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.

Robert Thompson is a Project Manager and Licensed Professional Engineer with more than 10 years of experience leading commercial, institutional, and mixed-use developments. With a background in both structural engineering and construction management, he brings technical precision and practical execution to every project.

At MATT Construction, Robert oversees preconstruction and project delivery for complex, design focused work, including the 100 million dollar Broad Museum Expansion in Los Angeles. He leads structural and building envelope coordination, negotiates major subcontracts, manages change orders, and aligns design, budget, and schedule across diverse teams.

Robert began his career in structural engineering at Ashley and Vance Engineering, working closely with architects and contractors on design driven projects. His earlier experience at Haselden Construction and Charles Pankow Builders provided valuable field exposure on developments such as The Seychelle in Santa Monica and Los Angeles Grand Park. Currently as a part of At MATT Construction, Robert oversees preconstruction and project delivery for complex, design focused work. He leads structural and building envelope coordination, negotiates major subcontracts, manages change orders, and aligns design, budget, and schedule across diverse teams.

Robert holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and is known for steady coordination, practical problem solving, and turning complex design goals into buildable solutions.

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.

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.

AmyLee Smith serves as the Marketing Manager for Genesis Builders, where she drives the strategic planning and execution of brand and sales campaigns, leverages detailed data reporting to optimize performance, and leads all social media content and community engagement. She oversees the development of creative assets and supports the coordination of events that strengthen brand presence and deepen customer connection. She is excited to work with Altadena and looks forward to building strong momentum and meaningful community relationships through this partnership.

Before joining Genesis Builders, AmyLee developed a wide ranging background across operations, marketing and event coordination for well known global brands such as Starbucks, Lululemon and SoulCycle, and Alfred Coffee. In these roles she managed and supported local Los Angeles marketing programs, community partnerships and large scale activations that helped deepen brand loyalty and neighborhood engagement.

She also brings significant real estate and property management experience from her time as Marketing Project Manager at Westhome Property Management . In that role she oversaw marketing initiatives for a portfolio of more than 4286 homes, strengthening brand consistency, elevating communications and delivering measurable growth across the company’s communities.