Our Team

Stephen C. Ross is a Los Angeles–based principal of Genesis Builders, a joint venture with Cityview formed to help Altadena families rebuild after the Eaton Fire. A lifelong homebuilder and community advocate, Stephen has spent nearly 30 years designing and delivering homes that strengthen neighborhoods and rely on the power of long-standing relationships.

As founder and CEO of Montage Development, Inc., (est. 1996), he has led the creation of thousands of homes across Southern California, ranging from attainable housing for working families to custom luxury residences. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for cultivating deep, trusted relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, lenders, investors, and community partners. These partnerships—many of which span decades—have been central to Montage’s success and are a defining part of Stephen’s leadership style. His commitment to teamwork, accountability, and mutual respect enables him to consistently deliver high-quality projects with reliability and efficiency. These values carry directly into Genesis Builders, where Stephen applies his expertise in residential design, land acquisition, and relationship-driven construction management to support families affected by the Eaton Fire. By leveraging a strong and loyal network of subcontractors and trade partners, Genesis Builders provides pre-approved designs, fixed pricing, transparent processes, and dependable timelines—helping homeowners rebuild with confidence.

For Stephen, homebuilding has always been more than construction. It is about building trust, strengthening relationships, and restoring stability, hope, and pride of place for families and communities throughout California.

Devang Shah, Principal at Genesis Builders, was instrumental in building the firm from the ground up and continues to lead its operations, sales, marketing, and strategic direction. With more than 25 years of real estate experience, Devang brings a unique combination of strategic vision and hands-on expertise in acquisition, development, design, construction, capital raising, and asset management.

Before launching Genesis Builders, Devang served as Managing Director at Cityview, where he sourced and financed the acquisition of more than 2,000 value-add apartments and led the development of over 1,500 residential units in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Denver, and Portland.

Earlier in his career, he founded Marketcents Inc., an independent project management firm focused on advisory and owner representation. He also held a leadership role at KB Urban (a division of KB Home), where he oversaw the planning, design, and marketing of high-profile residential communities across Southern California, including mixed-use and luxury projects that helped shape the region’s urban landscape. Earlier, at RCLCo, as Vice-President he provided in-depth market research and feasibility analysis for large-scale residential and mixed-use developments throughout the United States, advising leading developers and investors on strategic opportunities.

Driven by a passion for thoughtful design and meaningful community impact, Devang has played a key role in delivering more than 75 residential communities throughout the Western U.S.

Rebecca Zandovskis, Senior Director of Business Development, is a proud Altadena resident, where she lives with her husband of 13 years. Deeply rooted in the neighborhood she calls home, Rebecca leads with a philosophy centered on connection, collaboration, and community impact.

Rebecca brings more than 25 years of combined experience in real estate and human resources, supported by her California Real Estate License, aPHR certification, and a strong foundation in Human Resources Law. Throughout her career, she has distinguished herself as a trusted leader and community advocate, serving as Community Manager for more than 14 new-build and value-add residential communities across the greater Los Angeles area.

Motivated by a commitment to helping neighborhoods flourish, Rebecca joined Genesis Builders to ensure her Altadena community can rebuild quickly and affordably—without sacrificing quality, craftsmanship, or the unique character that makes the area so special.

Director of Design, with over 30 years of experience in architectural design, Stevens brings exceptional skill in planning, designing, detailing, and coordinating projects in both the public and private sectors. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Woodbury University in 1993. His professional experience includes multi-family residential work, high-end custom homes, commercial retail development, institutional projects, and the master planning of large retail and entertainment developments.

Stevens has worked for several firms, including Johnson Fain Partners, Tomaro Architecture, Hodgetts and Fung, and William Hablinski and Associates. He oversees and coordinates all architectural aspects, from site planning and civil and structural engineering through plan development and construction. As Director of Design, Steven oversees and aligns all architectural components for Montage’s projects. His in-house leadership ensures seamless collaboration between design teams, engineers, consultants, subcontractors, and construction management, enabling Montage to resolve issues quickly, maintain design integrity, and deliver projects efficiently and effectively.

With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Rob is an engineer and builder who blends the sensibilities of each role to add tangible value to the design and construction process. He is guided by values of intentionality, resourcefulness, and curiosity, and has pursued career experiences that will mold him into a master builder.

Robert was instrumental to the delivery of landmark projects such as Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles, the Natural History Commons at LA’s world-renowned Natural History Museum, and a mixed-use building that changed the fabric of Old Town Azusa. Additionally, he has performed structural engineering design on hundreds of residential remodels and new homes throughout the West Coast. 

Robert attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and holds a professional civil engineer’s license. His expertise is the built environment, with specialty structural and building envelope knowledge. 

Cycling and California native gardens are Robert’s passions, and his superpower lies in understanding that life demands constant evaluation and the willingness to think creatively to rise up to meet challenges. 

Robert, and his partner Chris, operate The Workshop Co. Collective where they provide bespoke home improvement solutions from custom mantles and built-ins to home additions and new builds. Together they work to meet their clients where they are, by guiding them through the experience of building a place of their own.

With nearly four decades of hands-on experience in the construction industry, Mark Mandernacht is a seasoned construction executive recognized for his leadership, technical expertise, and results-driven approach to residential and multifamily development. As Vice President of Construction at Genesis Builders LA, Mark oversees all aspects of project execution — from preconstruction and purchasing to field operations, subcontractor management, and quality control — ensuring every project is delivered with precision, efficiency, and excellence.

Throughout his 38-year career, Mark has built an impressive portfolio spanning single-family homes, multifamily communities, podium and mixed-use developments, and commercial projects. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration, clear communication, and proactive problem-solving, resulting in projects that consistently exceed schedule and budget expectations.

Prior to joining Genesis, Mark served as Director of Construction at Danco, where he managed the development of an eight-building, 200-unit apartment community, overseeing demolition, grading, wet and dry utilities, and all phases of vertical construction. Before that, as Director of Construction at Oakwood Communities, he led large-scale residential developments including podium apartments, townhomes, and mixed-use buildings totaling over 800 units.

Mark’s earlier tenure as Director of Construction at Montage Development saw him direct more than 400 homes across multiple communities, integrating efficient purchasing strategies, value engineering, and client service to achieve exceptional build quality. His foundation in field supervision, coupled with his experience as Director of Purchasing at John Laing Homes, gives him a comprehensive understanding of both the technical and financial dimensions of construction management.
A former United States Marine, Mark brings a disciplined, mission-oriented mindset to every project. He has served as President of the Regional Purchasing Corporation (2017–2021) and is an active member of the Building Industry Association (BIA). His long-standing reputation for integrity, accountability, and leadership continues to define his contributions to the Southern California construction landscape.

Matthew Tapie is a veteran General Contractor and Construction Manager with more than 40 years of experience in single-family residential construction, ranging from luxury estates to large custom communities throughout Southern California.

At Genesis Builders, he oversees multiple custom single-family and multifamily projects, managing budgets, schedules, trade coordination, and quality control while mentoring superintendent teams.

Previously, as President and General Contractor of HomeSpace Construction, Matthew delivered high-end custom homes in Agoura Hills, Calabasas, and Hidden Hills, including Woolsey Fire rebuilds and standout projects like the Acacia House and Proto Residence.

Earlier roles with Williams Homes, New Millennium Homes, and Morrison and Associates allowed him to manage construction of more than 1,000 homes across major master-planned communities. He studied Marine Technology and General Education at Santa Barbara City College and began his career as a commercial diver before transitioning into residential construction, bringing with him a strong work ethic, adaptability, and a deep understanding of field operations.

With more than 15 years of experience in residential construction and field supervision, Lawrence Ross is a seasoned superintendent known for his leadership, precision, and commitment to delivering high-quality homes on time and within budget. At Genesis Builders, he oversees day-to-day construction activities across multiple residential projects, coordinating trade teams, maintaining schedules, and ensuring that every phase meets company standards for safety, quality, and craftsmanship.

Lawrence is recognized for building strong relationships with subcontractors, inspectors, and homeowners, promoting collaboration and accountability on every jobsite. He excels at sequencing work, managing logistics, and facilitating clear communication between the field and project management teams. His expertise includes schedule management, RFI and submittal coordination, punch walks, safety compliance, and quality control, all of which support efficient project execution and positive homeowner experiences.

Before joining Genesis Builders & Montage Development, Lawrence owned and operated LSF Pools, Inc., where he designed and managed custom pool and landscape projects from concept through completion.

Trained in Construction Management and Business at San Diego State University, Lawrence pairs technical knowledge with a practical, solutions-first leadership approach.

Dora Ardelean is a Controller with more than 25 years of experience in construction accounting and financial controls for complex residential and commercial projects. She brings deep expertise in job costing, pay applications, cash management, audits, and compliance across multiple construction portfolios.

Teodora has held senior accounting roles at Stonemark Construction Management, Morley Builders, and W.M. Klorman Construction Corporation, where she partnered closely with project managers and executive teams to ensure accurate financial reporting, audit readiness, and on-time project delivery. She is highly proficient in Sage 300 (Timberline) and other construction accounting platforms.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Informatics from Babes-Bolyai University and completed management training at UCLA.

Davinder Ross brings more than 27 years of experience in residential real estate, property management, and company operations. As Director of Operations & Human Resources at Genesis Builders, she oversees workforce development, compliance, vendor relations, maintenance, resident relations and long-term asset planning.

Before joining Montage, Davinder held management roles at Pardee Homes, KB Homes, and Watt Developers. There, she led major cost saving programs, Impletemented national accounts, and advanced sustainability initiatives that generated millions in rebates and efficiencies while improving quality and schedule reliability.

She has contributed to multiple California Green Builder, Sustainable Community of the Year recognitions, and National Association of Home Builders Green Building Advocate of the Year award. Davinder holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Northridge.