“The home we are currently building in Asheville is a great example of this,” says General Manager Luke Nayes. “It is a legacy home – the property has been in the family for generations, and the hope is that the family will enjoy the home and property for many generations to come.”
The general contractor, which opened its third office in Asheville earlier this year, specializes in custom home construction and full home remodels.
Check out our full conversation with Nayes below…
Tell us about your business and the role you play in it.
Andrew Roby Inc. is a general contractor specializing in custom home construction, full home remodels, kitchen and bath renovations and handyman services. The company was founded in Charlotte, NC and has been “making it home” for happy homeowners since 1950.
What’s a little-known fact or trivia about your business?
Our company was originally founded by Hungarian immigrant, Andrew Robiscek, as a one-man remodeling firm. Two years after starting the company, Mr. Roby hired Glenn Haston as his first employee / Superintendent. The two would work together for over 25 years, establishing the growing organization’s reputation. In 1976, Haston bought the firm outright. Today, his grandsons (the third generation of Hastons) are leading the company into the future. In 2025, we’ll be celebrating our 75th anniversary, which is an amazing accomplishment after such humble roots.
How has your company grown over the years?
We opened a 2nd Andrew Roby office in Boone, NC in 2010 when one of our longtime Charlotte clients decided to build a second home in the High Country. Rather than start from scratch with a new builder in the area, they asked us to come along and continue to serve as their trusted general contractor. Boone has proven to be a very successful market over the years, as many of our Charlotte clients own 2nd homes or properties in the area. We’ve also made a name for ourselves with local residents who have asked us to work on their primary homes, and people from all over the country who relocate to the area.
We’re following a similar model for Asheville. We’ve been eyeing this market for years, and have served numerous clients in the area through our Charlotte and Boone offices. We were approached by a longtime friend and business partner who wanted to build a custom home in the area. Because of the size and scope of this project, the timing is now right to establish a more permanent presence in the area with the opening of our Asheville office.
Where did your career find its start? How did you get involved with your company?
Thanks to my dad, who was also a builder, I got an early start in the construction industry. Since age 14, I’ve worked in just about every trade including excavation, concrete, roofing, siding, framing, plumbing, tile installation and more. To this day, of all my projects, I’m most proud of the log homes I built alongside my dad.
After serving in the Marines for five years, I enrolled in Appalachian State University and graduated with a degree in Building Science with a concentration in Construction Management. I connected with Andrew Roby at an on-campus career fair, and joined the team in September 2018. And while I was hired for the sole purpose of eventually moving to and leading this Asheville office, starting my career with the company in Charlotte was a very intentional part of the plan. During my time in Charlotte, I worked as a Project Manager and Executive Superintendent and completed both custom home construction and renovation projects for the company. The goal was to learn the ins and outs of the business, its processes and company culture, and to replicate these in Asheville.
The greatest business advice you’ve been given?
There is nothing more generous than giving your time. Everyone is busy and everyone’s plate is overflowing with things to do. But if you stop and are present with people, it goes a long way. You make genuine connections and lasting memories. That’s what I try to live by day to day.
What do you see as your company’s legacy?
Our mission is to build and deepen lifelong and generational relationships with our clients by providing them with exceptional customer service and quality craftsmanship. The home we are currently building in Asheville is a great example of this. It is a legacy home — the property has been in the family for generations, and the hope is that the family will enjoy the home and property for many generations to come. That’s what we’re all about at Andrew Roby. Our goal is to serve this client so well that his children and grandchildren will become our clients in the future.