Jeff Ream is the Director of Construction for Altamus, LLC. He brings to the team over 16 years of award-winning, multi-disciplinary experience in construction, real estate development, architecture, and urban design. He is a Registered Architect in North Carolina and California, and has earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Real Estate Development from the University of Miami, and a Master of Urban Design from the University of California at Berkeley. He has managed projects in a broad range of market sectors including mixed-use, residential, office, hotel, retail, self storage, and land development.
Jeff leverages his extensive technical expertise, strategic thinking, and creative problem solving to deliver complex construction and development projects on time, on budget, and to a high standard of quality. His management philosophy is built upon effective communication, collaboration, clear expectations, and accountability.
Prior to joining Altamus, Jeff served as the Director of Real Estate Development with FIRC Group, a full service real estate investment firm with properties throughout the Southeast. There he managed the construction of the $30 million Cambria Hotel, and the $3 million expansion of the historic Haywood Park Hotel, both in downtown Asheville, NC.
Before 2017, when he relocated from Charlotte to Asheville to be with his wife and live in the mountains, Jeff was a key leader for LGI Homes, a top 10 national home builder and the fastest growing home builder in the U.S. At LGI Homes, he helped establish the record-breaking new Carolinas division by procuring all trade partners for 14 subdivisions, managing home construction starts, and setting up new construction and procurement systems. He also supervised subdivision engineering and approvals for over 700 residential lots, and solicited bids and negotiated land development contracts totaling over $21 million.
During the first 8 years of his career, Jeff worked as an Architect on mixed-use, multi-family residential, office, and retail projects, and as an Urban Designer on the master planning of mixed-use developments. He was a core member of the team that designed The David Brower Environmental Center, an award winning, LEED Platinum rated office building, conference center, and restaurant in Berkeley, CA, and led the zoning entitlements for a 580 unit transit-oriented development in Mountain View, CA.
Jeff’s love of nature, walkable cities, and sense of community has found a home in Asheville. He is passionate about preserving Asheville’s local, entrepreneurial character, and helping craft new growth to amplify it’s unique spirit. He can often be found walking, biking, hiking, running or simply exploring to enjoy all the beauty the region has to offer.
