Mark LaLiberte

Mark LaLiberte is the co-founder and president of Construction Instruction Inc., in Denver, the leading provider of building science education in the U.S. Driven by a passion to build sustainable, healthy, safe, and durable homes in all climates, Mark has dedicated more than 35 years to the building industry.

He has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA), where he developed the highly acclaimed Houses that Work lecture series.

"Today's buyers expect homes to be healthy, safe, efficient, and resilient. With Desert Comfort Home, we're demonstrating how to mainstream high-performance, net-zero energy construction while offering aesthetically pleasing design."

Brad Leavitt

Builder

Brad Leavitt is the president and founder of A Finer Touch (AFT) Construction, a Scottsdale-based luxury residential and commercial builder. Known for exceeding industry standards and creating strong client relationships based on integrity, reliability and quality, Brad and his team have worked on many notable projects around Phoenix including the Omni Montelucia Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley, Ariz.

Brad also is the creator of The AFT Construction Podcast, where he brings value to listeners, no matter their industry, with strategic insights on marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, organization, building science and construction. 

"I hope those who follow our 'Desert Comfort Experience' will be able to learn construction techniques and methods to better the industry and our energy footprint on the plant." 

Michael Rockwell

Landscape Architect

Michael Rockwell is a Landscape Architect and President of the Azul-Verde Design Group, a landscape architecture firm in Cave Creek, Ariz. He has more than 30 years of experience in exterior design and construction, and has practiced as a registered Landscape Architect in the state of Arizona since 1987. 

He has long been involved with the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association (ALCA), earning a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

"A beautiful project can be integrated in a sensitive and sustainable way with a unique building site." 

Steve Northway

Founder/President

Steve Northway is the founder and president of Construction Advocates, a residential and commercial construction consulting firm in St. Cloud, Minn. Whether he’s collaborating on a sustainable Net Zero home, a luxurious resort or a large-scale commercial building, Steve, a.k.a. “The Building Coach,” provides a wealth of technical and financial wisdom and expertise to create a better building experience for homeowners, developers, builders, architects and other professionals. 

"We're excited about sharing the most advanced zero-energy building techniques and technologies with the construction community."

Steven Baczek

Architect

Steven Baczek is a registered architect with over 30 years of construction industry experience. As a sole practitioner, he works with clients on select custom residential projects. Utilizing a strong building science background, he strives to integrate sound design practices with good construction practices to provide exceptional design solutions to their design problems. 

"Im looking forward to digging into the details of this high-performance home."

Melinda Nelson

Owner

Melinda Nelson, owner of Magenta in Minneapolis-St. Paul, is an award-winning writer and content strategist for clients in the residential and commercial construction industries. 

"I'm proud to share the story of Desert Comfort Home with builders, homeowners, and design aficionados and illustrate the convergence of inspired architecture, advanced technologies, and expert craftsmanship."