donor Stories

The Founding Builders Leadership Circle is building Promising Futures™ for SAIT students.

They’re best known for building houses, but one dedicated team has committed to building futures too.

The Founding Builders Leadership Circle is composed of a select group of leaders in Calgary’s home building industry, who have each donated $1 million in their quest to change the perception of an often misunderstood industry.

“What we’re trying to do is expose younger generations – and their parents – to home building as a viable career option,” says Jay Westman, Chairman and CEO of Jayman MasterBUILT Inc., who with SAIT, helped bring five other well-established home builders into the Leadership Circle.

The members of the Founding Builders Leadership Circle include:

• Avi Amir, President, Homes by Avi Inc.
• Brookfield Residential Properties Inc. 
• Wayne Chiu, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Trico Homes
• Scott Haggins, President, Cedarglen Homes
• QUALICO^®
• Tom Mauro, Founder and Chairman, Albi Homes
• Al Morrison, Chairman, Morrison Homes
• Stepper Custom Homes Inc.
• Shane Homes Ltd.
• Jay Westman, Chairman and CEO, Jayman MasterBUILT^® 

The members of the Founding Builders Leadership Circle aim to raise their industry’s profile through their investment in the state-of-the-art interactive Trades and Technology Complex (TTC), the largest and most ambitious expansion in the history of SAIT that will create 3,600 more student spaces. 

“We’re so excited about the new complex at SAIT and where it’s going to take the industry,” says Westman. “Students will be able to immediately have an idea of all the different career options available to them in the construction trades. Whether it’s electrical, plumbing, heating, construction, management or supervision, they’ll be able to see and experience all the different areas to make an informed choice.”