Vice-Chair: Derek Saracini - Bradstone/StoneRox

About Me: I have been a part of the construction industry for seven years and love the fast pace and always changing environment it entails.

Favourite GTA Neighbourhood: With the constant travel my career requires I have realized I am not a city guy and prefer to live in the suburbs. I’ve always loved the feeling of Bloor West Village as well as the Port Credit area. They are both vibrant areas of the GTA without being largely populated.

What makes you passionate about having a career in the industry? I enjoy helping my clients with their new builds or renovation projects and ensuring they are ecstatic with the final look of their home.

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Greg Gilbert - Director of Planning & Design, Trolleybus Urban Development

About Me:
Grew up in small town in Southern Ontario but have made my way to the big city. Active in many ways both in athletics and local community involvement. Cities are a vehicle for individuals to achieve great things and become whoever they want to be. We need to make cities better and that starts with affordability and making it easier and cheaper bringing supply to the market. Everyone has a role to play in this and I support BILD’s continued initiatives in making this a reality.

Favourite Neighbourhood in the GTA: Old Town/St. Lawrence Market

What makes you passionate about having a career in the industry?
Creating communities that can adapt to the evolving needs and members of our society. Pushing the status quo in urban planning, design and land development to put us in line of what it means to be a truly “Global City”.

Jessica Lacey - Partner, MNP

About Me:
I moved from Thunder Bay to GTA in 2013. Still exploring Toronto and surrounding areas!

Favorite neighborhood in the GTA?
Distillery District over the winter holidays and Trinity-Bellwoods in the summer.

What makes you passionate about having a career in the industry?
I am driven when creating value and enjoy that this industry so clearly demonstrates the value created in its communities, and has a strong life and energy from those who get involved.

Christina Cagna - Project Manager, Infill Development at Brookfield Residential

About Me
I have been in the industry for five years and enjoy the stressful yet rewarding aspect of what it brings. Growing up in the suburbs, I can appreciate the different built forms and lifestyle changes in city developments. I love continuously learning and the fact every project is unique in its own way.

Favorite neighborhood in the GTA? Stouffville.

What makes you passionate about having a career in the industry?
Working in this industry provides me with the opportunity to participate in developing communities. Being part of the process from start to finish allows me to really be an active contributor in creating an environment for positive experiences. My passion comes from being able to create spaces for families to grow, develop and reach milestones together.

Spencer Feeley - Land Development Coordinator, Feeley Group developments

Ryan Li - Development Associate, Minto Communities

About Me:
I am a licensed lawyer and a real estate development professional, currently working at Minto Communities. I have a passion for all things real estate and law and also love to travel, eat, and experience new things/adventures.

Favourite neighborhood in the GTA:
A favourite pastime of mine is having a cold beer at Trinity Bellwoods in the summer. In the winter, you can probably catch me at the bars or restaurants around Ossington.

What makes you passionate about having a career in the industry:
I love that development is so multi-faceted and that no two days are the same. The fact that I get to wear so many different hats (from legals, lobbying, or finance, to construction or marketing, design, and sales) makes this job very exciting while always providing me with an opportunity to learn and grow. It’s also great to be able to see tangible results as you take a project from conception all the way through the construction process..

CHRIS DYNES - MANAGER, DEVELOPMENT, CAPITAL DEVELOPMENTS

Daniela Tirone - Digital Marketing Manager, Empire Communities

Favourite neighbourhood in the GTA: Queen Street West

What makes you passionate about having a career in the industry?
I am proud to be part of an exciting and thriving industry that has the passion to continuously improve and innovate, and peers who are driven to collaborate and challenge the norm.

Joelle Goodwin - Vice President, Project Development, My Design Studio

Annie Pham - Sales Manager, In2ition Realty

Favorite neighborhood in the GTA: 
My favorite neighborhood is the one that I’ve lived in my entire life – North York/Downsview. It is perfectly situated central to everything with easy access to all highways. Not only is the location ideal for getting anywhere in the GTA, I feel like this neighborhood is home to all – it’s very diverse, ethnic wise. Which of course makes for great dining options! It gives you a city feel without being downtown - you still have all the right amenities at your fingertips.

What makes you passionate about having a career in the industry?
I am passionate about my career in real estate because housing overall is an important issue and essential to everyone. We all need a place to live; a place to call home. Its allows me to help people with one of life’s major milestones – providing professional insight in a market that is constantly changing.

Julian Scaini - Project Manager, Sun-Brite

Favorite neighborhood in the GTA: Unionville

What makes you passionate about having a career in the industry?
I am passionate about my career in the industry because your home is something so personal. It is the place where memories are made, families gather, events are held and moments cherished. To be a part of that in any way is so rewarding and so exciting to me. It’s a different kind of excitement when people are talking about, designing or even thinking about their home. I am honored to be a part of that.

Ariana Stultz - New Media Director,Terra Media Design

Alex Alpoim - Project Coordinator, Land Development, Tribute Communities

Favourite Neighbourhood in the GTA:
I might be a bit bias but my favourite neighbourhood is the one I grew up in – Little Portugal. Little Portugal is a juxtaposition of quiet residential streets with lively avenues. The neighbourhood has great access to transit, shopping, restaurants and bars. I enjoy walking the streets of Little of Portugal at any time of the day and grabbing a drink at The Drake Hotel, The Lockhart, or Mahjong Bar, and grabbing a bite to eat at Paris Paris, Moliceiro Restaurant, or Imanishi Japanese Kitchen.

What makes you passionate about having a career in the industry?
I am passionate about using planning and development as tools for creating positive change in our communities.

Christine Kellowan - Associate, Goldman Sloan Nash & Haber LLP

About Me:
I am an associate lawyer at Goldman Sloan Nash and Haber LLP, practicing civil litigation with an emphasis on construction liens, Tarion warranty- matters, commercial litigation and employment matters.
I represents various actors in the construction industry, including owners, general contractors, builders, developers and subtrades. I have appeared before various levels of court and the Builders Arbitration Forum (Tarion). I also teache the Construction Law course at George Brown College.

Aaron Kurts - Associate, Dentons

About Me:
I grew up in the east end and lived in Montreal and Winnipeg before ultimately returning to Toronto to practice land use planning and development law. Montreal and Winnipeg are great cities but, for me, Toronto takes the cake. My experience trying to find a place to live upon my return to the City, however, was not easy, to say the least, and I’m sure that there are countless similar (or worse) experiences.

Favourite Neighbourhood in the GTA:
If I had to pick one: Leslieville, but also the east end in general. Riverdale Park, Duckworth’s Fish and Chips, the Real Jerk, White Lily Diner, the Fox, and so many other great places that I don’t have space to name. We’re spoiled over there.

What makes you passionate about having a career in the industry?
I’m passionate about our industry because I’ve felt, first hand, the impact of our lack of housing supply, and I’m happy to spend my career helping to create homes for those who want to share in the neighbourhoods that I know make this region great.

Vincent Mizzi - Construction Supervisor, Signature Communities

Favourite area in the GTA:

My favourite area in the GTA would have to be Park Lawn and Lake Shore due to the diverse community culture, scenic landscape and the quick commute to the downtown core.

What makes you passionate about the industry?

As a young industry leader I take pride in what I do and strive every day to build safe, sustainable and quality communities where people can one day call home.

Alessandro Raimondo - Senior Project Engineer, Land Development, WSP Canada

About Me:
It was just a matter of “where do I fit in?” I had the knack and interest for the maths and sciences, so engineering became an obvious fit for me. Engineering puts our scientific knowledge to practical use, and it always amazes me what can be done when people put their mind to it. The mind can truly be stronger than brute strength, and our advancement of the industrial revolution is a testament to this. As the famous Archimedes quote goes, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world”.

 Favorite neighbourhood in the GTA:
Yonge and Lawrence neighborhood; a great corridor with the perfect amount of “busy” in my eyes. Lots of great restaurants and shops.

 What makes me passionate about having a career in the industry?
Growing up, I knew I wanted to be a part of the construction industry – to me, growing our community through land development meant creating a physical and social environment in our city for the next famous actor, singer or scientist to grow up in one day! 

Nicole Segal - EIT Land Development, C.F. Crozier & Associates

About Me:
My name is Nicole and I support the Land Development industry from a civil engineering perspective. It is my first year on the yBILD committee and I am excited to continue learning and to support the industry.

Favourite Neighbourhood in the GTA:
I am new to Toronto so my favorite neighborhood in the GTA is my home base, Liberty Village. This is mostly because it’s the only one I know, but also...BRUNCH!

What makes you passionate about having a career in the industry?
I am passionate about having a career in the industry because I have the opportunity to use my skills for something tangible that supports the communities we all live, work, and play in.