Hopewell undergoes changes in leadership
The company behind southeast Calgary’s award-winning Mahogany has announced new leadership roles for three people, including the person heading community development.
Hopewell Residential unveiled Brett Friesen as its vice-president, community development. Friesen has been with the company since 2005, most recently serving as general manager of community development.
Friesen’s promotion joins Jill MacKenzie’s move to chief financial officer and Manoj Patil to vicepresident and corporate controller, finance.
MacKenzie’s new role includes overseeing the finance, sales, information systems, design and purchasing departments, the company says. Her work will also include financial planning, corporate strategy, risk management, financing and cash flows.
Patil will work with financial institutions and investors on financial management and oversight for Hopewell’s activities, the company says.
He also has a primary role leading financial strategy in the areas of land and housing construction, such as facilitating the company’s expansion into new markets and supporting land acquisitions.
Hopewell has separate divisions for home building and masterplanning new communities.
It’s most recent communities are the southeast Calgary communities of Mahogany and Copperfield, and Heron Pointe at Reunion in Airdrie.
“There is no one element that makes a successful community, but the sum of all the parts,” Friesen says.
“At Hopewell we know that if we can create amenities, gathering places, a full complement of services and a selection of attractive housing options for a price people can afford, we can be successful.
“However, the real trick is trying to create the social fabric in the community that brings people together and makes them proud to live where they do.”
In his new capacity, Friesen heads up the development of communities by Hopewell, along with planning applications and land acquisitions in Calgary, Edmonton and other markets.
His role also includes managing lot inventories and future land supply, and overseeing management of on-site construction and community maintenance within the company’s developments.