Established in 2010, New Leaf Builders represents the partnership of Grant Zinkon and Adam Baslow. Our team has now grown to thirteen as we steadily add to our talents and enthusiasm.
there’s no place like home
New Leaf knows the importance of a handshake and values our reputation for quality construction within our community. We take a hands-on approach to each project, completing them with thoroughness while employing environmentally responsible building techniques. From the moment the foundation is poured to the time the keys are handed over to the new owner, New Leaf is active, present, and attentive.
Staying at the forefront of the new construction industry requires superb building materials from sound sources. It requires an understanding of homebuilding trends as well as an innovative approach to reading where the market is heading next. Charleston has always been a source of inspiration and the Lowcountry continues to serve as a tastemaker. The abundance of rich material sources and expertise in our area enables us to stay dynamic. New Leaf works with an expansive list of local talent that is hand-selected for your particular home’s needs.
Our Team
Adam Baslow
Co-Founder
Vero Beach, Florida Native Adam came to the Lowcountry after graduating from Furman University with a double major in business and Spanish. When he moved to Charleston, a family friend suggested he look into real estate as a profession, since it had become a cherished personal avocation of the young graduate. Adam, still a licensed realtor today, joined with Special Properties, Inc., a brokerage firm that focused primarily on selling land and developing choice area real estate in the Lowcountry.
Grant Zinkon
Co-Founder
Grant, a Charleston native who spent the summers working in construction, earned his business degree from the Citadel and upon graduation worked in lumber sales for Buck Lumber honing his skills in buying and selling building materials. After a few years, he was called to his passion—building—when Centex Homes hired him. For three years, he acted as a project superintendent and was assigned to specialty undertakings from installing pools to building neighborhood entry monuments.
Alan Degen
Operations Manager
Alan joined the New Leaf team in June 2012. Growing up in Northwest Ohio, construction was the family business; summers were spent working residential projects with his Grandfather, Father, and Uncle. Upon receiving a Construction Management degree from The Ohio State University, he pursued a management position with a roofing and siding company in Myrtle Beach, SC. After transferring to Charleston, he decided to take up his true passion of home building with New Leaf Builders. Alan currently serves as the Operations Manager, overseeing all aspects of the home building process.
Donny Schaeffer
Director of Land Development
As Director of Land Development, Donny oversees all phases of new community development for New Leaf Builders. Growing up in Columbia with deep family ties to rural South Carolina, he developed a love for the outdoors. He was drawn to the coast where he attended the College of Charleston. Post graduation he ventured into construction project management and worked on various projects throughout the Southeast. Receiving licenses in real estate sales, roads and utilities construction, Donny started and ran successful businesses in each of these sectors. His long career and broad experience make him uniquely able to convert New Leaf’s vision for its projects into real communities, important to the people who live there. In his free time, Donny enjoys building things or spending time with his wife, two grown children, and their new and growing families.
Will Flynn
Project Manager
Will Flynn joined the New Leaf team in the summer of 2015. He graduated from Clemson University with a Degree in Business Management. During college, he spent summers interning with a national home builder and was immediately hooked. Upon graduation, Will moved from the Upstate to Charleston to work for David Weekley Homes. As a project manager, Will has spent 11 years building homes in the Lowcountry and most recently managed their build on your lot program.
Chris Dudleck
Project Manager
Chris is an Appalachian State graduate who found a passion for construction from a young age. When he was fifteen his father, who was a construction manager, recruited him to a grading crew. Chris has ten years of experience as a project manager across three different states. He has more than 200 homes under his belt from basement homes in Virginia to drive under homes here in Charleston. Chris is a Leed AP which is the highest green building certification that can be achieved. He joined the team in 2014 and builds every home as if it were his own. When not on the jobsite, Chris enjoys spending time on the water, playing golf or running his dog on the beach.
Kyle Moriarty
Project Manager
Kyle grew up in Moultonborough, New Hampshire around Lake Winnipesaukee. He graduated college from Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. Kyle moved to Charleston in September of 2013 and found his passion for construction through working in property management. Kyle loves the outdoors, and he can frequently be found hiking or enjoying the day on the water with his boxer, Lincoln.
Travis Zobel
Estimator
A Charleston native, Travis graduated from the Citadel with a degree in Business Administration. He worked 4 years for Buck Lumber as an inside sales coordinator before getting the opportunity to move up into an outside sales position. To further his experience in the construction industry, Travis took an estimating position at Southern Lumber and Millwork, where he spent 5 years developing and fine tuning his skills in residential and semi-commercial estimating. Travis joined New Leaf Builders in early September of 2013 as their Estimator.
John Templeton
Controller
Rene Stanley
Accounting Manager
Lucy McAfee
Design Consultant
Julia Phipps
Office Manager
Shelley Tucker
Accounts Payable
