55C stands tall and proud in the heart of Toronto’s Bloor-Yonge neighbourhood. A feat of architectural brilliance imagined by architects Alliance, this new condominium development features 52 storeys that house 665 residential dwellings. Strikingly geometric in design, this address is an elegant addition to the area.
Noorez Lalani is the President of MOD Developments, a preeminent real estate development firm in Toronto. Before co-founding MOD in 2009, Noorez worked in Torkin Manes LLP’s corporate finance and commercial real estate group and as an Account Manager for the Toronto Dominion Bank Real Estate Group. There, he was responsible for underwriting and managing various residential construction loans in the condominium and homebuilding sectors.
Noorez holds a Juris Doctor from the Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2006. Prior to attending law school, he obtained an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario. Additionally, he holds a Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business, York University, where he specialized in Real Estate Finance and Development.
Noorez currently sits on York University’s Board of Governors and is a member of both the Investment Committee and Land and Property Committee. He also sits on the Urban Squash Toronto Board of Directors. He is a past Board Member of Distress Centres of Toronto and a past member of the YMCA Strong Start, Great Futures Campaign Cabinet.
Mike Fox is the Director of Development at MOD Developments. He is involved in numerous aspects of the business, including land acquisition, entitlements, representing the owner through construction, condominium registration, and retail leasing.
In previous roles, Mike worked for Great Gulf for nearly a decade, where he transitioned from a planner to a development manager. He also worked in consulting at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs in planning policy formulation and implementation.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto, a Master of Science in Planning, and is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) with experience leading projects across North America.
Karen McDermott is the Director of Client Relations at MOD Developments. In her role, she is responsible for managing a team that ensures the client experience at MOD is upheld with the highest standards.
Karen establishes and manages the efficient operation of procedures and protocols for all projects during the occupancy phase between the clients, property management departments and various aspects of construction.
With over 15 years of experience in the real estate development industry, she is passionate about creating organizational strategies and policies that help foster lasting relationships with our clients and external stakeholders.
Karen holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Ryerson University and is currently obtaining an MBA from the University of Waterloo.
John Covello is a Project Manager at MOD Developments. With over 9 years of experience in high-rise residential development, he is responsible for the management of all construction activities, including the production and adherence of project scheduling and budgeting, review and completion of condominium performance and technical audits, and the preparation of documentation to meet city occupancy requirements.
John obtained an Advanced Diploma in Construction Engineering in 2012, and a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Construction Management in 2014 from George Brown College. In 2024, he received a Gold Seal Certification in Owner’s Construction Manager from the Canadian Construction Association.
Barbara Barrett serves as a Project Administrator for MOD Developments where she brings over a decade of experience in real estate. In her role, she acts as the first point of contact for clients and is responsible for ensuring that all internal and external operations function efficiently and seamlessly.
Barbara works closely with MOD’s construction and client care teams where her responsibilities span coordinating trades, booking appointments, and facilitating timely communication with clients and third-party vendors. She meticulously maintains up-to-date documentation and files, ensuring easy accessibility and reference for all stakeholders.
Barbara Barrett obtained a Diploma in Business Management from Seneca College. A continuous learner, she has also received a certification in Ethics in Business Practice and a Residential Condominium Management Certificate from the Real Estate Institute of Canada.
Andrew Villella is the Project Warranty Coordinator at MOD Developments. He is responsible for overseeing and organizing various construction activities to improve the efficiency of daily operations on-site.
In his role, he conducts extensive condominium performance reviews and completes regular technical audits while simultaneously supporting MOD’s Customer Care unit. Andrew guarantees prompt attention to deficiencies and customer service requests, ensuring that they are resolved in a timely manner. Working closely with trades, he also establishes optimal building performance.
Andrew graduated from George Brown College in 2021 with a diploma in Construction Engineering.
Aidan Ball is MOD Developments’ Vice President of Construction. With over 14 years of experience, he has cultivated diverse expertise in real estate development. In his role, Aidan supervises all construction aspects of MOD’s various projects and is passionate about maintaining the founding principles of design excellence.
Before joining MOD in 2014, Aidan worked as a Project Manager for Camrost Felcorp. There, he managed multiple high-rise projects, including the prestigious Avenue development and The Imperial Plaza, where the iconic 1957 Imperial Oil Building was repurposed into a residential condominium.
Aidan Ball obtained a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from McGill University in 2007.
Munir Delawarzada is MOD Developments’ Quality Control Representative. With over 5 years of experience in customer service, he brings a diverse background and keen attention to detail to his position at MOD.
As the Quality Control Representative, Munir plays a pivotal role in ensuring the satisfaction of homeowners throughout the construction and post-construction phases of the development lifecycle. He assists with preparing suites for interim occupancies and final closings, ensuring move-ins are seamless and workmanship is held to the highest standards of quality.
Munir works closely with homeowners to keep them informed of crucial project milestones, occupancy dates and essential steps leading to final closing.
Tuyet Truong is a Corporate Accountant at MOD Developments, where she oversees various accounting functions, including payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, bank account reconciliation and filing.
She has accumulated over 23 years of experience in the accounting field, with her tenure at MOD dating back to 2015.
Mathew Kam is a Chartered Professional Accountant and the Controller at MOD Developments. In his capacity, Mathew assumes responsibility for the upkeep of accounting processes, implementing and overseeing financial initiatives across MOD’s projects. Beyond his core responsibilities, he actively contributes to the achievement of company objectives and fosters investor relations through his expertise in value-added analysis, budgeting, reporting, and strategic planning.
Mathew earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting from the University of Toronto and obtained a CPA designation in 2022. With an impressive track record spanning over 8 years, he brings a wealth of financial and accounting experience to the MOD team.
Marie Girolamo is MOD Developments’ Director of Design. In her role, she oversees all creative and functional design outputs for development projects and the MOD brand. Marie has been instrumental in the establishment and management of MOD’s design guidelines, ensuring that the design intent of each project is carried out from inception to construction.
Marie has over 16 years of experience working in interior design and real estate development. She began her career at the award-winning design firm, Cecconi Simone, where she worked on numerous projects worldwide.
A graduate from the International Academy of Design, Marie is a Registered Interior Designer and an active member of ARIDO (Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario) and IDC (Interior Designers of Canada).
Gary Switzer is the CEO of MOD Developments and is one of Toronto’s most awarded developers. While his portfolio of iconic buildings varies greatly, each showcases his devotion to design excellence and city-building.
Gary began his career at WZMH Architects after graduating from the University of Toronto School of Architecture, followed by a tenure in the planning department at the City of Toronto. With extensive experience in urban planning and architecture, he went on to play an integral role in establishing the high-rise division of Great Gulf Homes before applying his learned principles and expertise in the co-founding of MOD in 2009.
Gary is an active member within the development community as a founding member of the BILD (Building Industry and Land Development Association) Toronto Advisory Group and is a frequent lecturer at the University of Toronto, York University, and Toronto Metropolitan University
As MOD Developments’ Office Manager, Janice Cheng is responsible for creating a harmonious workplace environment that enables all team members to flourish. Under her role, she guarantees timely completion of accounts payable, processes payments and reviews invoices; communicates and ensures thoroughfare with vendors and employers.
Her interest in and support of preserving Toronto’s heritage initially drew her to MOD, where she utilizes her unique set of skills as they apply to the development industry.
Marc Julien is the Vice President of Investments at MOD Developments. He is responsible for providing strategic oversight while managing day-to-day investments, sourcing new investment opportunities, financing, acquisition execution and capital-raising for MOD’s growing portfolio.
In previous roles, Marc worked in the investment banking division of J.P. Morgan in San Francisco and on the investment team at Tricon Residential, where he focused on the Canadian multi-family rental business. He also worked on the investment team at the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan, where he helped lead their North American residential strategy.
Marc brings over 6 years of experience in asset management and investment banking and holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario.
Joseph Kamangu is a Development and Project Coordinator at MOD Developments. In his role, he assists with land acquisition, entitlements, and condominium registration. In addition, he works directly with MOD’s internal construction management team, assisting with the production of project scheduling and budgeting, review, and completion of condominium performance, technical audits, as well as the preparation of documentation to meet city occupancy requirements.
Joseph is currently obtaining a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto, with a minor in Business.
Warren Cheung is a finance expert who is fuelled by a desire to help build better cities. His passion for real estate, combined with his aptitude for numbers, makes him the ideal manager of all financial activities within MOD. Warren has over five years of experience in real estate development and is a Chartered Accountant.
The fast-paced nature of development is what attracted Rohan Gawri to the industry and witnessing his work at MOD change the city skyline is a key source of his inspiration. A graduate of the Ivey Business School at Western University, the need to constantly problem solve in development fuels him in his daily work. Rohan’s well-rounded abilities and experience allow him to be involved in all aspects of the business, including underwriting, design, budgeting, marketing, sales, and evaluating new acquisitions.
Vaibhav Jain holds a Master of Real Estate Development from Harvard University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi, India. As an accomplished member of MOD’s senior team, he began his career working as an architect on projects in Hong Kong, Boston, the Middle East, and Mumbai before switching to community development. Vaibhav has a unique skill set and natural aptitude in balancing the design and business side of development and is driven to shape future communities.
