The Team
Our fabulous people are the reason for our ongoing growth and success. We'd love you to meet the Hearty Homes team, who are all committed to bringing your new Ballarat home to life.
Our Management Team
Kevin
As Director of Hearty Homes, Kevin began the company in 2012 and oversees the running of the business, working with his employees to ensure processes are constantly improving and we are evolving and growing to suit our client needs.
Kevin is Ballarat born & bred, working as a bricklayer with his father before commencing his own bricklaying business. This progressed to land and townhouse development prior to Hearty Homes. Kevin’s ambition is to do the best he can in life and not look back with regrets.
Cindy
Cindy is the other half of Hearty Homes. In 2021 her role evolved to looking after marketing and community grants & donations, and continues with human resources and accounts responsibilities.
She completed a tourism/business degree at university and has worked on project management and marketing in other fields. She loves where she lives, close to everything needed for her family. Cindy & Kevin have travelled a lot with their three children and will continue to see unique parts of the world and Australia. It’s rare that she has time to herself but loves a movie and going to the gym.
George
George has worked on projects with Kevin for many years including his own home. His commenced his new role as Construction Manager in July 2021 after being a Supervisor with Hearty Homes since 2015. He is responsible in overseeing our on-site supervisors and the construction of our home builds from start to finish.
As a valued team member and respected by clients and the industry George is very thorough and always thinking of a better way to do things. His motto is quality with a capital Q. He enjoys the tranquility of living just out of town with his wife and two sons. Camping on the river, four wheel driving, bbq’s, bonfires and visiting family in Romania are his favourite pastimes.
Hugh
Hugh Mason brings over 20 years of experience in the building industry to Hearty Homes, combining hands-on expertise with formal university-level education. Raised on a sheep and cropping farm near Benalla in north-east Victoria, Hugh began his career as an apprentice carpenter. After completing his apprenticeship, he broadened his horizons with two years working across Scandinavia on various residential projects.
At Hearty Homes, Hugh plays a pivotal role in supporting the construction, design, and administration teams. His responsibilities span workflow management, contract administration, and ensuring compliance across all operational areas. He is also instrumental in staff recruitment and in nurturing strong, long-term relationships with our key suppliers and trades—an essential part of delivering the premium service our clients expect.
In his role as Sales Estimator, Hugh prepares all sales and contract estimates, ensuring that every project reflects an accurate and transparent cost structure tailored to its specific requirements.
Outside of work, Hugh enjoys quality time with his wife and young son. His hobbies include golf, tennis, fly fishing, and long-distance running.
Our Sales Team
Ben
With Ben’s sixteen-plus years of experience in the building industry, it is welcoming to know that he will assist clients with the building steps to begin their new home journey.
He is keen to help clients design home that best suits their needs and witness progress from start to finish. We are pleased to have Ben joining us in 2022 as part of the Hearty Homes team. He enjoys playing golf, basketball with his son, and barracking for Essendon. What makes him tick is thinking outside the square and finding solutions to a problem. Come in and meet Ben at our display homes and find out how he can get your new home underway with our great range of house plans and designs.
Julie
Moving to Ballarat from Ballan when she was younger, Julie considers herself one of the locals. She started her career in the Melbourne real estate industry and then thanks to her love of travel became a flight attendant to not only work but also see more of the world. Julie's role with Hearty Homes will be to assist clients on their path to building their new homes and ensuring they achieve a result that will give them joy for many years.
Away from work, she enjoys shopping, baking, North Melbourne, and watching Friends on TV. She does get annoyed with traffic, but overall genuinely loves helping people whenever she can. You will find Julie at our display homes so come in, meet her and chat about building your dream home.
Our Office Team
Shannon
With a Master’s degree in Architecture, Shannon brings a thoughtful and creative approach to every project. Having worked with a variety of firms across Victoria, she has developed a strong foundation in residential design, with a particular passion for detail and a drive to deliver homes that are both functional and inspiring.
Originally from Bendigo, Shannon moved to Ballarat six years ago and has loved being part of the local community ever since. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter. Whether it’s camping, horse riding, or planning the next travel adventure, she’s always up for something that sparks creativity and connection.
At Hearty Homes, Shannon is excited to help bring clients’ visions to life. Designing homes that feel just right from the inside out.
Emily
Emily brings over 15 years of experience in finance and real estate administration, with a strong background in payroll, BAS, invoicing and office systems. At Hearty Homes, she manages both the finance and administrative functions, supporting the day-to-day operations of the business and helping things run smoothly across the board.
Originally from Queensland, Emily moved to Ballarat to be closer to family and embrace a new chapter. Outside of work, she enjoys movies, video games and planning future travel. She loves exploring new destinations when she gets the chance and values her downtime — whether it’s catching a good film or relaxing at home.
Nicole
Nicole joined our Drafting team in early 2018 after completing her Advanced Diploma of Building Design. In her role, she works closely with our sales team and clients, transforming ideas into detailed plans that bring dream homes to life. She also enjoys collaborating with our Construction team, expanding her knowledge of building techniques to ensure every design is both practical and visually appealing.
Nicoles career began in administration with a local real estate agency, where she developed a strong interest in the Ballarat housing market. That passion eventually led her to pursue a career in Building Design. She has watched Ballarat grow over the years and loves spotting new housing trends. Drawing on her own personal experience; having built a new home as well as renovating two properties, Nicole understands firsthand what it takes to create a design that ticks all the boxes. Her motto: “It’s like playing a game of Tetris- you just have to find the perfect way to make it all fit together”.
Outside of work, Nicole enjoys family time, weekend road trips and baking sweet treats.
Paul
Draftsperson
Paul has been part of our Drafting team since 2021, bringing over 25 years of experience in the truss and frame industry and a strong background in architectural drafting. His experience in AutoCAD, combined with the ability to design complex and custom house plans, makes for a valuable member of the team.
His educational background, which includes an Advanced Diploma in Architectural Drafting, as well as Diplomas in Business, Management, and a Diploma in Building Construction & Design, has further honed his project management and problem-solving abilities which allows him to build rapport with clients, understand their vision, and translate that into functional and aesthetically pleasing designs.
Paul has lived in Ballarat for over 20 years and has a strong interest in sports, food, and travel away from work.
Tim
Tim is a Draftsperson at Hearty Homes with over 20 years of experience in the building and design industry. Tim specialises in residential drafting, including single and double-storey homes and NDIS housing. He brings deep knowledge of building regulations and construction compliance. Tim is known for his attention to detail, collaborative approach and commitment to delivering high-quality, build-ready designs.
Outside of work, Tim enjoys staying active and hands-on. His hobbies include playing tennis, landscaping, renovating and hitting the gym. With a passion for improving spaces both professionally and personally, Tim brings the same dedication and creativity to his hobbies as he does to his work.
Amanda
As our Estimator it’s always a busy day for Amanda. Her role since August 2016 entails creating bill of quantities, estimating material and labour requirements and placing orders for each build. She has a wealth of experience in trade hardware and brings all that knowledge into her job.
Weekends are spent travelling around Victoria competing in Veterans Badminton tournaments or on a pickleball court. Amandas new favourite roll is now being a Grandma.
Our On-Site Team
Jarrod
Supervisor
We welcomed Jarrod to our site supervisor’s team in October 2023. As a local he has a 15 year background working in the building industry and as a carpenter in the Ballarat region.
Spending time outdoors with his young family is a must as well as enjoying his interest in music, local metal bands, following Essendon, and watching all types of motorsports. Jarrod is here to assist you with his knowledge and skills and ensure we provide you with an enjoyable experience as we build your future home.