The SC Team is made up of individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences, committed to the common cause of Building Better. Our clients and partners benefit from the full weight of the SC Team behind every project as solutions are crafted through intense collaboration. This approach is only possible through establishing personal, in addition to professional bonds amongst the team. We are proud to staff our team with family-first individuals, community leaders, volunteers, youth coaches, educators, and mentors.

Matt Vetter, President

Matt leads the SC Team with a fierce entrepreneurial spirit and passion for both solving problems and attacking opportunities. After starting his construction career in the field as a residential carpenter and foreman, Matt forged a path into commercial construction and land development. Prior to becoming President of Schafer Construction, Matt held management roles in field supervision, project management, and pre-construction. As President, Matt remains the “tip of the spear,” crafting project strategies, leading entitlements, and fostering relationships amongst clients, subcontractors, architects, municipalities, engineers, and all other project partners.

In 2024, Matt and his Wife Kerry launched the Build Better Foundation, a non-profit focused on promoting the construction trades to young talent in our region and providing scholarships to jump-start their careers. Matt is a community leader in Livingston County and beyond, where he and Kerry raise their three sons. Matt sits on the Board of LACASA Center, which provides critical services and shelter to victims of domestic abuse in the region. Matt also joined a construction podcast in 2021, where he promotes the industry that he loves and shares insights to construction talent looking to grow professionally.

Jason Lipa, Vice President

Jason lives and breathes all aspects of planning, design, and construction. In his role as Vice President, Jason oversees the day-to-day operations of Schafer’s Pre-Construction and Construction teams. Jason has over 20-years of Design-Build experience, managing all phases of a projects from entitlements, to subcontractor management, through building commissioning. Jason combines a disciplined process-based approach with his skills in communication, collaboration, and relationship building to manage and outperform expectations throughout a project.

Jason grew up in the thumb area of Michigan and currently resides in Lapeer County with his wife, son, and daughter. Jason is an avid outdoorsman and sportsman and frequently visits the family cabin in the Upper Peninsula with his family, where they enjoy ORV riding, snowmobiling, and hiking. Jason prides himself on passing on his passion for the great outdoors to his young children.

Steve Schimpke, Vice President

Steve’s focus is on leading a project through the incubation stage by providing solutions for a wide variety of real estate and construction needs. With a diverse background, creative approach, and deep pool of relationships, Steve’s role as Vice President is to maximize the value that Schafer brings to any project. With no “one size fits all” approach, Steve brings the ability to apply the right structure and strategy to a given opportunity. Whether its sourcing land for a specific user’s need or assembling the right team of experts for a unique project, Steve’s expertise and passion is in setting a project up for long-term success and creating life-long relationships along the way.

Steve is an active member of the Michigan chapter of the Urban Land Institute, is a graduate of their Larson Leadership Academy and sits on the Innovation and Technology Product Council. Steve calls Oakland County home with his wife and three daughters and is active throughout the community, including serving as Head Coach for the Mercy High School Varsity Girls Lacrosse team.

Deanna Bader,
Pre-Construction Manager

Schafer creates most of its value for its clients and partners prior to putting the first shovel in the ground. Deanna leads Schafer’s Pre-Construction team and applies a balance of art and science to every project. Whether it’s mapping out and executing entitlements or managing the design process to adhere to budget and scope expectations, Deanna applies Schafer’s proven process, a transparent approach to communication, and a passion for solving problems to every project. Deanna brings a high level of detail orientation and diverse professional experience to Schafer, including previous roles in residential construction, banking, and real estate title services.

Deanna is an avid outdoorswoman and leads the Schafer Team weekly hike program at the Huron Meadows Metropark. Deanna resides in Lapeer County, where she helps promote the Build Better Foundation to area schools and is an avid and proud cat owner!