The Executive Team

Driving a great company forward takes a plethora of different talents, focuses, strengths, and passions.. Ranging from industry experts with decades in the business to leaders with experience from a vast collection of industries coming together with laser focus on growth for the company and community at large. Get to know our leaders…

Avi Amir

– Chairman

With a formal education in civil engineering, Avi realized early in his career that he preferred to be on site overseeing the execution of a project, rather than in the office doing the design work. He enjoyed interacting with customers and garnered a great deal of satisfaction from building their dream homes. So, it’s no surprise that with the 1978 incorporation of Avi Construction (now Homes by Avi), his goal was to grow a customer-focused business that always delivers what it promises. Avi believes that a home should perform and last regardless of the warranty period, and he’s proud of the reputation that Homes by Avi has built. Avi is also a strong advocate for helping the less fortunate and providing educational opportunities for middle and high school kids on the merits of the construction industry.

Charron Ungar

– CEO

After graduating with a Bachelor of Art History from the University of Calgary in 1997, he immediately began as an estimator in his family’s home building company, Homes by Avi. He then moved to lead product development, initiate company growth into Edmonton and Austin, Texas and created the Avi Definitions Selections Centre. In 2000, he steered the development of Homes by Avi’s multi-family division, Avi Urban, which has since evolved into one of the fastest growing multi-family developers in Alberta. In mid-2018, Charron was appointed as CEO for Homes by Avi Group of Companies.

Charron is active in the community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Better Business Bureau, Southern Alberta and Kootenays, for over ten years. In 2013, he acted as president of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, Calgary Region, previously volunteering and serving on the technical committee. Charron has evolved Avi Urban to earning its place as a design focused market leader, receiving recognition through numerous awards, which include Multi-Family Builder of the Year 2014 and 2015.

Michele Ward

– Chief Financial Officer

Leveraging a strong foundation of business and finance expertise, Michele joined Homes by Avi as Chief Financial Officer in 2012. Gaining a first-hand introduction to the world of business through her family owned general contracting business paired with a commerce degree from the University of Alberta, a CA designation, and 17 years of experience in public practice, Michele departed from her role as partner at MNP LLP to return back to her roots; family-owned and operated business.

Keeping the businesses core values in sight, Michele continually analyzes the risks and rewards of long-term business initiatives and assures a balance through the ever-changing industry of homebuilding.

Alice Mateyko

– President, Homes by Avi, Alberta (Single Family Division) and Avi Homes, Texas

With diplomas in Mechanical and Production Engineering, Alice began her career in the oil and gas sectors. Joining Homes by Avi in 1995 in sales management, Alice gained invaluable experience in the areas of sales, marketing, land acquisition, banking, and government relations which led to her being appointed President of the company’s single family operations for Alberta in 2012. Throughout her career, Alice has received numerous honours and awards, including Marketing Person of the Year for Calgary and Sales Associate of the Year at the National Sales and Marketing (SAM) Awards.

Most recently, Alice has taken on the role of President of Avi Homes, Texas. Undoubtedly, Alice will continue to be recognized as a leader in the industry with a true passion for leadership and a desire to be a positive force in the homebuilding community.

Naum Shteinbah

– Senior Vice President Acquisitions and Financing

Although Naum was approached by Avi Amir in 1997, prior commitments prevented him from joining the homebuilder until 2010, when he started at Homes by Avi. Having been active in the development and construction industries both in Alberta and abroad since 1988, Naum has worked with builders, developers, municipal and urban development engineering firms, and city governments. He’s recognized as a professional engineer in Alberta and B.C. and holds MBAs from both Queen’s University and Cornell. Prior to joining Homes by Avi, Naum worked as a GM for Streetside Development Corp. Naum also sat on Subdivision Development Appeal Board with the City of Calgary and CHBA-Calgary’s Government Affairs Committee. At Homes by Avi, he splits his time between sourcing new business opportunities and new operating capital for both the single and multi-family divisions.

Darren Soltes

– Senior Vice President, Canada President, Blue Jean Property Management

Darren Soltes is an entrepreneurial business leader who is passionate about building substantial business opportunities with great people and solid values. After joining Homes by Avi full time in 1997, Darren has embarked on a career that included the Corporation’s development of the current Information Technology Systems, Human Resource practice, and various Business Development opportunities.

In 2010, Darren and his family moved to Austin, Texas, to assist in growing the US division of the company. In 2018, Darren returned to Canada to focus on the improvement of corporate division structure and the various offered services. Continuing with his love for new opportunities, he is currently leading the Blue Jean Property Management team and the development of this new business.

Doug Beach

–VP, Single Family Alberta

With a background in both business and engineering, Doug began his career in the building industry in 1995. He joined Homes by Avi in 2004, starting in construction and working in a number of roles before being named GM. Doug has a great deal of passion for home building and has been involved in a number of industry initiatives, including the creation and development of the Residential Site Manager Training Program. He takes great pride in delivering exemplary customer service and is particularly proud that Homes by Avi has received the Consumer Choice Award for the last eight years along with the 2017 Builder of Choice and Best Customer Experience Award.

Victor Mutambo

- Vice President, Avi Urban and Avi Construction Management

With a Master of Science (Engineering) and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Calgary, Victor gained over 22 years of real estate development, construction and engineering experience in various locations Europe and Canada. Upon deciding to put down roots, Victor Joined Homes by Avi in 2005. He quickly cemented himself within the company and has been instrumental in growing the multifamily side of the business (Avi Urban), with over 2,500 units completed, and in helping Avi Urban to become one of Calgary’s premier multifamily developers. Most recently, Victor is focused on further developing the company through Avi Construction Management.

Victor also lends his talents and knowledge to BILD Calgary Region’s Condo/Multifamily Committee, and has been involved in process improvement initiatives that mutually benefit multifamily builders and the City of Calgary. He is also a PMI certified Project Manager and a member of the Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC).

Monte Kendall

- Vice Chairman

After a long-standing association with the building industry, Monte joined Homes by Avi in 1999 as the VP of Finance. In 2006, he was named the company’s CFO, and six short years later, he became CEO. In June 2018, he handed over the day-to-day CEO duties and took the position of Vice Chairman. What Monte enjoys most about working in homebuilding is its unpredictability, but he’s quick to point out that despite the industry’s many ups and downs, you can always rely on its spirit of generosity. As past President of the Calgary Home Builders’ Foundation, he was in constant awe of the depth and means by which industry members gave back. Monte takes great pride in his participation in both the growth of Homes by Avi over the last 20 years and in positioning the company – through the development of relationships – to ensure its continued growth. As well, he played an important role in the recent restructuring of the company that has set it on a path to greater efficiency and relevance.