Jon, the founder and CEO of Steering House, is a seasoned real estate developer and builder with over 20 years of experience leading teams through the entire development lifecycle. Born and raised in Brooklyn Heights, he is deeply rooted in the community, where he currently lives with his family and two active boys. In his free time, Jon embraces a range of interests, from spending quality time with his sons to pursuing his passion for triathlon – previously completing two Ironman-distance races. He also enjoys surfing, fishing, golf, snowboarding, and mountaineering, having climbed three of the seven summits of the world to date, including a trek to Everest Base Camp with three generations of his family – gardening and producing dance music.

Additionally, Jon is dedicated to community engagement and serves on the board of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, reflecting his commitment to sustainability and the environment. With a vision for transformative urban spaces and a dedication to excellence, he continues to lead Steering House in creating exceptional living and working environments.

Stephen has been with Steering House since 2018, initially as the Director of Construction and now as Chief Operating Officer. In his current role, he oversees daily operations, ensuring seamless collaboration between the project management, construction management, and architecture teams. Prior to joining Steering House, Stephen served as the Director of Design and Construction at a Brooklyn-based design-build firm, where he focused on energy-efficient, ground-up residential projects. Stephen holds a B.S. in Architectural Engineering and Technology from the University of Hartford and a Master’s degree in Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

He resides in Park Slope with his wife, Gabrielle, and their daughter. Outside of work, Stephen is passionate about cooking and travel, often seeking out nature-focused adventures that immerse him in new landscapes.

Elizabeth has been the Director of Finance at Steering House Construction since 2019, drawing on nearly 20 years of Wall Street experience. A graduate of NYU, she began as an equity analyst, later transitioning to equity sales and leading an international sales/trading desk. She worked at firms like Prudential Securities, Paine Webber, and UBS.

She has served on several boards, including as treasurer of Grace Church School and president of The Heights Casino. Elizabeth was also a founding member of Friends of Firefighters. Passionate about staying active, she is an avid tennis player, water skier, runner, and swimmer. She also takes great pleasure in travel, cooking and gardening. She lives in Brooklyn Heights with her husband and two children.

Stephen is a licensed architect leading the design and approval processes for Steering House’s design-build projects. With a broad background in institutional and commercial architecture, Stephen has developed a strong passion for residential design. He is particularly drawn to the historic qualities and detailing of Brooklyn townhouses and frequently engages with LPC on many of Steering House’s projects in historic districts. Stephen works closely with the construction team to ensure that each project’s design is executed smoothly and efficiently, from concept to completion.

Stephen holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from The Ohio State University and a Master of Architecture from Yale University. In his free time, Stephen enjoys going to museum exhibits, spending time outside exploring different Brooklyn neighborhoods, and relaxing in Prospect Park.

With more than twenty years of experience, Melissa brings a broad and adaptable skill set shaped by work across multiple creative and technical fields. Her background spans the design and construction of live plant walls, the execution of residential renovation projects, and the performing arts. This has given her a practical, detail-oriented approach and the ability to move fluidly between creative vision and real-world problem solving, whether collaborating with artists, homeowners, or project teams.

Outside of work, Melissa is a freelance saxophonist and the parent of two daughters. She lives in Dumbo and enjoys hiking, horses, local farms, and seeing live music whenever she can!

Padraig emigrated to the United States upon completing his M.Eng. in Mechanical and Electronic Engineering in 2015. He began his construction career as an assistant project manager at a boutique construction firm in Manhattan, specializing in luxury residential renovations. Within a year, he was promoted to project manager and has since gained nearly a decade of experience renovating luxury townhouses and apartments throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.

In his free time, Padraig enjoys keeping fit, spending time with friends and family, and traveling. Growing up in a small village in Ireland, animals, and the outdoors have always been a big part of his life, causing him to constantly struggle to turn his small Brooklyn backyard into a viable green space.

Alla Harrington has been part of the high-end residential renovation industry since 2005. Having worked on numerous prestigious projects, Alla understands the nuances of working with visionary designers and the unique challenges of renovating in one of the world’s most dynamic and demanding cities, from historic brownstones to modern penthouses.

Alla holds degrees from NYC FIT. She credits her success as a construction project manager to her extensive understanding of Architecture and Interior Design. When not overseeing high-end residential renovations, Alla enjoys exploring the world with her son and husband, seeking new experiences, favorite destinations Portugal and Colombia.

Greg is the Home Services Team Lead at Steering House, serving as the key link between clients, field teams, and the broader construction organization. Drawing on over a decade of experience across high-end residential construction, operations, and client service, he brings a calm, hands-on, and solutions-oriented approach to maintaining and improving luxury homes. Greg is often the first point of contact in the field, recognized for his ability to quickly diagnose issues, coordinate trades, and ensure every project meets Steering House’s exacting standards.

His role includes overseeing maintenance, warranty, and small-scale renovation work while supervising in-house staff and subcontractors. He manages scheduling, materials, and quality control with a strong focus on clear communication and delivering a seamless white-glove client experience—especially in occupied homes. Greg holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Hospitality Management from Universidad Pedro Henríquez Ureña. Outside of work, he enjoys training at his CrossFit gym, competing in professional Paintball, Snowboarding and wrenching on classic motorcycles.

Frank is a dedicated project manager with over 10 years of experience with various projects ranging from gut renovations of luxury 5th Avenue penthouse apartments to new ground-up buildings for charter schools and mixed residential/commercial use. Growing up with a father in the business as a high-end architectural millworker helped him develop an expert level of attention to detail and quality control. Frank holds bachelor’s degrees in business management and history and a master’s in secondary education from Adelphi University. He is committed to ongoing learning and professional development.

Outside of work, Frank enjoys a wide range of activities such as rock climbing, basketball, and playing pool, which help to foster a balanced lifestyle. He also ran cross country and track & field on a division 1 collegiate level for four years and has continued to train and compete in ensuing years.

Jenna is a design director at Steering House, where she leads the design of our high-end residential projects across the city. Deeply design-oriented, she is committed to ensuring that every project maintains a strong sense of integrity, rooted in context, driven by thoughtful detailing, and aligned with each client’s vision. She guides projects from concept through construction, working closely with clients and project teams to deliver cohesive, well-crafted work.

With nearly a decade of experience, Jenna has developed a strong passion for the rehabilitation of existing structures, with particular expertise in townhouse renovations throughout Brooklyn. Prior to joining Steering House, Jenna worked at The Brooklyn Studio, where she designed and managed award-winning projects from early concept through execution. Jenna holds a Master of Arts in Interior Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Bachelor of Architecture from the American University of Beirut.

Austin is the Construction Manager at Steering House, bringing over a decade of experience in high-end residential construction. Having started in the building industry at the age of 13, he worked his way up through the field, now overseeing a crew of more than 40.

He earned a B.A. in Environmental Policy and Music from Hamilton College, where he was a two-sport varsity athlete. While he’s not often seen on the lacrosse field these days, Austin enjoys spending his time gardening, perusing museums throughout the world, on the squash courts, or behind the drum kit — a place he has spent the majority of his nights and weekends for the last 20 years. Austin’s commitment to activism and philanthropy was instilled early on, and he is proud to continue supporting both local and global causes.

Breanna Ryan enjoys a hybrid role at Steering House as both Project Architect and Project Manager, bringing sixteen years of experience across high-end design studios and design-build firms. Her passion is designing and then translating ambitious concepts into carefully detailed, buildable solutions—or maybe she just enjoys owning a project from initial sketch to final handover! Originally from Australia, Breanna earned her Master of Architecture from the University of Melbourne in 2009 and began her design career working on commercial projects, with a brief pitstop in post-disaster reconstruction work in the Philippines. Since relocating to New York in 2020, she has been drawn to residential work as a way to explore and become embedded with the city’s rich history.

Outside of work, Breanna enjoys any and all craft-related projects but generally spends more time enjoying everything the city has to offer. Lately, she has a newfound appreciation for the city’s playgrounds, thanks to becoming a parent in 2024.