CLEAR ARCHITECTURE. COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. LASTING HOMES.
Meet Jeff
Founder / Architect & General Contractor
Jeff Mance is a licensed architect and general contractor, and the founder of South Fork Architecture, based in Boone, North Carolina. He leads projects from early design through construction, maintaining responsibility for both the architectural vision and its execution.
Raised in the High Country, Jeff’s connection to the Appalachian Mountains runs deep. He grew up on his family’s land in Boone, spending time building, repairing, and working alongside his father. Those early experiences shaped a practical understanding of how things come together, and a lasting respect for craft, durability, and place.
Jeff studied at Appalachian State University and earned his Master of Architecture from NC State. Over more than two decades, Jeff’s work has spanned high-end residential architecture, large-scale public projects, and construction leadership.
Before founding South Fork, Jeff served as Executive Project Manager at Szostak Design in Chapel Hill, where he worked on complex residential and institutional projects across North Carolina.
His path has also included hands-on and entrepreneurial work, from operating a shrimp farm in Texas to building a furniture design practice and running a roofing company. These experiences reinforced a practical understanding of materials, construction, and the realities of building.
Outside of practice, Jeff has traveled extensively, including riding a motorcycle across Europe. He continues to study Nordic and Eastern design traditions, along with intentional living and the relationship between architecture and the natural environment. These influences inform how he approaches craft, proportion, and the connection between home and land.
Our Team
South Fork Design Build is intentionally small, allowing our team to stay closely involved from early planning through construction.
JEsse BeiRWAGEN
Jesse manages construction in the field at South Fork Design Build, coordinating crews, directing subcontractors, and overseeing the day-to-day execution of projects. As the primary point of contact on site, he helps ensure work stays on schedule, questions are addressed quickly, and details are carried through with consistency and care.
His background includes framing, carpentry, and full project oversight, with experience delivering custom homes from early stages through completion. Comfortable working across all parts of a build, Jesse moves easily between hands-on problem solving, field coordination, and managing the realities of an active job site.
Jesse works closely with trade partners and the broader South Fork team to coordinate sequencing, manage site conditions, and support communication throughout construction. He values craftsmanship, accountability, and a collaborative approach that helps projects move forward clearly and efficiently.
Originally from the West Coast, Jesse enjoys spending time with his wife and chasing after his sons, can often be found behind the drums, and appreciates the rhythm and pace of life in the mountains.
Lead Carpenter + Superintendent
Lenka Hejlkova
Lenka oversees client experience, operations, and interior selections at South Fork Design Build. She works closely with clients from the initial conversation through project completion, guiding decisions, maintaining clear communication, and keeping the overall process structured and considered.
Her background in marketing strategy, business operations, and event leadership informs how the firm communicates, organizes, and grows. With more than 15 years of experience launching initiatives, building campaigns, and managing complex projects, she is involved in both day-to-day operations and longer-term business strategy, helping shape systems, processes, and overall direction.
Lenka also plays a key role in interior finishes and selections, drawing from her formal education in interior architecture and design. She works alongside clients and the team to shape materials, fixtures, and details that support the overall direction of each home.
Originally from the Czech Republic, Lenka is proud to call North Carolina home. She balances life as a boy mom with time in the garden, caring for a flock of chickens, baking, seeking quiet moments with good coffee and a book, and cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes.
Client Experience, Operations & Interior Selections
What Sets Us Apart
ARCHITECTURE-LED DESIGN
Design decisions are made with full awareness of how the home will be built. Early coordination between architecture and construction reduces rework, improves cost clarity, and ensures the design holds up through execution.
Collaborative Process
Projects are shaped through ongoing dialogue between client, site, and team. We provide clear guidance throughout, helping clients navigate decisions around scope, budget, and timing without losing direction.
LASTING HOMES
Homes are designed for long-term performance in a mountain environment. Material choices, detailing, and construction methods are selected to withstand climate, reduce maintenance, and age well over time.
PLANNING A HOME IN THE HIGH COUNTRY?
