Alair is proud of, and indebted to, the accomplishments and leadership of the women in our organization.
Join us, as we celebrate Alair’s strong contingent of women in Georgia. These women, highlighted below, are leading, planning, managing, coordinating, and supporting construction work in the field and in the office across Greater Atlanta and Savannah. Because of the commitment of these women to their local teams, and because of their contributions at both the regional and organizational level, Georgia is on the move towards becoming one of top performing regions in the Alair North American network.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, women make up 47% of all employed individuals in the current U.S. labor pool, yet only 10.8% of the construction labor pool is represented by women. Today, more than anything, we want to shine a spotlight on the fact that Alair, and a strong team of women in Georgia, is bucking the trend and showing the world that there is plenty of opportunity in construction, for both men and women.
In Georgia, women make up 45% of the Alair workforce. They are owners and leaders. They are actively managing projects, job sites and trade partner relationships. They are taking charge, with client-focused design and engineering solutions in the early stages of project planning. They are managing multi-million-dollar books of work. They are leaders among their peers, and more.
Alair Buckhead:
Annie Martinsen – Director of Operations
Annie’s 25+ years’ experience managing companies in the design and construction industry ranges from architecture to interior design to furniture manufacturing and to construction firms. Annie understands the business like few others do.
She has great relationships with clients, vendors, and subcontractors alike. When times are tough, her smile is infectious and can solve most problems on its own. As you will quickly discover, Annie is meticulously detail-oriented and loves to see projects from their infancy through completion.
Annie is mother to three, an avid soccer fan, loves to read, explore Piedmont Park and The Beltline. In her spare time, Annie is a gifted napper.
Lauren Wickstead – Partner, Project Manager
Lauren Wickstead joined Alair Buckhead as Partner, leading Client-side operations after 25 years in marketing, helping B2B tech companies grow and thrive. She brings her strategic knowledge and process expertise to the world of design and home building—something she’s always been passionate about.
As both a longtime community member and a former client, Lauren offers a unique perspective that helps Alair continue delivering exceptional, high-touch experiences for every client.
Lisa Waltuck – Project Manager
Lisa earned her BS in Construction Management from Kennesaw State and plays a key role as Project Manager working across projects to ensure all are delivered in a timely, organized manner.
She started as a Construction Management intern for Alair Buckhead in the Summer of 2018. Lisa worked as an assistant Project Manager for two and a half years before taking on more of a leadership role. Lisa shines as the organizational lynchpin as your new home or business comes to life.
Lisa really enjoys the design-build process and watching clients go from an understanding of the plans to the first time they walk through the finished product.
Meagan Ludwig – Interior Designer, Project Manager
Meagan Ludwig brings her Interior Design expertise to the Alair team acting as both designer and project manager. Meagan loves working with clients to bring the vision for their home to life. She has a depth of experience in design working with both large and small design firms beginning in Park City before moving to Atlanta. She earned her bachelor’s in business from the University of Georgia and her master’s in interior design from Savannah College of Art and Design.
Meagan understands the complexity of the design build process and leads projects with the client’s best interest at heart.
Michelle Treacy – Architect, Project Manager
Michelle Treacy is an Architect and Project Manager at Alair Buckhead, bringing a strong design background and a passion for high-performance homes to every project. A licensed architect with NCARB certification, she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Architecture from Georgia Tech.
With experience in architectural design, project management, and client relations, Michelle blends technical expertise with a hands-on approach to create thoughtfully designed, high-quality homes. At Alair Buckhead, she’s all about making the building process smooth and enjoyable while bringing each client’s vision to life.
Alair Decatur:
Heather Shuster – Partner
When you partner with Alair Decatur, you’ll benefit from the expertise of Heather Shuster, who has recently taken on the title of Partner after 20 plus years of dedicated service in the industry. Heather’s extensive experience in home building and renovation, combined with her unique background in art and history, allows her to bring a fresh perspective to each project.
As a Georgia resident since infancy, Heather has deep roots in the community and a long-standing commitment to delivering exceptional results. Her passion for transforming homes is matched by her meticulous attention to detail, ensuring your project is in the hands of a seasoned professional who understands every nuance of the process.
Amanda Harris – Project Manager
Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, Amanda Harris grew up in a family of passionate Auburn fans, with her grandparents having worked at the university. There she earned her degree in Industrial Design and has built a diverse career of operations and design management across industries like retail, architectural stained glass and tech.
Amanda’s journey has taken her from the Cayman Islands to San Francisco, and finally to Decatur, where she joined Alair Homes in 2022. She thrives on collaborating with market and trade partners to meticulously plan each project.
In her downtime, Amanda enjoys baking, photography, and exploring new culinary experiences.
Heidi Parlato – Project Manager
Heidi Parlato’s journey began in the heart of Indiana, where she grew up as an adventurous, outdoor-loving child. Drawn to the sea, she joined the U.S. Coast Guard, where she developed a deep love for maritime life and gained valuable experience in search and rescue.
After her service, Heidi pursued a degree in Emergency and Disaster Management, eventually settling in Atlanta in 2007. Here, she established her own construction management business and embraced her role as a mother.
Heidi’s favorite part of her job at Alair Decatur is streamlining the management process and ensuring clients have a positive experience. In her free time, you can find her by the water, enjoying the tranquility it brings.
Kara Adams – Operations Specialist
Kara Adams has deep roots in Atlanta, having lived in the area for most of her life. Originally from Boston, MA, Kara is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia. Her career journey began in the television industry, but her passion for design eventually led her to Alair Decatur.
Kara’s favorite aspect of her job is the opportunity to collaborate with her talented colleagues and the sense of community they foster. In her spare time, she volunteers at a local animal shelter and fosters dogs, combining her love for animals with her commitment to giving back
Alair Marietta:
Sydney Contant, CRPM – Project Manager
Sydney has worked in construction for over a decade, apprenticing straight out of high school. She earned her Certified Remodeling Project Manager (CRPM) credentials through the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) in 2014. From Apprentice to Carpenter, her other job positions held include Project Manager and Production Assistant Manager both involving interaction with clients, subcontractors and supplier partners.
Professional Remodeler magazine recognized Sydney amongst their “40 Under 40” when she was 26. She has participated several years in MAGIC (Mentoring A Girl In Construction) Camps at Gwinnett Technical College as keynote speaker to encourage other young women to consider careers in the industry.
She is the daughter of H. Dale Contant (owner of Alair Homes Marietta) and his wife Keely. Shortly after high school, Dale encouraged Sydney to try her hand at the family business. “I most likely would not have chosen this as my career path, if my father had not given me the opportunity,” said Sydney. “I’m glad I took the offer!”
Sydney is the proud mom of her son Oliver. With her passion for design and creating beauty, Sydney enjoys a variety of artistic pursuits. She recently learned how to work on a manually-operated letterpress built in the early 1900’s to create one-of-a-kind wedding invitations for family and friends.
Hazlett Segler – Director of Client Services
Hazlett Segler joined the Alair Marietta team this year as Director of Client Services, but she is no stranger to the company. She has been a long-time Alair Marietta remodeling client as well, undertaking a whole-house renovation over several projects. Hazlett supports the Marietta team, handles accounts payables and receivables for clients, vendors and trades, coordinates with new and existing clients and overall helps the office run smoothly. She has a diverse background, with experience in property management, teaching and as a founder and co-owner of an independent insurance agency. A native Atlantan, Hazlett is a graduate of the University of Georgia and currently lives in Roswell.
Alair Savannah:
Jessica Leavitt Ouattara – Director of Client Experience
Jessica’s background includes fashion design, retail management, sales, operations, social media management, and content creation. Her positive demeanor, entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude help with all facets in her current role at Alair Savannah as director of client experience.
The variety of day-to-day activities engages many of Jessica’s past experiences as well as allowing her chances to innovate, create and energize with the team. We teasingly shorten her job to anything related to the four Cs: culture, community, clients and collaborations.
She shares her life outside work with her husband and cat. Her home is filled with artwork, as collecting is a huge passion of hers. She is passionate about the many roles she has filled in the local chapter of the National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC.) and has most recently been elected president – elect. In her downtime she likes to cook, eat, talk about food, read, study astrology and tarot, and swim.
Emmy Ray – Project Manager
With a diverse career background and an eye for renovation work in her personal life, Emmy joined the Alair Savannah team as a project manager. With a determination to help others, a strong work ethic and killer communication skills – Emmy knows a thing or two about going the extra mile for her clients. She has more than eight years of account and project management experience working in fields such as marketing and recruitment.
In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family [sometimes yelling at her two daughters], train for marathons [hates every minute of it], listen to murder mystery podcasts [investigative research is another hidden talent] and loving on her sweet husband, who comes second to her dog, Birdie. Clearly, humor and laughter are other great traits of Emmy’s personality!
Jessica Edenfield – Executive Assistant
With a unique blend of meticulous attention to detail and get-it-done attitude, Jessica steps into the role of executive assistant to help bring organization, simplification and efficacy to the team.
Jessica is excited about learning about custom residential construction. Prior to joining Alair, she has extensive retail management and ownership in her background. She also worked with a past Alair client creating a jewelry line out of recycled materials. She continues to design and make jewelry that has a very earthy and natural vibe. She has spent the last few years managing a couple very near and dear projects : her two daughters and husband! She likes a nice glass of wine, spending time at the pool and reading in her time off. To really unwind though she loves to switch off her brain and watch a reality TV show.
Living Better Starts Here®
For more information about our projects and how our teams can enhance your living situation with custom construction and remodeling solutions please visit our website or contact us directly at Alair Decatur, Alair Buckhead, Alair Marietta, or Alair Savannah. We look forward to bringing your vision to life with the dedication and excellence that defines Alair Homes.