Chestnut Group Inc. was founded by our President and CEO, Roger Delagrange.  Roger first honed his leadership skills as CEO and President of Colonial Homes in Fort Wayne, Indiana from 1975 through 1995.  He was in charge of such issues as sales and marketing of lots and floor plans, developing floor plans, and deciding on building sites and routing plans.  He also served as head of customer relations, ensuring that he never lost touch with his clients’ aspirations along the way.  In 1984, he was named President of the Home Builders Association of Fort Wayne and continued to serve on its Board of Directors through 1985.  Additionally, Roger was a recipient of the coveted National Association of Home Builders “Life Spike” Award. 

In 1986, Roger developed his first residential community, Pine Hollow.  He would go on to develop numerous high end residential communities during his tenure at Colonial Homes, including Cherry Hill (with 500 home sites) and Autumn Ridge (with 275 home sites).  He also initiated the construction of Kensington Downs residential community, which he later completed with his newly founded company, Chestnut Group Inc.  Roger also found time to tackle the prestigious world of fairways and greens during this period by building Autumn Ridge Golf Club and Cherry Hill Golf Club, both 4 Star Golf Digest Award winning, semi-private golf facilities.

With the inception of Chestnut Group Inc. in 1997, Roger was ready to move on to even bolder projects.  He developed Chestnut Hills residential community (with 500 home sites), which was the chosen development for the Parade of Homes not once, but twice – in 1997 and 1999.  He received additional accolades when another of his developments, Lakes of Brooks Crossing, was selected for this honor by the Parade of Homes in 2000.  More recently, he developed the Canyon Run residential community featuring a serene, wooded environment with lake settings sure to win the hearts of nature lovers.   

Roger was one of the originators of the “Villaminium Concept” in Allen Co, Indiana, allowing home owners to enjoy a previously unavailable freedom from outdoor maintenance.  One of his first forays into this new approach to home ownership was his West Autumn development, which combined both villas and traditional housing.  This idea was later perfected with the development of such projects as Autumn Run – a private, secluded villaminium community with only 21 home sites – created in the fall of 2004.  Today, Roger continues to lead Chestnut Group Inc. into the future based on his proven formula for success, visionary leadership, and strong moral values.