From NASA Intern to Investment Banking to Custom Homebuilding: Benjamin Lavine ('98)

From NASA intern to investment banking to custom homebuilding.In this episode of SMU Stories, we interview Benjamin Lavine (BBA ’98, Cox School of Business), owner of Stone Acorn Builders, a Texas-based custom homebuilding firm.Lavine shares his path from finance major and NASA intern to management consulting and investment banking, and why he ultimately left the corporate sector to join his sister’s residential construction startup. He explains how financial modeling, cash flow discipline, and risk management helped formalize the business and support long-term growth.Founded in Houston, Stone Acorn Builders shifted from speculative to custom homebuilding during the 2007–2008 financial crisis. Under Lavine’s leadership, the firm expanded to Austin in 2019 and Dallas in 2025. The discussion also compares regulatory environments and market dynamics across Texas.Topics include: • Why Benjamin chose SMU for its small student to faculty ratio and corporate access • Applying finance principles to the construction industry • Managing profitability and growth through market cycles • Lessons from major career pivots#SMUStories #SMU #CoxSchool #Alumni #Entrepreneurship #Finance #HomeBuilding