Bios

Julie Agostinucci

Accounts Receivable & Office Administration

With over a decade of experience in office operations and financial management, Julie brings both precision and positivity to her role at Sweenor Builders. As the team member responsible for invoicing and accounts receivable, she helps keep the business side of our projects running smoothly—while also pitching in to support a range of day-to-day office duties.

Julie’s journey to the residential construction world began in commercial real estate development. She later moved into managing the business and finances of a luxury architecture and design firm in Miami before returning to her native Rhode Island. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and has been part of the Sweenor Builders team for the past year.

What does she love most about working here? The people.

Outside the office, Julie enjoys spending time with her husband and kids, getting lost in a good novel, and practicing yoga. Her favorite place to be is at the beach at 5 p.m.—that golden hour when the crowds fade, the light softens, and Rhode Island’s coastline shines.

She’s inspired every day by her family and by the opportunity to contribute to the local community she calls home.

Melissa Benedetti

Payroll Manager & Benefits Coordinator

Melissa joined Sweenor Builders in 2019, bringing decades of experience in construction, interior design, and finance. With a background in business and a degree in Finance & Business Management from URI, she manages all things related to payroll, benefits, and employee onboarding. Behind the scenes, Melissa is a steady and reliable presence—someone who thrives on responsibility, welcomes a challenge, and keeps everything running smoothly. Outside of work, she enjoys beach days and quiet escapes with her husband, especially now that their kids are grown and busy with families of their own—including seven grandkids who keep life joyful and full.

Holden Stern

Project Manager

Holden was introduced to the construction industry at a young age through his father’s business, and while he explored other fields after college, he ultimately found his way back to where it felt most natural. Holden managed large-scale apartment complexes and condominiums, overseeing building maintenance and capital improvements, before transitioning into custom home building.

For the past five years, Holden has managed the construction of high-end custom homes along coastal Rhode Island, bringing a deep respect for quality craftsmanship and client vision to every project.

He thrives in collaborative environments and values the strong relationships built with trade professionals, architects, and industry experts. Holden believes the best results come from open communication and problem-solving as a team, turning complex challenges into thoughtful well-executed solutions.

Mark Mason

Project Manager

Mark attended Roger Williams University and embarked on his professional journey directly after college. He began his career with a brief stint at a hardscape company before transitioning to a custom home building firm. Since then, Mark has dedicated his career to the construction industry, demonstrating expertise as a skilled finish carpenter with extensive on-site experience.

Over the years, Mark has held various positions within the construction sector, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s intricacies.

Katie Murphy

Interior Designer

A Cape Cod native, Katie’s design style reflects a fresh coastal aesthetic, that exudes quiet luxury and sense of calm. She believes interior design is transformative and loves creating spaces that evoke clients’ core desired feelings to enhance their daily lives.

Katie holds a business degree from Boston College and an advanced degree in art from Tufts University. Prior to joining Sweenor Builders, her design experience includes: a role at an award-winning Boston firm specializing in boutique hotel design; managing custom furnishings projects for luxury vacation homes in the Berkshires; and working as a senior designer for a high-end residential firm in Newburyport, where her niche consisted of full home furnishings and accessory styling, material and finish selections and custom built-in design.

When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her trying out a new restaurant in Boston, relaxing with family on the Cape, or chasing golden hour at the beach – her favorite time and place.

Talia Sweenor

Interior Designer

Talia’s journey with the Sweenor team is one that feels both natural and full circle. Raised in the world of custom homebuilding, she grew up visiting job sites alongside her father, Jeff, making the business feel like second nature. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, she earned her degree in Textiles, Fashion Merchandising & Design with a minor in Business—laying the foundation for a career that blends creativity with strategy.

In 2017, Talia officially joined the team by launching the company’s social media channels, which soon led to a role in the marketing department. As she spent more time on-site, filming content and creating renderings to help clients visualize their spaces, she found herself increasingly drawn to the design process. Her curiosity and enthusiasm led her to assist the Interior Design team—where her passion quickly took root.

Now a full-time Interior Designer, Talia is known for her ability to listen closely, embrace each client’s unique style, and bring thoughtful, personalized designs to life. Her role spans every phase of the design journey—from selections management and design documentation to site meetings with subcontractors and final move-in. Whether selecting finishes or refining the smallest details, she takes pride in making every space feel both beautiful and intentional.

For Talia, the most rewarding part of her work is seeing a project come full circle—watching a house transform into a home. Being there through every stage, from the early concepts to the final styling touches, allows her to see each space truly come to life.

Jonathan Brundage

Architectural Designer

Jonathan brings more than three decades of experience in design and construction to his role as an Architectural Designer at Sweenor Builders. With a master’s degree in architecture from the Savannah College of Art & Design, Jon has built a career defined by creativity, craftsmanship, and collaboration.

His fascination with construction began early, exploring neighborhood job sites and building intricate Lego creations sparked a lifelong passion for understanding how things come together. That curiosity evolved into a career that has taken him from hands-on trade work during college to an internationally recognized architectural firm, where he contributed to large-scale institutional and collegiate projects across the U.S. and overseas. Among his career highlights is serving on the design team for the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, an experience that deepened his appreciation for the power of design to make a global impact.

At Sweenor Builders, Jon plays a key role in transforming client visions into buildable realities. He thrives on the collaborative process, helping clients refine their goals, and working closely with project managers and craftsmen to bring every detail to life. He’s proud to be part of a team that shares a unified vision of excellence and mutual respect, where every role contributes to creating extraordinary homes.

Outside of work, Jon can often be found outdoors surfing the Rhode Island coastline, backcountry snowmobiling in northern New England, or fishing with friends. A daily beach walk with family and friends is his favorite local ritual, and a reminder of why he loves calling coastal Rhode Island home.

Jessica Karpeichik

Architectural Designer

Mitch Votolato

Director of Architectural Design

Mitch joined Sweenor Builders as an Architectural Designer in September 2020 having spent the first seven years of his career working for SmithGroup out of Boston where he specialized in healthcare design. While his technical background has been specifically geared towards the commercial markets, Mitch knew that he would someday find his home in high-end custom residential design and construction. As the current Director of Design, Mitch directs the design processes, procedures and formatting of our Construction Documents.

Believing that knowledge is the key in an ever-changing industry, he finds great value in staying on top of cutting-edge design principles and the latest construction materials and technologies. Since graduating in 2012 with a Master of Architecture degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology, he has carefully utilized his unique set of skills and experiences at every turn of his career. He continues to bring the same energy, ambition, and drive he displayed throughout his studies with him into his professional career of architecture.

Mitch resides in Pascoag, Rhode Island with his dog Nash. They spend a lot of time together hiking, daily car rides and enjoying the company of family and friends. He loves working along the seacoast of Rhode Island but enjoys travelling up to Lake Winnipesaukee, where he regularly breaks from the daily stresses of life to enjoy skiing, boating, water-skiing, hiking and anything else that gets him outside and into nature.

Kerrie Farley

Financial Controller

As Financial Controller, Kerrie is responsible for Sweenor Builders’ daily financial operations as well as other administrative tasks.  If this isn’t enough to put Kerrie in high-demand, she has also established herself as our “go-to” for any question or challenge.  Kerrie has mastered the art of anticipating what the people around her need to excel and finding the resources to help them succeed.  She has been with Sweenor Builders for over 10 years.

Kerrie is from the Boston area and is a graduate of Salve Regina University.  She and her husband and two sons reside in Newport.  When she isn’t keeping us on track, you can find her cheering on her older son at a college track meet or sneaking in a visit to her younger son in FL who is in a pilot aviation program.