team. Outside of Evolve, Tonya is passionate about volunteering at the Youth Ministry at her church and spending time with friends and family; she has three children and two grandsons. Additionally, she says that a little shopping never hurts! She has traveled quite a bit throughout her life, and her main goal is to make it to all 7 continents and all 50 U.S. states.
Kimberly Marshburn
KIMBERLY MARSHBURN
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
Kimberly provides accounting support to all of the Evolve Management properties. Originally joining the team in 2015, she ventured out in 2019 to further explore her property management career, where she found her niche in property management accounting which led to her return to Evolve in 2023. In her spare time, Kimberly enjoys spending time with her three daughters, running a fishing shop with her father, and anything to do with the beach.
Cheryl O’Connor
CHERYL O’CONNOR
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
Cheryl started with Evolve in 2020 as a Staff Accountant, her main responsibilities include working with our site supervisors, project managers, and vendors mainly as accounts payable. Cheryl was born in Boston but grew up in Greensboro where she attended Grimsley High School before going to Appalachian State University where she majored in Music. In her free time she enjoys cooking, playing pool and darts, spending time with friends and her two adorable cats.
Megan Buckland
MEGAN BUCKLAND
DEVELOPMENT/ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR
Megan Buckland joined Evolve in 2023 as a Development/Accounting Coordinator. Her responsibilities include working with the development team in establishing requirements to obtain permits, fees, and addressing for projects, while also working with the accounting team on invoicing. She graduated from Lipscomb University with a BA in Strategic Communications while playing Division 1 volleyball. Before Evolve, she was a real estate broker in the Wilmington Area and continues her love for real estate! Megan is originally from Lenexa, Kansas and enjoys cheering on her Kansas City Chiefs. She also loves spending time with her fur babies and husband!
Shanca Cooper
SHANCA COOPER
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
Matt Flechtner
MATT FLECHTNER
INVESTMENT & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Matt received his degree in Business-Finance from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and started his career with Evolve in 2022. As an Estimator, he analyzes past budgets to find trends that help him more accurately forecast for future construction budgets. Matt is a problem solver by nature, so he enjoys the day-to-day issues that are inherent with budget forecasting; things are always changing, so there are always new problems for him to solve. For Matt, the most inspirational part of his job is witnessing how the team’s meticulous financial analysis contributes to the successful completion of projects that shape and improve communities. He also enjoys the close-knit Evolve community, where everyone genuinely cares for one another and is committed to the success of the company and its projects! When he isn’t working, he enjoys all that Wilmington has to offer whether it be golfing, fishing, going to the beach, or trying out any of the new restaurants in town.
Reza Safari
REZA Safari
FINANCE MANAGER
Reza joined Evolve in March of 2024 as an analyst responsible for underwriting, analysis, investor relations, and capital sourcing. Prior to Evolve, Reza worked at Grandbridge Real Estate Capital helping borrowers across all commercial property types obtain financing from a wide variety of lenders and a background in corporate finance working for companies in the Fortune 500. Reza is passionate about teaching younger people the life skill of financial literacy, and he finds his inspiration in closing deals and having fun along the way! Originally from Charlotte, NC, Reza obtained his bachelor’s degree in finance from UNC Wilmington in 2015 and is excited to be back in the area. In his free time, Reza enjoys spending time with his family and friends, golf, basketball, and traveling. Reza has been to 28 countries in his life, and he hopes to add to that list by visiting Japan.
Spencer Dye
SPENCER DYE
PROJECT MANAGER
Spencer has been with Evolve since 2019. He is responsible for project coordination buyouts, scheduling, site logistics, owner relations, and whatever it takes to get a project done. Spencer enjoys people and relationship building; to him, the best thing about working at Evolve is building relationships with coworkers and trade partners. He is originally from Sandusky, Ohio, from there he went to THE Ohio state university where he received his bachelor’s degree in construction management. He was also a collegiate athlete in both football and rugby. In his free time, he enjoys hanging with his wife and their three children, spending time with friends, boating, and fishing.
Ron Kerr
RON KERR
PROJECT MANAGER
Ron is proud to be an American patriot who served in the Army NG. He is inspired by working in a team environment to provide efficiency and quality to bigger projects, and he has found that the people and atmosphere at Evolve have allowed him to do just that! He is passionate about being the best he can be and helping the Evolve team. Outside of work, some of his favorite hobbies include spending time in the country, going to parks, enjoying Harley Davidsons, and being with his family and friends. He has been married to his wife, Sharon, for 38 years, and they have a daughter and a grandson. Their two Great Danes, Cooper and Zackary, are the fuzzy side of the family.
Jon Winstead
JON WINSTEAD
CONSTRUCTION
Jon Joined Evolve Construction in 2001 after graduating from UNCW. After 20 years of construction management experience, Jon is a true industry professional and a master of his craft. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 kids.
Sandra Toledo
SANDRA TOLEDO
ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER
The most valuable piece of advice Sandra has ever received is to go big or go home, which means she finds daily inspiration at Evolve from seeing the vision of a project and building something up from nothing! Outside of the office, Sandra enjoys watching movies, swimming, and playing tennis. She can be found spending time with her dogs, Tiffany and Nala, and her husband, Cesar. Today, Sandra enjoys the relaxed environment among her Evolve team; when she was a child, though, she was pretty sure she’d be the Queen of England as an adult.
Garrett Earnest
GARRETT EARNEST
ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER
Since joining Evolve in 2023 as a Project Coordinator, Garrett has quickly advanced to the role of Assistant Project Manager, leveraging a deep-seated passion for construction and a strong family background in the industry. Growing up on Lake Norman, just outside of Charlotte, Garrett developed a fascination for building and design from an early age.
Garrett pursued a degree in finance at UNCW before embracing the world of multi-family construction after welcoming his beautiful daughter, Layla into the world in September of 2023. Balancing professional aspirations with family life, Garrett enjoys weekend adventures with his family and their golden retriever, Stella. Known for being diligent, adaptable, and driven, Garrett is committed to delivering quality results while fostering a collaborative team environment. Whether on-site or off, Garrett believes that every project is an opportunity for growth and innovation.
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill