Our Team
Ray Matthews
Owner & President
Ray is the owner and president of Matthews Brothers Builders and has nearly 20 years experience in the building industry. He holds both a home builder’s license and a general contractor license. Building runs in the family: his father, grandfather, and uncles were builders, and his mother is a South Carolina Family Court judge who also holds a builder’s license. Ray spent summers and weekends working alongside his dad, learning the trade from an early age.
After starting college at USC, where he played soccer, Ray earned an electrical engineering degree from Clemson. He enjoys bringing clients’ visions to life, solving the challenges of custom projects, and especially the framing and carpentry that shape a home.
Ray enjoys traveling with his wife, Kelly, and their two children, as well as spending time outdoors, offshore fishing, and boating.
Kelly Matthews
Office Manager
A Clemson University graduate, Kelly officially entered the building industry in 2022, joining her husband, Ray, as Office Manager at Matthews Brothers Builders. In this role, she keeps the administrative side of the business running smoothly, allowing the team and clients to focus on what matters most, bringing beautiful custom homes to life.
Kelly's favorite part of building is seeing the finished product. The hard work, thoughtful design, and attention to detail all coming together to create that unforgettable "wow" factor.
Outside of work, Kelly enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and making the most of life's fun moments.
Jody Matthews
Project Manager
Jody graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2015 with a degree in Business. Construction has been a part of his life from a very young age, as he spent his childhood working alongside his father and learning the trade firsthand. With both his father and grandfathers working in construction, it was a natural path for Jody to develop a passion for the industry and eventually build his career around it.
What he enjoys most about construction is seeing the unique ideas and visions that clients and architects bring to each project and then having the opportunity to turn those ideas into reality. He takes great pride in watching a home come together and, most importantly, knowing that the finished product leaves clients happy and satisfied with their new home.
Outside of work, Jody enjoys offshore fishing and horticulture, spending his free time pursuing the hobbies he loves most.
Christine Matthews
Estimator
Christine has been a part of Matthews Brothers Builders since 2024. Prior to this, she earned a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from Winthrop University before completing her Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of South Carolina.
Although she has been connected to the construction industry since she and Jody began dating, Christine officially joined Matthews Brothers full-time after the birth of their daughter. She enjoys collaborating with prospective clients, reviewing house plans, and developing proposals that help bring their dream homes to life. Aside from estimating, Christine handles other aspects of the business including website management, permitting, and marketing design.
Outside of Matthews Brothers Builders, Christine continues to practice as a physical therapist. She also loves spending time with her husband and children as well as caring for their many pets.
Bubba Surratt
Project Manager
Bubba has been building homes since 1990, when he began working with a framing crew during his summer breaks. After graduating, he pursued construction full time and spent 22 years as a subcontractor before joining Matthews Brothers Builders as a Project Manager.
Over the years, Bubba has developed a deep appreciation for the construction industry. He enjoys the camaraderie of working alongside a skilled team and takes pride in watching each project evolve from the ground up. He quickly discovered that the trades offered not only rewarding work but also a strong career path.
His favorite phase of construction is framing, where he finds it especially rewarding to see a simple stack of lumber transformed into the framework of a family's future home.
When he's not on the job site, Bubba enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time on Lake Wateree with family and friends.
Brent Smith
Project Manager
After attending college for two years, Brent entered the construction industry in 2019, beginning his career in roofing sales. To become a knowledgeable and effective roofing salesperson, he quickly learned that understanding a roof meant understanding everything beneath it and how the entire system works together to protect a home.
In 2024, Brent became the Area Manager in the Construction Department of the roofing company where he had been working. His favorite part of construction, aside from seeing a project reach completion, is solving problems and finding solutions that make an issue seem as though it was never an issue at all. He also enjoys that there is always something new to learn in construction, which keeps him interested and continually looking for ways to expand his knowledge.
Outside of work, Brent enjoys spending time with his family, visiting the mountains, exploring small mountain towns, and enjoying the outdoors. His hobbies include hiking, hunting, fishing, and watching and playing sports. Every now and then, he picks up the guitar and plays for family and friends—although he is quick to say he is nowhere near a professional. Before his son came along, Brent also dabbled in making music.