The Verandah Team
We’re driven by a mission to solve the housing attainability and environmental crisis. We bring together a diverse and experienced team to make it happen.
Murray Guy
Murray joined the team to demonstrate that we can Get Green Done on a much larger scale. With over 30 years of project management experience, Murray has the skills to manage the team to achieve challenging economic, social and sustainable business goals. Murray specializes in utilizing lean construction to deliver NetZero projects. This expertise was developed while working on 100+ sustainable projects including two Living Building Challenge projects.
Suellen Beaty
Suellen joined the team as an expert in creating highly engaged work cultures and developing healthy community. She will be contributing to planning for a community where people find well-being. Suellen’s industry transforming work as CEO of the Sherbrooke Community Center and as the Regional Coordinator for the Eden Alternative (R) will be integrated into the fabric of healthy living at the Verandah. With a Masters in Nursing and extensive experience with the Eden philosophy, Suellen will take the lead in developing the Verandah Health and Happiness System.
Kelley Moore
Kelley is a registered professional planner who has expertise in bridging government and community needs to deliver high quality programs and services. Kelly will work to expedite development permits and liaise with municipalities that are ready to take the leap to a new model of sustainable development. With experience as an Executive Director in Provincial Government and expertise in neighborhood planning, Kelly will play a key role in building relationships with strategic partners.
Victor Bargen
Victor is a partner in a Manitoba boutique law firm. He was a former social worker in the Northwest Territories and practices in the area of Civil Litigation and Corporate/Commercial Law. Victor works on the Indigenous Project Group and is taking a lead role in getting the Verandah Partnership Agreement in place.
Tom Archibald
Tom is a senior health care executive and thought leader in whole health and helping people be well. His role will be to design health and health care operational systems for the Verandah. The Verandah will provide supports and services that engage people to live well for life, with assistance when required. Tom has lead a variety of Vice President roles in a $1.6B health care operation with over 12,000 employees. Technology will be fully leveraged to create state of the art health for all targeted Verandah developments.
Jeffrey L. Brown
Jeff is the Managing Partner of a Manitoba boutique law firm. He is working with Victor on getting the Verandah Partnership Agreement in place. Jeff will also be involved in getting the land deals and other Verandah contracts in place. Jeff has a wide variety of business, real estate and Indigenous law experience that will enable him to put the deals in place needed to move the Verandah project forward.
Ron Cruikshank
Ron has developed his project expertise while managing over $500M of University of Saskatchewan projects, as an owner of a mid-sized construction company and currently as a partner at Shift2Lean where he provides lean project coaching. Ron’s role is to manage the implementation of the Verandah Playbook to get the right work done to target cost and schedule. This involves implementing the Last Planner System and Target Value Delivery.
Jackie Schemenauer
Jackie is an experienced educator and Sustainability Coordinator with a Masters of Education in Sustainability. Jackie will take a lead role in implementing the sustainability strategic plan, assisting with project certification, and infusing best practices of sustainability into the day to day operations of the Verandah developments. Jackie will be using her knowledge and experience with Educating for Sustainability and Place & Nature Based Curriculum to design the Verandah school pedagogy.
Lenore Swystun
Lenore is responsible for collaborative engagement and for managing the Comprehensive Development Review (CDR) process. She is a Registered Professional Planner, with a Master of Arts focused on regional diversification, planning, equity, and governance. Lenore brings an executive suite of comprehensive regional and community planning and related planning governance and engagement competencies to this project. She is recognized for working collaboratively with various orders of government and administrations to ensure successful navigation of innovative planning frameworks and development outcomes.
Douglas Richardson
Doug is currently acting as a special advisor to VIDO - Canada’s Centre for Pandemic Research. Doug is responsible for connecting the Verandah group with the right people so we can be successful in taking action on climate change. Doug, named as one of the 10 most Influential People in the Prairies, will be key in creating alignment with Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments.
Charles Olfert
Charles is the project architect. His many years of experience delivering facilities for health care, education, recreation and residential accommodations have prepared Charles to develop a world class, intergenerational, sustainable community design. He is a member of the RAIC age friendly task force, the RHFAC (Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification) program and is an adjudicator for the age-well Catalyst Funding initiative. Along with his passion for community based intergenerational initiatives, this experience will help him apply universal design principles to the Verandah that will facilitate a wide range of ability levels and assist with age in place requirements.
Jason Tratch
Jason is the resident water and sewage expert that can support agriculture models that integrate with adjacent urban centers. He has extensive experience in water and wastewater infrastructure including international experience and partnerships within diverse cultures and organizations. Jason has a BSc and BSA degree and numerous certifications including PAg, PMP, ISO 9000, Six Sigma, Wastewater and Market Entry. As a leader in providing Plug N’ Play wastewater systems, the Verandah Group can now offer an off-grid, decentralized solution for a sustainable neighborhood.
James Leier
James is a highly regarded champion of positive development. James is taking a lead role in defining the business model and launching the company. James’s experience in finance, marketing, governance and performance management will ensure the Verandah team stay on track to meet challenging performance targets.
Samantha Mark
Samantha will take a lead role in working with municipalities, regions, Indigenous communities and organizations to facilitate the Comprehensive Development Review process. As a valued member of the team, Samantha will be able to pull the necessary resources needed to manage multiple locations. Samantha graduated with an honours degree from the Regional and Urban Planning Program at the University of Saskatchewan and has her full designation with the Canadian Institute of Planners.
Taylor Guy
Taylor is a home builder that utilizes lean construction practices to deliver NetZero homes that compete in the traditional real estate market. Taylor has Passive House experience, has been trained in the Last Planner System and uses Target Cost Design to deliver best value, high performance solutions. Taylor has experience in prefab construction and will take an active role in developing the Verandah NetZero production system.
Why are we so passionate about The Verandah?
“To fulfill a critical need to deliver a new housing environment that has significant financial and ecological benefits.” —James
“I am passionate about creating "Healthy Communities" and opportunities for people to experience well being.” — Suellen
“The opportunity to demonstrate that we can build healthy NetZero communities that are economically viable using lean construction practices.” — Murray
Our current systems are not working for all people and our planet. We need regenerative communities like the Verandah project to become the new norm.”” —Jackie
"To be part of building the future of healthy communities for everyone!” — Tom
“The Verandah initiative represents the future in terms of a healthy, sustainable multi-generational community. Its the kind of place I would want to call home.” — Charles
“Sustainability, innovation, and great teams make for a great transformative project. It's an honour to be part of this team.” — Lenore
“In the 21st Century, to be part of a team who can help provide homes and a community for people - in an sustainable and accessible way is very gratifying.” — Kelley
“It's an honour to be part of a team who is looking to make a positive difference in people's lives. This is the future for the future.” — Samantha
“To create a community where people have a sense of place and belonging and living within the earth's capacity is front of mind.” — Ron