National Building Solutions

Mr Rick McCarthy - National Solutions Group - Managing Director Rick McCarthy has been involved in the new home construction and residential development industries for over twenty five years. Starting his career with AV Jennings Homes in 1984, he quickly became one of the company’s leading home consultants in Australia. In 1986 he left AV Jennings and joined GJ Gardner Homes moving into management responsible for staff training and product development. After again being promoted this time to Queensland Marketing Manager, he was instrumental in establishing GJ Gardner Homes as one of Queensland’s largest project builders with regional offices through ought Qld. Since then GJ Gardner Homes have gone on to become one of Australia’s most successful building franchises having completed over 25,000 homes. After leaving GJ Gardner Homes, he acted as a consultant to several project builders in South East Qld. Returning to work with AV Jennings Homes in 2003 as a member of the Queensland State Executive with responsibility for all display centres and homes as well as the sale of land, completed homes and house and land packages throughout Queensland. After relocating back to the Sunshine Coast in 2006, Rick joined forces with Rod Blandford to establish what has now become NATIONAL SOLUTIONS GROUP. Rick believes that the home building industry has become far too complicated and confusing for home buyers and investors and that by drawing on the depth of knowledge and experience of the team at National Solutions Group, clients can avoid the stress and dramas normally associated with building a new home. Mr Rod Blandford - National Solutions Group - Group Operations Manager Rod Blandford has the building industry in his blood. He was born & bred on the Sunshine Coast into a family of builders with his father & uncle running their successful building company on the Coast from the early 1950s. He was on building sites from the age of 10 gaining some hard earned pocket money on weekends and school holidays. It was always going to be a natural progression into the building industry. At the end of 1974 when Rod finished high school in Nambour, he was indentured to McKinnon & Blandford to start his Carpentry Apprenticeship and his life in the building industry. One of the first valuable experiences Rod gained as a young apprentice was going to Darwin to help clean up & rebuild the town after it was devastated by Cyclone Tracy. He returned to the Sunshine Coast during 1975 where he worked for a further 5 years, successfully completing his apprenticeship and passing with honours. When Rod learnt his trade, it was in the days when they did everything themselves. This included all their own footings & concrete slabs, drainage and septic systems, steel work, gyprocking, painting, tiling and metal roof sheeting as well as every aspect of timberwork. This has given Rod a broad & invaluable knowledge of many individual trades. He & his wife returned to Darwin in 1981 where he ran his own successful building company for 8 years, earning industry awards for the work he did in residential housing. Rod also did work for the Northern Territory Conservation Commission helping set up the now famous Litchfield National Park. The beginning of the 1990’s saw Rod return to the Sunshine Coast. From this time on Rod put his tools aside and for the next 11 years he worked with local building company P.J. Burns to establish and manage a project housing division. Rod’s last project with P.J. Burns was overseeing and managing the rebuild of the burnt out heritage listed Childers Backpackers Hostel in 2003. Rod then returned to his roots developing several housing projects for himself & clients in various locations around the Sunshine Coast. In 2005 he began work with Rick McCarthy establishing a property division securing land on the coast & in Brisbane to provide complete packages for clients with whom they had been associated for many years. In 2006 Rick & Rod joined together to establish what has now become National Building Solutions. Mr. Sam Abbey - National Solutions Group - General Manager Brisbane The Brisbane General Manager for National Solutions Group (NSG). Sam is in charge of the Brisbane Division of NSG. The Brisbane office is situated in the heart of the CBD, allowing private clients easy access to one of the best wealth educational and diversified financial services group in Australia. Over the past eight years, Sam has founded two successful companies in the consumer industry. These companies focus on providing everyday Australians with world leading products that offer value for money and affordability. Sam joined NSG in 2010. His passion is in educating people about investing for their future, whilst making it simple to understand and easy to achieve. He brings a wealth of knowledge and capability through his own education and experiences. Sam is committed to continuous learning, so that he can provide only the best information and outcomes for his client’s wealth creation strategies. Sam believes that applied knowledge is the difference between financial success and failure! Anyone can be successful in their own right if they know how to. Sam is dedicated in providing clients with the knowledge and the know how to achieve their financial goals. Madeline Horne As you proceed towards home ownership I may be able to help out with some of the experience I have gained in over 30 years of homeownership. I bought my first property in 1977 – it was a small one bedroom unit for the princely sum of $17,200. It seems cheap NOW but at the time I was earning $38.10 per week as a Dental Nurse. I sold this unit in 1984 for $39,800 and bought a block of Land in Mooloolaba for $25,000 and built a house for around $30,000. At the time I was a casually employed at the Mooloolaba Hotel and had a second job 5 mornings per week at a Vet Surgery in Nambour. I then filled the houses spare bedrooms with friends who helped pay it off for me. I have continued to buy property and my Partner and I currently have 5 properties, we have just signed a contract after an offer from Brisbane City Council to purchase one of our Brisbane Properties that will leave us debt free with 4 properties – 3 of which produce rental income. This situation did not happen overnight but rather it was a well thought out plan that we have actively worked at for many years. Along the way I worked in the Building Industry as Sales Manager with AVJennings one of Australia s largest builders and in my role acquired land, selected and sited homes to suit, set up land contracts with Soil and topographical survey testing, organized finance, color selections, and guided many happy new home buyers through to ‘Move In’ day. I have also worked for other Building and Investment companies and worked in all areas of the Property Market and I also hold a current Real Estate License. It can be daunting when you do build or purchase a home for the first time but with the decades of experience that this team offers it can be made a reality. Diane Beveridge Accounts Manager Diane has been with NSG since the company’s inception. She has been responsible for implementing and streamlining the companies accounting system and customer service program. Often called on to work in all different aspects of the organisation, Diane is always on her toes keeping up to date. From a strong business background, Diane is ensures the NSG organisation as a whole runs like clockwork. Liaising with Builders and Clients alike, Diane is confident, articulate and pays great attention to detail. Keeping up to date with our builders ensuring the comply with our strict Quality Assurance, is key to our business and Diane does this with ease. All clients find Diane approachable and efficient in any queries they have. She is a asset to the organisation. Anna Mokany Marketing Executive Anna is the Marketing executive for NSG, and is also Sam Abbeys executive assistant. Anna’s background is in strong customer focused roles, while also being an avid professional artist in her own right. Sam and Anna work closely together as a team assisting people in realizing their dreams of creating investment portfolios. Anna is passionate about NSG and loves working with all the members of the team. Bright and bubbly, Anna always has a smile on her face that transcends through her position. Anna is a strong believer in exceptional customer service and will always go the extra mile to assist clients and colleagues alike.