People

Something that has never been done before? We’re building award-winning homes and businesses in their respective communities, and helping people live better while doing it.

Blair founded Alair in 2007 and provides strategic guidance and support for Alair.

Blair McDaniel

Founder & ChAIRMAN

Blair McDaniel

Founder & Chairman

Blair founded Alair in 2007 and provides strategic guidance and support for Alair.

Rob Cecil

President & Chief Executive Officer

Rob Cecil is the Chief Executive Officer of Alair Homes. As CEO, Rob is responsible for setting the strategic direction of Alair and driving the company’s continued growth and success. Rob first joined Alair’s senior leadership team in March 2013 as the Chief Development Officer and has also served as the president of Alair since September 2020.

Rob has dedicated much of his career to growth phase companies. As an advisor, trainer, and coach, Rob has provided consulting services and direction in a variety of industries in over a dozen countries. Rob’s expertise spans brand development, market expansion modeling, executive training and mentoring, capital acquisition, sales and product development, as well as compliance and regulatory affairs.

In addition to his role at Alair Homes, Rob has been actively involved with organizations such as Holibray, serving as a director for the private development group focused on investment acquisition and new venture development. He has also held positions on advisory boards, including IzzitGreen and AMRC Group, where he contributed to brand development, growth consulting, and coaching.

Rob has served as the CEO of Environmental Commerce eXchange (ECX), a role in which he played a pivotal part in the company’s acquisition by Vertuous, d/b/a Izzit Green. His tenure at ECX involved working with a diverse range of organizations, both domestic and international, seeking sustainability-inspired supply chain sourcing and investment capital for clean tech and carbon-free projects globally. Additionally, Rob served as the CEO of Qvault.

Under Rob’s strategic leadership, Alair has emerged as the largest and fastest-growing premium construction management franchise in North America, setting an industry standard for consistent practices and innovative builds.

Katrina McLaughlan

Chief Financial Officer

Katrina has been Chief Financial Officer at Alair since 2017, overseeing the company’s financial operations and supporting both franchisees and the franchisor with strategic financial guidance. A CPA and CMA designated in 2011, she holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Vancouver Island University. Katrina began her career in public accounting at Tyce Carle-Theisson (TCT), where she developed expertise working with construction clients. This experience provided her with insight into the financial challenges contractors face, particularly the lack of real-time financial reporting.

Joining Alair in 2012 as a controller, Katrina was instrumental in establishing streamlined accounting processes and real-time reporting systems that have become essential to the growth of Alair’s network. As CFO, she collaborates closely with the senior leadership team to ensure the company’s financial stability and scalability.

Known for her attention to detail and problem-solving skills, Katrina is passionate about building a world-class accounting service at Alair. Outside of work, she is an active sports mom, and she enjoys cooking, hiking, travel, and dreaming up home improvement projects with her family. Katrina’s favorite part of working at Alair is the people, praising the company’s supportive culture and collaborative environment.

Duane Johns

Chief Operating Officer

As COO of Alair, Duane oversees operations, implements strategic plans that align with the company’s vision, and ensures the entire organization is communicating and functioning at a high level. He works closely with the executive team and department leaders on research and development and systems optimization.

Duane joined Alair in 2016 as a Builder/Partner and became a Regional Partner in 2017. He was very instrumental in incorporating EOS into the Alair culture.

Duane entered the construction industry over 30 years ago working on oceanfront estates in The Hamptons on Long Island, New York. In 1996 he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and started a general contracting business.

As a builder, remodeler, coach, consultant, and COO, he is dedicated to elevating professionalism in the construction industry by promoting continuous learning, strategic planning, collaboration with like minded peers and the elimination of egos. He believes that if you fail to do these things the industry will reduce you to a commodity and leave you alone on an island.

When he is not talking shop you will most likely find him outdoors. He and his family love to travel, hike, explore, and discover new places and new things.

Stu Hopewell

Chief Compliance Officer

Construction has been a part of Stu’s life from an early age, and he has always been driven to improve the industry. His commitment is reflected in his active involvement with industry associations like the Canadian Home Builders Association and the VI Construction Association, as well as his support of several non-profit organizations focused on community development and housing.

Since 2011, Stu has devoted his expertise to Alair Homes, initially as the Owner/Operator of the company’s first location. In 2016, he took on the role of Chief Operations Officer, where he successfully supported all Alair locations during the company’s rapid expansion across Canada and the U.S. In 2024, Stu transitioned to Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), where he continues to play a vital role in ensuring the health, security, and operational excellence of Alair.

His primary focus is on the learning and development of Alair’s internal team, ensuring strict adherence to the company’s proven policies and processes. Stu also collaborates closely with the legal team to keep Alair at the forefront of industry standards, safeguarding the interests of partners, employees, suppliers, and subcontractors. Through his leadership, Stu helps Alair consistently deliver beautifully crafted, high-quality homes for its most important clients.

Natalie Harper

Director of Communications

As the Director of Communications at Alair, Natalie connects Alair with homeowners across North America through integrated brand campaigns and community engagement. In addition to her role as director, Natalie is also the managing editor of Alair Magazine, which showcases home and lifestyle trends.

In 2011, Natalie founded Harper PR, an independent marketing communications consultancy that serves as one of Western Canada’s most sought-after consultancies by global brands. Harper PR has secured media coverage with major outlets such as TSN, CTV, Global National, and more. Natalie has led PR for Food Banks Canada, initiated the Stocking Stuffers for Seniors program in collaboration with London Drugs and Operation Friendship Seniors Society, and championed the #BuildingARTyeg initiative, creating the #BuildingARTyeg award in partnership with IDEA.

Over her 10-year tenure at Alair, Natalie has championed an engaging, people-to-people public relations strategy that catapulted Alair’s Edmonton locations to the forefront of Alberta’s top builders. Now, she continues to expand that successful strategy across Alair, empowering builders at 100+ locations to commit to meaningful change in their communities. Driven by this motivation to give back, Natalie spearheaded Alair Cares, Alair’s community give-back program that has contributed charitable donations and services across the U.S. and Canada.

Natalie has been recognized as a finalist for the prestigious Notable Award in 2016, the Best in Business #Yeggie Award category in 2013, and the Deloitte Women of Influence award in Edmonton in 2010.

In 2022, Natalie received Alair’s highest honor at the Alair International Conference Awards: the Jamie Affleck Legacy Award.

Rachel Peace

Internal HR

Hailing from the U.K., Rachel Peace brings an impressive track record in human resources spanning national and multinational organizations over two decades. Her journey led her to the vibrant shores of Canada in 2015, where she embarked on a new chapter with Alair.

As an adept HR Manager, Rachel holds a prestigious CPHR (Chartered Professionals in Human Resources) designation. Her passion for nurturing human potential and fostering organizational culture is evident through her extensive portfolio, encompassing recruitment, onboarding, performance management, learning and development, compensation and benefits, change management, and employee engagement.
Rachel’s contributions have extended to strategic resourcing, where she played an integral role in negotiating and implementing Preferred Supplier Agreements with recruitment agencies across the UK. Her portfolio boasts an impressive involvement in business acquisitions and transitions, such as relocating a team of 200 staff between major cities.

At Alair, Rachel has been instrumental in recalibrating Home Office goal-setting structures, devising a competency-driven Growth Framework, launching a dedicated Wellness Team, and orchestrating the recruitment of pivotal roles. Rachel has also orchestrated the hiring of 93 staff members within a nine-month period during a phase of exponential growth.

Amidst the demands of HR leadership, Rachel treasures her family time by visiting the oceans and forests where they live. She also loves to cheer on her daughter on the soccer field (or footie, as she would call it).

Jeff Daley

Director of Training & Education

Meet Jeff Daley, a seasoned professional with a diverse background and extensive experience across various industries. Since July 2019, Jeff has served as the Director of Training & Education for Alair’s home office. Jeff has been instrumental in enhancing the organization’s training and education initiatives.

Jeff joined the home office after working as a project manager in one of the Nanaimo franchise offices. Since then, he has honed his expertise in management by playing a pivotal role in refining and optimizing Alair’s processes and software.

As a director, Jeff brings a multifaceted approach to his role in training and education, introducing principles that he learned during years of experience in sales, marketing, customer service, and financial services.

Jeff is originally from Toronto, Canada. In 2017, he moved to Nanaimo; today, he enjoys everything that beautiful British Columbia has to offer.

Shane Duff

Director of Partner Services

As the Director of Market Development, Shane Duff has been a guiding force at Alair since 2016. With a wealth of experience as an entrepreneur, executive, and business coach, Shane’s insights have been instrumental for both Alair partners and external companies. His advisory role spans ownership structures, process enhancement, system development, succession planning, and exit strategies. Leveraging eight years of in-depth consultations with thousands of residential general contractor (GC) firms, Shane brings a distinctive depth of experience to Alair, offering valuable insights into effective strategies and pitfalls to avoid. Since joining Alair, his expertise has propelled the integration of over 40 builders into Alair’s network, cementing his role as a pivotal driver of growth. For Shane, the allure of Alair lies in collaborating with some of the brightest and most caring entrepreneurs in North America. He is grateful to work in an industry that has tremendous impact on the communities where we operate. In his free time, you can find Shane saving the coastal wetlands of Southwest Florida. Shane is the president of Cypress Cove Landkeepers (CCL) and oversees the Wildlife Monitoring program at the Gore Nature Education Center.

Burc Gunes

Director of Information Systems

As the Director of Information Services for Alair, Burc Gunes is passionate about the synergy between technology and people. Burc’s journey into computer engineering began in the 5th grade when he first played with a Commodore 64, and since then, he has built a strong foundation in computer engineering, specializing in software.

Prior to becoming a member of the Alair team, Burc accumulated a spectrum of experiences spanning different industries. His journey encompassed roles in industrial automation at G.E., contributions to financial software such as QuickBooks Canadian and UK editions at Intuit, and active participation in the regulatory oversight of games, alcohol, and cannabis in Alberta while at AGLC.

One of the standout moments in Burc’s career was his integral involvement in the cannabis legalization process in Alberta. He led the project responsible for collecting sales and inventory data from cannabis retail stores, delivering crucial metrics to Health Canada. This innovative approach gained nationwide attention and was later adopted by other regulatory agencies.

Burc is a Certified Scrum Master, Advanced Certified Scrum Developer, and Certified Scrum Product Owner. Looking forward, he aims to earn his P.Eng. (Professional Engineer) designation.

Beyond the professional sphere, he finds solace and adventure underwater, having logged over 800 hours of scuba diving. On land, he enjoys running and biking, often accompanied by his son.

Robert Kerr

Director of Procurement

With a relentless drive for excellence, Robert Kerr brings extensive expertise to his role as Director of Procurement at Alair Homes. A highly accomplished Senior Level Professional, Robert has a solid track record of delivering complex solutions aligned with organizational vision. His career spans a decade, encompassing key positions in sales operations, vendor management, strategic planning, and procurement. Robert’s exceptional negotiation skills, coupled with his ability to foster fruitful vendor relationships, have consistently improved profit margins and upheld trust in essential partnerships. Adept at budgeting, forecasting, and retail strategies, Robert’s leadership extends to cultivating professional partnerships with stakeholders at all levels. He embodies values of integrity, responsibility, and precision, ensuring a commitment to achieving corporate objectives.

Adam McCaa

Director of Sales

Adam McCaa is a well-respected international sales and business growth expert with over 25 years of experience in building and scaling businesses. Adam has had the privilege of training and working with some of the most successful business minds on the planet today and has brought those insights and expertise to Alair.

Over the past 10 years, Adam has been responsible for helping to develop and grow the brand into the largest custom home builder and remodeler in North America. Today, Adam works directly with the partners at Alair to help them master the skills to best market, sell and grow their business.



Adam’s impressive track record stems from his vast knowledge and experience of developing creative marketing and sales strategies, building effective systems and processes and implementing the best practices that consistently generate optimum performance.

ABOUT HOME OFFICE

Albeit Headquartered in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, our Home Office team is comprised of specialists and experts located across North America.

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