About Us

Southerlyn Homes was founded by husband and wife team, Brett and Ashley Russell. The name ‘Southerlyn’ represents Brett and Ashley’s Southern roots and favorite style home to build – ‘Southern Coastal’, as well as a tribute to their oldest daughter, Rozalynn.

Why Choose Southerlyn?

Brett and Ashley have a passion for working with clients and walking them through every step of the design and construction process.

Brett Russell, Owner/ Head of Construction

Brett Russell is a Licensed Contractor and Owner of Southerlyn Homes, bringing over a decade of hands-on experience in residential construction. He oversees all aspects of building and renovation, ensuring each home is crafted with precision, quality, and attention to detail.

Before co-founding Southerlyn Homes, Brett successfully built and renovated homes across South Tampa, St. Petersburg, Belleair Beach, Seminole, Riverview, Redington Shores, and Odessa. His deep knowledge of construction, materials, and project management ensures every home meets the highest standards and reflects each client’s unique vision.

Ashley Russell, Owner/ Business and Finance Manager

Ashley Russell is the Business & Finance Manager and Owner of Southerlyn Homes, where she brings luxury custom homes to life with precision, creativity, and care. She oversees every aspect of the home-building process — from budgeting and design to construction and move-in — ensuring each client’s vision becomes a reality.

A licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Tampa Bay, Ashley combines her expertise in the local market with her extensive background in finance and project management, guiding clients through every step of building their dream home.

Before founding Southerlyn Homes, Ashley spent over a decade in corporate leadership at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Citi Private Bank, honing skills in negotiation, financial oversight, and operational excellence. She is passionate about design, craftsmanship, and building strong partnerships with clients, architects, designers, and industry collaborators.

Corey Appleman, Construction Manager

Corey Appleman brings more than 10 years of hands-on experience in both residential and commercial construction. He has managed everything from single-family homes to multifamily townhome communities, consistently focusing on organization, quality, and clear communication. Corey holds a degree in Science, Technology, and Society from Farmingdale State College and has completed a continuing education course in construction management from Columbia University.

Known for being dependable and easy to work with, he thrives in fast-paced environments and takes pride in building strong relationships while delivering projects that exceed expectations. Outside of work, Corey enjoys life with his wife, their dog, and bearded dragon. He also loves playing guitar and spending time at the beautiful beaches of the Tampa Bay.

Our Partners

Where We Build

Tampa Bay, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Florida.

Mural on a brick building depicting the City of Tampa with palm trees and landmarks.
Beach scene with a rainbow over a pier, lined with palm trees and structures, people walking on the sand, and birds flying in the sky.
Modern waterfront building with palm trees, people walking along a pier, and clear blue sky.

Residents of the Tampa Bay area enjoy both a laid-back beach lifestyle and the amenities of a large metropolitan area, including professional sports teams, museums, and an array of entertainment and dining options.

The Tampa Bay metro area is a sprawling and diverse region that encompasses three cities – Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater – each with a distinct personality.

The region is experiencing unprecedented growth and offers many new build sites in each community.

Learn more

Custom designs and warm, personalized attention.

We have loved working with Brett and Ashley on multiple home renovation projects! We have found them to be nothing but professional, responsive/communicative, creative, high-quality professionals and just all around nice people. Highly recommend!

-Stephanie D.