About Us

Brooks Harris and Russ Doyle are both second-generation homebuilders born and raised in Birmingham. Their fathers each taught them the business from a young age, and oftentimes the lessons came with a few blisters and a great deal of sweat. However, Brooks and Russ also learned that building a home is not just about the "sticks and bricks". It involves developing a relationship with the customer that begins during the planning/design phase and lasts all the way through the warranty period. Harris Doyle Homes is the combined effort of two experienced builders who know that homebuilding is far more than just building a home.

Brooks Harris, President

Brooks graduated from Indian Springs School in 1994. He then went on to the University of Alabama where he majored in marketing and graduated cum laude in 1998. A couple of short years later, Brooks moved to Nashville where he earned his MBA from Vanderbilt University in 2002, focusing on both finance and marketing. This degree afforded Brooks the opportunity to work for the global investment banking firm Lehman Brothers in both New York City and Nashville. While this was a great experience, homebuilding was in his blood. Ultimately, Brooks couldn?t resist the call to move back home to Birmingham to enter the business for himself. Brooks has now been building new homes on his own since 2004 and became President of the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders in 2012.

Russ Doyle, President

Russ graduated from Chelsea High School in 1999. He then went to Auburn University and participated in the prestigious Building Science program. After graduating in 2003, Russ decided to put his education to work and came home to Birmingham to be a superintendent for his father's custom homebuilding company, DKM Homes, Inc. In 2005, Russ took his knowledge and experience and started his own building company, Fireside Homes. Russ has served a 3-year term on the Board of Directors for the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders as well as the Parade of Homes Committee and Land Developers Council.

After meeting in 2005 while building in the Highland Lakes neighborhood near Chelsea, Brooks and Russ began working on projects together in Pelham. It didn't take long for the two builders to develop a strong working relationship. Brooks and Russ ultimately decided to capitalize on each other's strengths and join forces to create Harris Doyle Homes in 2008. Since that time, the company has grown each year despite an unprecedented economic downturn that forced thousands of home building companies out of business. They have accomplished this by focusing on customers' needs, nurturing relationships and consistently providing a high level of service after the sale. Harris Doyle Homes understands that building a new home is more than just a financial investment; it's an expression of personality and a vehicle for facilitating people's unique lifestyles. It's also a place people rely on to relax, entertain and even raise a family. Simply put, Harris Doyle Homes builds homes with generations of experience and an eye for the future.

Alice Allen, Interior Designer

Alice Allen hails from the land of horses, basketball and bourbon, where she graduated with a degree in Interior Design from Western Kentucky University.  She is happily married to her husband Chase.  They have a daughter, Ann Adele, and a schnauzer named Winston.  When she’s not creating fun, livable spaces, she enjoys gardening and spending time on Smith Lake with her family.

Melissa Houston, Interior Designer

Melissa is a native of Pinson, Al. She is currently in school at Southern Institute of Interior Design, and will complete her BS in Interior Design in 2014. When not working on projects or working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Landon. 

Robert Fike, Home Builder

Robert is a native of Montgomery, attended Auburn University of Montgomery and has been a home builder in the area for 15 years. He and his wife Shelley lead an active lifestyle raising three sons and a daughter: twin boys, Alex and Austin (20), Anne Katherine (12) and Carson (10). Additionally, Robert is active in the Montgomery community serving as president for the Montgomery American Softball league and a deacon at East Lake Community Church.

Peyton Rogers – Project Manager and HD Homes Poet Laureate    

“I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten; but with every home I build, it is a reflection of me. All the moments spent laughing and the milestones accomplished for the families that live within a home I built. Those moments will never be forgotten and in a small way, I will never be forgotten.”
From “The Notebook”

Incidentally, Peyton hails from Prattville, Alabama

Teb Berryhill – Project Manager

Teb Berryhill originally hails from Adamsville, Alabama but currently resides in Jasper.

He has been married almost 10 years to his wife Mary and has a 4 year old son named Saylor. He is also expecting a daughter in late June.  Teb has been with Harris Doyle since October of 2012 and is the project manager in The Preserve and Wisteria subdivisions.

Lonnie Dunn – Project Manager

Lonnie Dunn is from Birmingham, Alabama but now lives in Moody, Alabama.  He has three daughters the ages of 19, 12 & 6.  He has been with Harris Doyle Homes since August of 2012 and is the Project Manager of three subdivisions -- Alden Glen in Moody, Longmeadow and Trussville Springs in Trussville.

Julie Brown – Plan Designer

Julie Brown was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama where she graduated from Grissom High School. She then attended the University of Alabama where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design. During her last year of college, Julie worked as an intern for the interior design team of JH Partners in Huntsville, where she gained further experience in plan design and drafting. She has been a Hoover resident since 2004 when she began work as an assistant designer for local home plan designer Paul Gilbert. Julie joined the Harris Doyle team in 2012 as a plan designer, where striving to keep home design beautiful, functional, efficient, innovative, and comfortable is always key.

Danny Smelcer – Plan Designer

Danny Smelcer is the plan designer at Harris & Doyle. He has been working in the residential design field for 10 years designing many houses throughout the Birmingham area. He lives in Hoover with his wife Jessica and their daughter Jillian.

Katie Lanzit – Controller       

Katie Lanzit, Controller, has worked for Harris Doyle Homes since January 2008 when the company sold it’s first four homes.  A 1998 graduate of Auburn University Montgomery, Katie moved to Birmingham in December of 1999.  She comes from a military family with family located all over the world including China, Australia, Finland as well as the United States.  She has many hobbies which include hiking, swimming, triathlons, and reading books, which she loves to share with her daughter and friends.