Our Team
Bill leads both Phillip Smith General Contractor and Nautilus Home Management with a focus on consistency, accountability, and long-term care. Having worked within the business for years, he continues the standard established from the beginning—ensuring a seamless transition into the next generation. From construction through ongoing management, his oversight connects every phase of homeownership. His perspective—shaped by both building and maintaining homes in a coastal environment—guides decisions not just for how a home is built, but how it performs over time. His focus remains simple: build with intention, uphold the standard, and stand behind the work long after completion.
With more than 20 years at Phillip Smith General Contractor, BJ Park brings deep experience, thoughtful leadership, and a strong commitment to doing the right thing. He supports the team throughout every stage of a project, with a particular focus on pre-construction, where he works to understand both the home and what matters most to each client. BJ believes in building the home on paper before construction begins, carefully planning the details that lead to a successful experience and an exceptional finished product. What he values most is working alongside a talented team to build homes that will last for generations and relationships that extend well beyond the project.
For nearly three decades, Jennifer Casto has grown alongside Phillip Smith General Contractor, beginning in accounts and operations before moving into financial leadership and estimating. She is drawn to the early stages of a project, when careful planning, honest conversations, and clear expectations begin turning a vision into a home. Jennifer has an eye for the finer details within an estimate and understands how even a small item can influence the overall project. What she enjoys most is watching a home come together from concept to completion while building a lasting relationship with the client along the way.
Having grown up around the construction industry, Alyssa Smith has always felt connected to the process of building a home. She supports each project through estimating, client billing, contracts, and administrative coordination, with a close eye on the small financial details that can prevent larger issues later. Alyssa believes a great client experience is built on clear communication, trust, and no surprises. She enjoys being part of a project from start to finish and seeing thoughtful planning, quality, and craftsmanship come together in a home built to last.
Ben McKenzie came to building 16 years ago, when marriage, fatherhood, and a move back to South Carolina set him on a new path. He began with projects and investments of his own, later managed them for others, and over the years has built most parts of a home with his own hands. That experience gives his estimates a builder's perspective. When Ben reviews plans, materials, and labor, he knows what each line item asks of the crew in the field, so clients see a realistic budget they can plan around before the first shovel hits the ground. For Ben, an accurate estimate is the first piece of good craftsmanship.
Russell Parker began learning the building trade at 16 under the guidance of a local craftsman who taught him everything from masonry and framing to cabinetry. That hands-on foundation continues to shape how he manages each project, with equal care given to early planning, construction, and the final details. Russell keeps clients informed well in advance, providing clear options, costs, and guidance so they can make decisions with confidence. He pays particular attention to the systems hidden behind walls, in attics, and inside electrical panels, believing the unseen work should be completed with the same intention and pride as everything on display. His approach is simple: whether the task is great or small, give it your best.
Michael Dukes discovered his passion for construction while helping renovate and operate a boutique hotel in a small mountain town in North Carolina. What began as an opportunity grew into a career managing complex residential and commercial projects. Michael approaches each home with the belief that assumptions are expensive, making clear communication, detailed planning, and strong alignment among the client, architect, and builder essential. For him, the most rewarding moment is seeing a client walk through the completed home and knowing every detail came together as it should.
Joe Callaghan's career in construction spans framing, residential building, land development, and specialty marine work, and decades of that variety have given him a builder's instinct for how a project really comes together on the jobsite. As Project Superintendent, he puts that experience to work every day, solving problems as they come up and keeping the project team and subcontractors aligned on the work ahead. Homeowners gain a superintendent with the practical know-how to handle whatever the site presents, and a standard of quality that holds at every stage of the build.
Ethan Bolt learned the trade just before the pandemic, spending a couple of years on residential remodels with a general contractor. Two habits from that work follow him to every site today: noticing the small things, and keeping the site clean and orderly at every stage. Moving from remodeling into new construction stretched him beyond what he knew, and seeing a new home rise from its foundation is now the part of the job he looks forward to most. As Assistant Superintendent, Ethan works alongside the field crew and subcontractors, guarding completed work as each phase gives way to the next. For homeowners, that means a tidy site and a home that's treated with care long before it's handed over.
Jodi Rupp has always been the one who keeps people organized and on the same page, so becoming a client's main point of contact felt like a natural fit. She was drawn to Phillip Smith General Contractor by a company that cares as much about the client experience as it does about the quality of the home. Jodi knows building or renovating can feel like a lot to take in, so she works to make the process feel lighter: coordinating schedules, sharing updates, and answering questions before they turn into worries. She tracks the many moving parts of each project so the small items get handled early. For Jodi, the best compliment is a client who knows they can come to her for anything and looks back on their build as smooth and well managed.
Jean Soper brings a designer’s perspective and a sharp eye for detail to every project. After studying interior design and later owning her own design business, she built her career around helping turn plans on paper into homes that reflect how clients truly live. Known on site as the “blue tape queen,” Jean notices the inch others might miss and works to address small details before they become larger concerns. She values the relationships built throughout the process and takes pride in ensuring clients feel cared for from the first conversation through the finished home.
Candace Johnson works closely with President Bill Payzant to coordinate priorities and support the relationships that shape each custom home project. Her role includes scheduling, sales coordination, marketing, communication, and day-to-day operational support. With adaptability, integrity, and close attention to detail, Candace helps keep Bill and the Phillip Smith team organized, connected, and prepared for what comes next.
Summer Conahan is often the first friendly face clients and project partners see when they visit Phillip Smith General Contractor. She helps create a welcoming, organized office while supporting the team through day-to-day administrative tasks, communication, and general coordination. Summer enjoys bringing order to a busy environment and being a dependable resource for everyone who walks through the door or contacts the office. Her focus on consistency and clear communication helps keep the team connected and ensures important details are not missed.
Having worked alongside the team since the merger in 2018, Lori Hills brings a versatile combination of financial background and marketing experience to Phillip Smith General Contractor. She previously served as the company’s sole marketing team for years and now supports the business on an ad hoc basis, lending her expertise to financial analysis, marketing initiatives, cross-division coordination, and process standardization. Guided by a strong commitment to transparency and doing the right thing, Lori works behind the scenes to create structured, seamless systems that support both the team and the clients they build for.
Ashley Fine shapes how Phillip Smith General Contractor is experienced before a client ever meets the team, translating the craftsmanship, relationships, and thoughtful process behind each custom home into stories people can trust. She focuses on the communication, consistency, and details that reflect the company’s character and approach. Ashley believes every story should be told with the same level of care and intention that goes into the homes themselves.