Meet Matt Kroll with Willowsford

Matt, please tell us a little about your company.

The Willowsford team is a developer located in Ashburn, VA, and has been recognized for creating one of the most notable and award-winning new home communities in Loudoun County.  The 4,000-acre community has 2,000 acres of natural open space set aside for environmental preservation, recreation, and agricultural use with just over 2,300 single-family homes built on the remaining acreage. The community and team received multiple awards for community planning and placemaking, design, architecture, and marketing since its inception in 2011 and was voted the number one community by NAHB in 2012, 2013, and 2014.  Willowsford was recognized in the industry for its innovation, development approach, land use economics, sustainability, culture, and sense of community.

When and why did you join NVBIA?

In 1996 I joined NVBIA working as a consultant civil engineer at Patton, Harris, Rust & Associates and joined NVBIA to take advantage of educational opportunities and attended networking events as a way to make business connections. In 2002, I started working for a local homebuilder, Renaissance Homes, who was an active builder in Fairfax County. For the last 11 years, I have been active in NVBIA’s Loudoun Chapter, which provides opportunities for homebuilding professionals to collaborate with County officials to improve the residential development process.

What is the value of NVBIA to your company?

Advocacy. NVBIA’s biggest value to my business as a residential developer is the opportunity NVBIA provides to partner with local government to problem solve, collaborate on process improvements and build relationships with stakeholders.

How are you involved in the association?
From 2012-2016, I participated as a NVBIA Loudoun Chapter appointment on the FSM Committee, DAPPR and NVBIA’s VDOT committee. In 2016 I served as Loudoun Chapter President, in 2018 I served as NVBIA’s Regional President. For the past 10 years I have participated on NVBIA’s Legislative Committee. For the past 3 years I have served as a NOVA Build PAC Trustee and currently serve as the NOVA Build PAC Chairman.

What is something you would say to a future member about NVBIA?

Engage. There are many opportunities to serve the homebuilding business as an associate member or builder member of NVBIA and every opportunity comes with the benefit of working along side your peers and other professionals in our business. If you are working in a specific County or jurisdiction, NVBIA has Committees in Fairfax/Alexandria, Loudoun, Prince William and Fauquier. If you are passionate about advocacy, the Legislative Committee offers opportunities to stay up to date on pending legislation proposed in the General Assembly. If you are an emerging leader, the Future Leaders committee offers opportunities to network with your peers. If you are a woman in the homebuilding business, the Women in Building offers opportunities for networking and education as emerging professional in our business. (NVBIA staff to enter other opportunities)

When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you pass the time?

Playing with my 3 year old son and hanging out with my 14 year old daughter. Being a dad is the best job ever. I also enjoy skeet and trap shooting, hunting, spending time on the water and cheering for Penn State Football and Washington Capitals hockey.

Please share your favorite quote:

“The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he stands at times of controversy and challenges.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

If you were stuck in a tv show for a month, which would it be and why?

Parks and Recreation. A lot of my job is navigating rules and regulations of the residential subdivision and land development process. Working with local government officials can challenging and fun all at the same time and we are lucky that our colleagues in local government are good people sometimes have a sense of humor.