About Me

Hey, I’m Jay. I live here in Whisper Lake with my girlfriend of 17 years, Kelly (you probably know her as the head of the Social Committee), and our 16-year-old rescue dog, Jessie. I was born and raised in Queens, NY, moved to Florida in 1999, and came up to North Carolina a few years ago.

We ended up in Sapphire thanks to Kelly’s brother, who was familiar with the area and had bought a home in Holly Forest around the time we were starting to look. That led us to explore nearby communities, and once we found out Whisper Lake was the only neighborhood with fiber-optic internet, it was a done deal.

I spoke with Les Alderman early on in our search, and he really helped guide us in what to look for. He even tried to sell us a few foreclosed lots, but they didn’t quite fit what we had in mind. I never got the chance to meet Les in person, but I’ve heard nothing but great stories. He and Duncan, the founder and Chair of the Hemlock Committee, were the driving force behind getting fiber to Whisper Lake, which ultimately made our move possible. I wish we’d had the chance to be neighbors.

Our home was finished in June 2023, and we’ve been full-time residents ever since. We love the quiet roads, the private lake, the wildlife, and most of all, the people. One of my favorite parts of the day is looking out my office window and seeing neighbors out for walks. I’ll admit I’m usually jealous they’re outside while I’m stuck behind a screen.

What I Do

I’m a Product Manager at a company called ModMed. We build software for medical practices across a range of specialties. You’ve probably interacted with it without even realizing it. If you’ve scheduled an appointment, updated your info, or viewed your medical records online, there’s a good chance it was through our platform.

Highlands Dermatology, the local clinic a lot of folks here use, happens to be one of our customers, which always feels like a cool full-circle moment.