Photos by Laurelyn Harrig
About Us
Established in 2018, Matter Development emerged with a vision to stand apart as a unique real estate development firm, challenging conventions and fostering innovation.
The Matter Development Team
Photos by Laurelyn Harrig
Aaron Matter
Managing Director & Founder
Aaron is the Founder & Managing Director of Wauwatosa, WI-based Matter Development. Aaron founded Matter Development in 2017, leveraging more than a decade of experience developing and operating senior housing with some of the largest regional and national providers in the country – Vi Living and Capri Senior Communities. Aaron brings a unique perspective to development with a background in architecture and finance. In addition to developing and operating senior living, Aaron acts as an advisor and board member for disability and housing services organizations.
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Wayne Rappold
Partner
With over 25 years of experience acting in capacities as intermediary and principal, Wayne has obtained a diverse background in real estate development and investments. Projects include complex property assemblages, repurposing of historic buildings, and redevelopment projects such as the four-million square foot former GM plant in Janesville and of a one-half City-block in downtown Milwaukee. In 2023, he joined his client and friend as Partner in Matter Development to enhance the firm’s senior housing and multifamily development activities and diversify its holdings in the commercial sectors.
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Eric Pillard
DEVELOPMENT analyst
Eric is a development analyst that’s been with Matter since 2022. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he sharpened his analytical and financial skills. Eric doubles as our in-house property manager for the 2185 on Wisconsin Townhomes. Eric prides himself on having a strong work ethic and is always eager to learn more.
Rachael joined the Matter team in 2024 with hands-on experience in healthcare real estate development and leasing. In her previous role, she supported the marketing, leasing, design, and construction coordination for medical office building tenant buildouts across the country. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition to her core responsibilities, Rachael serves as the in-house leasing associate for 2185 on Wisconsin Townhomes.
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joel lablonde
head of capital markets & investments
Joel brings over two decades of real estate finance and operations experience spanning the full lifecycle of commercial and multifamily properties. Early in his career, he gained hands-on experience with condominium conversions before moving into acquisitions of multifamily and hospitality assets. He spent more than a decade deepening his expertise in commercial real estate, first specializing in financing and refinancing for office, medical office, industrial, and retail properties, then leading direct-to-buyer building sales for the second half of his tenure. In 2026, he joined Matter Development, where he plays an integral role in driving the firm's development and investment strategy.
Photos by Laurelyn Harrig
rachael riedijk
executive assistant
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Andy Lange
President and Founder, Koru Health
Andy Lange is the founder and president of Koru Health, the main operations partner with Matter Development. Andy has been in the senior living world for over 20 Years. Andy is a strong operations professional skilled in Budgeting, Team Building, Sales and Business Development, Public Speaking, Management, and Program Development.
Our Mission
Matter Development believes the role of developers is to identify opportunities for hidden value in their community that others may not see. We are first and foremost an opportunistic development firm, but we especially focus on investments within the senior living and multifamily asset classes.
With experience driving growth for some of the largest and most respected senior living developer-operators in the country, and a career-long focus on senior living, we have overseen the development and operation of complex projects with sophisticated financial and ownership structures, and complex operational models.
Our Vision
We love what we do, and it shows in the quality of our work. We believe in uncompromising quality, and selecting projects that serve the community through a greater purpose. We bring a unique perspective to the table, and our collaborative approach to development leads to stronger partnerships, unique market-based solutions, and better projects.
Matter Development chooses projects that make a positive impact. We target that opportunity through a collaborative development process, thoughtful and intentional design, and an insistence on quality.
Matter Development specializes in:
Ground-up and at-risk development
Multifamily
Senior Living
Mixed-Use
Value add acquisition opportunities
Redevelopment and re positioning opportunities
Consulting Services
Nonprofit housing consulting for social services organizations