Podcast

In this episode of The Pre-Con Recon Podcast, Justin sits down with Devynn Tavares, Operational Leader at The Cora Group, to discuss how her early customer-service experience shaped the way she approaches people and operations today, and why some of her biggest career opportunities came from leaders who trusted her before she had the traditional credentials or title to justify that trust.

A major theme of the conversation is human connection. Devynn argues that whether you're managing a home or an office building, people ultimately want to feel heard and treated like humans, not products or revenue. She believes the industry's increasing reliance on remote communication has weakened some of those relationships, and that companies risk losing talent and tenant loyalty when they lose the human element.

She also explains her approach to entering a new leadership role: rather than immediately imposing changes, she spent her first two weeks meeting individually with everyone in the organization. Those conversations helped her identify where responsibilities had become unclear as the company grew. From there, she rebuilt roles around accountability, ownership and clarity.

For Devynn, great operations ultimately come down to two words: freedom and trust. When employees know what they own and have the freedom to make decisions, accountability becomes empowering rather than intimidating.

Looking ahead, Devynn believes the future of commercial real estate will require companies to rethink the balance between remote work, office culture, and human interaction. Her larger personal mission is to help people feel confident walking into rooms where they don't think they belong and to help make the workplace stronger, clearer and more human.

In this episode of The Pre-Con Recon Podcast, Justin Frenette sits down with Stephanie Lane, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Geranium, to discuss what it really takes to build enduring communities and enduring brands. With more than 20 years in the industry, Stephanie shares how an unexpected opportunity launched her career, why hospitality shaped her leadership style, and how collaboration across departments leads to better developments.

The conversation explores how today's challenging market is forcing developers to rethink sales, marketing, websites, AI adoption, and customer experience. Stephanie also shares lessons from leading Geranium's corporate rebrand, winning a national marketing award, mentoring future leaders, and why doing the right thing—even when no one sees it—is ultimately what builds lasting trust.

In this episode of The Pre-Con Recon Podcast, Justin Frenette speaks with Brian DosRamos, President of Ever After Homes, a third-generation builder based in Burlington, Ontario. Brian shares the journey of growing up in a construction family and how those early experiences shaped his philosophy toward craftsmanship, responsibility, and the deeper meaning of building homes for families.

Throughout the conversation, Brian explains how Ever After Homes evolved from spec builds and early development projects into a refined custom home design-build practice. He discusses the importance of transparency with clients, building strong relationships, and designing homes that truly reflect how people live. For Brian, the process of building isn’t just about delivering a product — it’s about creating spaces where families grow, memories are made, and generations stay connected.

The discussion also explores the future of the company as Brian and his team begin laying the groundwork for development projects that focus on thoughtful community planning and environmentally responsible construction. With insights into the realities of custom home building, client relationships, and long-term industry vision, this episode offers a compelling look at what it means to build homes that genuinely matter.

In this episode of Pre-Con Recon, Justin Frenette speaks with Warren Saunders, Sales and Marketing Manager at Cardel Homes. Warren shares his journey through the homebuilding industry, from architectural design to sales leadership, and explains how those experiences shaped the way he approaches branding, technology, and customer experience in real estate.

In this episode of the Pre-Con Recon Podcast, Justin Frenette sits down with Rachel Galway, Sales & Marketing Manager at DBS Developments and one of the most experienced boots-on-the-ground professionals in Canadian pre-construction real estate.

With nearly 16 years in the industry and close to 7,000 homes sold, Rachel offers an unfiltered look at what it actually takes to survive and stay relevant in today’s pre-con market. From the shift away from frenzy-driven sales to a more thoughtful, lifestyle-led approach, she breaks down why storytelling matters more than hard closes, how floor plans and livability were overlooked during the boom, and why reputation and purchaser experience have become the real currency of success.

The conversation explores how experience, adaptability, and long-term thinking are now essential in a more disciplined market. Rachel shares hard-earned insights on mentorship, decision-making, and what separates resilient operators from those who relied on momentum alone, offering practical perspective for developers, brokers, and marketers navigating pre-con today.

In this episode of the Pre-Con Recon Podcast, Justin Frenette sits down with Ryan Funt, VP of Marketing at Fitzrovia, to unpack how brand, storytelling, and operations intersect to create lasting value in the pre-construction and rental housing market.

Ryan shares how a background in operations shaped his marketing philosophy—bridging creativity with execution—and why every brand decision must start with the end user experience in mind. The conversation dives into how hospitality principles can elevate residential development, the shift toward lifestyle-driven branding, and what it takes to deliver consistency across every customer touchpoint.

From the evolution of rental marketing to the growing role of technology, data, and AI, Ryan offers a practical look at how developers can adapt to a new era of resident expectations, transparency, and brand accountability.

In this episode of the Pre-Con Recon Podcast, Justin Frenette speaks with Tim Ng, founder and CEO of Blackline and ADHOC Studio. Tim shares how his early exposure to real estate inspired a lifelong mission to bring technology and innovation to the industry.

Together, Justin and Tim explore the lessons learned from scaling two companies, breaking into new markets like Miami, and navigating the differences between condo sales and purpose-built rentals. Tim also highlights what’s working in today’s sales and marketing playbooks, how AI is set to unlock predictive insights, and why brand, reputation, and personalization have become essential for developers to succeed in today’s buyer-first market.

In this episode, Justin Frenette speaks with Darcy Rai, Founder and President of Real Property Data, about how unit-level data is reshaping pre-construction development. Darcy shares how his background as a development manager revealed the critical role of real-time data in acquisition, design, and marketing decisions.

He shares how Real Property Data goes beyond self-reported numbers, collecting real-time, unit-level data to give an unbiased view of the market. The conversation covers why unit mix and sizing now make or break projects, how incentives are becoming central to lease-ups, and why architects should shift from purely design efficiency to a business-driven lens.

Darcy also highlights how oversupply in urban rentals is putting pressure on leasing strategies, why curated amenities are the new differentiator, and how clean datasets will unlock the true potential of AI in real estate decision-making.

In this episode, Justin Frenette welcomes Rachel Rehkopf, Senior Manager of Sales & Marketing at Neatt Communities, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of pre-construction real estate. From her accidental start in the industry to launching Milton's transformative StationSide project, Rachel shares how she puts people at the heart of everything—from marketing strategy to site design.

She breaks down how Neatt is rethinking affordability, investing in long-term community value, and engaging brokers as a core part of their sales funnel. Her approach centers on devloping more than buildings—she’s creating communities people will still be proud to live in (and talk about) decades from now.

In this episode of the Pre-Con Recon podcast, Justin Frenette speaks with Theresa Dillon, the marketing director at Fabric Living. They discuss Theresa's journey in real estate, the importance of mentorship, and the unique approach Fabric Living takes in developing communities. The conversation covers innovative projects like Assembly, the significance of branding in a competitive market, and the challenges and opportunities faced in the current real estate landscape. They also explore the role of technology and AI in marketing, the importance of community engagement, and the value of networking for career success.

Justin Frenette speaks with Alan Klippenstein, Vice President of Real Estate Development at Schinkel Properties. They discuss Alan's journey into real estate development, the challenges of navigating city politics, and the importance of affordable housing. Alan shares insights on exciting projects, market dynamics in Manitoba, and the trends in secondary markets. The conversation also touches on the significance of branding and marketing in real estate, the need for less government involvement, and advice for aspiring developers.

In this episode of the Pre-Con Recon podcast, host Justin Frenette speaks with Carrie Curtis, Vice President of Ontario and Western Canada at Killam Apartment REIT. They chat about her path from engineering to real estate, Killam’s diverse portfolio, and key insights into Canada’s rental market—including regulations, amenity trends, and the rise of secondary markets.