MEET THE TEAM

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TEAM TO BUILD YOUR CUSTOM HOME

Building a custom home is while both exciting and complex is also deeply personal. You don’t just want to hire a construction company; you want to hire a team you can trust, with a knowledgeable builder that you can be honest with and that will give you an honest reply while ensuring that you have the best people working for you and your family.
Koru’s attentive management, in-house highly skilled carpentry team and handpicked sub-contractors are experts in building code, building practices and process. Collectively we pursue to build the highest standard of home for you. Your needs will be reflected in everything from the design to the way we handle logistics.
Koru Construction takes no shortcuts and ensures every home is built to enjoy for generations.

CHRIS O'LEARY

General Manager

I am the founder and General Manager of Koru Construction. I began my construction career in Auckland, New Zealand but the travel bug was biting me hard so I succumbed and spent a few years exploring our beautiful planet. I arrived in Canada with my snowboard in tow in 2007. After a couple of seasons of carefree shredding I eventually made my way to Vancouver where I immersed myself back into residential construction and met a lovely local gal who I am lucky enough to now call my wife and mother of my two beautiful kids. After several years as a foreman in single family builds and renovations I became a site superintendent for a local residential developer. After completing a low rise apartment complex, I stepped out on my own and started Koru Construction in 2012.

The focus of Koru Construction has always been quality, sustainability and customer service. The first couple of years I undertook many smaller remodels but soon began to venture into larger scale renovations, which required an increasingly larger team and a multitude of coordination. Koru is 10 years young this year and I am proud to see how we have grown and of the team we have built to sustain it. Since 2018 we have been focused on building new homes, large scale renovations and additions.

We endeavour to build homes that are not only beautiful and functional, but that are also energy efficient and environmentally conscious. We are lucky to be involved in one of the most progressive building industries in the world and I am constantly educating myself with the newest technology and techniques so we can produce a superior and more sustainable product for all our clients to live in and love. I am well-versed in the BC Step Code, Net Zero and Passive House building technologies and practices and am keen to embark on the adventure with all who wish to climb to those higher levels.

Outside of work (if that’s ‘a thing’ when you own your own business) I thoroughly enjoy spending time with my family and getting outdoors to explore all that this wonderful world has to offer. I hope to spark the wanderlust fire in my own children one day, and maybe pass on the family business when the time is right.

ALI DUTTON

Project Coordinator, Financial Controller

Back in 2017, upon returning from 5 years living abroad in the UK, Ali showed up on Koru Construction's doorstep with a bright gleam in her eye and 15+ years’ experience in customer service and office administration.

Ali is thrilled to have helped create and establish processes in office administration, project coordination, bookkeeping, and project management, and works towards keeping the company running smoothly on the back-end so the site team can do their thing.

Outside of work Ali enjoys traveling (abroad & locally) with her husband, twin girls and yellow Labrador.

DAMON BAILEY

Site Manager, Red Seal Carpenter

Damon joined Koru Construction in 2018 when he emigrated from South Africa.

With a bachelor’s degree in Sports Science and Biokinetics, carpentry may seem like a drastic career change, though to him it has been a natural progression. With boots on the ground at Koru, he has juggled the on-site experience with in-school studies at BCIT to learn as much as he could, as quick as he could. Damon has successfully completed the ITA Apprenticeship in Carpentry and is a qualified Red Seal Carpenter; showing us all it can be done within 4 years; and maybe showing off a little by coming out victorious during a world-wide pandemic.

So far in his carpentry career, Damon has proven his skillset time and time again in all areas he’s been challenged with, though finds himself particularly drawn to finishing. The attention to detail and imagination required in finish carpentry is like soothing jazz music to his ears and is where he loves to be.

Outside of work, Damon enjoys spending time with his wife exploring the trails on their MTB's, rivers in their kayaks as well as playing some golf and tennis. He is always keen to try out something new and see if there is a hidden talent inside him; maybe a future Olympic curler in there…?

MITCHELL LYLES

Site Manager, Red Seal Carpenter

Mitch joined Koru in 2019 looking for a new challenge, and to fulfil his dream to one day build his own house. In just a few short years with the company, he has accumulated experience in nearly every facet of carpentry. He has recently successfully completed his 4th year Carpentry course and achieved his coveted Red Seal.

On the job, Mitch has proven himself to be a quick learner with a strong attention to detail. He brings a keen eye for quality workmanship and strives to leave a lasting positive impression. If you see him on your site, trust you are in good hands with this one!

Outside of work, you can find Mitch exploring the mountains. From skiing to climbing, hiking and riding bikes. Also, as practitioner of Jiu Jitsu and weightlifting, Mitch finds his own inner peace in training the mind and body.