Meet the Team

“Professionally, challenge is what drives me most.  I thrive and enjoy problem solving, learning, and improving.”

Why do you love working at DR?
“Though I enjoy working in general, the people I work with at DR make it even better.  If you walk into the DR office or an on-site project on any given day, you’ll hear conversations filled with support, collaboration, witty banter, and a ton of laughter!”
 
Background
Susan is originally from southern California. She has fond memories of growing up in her family’s business- Interior Design and Custom Drapery Manufacturing. After receiving a degree in Business Administration, she managed a commercial construction firm for several years. After raising her two children with husband Gary, Susan returned to the workforce in 2010 by joining DiFabion Remodeling. Her position quickly evolved from office assistant to office manager. She enjoys the challenges of the position and strives to match her ambitions and high standards with those of the company.

Personal Interests
·    Trail hiking
·    Weekend trips to unique locations
·    Spending quality time with family and pets
·    Home improvement projects

“I enjoy the problem solving of difficult situations and watching our team do what they do best.  Truly incredible.”

Why do you love working at DR?
“Every project is different, providing a variety of challenging work and a fun, rewarding end result.  Also, going to sleep every night knowing that myself and our team does what’s right and always puts the clients’ interests first.”

Born in Buffalo, NY, Scott moved down to the Charlotte area as a young boy and grew up in Union Co. Scott joined the team after his time at East Carolina University, growing with the company as a laborer, carpenter’s apprentice, and production assistant.  After becoming a NARI Certified Project Manager, Scott was ultimately promoted to Production Manager in 2022 and now leads a distinguished team of Project Managers and skilled Craftsmen, executing each DR project to the highest of standards. 
Personal Interests:
·    Spending time with his beautiful wife and two daughters (also beautiful) and two dogs (less beautiful but still cute)
·    Cheering on the Buffalo Bills and golf
·    Cooking, grilling, and smoking gourmet meals

“I’ve always enjoyed watching things from start to finish.  Here, I get to do just that and help organize and keep them on pace to meet our standards of design and execution.”

Why do you love working at DR?
“I enjoy working at DR because of the people.  There is nothing better than collaborating with a great team, where everyone is uniquely their own and great to be around!”

Background
Originally from Lancaster, SC, Ashlyn moved to Cornelius, NC in hopes to further her career after graduation. Ashlyn attended the University of South Carolina and graduated with honors and a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership.
As the Design Manager of an award-winning design team, Ashlyn oversees the entire design pipeline and ensures that all design deliverables meet or exceed our client’s expectations to the highest standards of DiFabion Remodeling.

Personal Interests:
·    Spending time with my pets
·    Trying new adventures with my husband (local, food/drink, travel)
·    Creative outlets such as painting, drawing, sewing, or scrapbooking

“I’ve always loved seeing the different ideas and dream spaces of our clients become a reality.”

Why do you love working at DR?
“I love working at DR because it is a place that focuses on the happiness and success of all those around us, working together as a team to provide the best remodeling experience for our clients.”

Hannah moved to North Carolina from Philadelphia, PA, and graduated from High Point University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design. She has extensive experience in Interior Design with a focus on Kitchen and Bathroom Design. With attention to detail and focus on designs that will last a lifetime, Hannah enjoys creating spaces that merge creativity and functionality.

Personal Interests:
·    Exploring the city of Charlotte, trying the best new restaurants and going to the many fun events throughout the year
·    Travelling and spending time with her husband Jason and daughter Summer
·    Walking trails with her beagle and corgi.  Fun fact: Hannah is a member of the Charlotte Corgi club
·    Foodie and spicy food fanatic!

“I want to help give people a space where they feel they can best be themselves.  Solving the puzzle of incorporating someone’s personality into a new or existing structure is very structure is very satisfying.”

Why do you love working at DR?
“I enjoy the overall structure and function of the company.  The high level of communication between the departments facilitates a comfortable space to create better designs and be creative.”

Background
Having bounced around growing up, Meg has been living in Charlotte since 2021. She graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and has a passion for residential 3D modeling and renderings. In high school, Meg stumbled upon design by mistake – She requested a culinary arts class and ended up in a Drafting and 3D modeling class. She enjoyed 3D visualization so much, she expanded her search and continues her pursuit of maximizing technology in residential design!

Personal Interests:
·    Aerial and flow artistry
·    Baking and crafting
·    Fantasy designs, rendering, and 3D visualization

“I believe in building close relationships with clients so that I can create designs that fit their needs, inspire them, and bring joy and new life into their homes.”

Why do you love working at DR?
“I love working at DR because everyone is like family.  We have fun, work well together, and we help each other out to create amazing projects!”

Background
Tiffany Gabrel is originally from Hickory, NC and attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she attained her Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Architecture. After graduation, Tiffany moved to Charlotte, looking for more opportunities in her design career. With over three years of design experience, ranging from hospitality to commercial design, Tiffany sought a more personal and fulfilling approach to her work, which led her to DR.

Personal Interests:
·    Traveling with her husband Danny
·    Exploring the outdoors, biking and kayaking, hiking with her beagle Bailey
·    Passion for cooking and cherishes spending time with family

“There’s something incredibly fulfilling about improving a space where people spend their most personal moments, whether it’s making a small home feel bigger, adding more functionality, or simply beautifying a room.”

Why do you love working at DR?
“DR doesn’t just say the words “work/life balance”, the company leadership is truly committed to making it happen, and it fosters a strong sense of team.  Working as part of this team—designers, visionaries, and skilled craftsmen—offers a dynamic environment where creativity and skills are exchanged.  I learn EVERY day.”

Background
I have been attached to the construction industry for roughly three decades, first in the Civil/Environmental Engineering field, concentrating on municipal/industrial projects, then as part of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) on a local and national level, before joining Team DiFabion, as a Project Developer.  I have incorporated an interest and love for Team Building and Leadership Development in each role.

Personal Interests:
I am an avid lover of live music, sporting events and the natural beauty of this country.  Several years ago, my wife, six children and I began a quest to visit all 63 national parks in America.  We’re collectively in the mid-thirties right now and put together trips (at least annually) centered around this mission.  In the summer of 2024, I completed my goal of hitting all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums, with several friends.  Next up, SEC football Saturdays.  And, I generally see about a dozen live music concerts each year, sometimes locally and sometimes included in travel.  We usually try to add on any “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” stops to any of our day trips, long weekends or vacation travel. Fun stuff!

“Helping families transform their homes into spaces that reflect their unique needs and dreams is my greatest inspiration. It’s fulfilling to create environments where memories are made and cherished for years to come.”

Why do you love working at DR?
“What I love most about working at DR is the amazing clients we get to partner with. Just as homeowners carefully choose who to trust with their remodeling projects, we’re equally selective about the projects we take on and the people we work with. This mutual alignment creates enjoyable experiences, fosters meaningful connections, and often leads to lasting relationships.”

Background
Born and raised in small-town Maryland, DJ joined the Navy, where he honorably served his country while taking college courses and gaining hands-on experience in the construction industry. Over the years, he honed his project management skills across residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors.  DJ and his wife, Jessica, eventually launched their own successful residential remodeling firm while raising five children. By 2023, with two of their children embarking on careers in the Marines and Air Force, DJ and Jessica decided to embrace a new opportunity in North Carolina, bringing their youngest child along for the adventure.

Personal Interests:
·    Family-Focused: Enjoys spending quality time with loved ones and cherishing moments with his wife and five children.
·  Sports Enthusiast: Passionate about both playing and watching a variety of sports, always keeping up with favorite teams and events.
·  Music Lover: Finds joy in exploring different genres of music and attending live performances.
·  Avid Traveler: Loves discovering new places, experiencing diverse cultures, and creating memories through travel adventures.

“I’m continually inspired by the opportunity to forge lifelong friendships and make a lasting impact through meaningful work that combines creativity, problem solving, and collaboration.”

Why do you love working at DR?
“Our shared commitment to excellence and building genuine connections with each other and our clients.”

Background
Born and raised in Matthews, NC, Payden attended Weddington High School before continuing his baseball career at the United States Naval Academy for his freshman year. He later transferred to Pitt Community College, where he played baseball and earned an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Financial Services.
After graduation, Payden gained valuable experience working for a family-owned gutter installation business and later joined Movement Mortgage, specializing in Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans.  Coming from a family of engineers and mechanics, Payden developed a lifelong passion for construction, ultimately leading him to DR

Personal Interests:
·    Mountain biking
·    Golf and Pickleball
·    Trying new coffee spots

“I love seeing the client’s satisfaction of a newly completed remodeling project.”

Why do you love working at DR?
“DR is my second home.  I love working with everyone here!”

Background
As a native Charlottean, Chris has had many opportunities to get involved in construction. Watching the surrounding area grow through the years jump-started his fascination with the remodeling world. Having been in construction for over years, he still loves his work and watching a project evolve from start to finish. As one of our Project Managers, Chris’s sole focus is improving the client experience through constant communication and a coming up with creative solutions for complex problems. He recently became a NARI Certified Project Manager.

Personal Interests:
·    Everything outdoors, including fishing and hiking
·    Sports
·    Spending quality time with friends and family

“I’m driven by the opportunity to work alongside a talented and dedicated team.  Together, we overcome challenges and create outcomes that reflect our shared commitment to quality and craftsmanship.”

Why do you love working at DR?
“What I love most about DR is the family-oriented environment where everyone genuinely cares about one another.  Together we create a supportive and collaborative atmosphere that fosters both personal and professional growth.”

Background
Michael was born in Fairbanks, Alaska but grew up in South Charlotte.  Involved in the trades at an early age, he worked his way up from a general laborer to several management positions, before ultimately serving our country in the USMC for 6 years.  As a Project Manager, Michael uses a thoughtful, calm demeanor to successfully guide each project from start to finish.

Personal Interests:
·    Photography
·    Camping, skiing/snowboarding, anything outdoors
·    Travel
·    Anything Design- Graphic, Interior, Artistic

“What drives me is that I have always loved building and construction work, seeing projects come together from start to finish.”

Why do you love working at DR?
“I love working at DR because the environment here is amazing! We always have helping hands and people who really care and are passionate about what we do as a team.”

Background
Kyle is an impressive up and comer, with a diverse background in construction.  He began in pipeline work, ranging from water, sewer, and gas, and then moved onto property restoration in residential and commercial buildings.  These extremely difficult (and messy) jobs have conditioned Kyle to be prepared for anything as the next DR Project Manager!

Personal Interests:
·    Fishing
·    Working on cars and riding 4-wheelers
·    Spending time with family, including his new daughter

Doug was born and raised in Monroe, NC and has been working as a carpenter since the age of 16. Doug is the longest tenured employee of DiFabion Remodeling, dating back to 2001, bringing his total experience in the construction industry to over 20 years. As a lead carpenter, Doug’s specialties include structural framing and carpentry, cabinetry installation, and intricate finish trim carpentry. Most important of all, Doug is a creative problem-solver when faced with specific issues relating to residential remodeling. When Doug isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and working on cars at home.

Joe is originally from Honesdale, PA and has been in Charlotte for 22 years. As one of the original members of the DR family (along with his father Carl), Joe has been honing his skills as a carpenter, specializing in rough and finish carpentry and cabinetry installation. Joe is a proud father of two boys and a beautiful little girl. In his free time, Joe enjoys watching movies with the kids and (obnoxiously) rooting for his beloved Steelers, Yankees, Rangers, and Knicks.

Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, James moved around and eventually settled in North Carolina. Since the age of 12, James has been hard at work learning a number of trades, ranging from fire restoration to painting to plumbing and of course, carpentry. From the time he was 20, James has fueled his passion for carpentry by running framing crews, installing cabinetry and trim, and troubleshooting everyday remodeling problems as a member of “The Uh-Oh Squad”!  James has a son and daughter who are very dear to him and currently enjoys life with his girlfriend in West Charlotte. In his free time, James loves boating, fishing, grilling, working on cars, and sippin’ on drinks while listening to live music.

Jim is originally from Unionville, NC and started working at an early age in the construction industry.  Over the years, he has expanded his repertoire through rough carpentry and framing, siding and boxing, and intricate finish trim on all kinds of remodeling projects.  When he’s not swinging a hammer, Jim enjoys the outdoors as an avid hunter in the foothills and trout fishing in the mountains of Western NC. 

“At work, I enjoy being challenged and having high standards to meet on every job.  When a difficult project comes together, it’s always rewarding to celebrate our success with our team and clients!”

Why do you love working at DR?
“DR offers an extremely collaborative environment where everyone works well together, improves each other’s work, and approaches each situation as a team.”

Background
Anthony Westpy was born and raised in New Jersey, where he attended Rutgers Business School, and first began estimating for a window and door company upon graduation. After moving to Charlotte 3 years ago, he continued working in the millwork industry before shifting gears to residential remodeling.  Anthony’s attention to detail, insatiable thirst for knowledge, and drive for team collaboration reflect the unique qualities required to succeed in the Estimator position.

Personal Interests:
·    Fishing
·    Hiking
·    Traveling 
·    Watching sports