Meet HBA’s 2025 Bridge Award Winners

The Bridge Awards, presented by the Home Builders Association of Greenville acknowledges and celebrates outstanding achievements within the industry.

Honors go to individuals and companies that have significantly contributed to housing in Greenville, by showcasing craftsmanship and demonstrating excellence in sales and marketing.

Builder of the Year

Jackson Bailey, Co-Owner / Chief Operating Officer, Stoneledge Luxury Homes

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about your business?  We’re a legacy Design / Build firm. We develop bespoke communities (Le Jardin, The Brownstones at Hollingsworth Park to name a few). Staying true to our core founding principle – whether we are designing a home plan, developing a community or building a dream home — we are curating a product that withstands time!

What is your favorite part about what you do?  The opportunity to meet new people every day, interact with the community and build lasting relationships with those we serve. What drives me each day is to continue the legacy my father created in 1989 when he entered the home building industry.

How have things changed in your business over the past couple of years? My father, Chris Bailey, who founded and led our company, passed away after a 3-year-long battle with cancer. This was a tremendous hurdle to overcome for our small family business. We are here 3 years later – a better company, a stronger company and our goals are greater than we ever imagined. We’ve already accomplished many amazing goals since Dad passed away. He would be very proud!

What is one thing you will never do again?  Doubt myself. I promised my father I would never doubt myself. Before he passed away, he told me that doubt is what held him back. I will never again doubt myself.

What is something that might surprise people about you? Contrary to what most people’s perception probably is, I’m actually fairly shy and need to recharge after being social.

Southern Home & Garden Show Designer Showcase Winner

Kerry Clare, Interior Designer, Randolph Estate Living

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about your business? That great design isn’t about following trends – it’s about telling your story. I believe every home should reflect the people who live in it. I love repurposing meaningful pieces and making sure no space goes unused. Functionality and beauty should go hand in hand.

What is your favorite part about what you do? That moment when a client walks through their finished space and says: “This house reflects us.” That’s when I know I’ve succeeded. Helping people feel at home in their own space, in a way that’s both authentic and inspiring, is the most rewarding part of what I do.

How have things changed in your business over the past couple of years? A lot has changed! I moved back to Greenville from California and I brought that laid-back West Coast vibe with me. I’ve also embraced technology in a big way. It has allowed me to collaborate more easily with clients and share my design vision more vividly. It’s made the whole experience more personalized and efficient.

What is one thing you will never do again? Buy cheap furniture! I’ve learned the value of investing in high-quality pieces that stand the test of time – both in durability and design. It’s so worth it in the long run.

What is something that might surprise people about you? I’m a breast cancer survivor, and that experience has completely shaped how I see the world. I approach every day – and every project – with love, gratitude, and a deep desire to make people feel seen and cared for in their space.

Associate Member of the Year

Cory Lundeen, Business Director, Trusted Tradesmen & Co

What is your favorite part about what you do? In my role, I get to connect with a wide range of individuals involved in the custom home building process. Building long-term relationships based on trust is incredibly rewarding. When we’re invited to a home’s closing celebration, it’s a clear sign that we’ve not only delivered a great product but also a great experience.

How have things changed in your business over the past couple of years? We’ve had the privilege of staying on the cutting edge of design trends while watching them evolve into tangible, stunning living spaces. It’s inspiring to see how materials, colors and aesthetics shift over time and how we get to harmonize these changes to create custom solutions for our clients.

What is one thing you will never do again? Now that I’m over 40, I’ve made peace with retiring from certain activities – dunking a basketball, snow skiing, water skiing, golf … My spine made that decision for me – and it’s not shy about reminding me!

What is something that might surprise people about you? Most people are surprised to learn I’m a big-time introvert. I genuinely enjoy connecting with others throughout the day, but after a networking event or meeting new people, I definitely need quiet time to recharge and reset!

Remodeler of the Year

Corey Mercer, Owner, Tekton Builds 

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about your business?  That we’re relentlessly dedicated to the craft – doing things the right way and constantly looking for ways to improve. We love challenging ourselves and pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible.

What is your favorite part about what you do? There are a lot of things I enjoy, but what stands out most is the tangible feeling of seeing your work come to life every day. Watching something take shape and hearing a client’s reaction as it comes together never gets old.

How have things changed in your business over the past couple of years? We’ve taken on larger and more complex projects while working hard to maintain strong customer service and hands-on management. It’s a balancing act – and not always an easy one – but it’s been worth the challenge.

What is one thing you will never do again? Move honeybee hives at night. A few years ago, I had several hives, and some friends and I thought it would be smarter to move them at night while they were “asleep.” Turns out, bees don’t fly much at night – they crawl. They found every tiny opening in our suits. Each sting was a very real lesson.

What is something that might surprise people about you? I’ve been in construction since I was a teenager, but I also worked as a welder and even taught welding at a vocational school. That could’ve been a career path on its own, but for me, there’s nothing quite like building homes.

Professional Women in Building

Kerri Paulino, Division President, Meritage Homes

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about your business?  That our business is really about people – both the people we build homes for and the people who build them. We’re deeply committed to growing talent, creating opportunity and building a culture where every team member feels valued and empowered. The homes are the result, but our focus is always on the humans behind the process.

What is your favorite part about what you do? Watching people grow. Whether it’s a new team member stepping into leadership, a trade partner expanding their business or a first-time buyer stepping into their dream home – that growth is what fuels me. Helping others reach their potential is what makes this work meaningful.

How have things changed in your business over the past couple of years? The demand for homes in Greenville has grown rapidly, but so has the need for strong leadership and an intentional culture. We’ve had to elevate how we attract, train and retain talent – focusing on mentorship, professional development and shared values. We’ve learned that scaling a business means scaling your people first.

What is one thing you will never do again?  Ignore culture fit when hiring. Skills can be taught, but passion, attitude and alignment with our values are what drive long-term success. The wrong hire can ripple through an organization; the right one can lift everyone.

What is something that might surprise people about you?  I love live music! Anytime there is an opportunity to visit a venue with live music, regardless of genre, I’m in!

No Place Like Home: HBA of Greenville’s 2024 Bridge Award winners

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Meet HBA’s 2025 Bridge Award Winners