At an early age, Thomas Ashley’s understanding of basic business practices would later propel him to become a successful entrepreneur. At age 10, he started his first lawn care business in McRae, Georgia, expanding to more than 60 clients in two years through hard work and dedication.

One of his clients – the local funeral home – often asked the young Ashley to assist with services because he knew so many people in the rural town. As a result, he attended Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service after graduating from high school. One of the youngest in his class, he was elected Master Artist of the Theta Chapter of Pi Sigma Eta Fraternity. Upon graduation, he moved to Savannah, Georgia where he continued his career at the Hubert C. Baker Funeral Home, a startup company.

After a one-year apprenticeship, he became operations manager at age 21 and led the company to become one of the largest funeral homes in the state of Georgia. Through his election to an Audit Committee, he traveled to other area funeral homes and assisted with compliance issues, family services, and operational tools development. Additionally, he developed numerous training videos on these issues and day-to-day business practices and procedures. Because of his work, Ashley and the funeral home were recognized as industry leaders.

Throughout his career, Ashley developed an interest in real estate, purchasing his first investment property at age 19 and later forming SAV. Investments in 2001. Originally created for real estate acquisitions, he later converted the company into a real estate investment and consulting company. Since the conversion, Ashley has formed nine other real estate holding/development companies, in addition to a construction company.

With experience in all facets of the building and development Industry, Ashley is involved with all phases of developing and constructing single- and multi-family homes as well as commercial and industrial properties and buildings.

Ashley has comprehensive and proven experience in:

	leading, managing and implementing projects
	strategic planning and creative problem solving
	market analysis
	project feasibility
	highest and best use of land
	debt equity and partnership structures
	funding assistance
	land acquisitions and due diligence
	site planning
	conceptual estimating and value engineering
	hard and soft cost estimates
	conceptual/final budgeting and cost control
	professional design services contracts
	zoning and entitlements
	scheduling
	principals’ procedures and practices of construction
	local and national building codes
	permitting and wetlands mitigation
	subcontracting, staffing and training

Involved in projects ranging from $200,000 to $125 million, Ashley is licensed in the State of Georgia as a certified general contractor, funeral director, embalmer and insurance agent. He has attended numerous continuing education classes in all facets of real estate, building and development and has served on numerous boards of directors and advisory boards.

Honored for his leadership abilities, Ashley was recognized at age 25 by the Savannah Business Journal in its “40 under 40” list of the top young business achievers in the greater Savannah and Hilton Head regions. The Ashley Education Center at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Rincon, Georgia also bares his name.