Our senior management team are the product of the environment they were raised in. As long-time West Coast residents, they have a keen appreciation for the mountains and wilderness that make the province so unique.
It’s this appreciation for the visual beauty of the region that drives Craftsman’s focus on developments that highlight this natural West Coast attraction. Their goal: to provide Craftsman buyers the opportunity to experience this same sense of awe and wonder from their living room daily.
As property development and customer service professionals, the Craftsman team is clear on the value they bring to residential and commercial projects, based on years of market experience and proven, award-wining results.
Bill Hatswell
Owner and CEO
Since he founded Craftsman Collision in 1977, Bill Hatswell has been a man on a mission.
First, it was to modernize and clean up the autobody repair industry, bringing in professional standards and innovative practices to the company that now boasts more than 40 locations across North America, making it the largest independently owned collision repair organization in Canada.
Along the way in reinventing the repair industry, he discovered a passion for developing communities, taking pride in transforming bare land into the kinds of neighbourhoods that he knew people wanted.
Forming Craftsman Ventures in the early 1980s, he pioneered a number of groundbreaking developments in Whistler including Powderhorn, Sundance, London Lane and Cedar Ridge. Each of these developments has stood the test of time, continuing to serve as solid homes as well as superb investments for their satisfied owners.
Bill’s known for his lifelong love of skiing and the outdoors as well as for being a long-time philanthropist, contributing to numerous charitable causes during his 40+ years in Canada including North Vancouver’s Lions Gate Hospital, The Salvation Army, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Despite a recent decision to step back from the day-to-day, he can still often be found up and down the hallways of the Craftsman Group head office, mentoring the executive team and his son Greg in his new role as President, Real Estate and sharing his enthusiasm for the ongoing success of the Group’s many ventures.
Greg Hatswell, BCom
President, Real Estate
As someone who grew up immersed in the details of construction and real estate while tagging along with his dad, Greg’s role with Craftsman Ventures is a natural fit for him.
Prior to joining Craftsman Group 10+ years ago, Greg honed his sense of design and the economics of good business at UBC’s Sauder School of Business, majoring in Real Estate while earning his Bachelor of Commerce. During his time at UBC, he participated in the industry-renowned NAIOP Real Estate Challenge, using it as a springboard to accelerate his understanding of the development industry.
After graduating from Sauder, he chose to learn the development business from the ground up, taking time to learn his craft as a general contractor and leading a number of projects.
He feels strongly about his role as President of Real Estate, using his position as senior leader in the company to emphasize a personal, people-focused approach to business.
“One of our greatest strengths here at Craftsman is our ability to interact one-on-one with our customers if that’s what they want,” he says. “We’re a proven, reliable developer but we’re not a huge faceless corporation.”
Greg’s love of the outdoors started at an early age and continues to this day. Whether it’s a day in the mountains backcountry skiing, camping and hiking, or rock climbing, the wilderness is where he goes to find creative inspiration.
He’s a firm believer in giving back to his community, organizing fundraising events for an art fund that supports grants for local artists. He’s also able to speak conversational Mandarin, having spent time in China working on past projects for the Craftsman Group.
Ali Siksik, LLB, RI
Real Estate Support Manager
With over 7 years of professional expertise in real estate development, investment, and commercial management, Ali brings a wealth of experience in collaborating with investors and developers to manage property portfolios. His responsibilities include navigating comprehensive regulations, conducting due diligence, performing detailed financial analyses for residential and commercial transactions, and skillfully negotiating with key stakeholders such as municipalities, lenders, and investors.
Ali’s practical experience is complemented by a strong educational background, including a bachelor’s degree in law and business from Tel Aviv University, a Real Estate diploma from Langara College, and additional studies in urban planning and development from UBC. Currently pursuing his real estate license, he is committed to further expanding his knowledge and enhancing his professional skills.
Outside of real estate, Ali enjoys staying active with swimming, basketball, hiking, and regular workouts. He also has a passion for music, which provides a creative outlet and a source of relaxation.