Ross Smith
Project Architect and General Contractor
Ross grew up between Washington DC and Guatemala City where his dad ran a renewable energy non-profit with a focus on wind and solar energy. Ross received his degree in architecture from Yale University where he graduated with an award in design excellence. He is both a licensed architect and general contractor and founder of ASSEMBLY ARCHITECTURE + BUILD
Leslie Holman
Project Architect
Leslie grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and attended Centre College in the state, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Art History. After graduation, she moved down to North Carolina, staying briefly in the mountains before moving on to Raleigh and North Carolina State University for her Master’s of Architecture — where she graduated with a certificate in City Design and concentration on History and Theory. A licensed architect and highly organized, she’s a master of construction documentation, details, and design.
Erik Stockler
Project Architect
Erik is originally from the Midwest, born in Denver and raised in Kansas City. He graduated with a Master of Architecture from the University of Kansas, where he focused on design/build, furniture and sculpture, and interned at a firm in Paris. With a Danish father and family roots in Finland, Erik grew up surrounded by Scandinavian design — an influence that continues to shape his architectural philosophy and approach. After graduation, Erik joined an architecture firm in Kansas City, where he designed community-centered projects before relocating to New England to pursue design/build work through residential architecture. While working throughout New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts, Erik developed a deep understanding of building and construction methods, contributing to traditional timber frame structures, prefabricated passive houses, mass timber construction, and high-end custom homes. Erik joined the team in May 2026 and is excited to help create thoughtfully designed homes rooted in the natural beauty and distinctive character of the Western North Carolina mountains.
Brett Wyatt
Construction Management Team
Brett grew up on the shores of the Outer Banks making the trek to Western NC to attend Warren Wilson College where he graduated with a degree in the arts. He’s been with Assembly since it’s inception, growing effortlessly along with our humble company. He is now a much beloved Project Manager with a dozen custom homes under his belt and an obsession with details and durability.
Julian Harris
Construction Management Team
Julian was born in northern Maine, raised in North Texas, and migrated to Western North Carolina in 2010. Tapping into his deep familial roots to the building and craft trades, he attended Haywood Community College’s woodcraft program in 2014 with a focus on custom furniture design. After a decade committed to both the services and crafts industries of the River Arts District in Asheville, Julian can still be found down by the river, patiently persuading his Heeler, Ziggy, to get in the truck and head to work.
Taylor Hada
Field Crew Lead
Taylor grew up in Central Texas and moved to the Asheville area in 2011. In 2015 he completed Haywood’s Professional Craft Wood Program where he studied all aspects of furniture design and construction. Taylor has spent the last decade expanding his carpentry knowledge to the home-building process, gaining experience in framing and finish carpentry. He’s an excellent leader and everyone loves working with him.
Erica Pastore
Field Crew
Erica joined Assembly in January 2025, bringing a fresh perspective and a passion for thoughtful craftsmanship. After building out the back of her pickup truck in 2022—complete with a bed and storage—and embarking on a cross-country road trip, Erica discovered a deep love for hands-on work and creating spaces that feel both functional and meaningful. It was this project that brought her to pursue a career in the industry that began when she moved from Richmond, Virginia to Asheville in March of 2024. As part of Assembly’s in-house carpentry team, she contributes to a wide range of projects with care, precision, and an eye for detail.
Lily Aksan
Digital Marketing
Lily joined Assembly in early 2025 as the team’s marketing lead, drawn by a shared passion for beautiful designs that blend with sustainability.
As a graduate of Parsons School of Design, she began her career in visual arts. She discovered a love for sustainable living while living on a permaculture farm in Asheville. Now, she helps tell Assembly’s story to connect the firm with the community. Lily can often be found creating art, and traveling in search of inspiration.
Kady Brotherton
Bookkeeper
Kady Brotherton is a hospitality professional and entrepreneur with a strong background in finance, bookkeeping, and operations. She previously served as Finance Director for the James Beard Award–winning Chai Pani Restaurant Group and later for Sauna House, supporting the growth and management of expanding businesses. In addition to her entrepreneurial work, she serves as a bookkeeper for Assembly Architecture and Build, helping keep the business financially organized and on track. Drawing on years of experience in the hospitality and design-build industries, Kady focuses on thoughtful business management, leadership, and operational excellence.