Staff + Advisory Board

David Dale-Johnson

Professor David Dale-Johnson is the Stan Melton Executive Professor in Real Estate at the Alberta School of Business and director of the Centre for Cities and Communities. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of California at Berkeley and has taught at UBC, Cal Berkeley, USC and Peking University. An expert in real estate economics, finance and city-building, he teaches real estate economics, investment, finance and development. David is committed to using his expertise to build collaboration in the business of city building.

John Pracejus

Professor John Pracejus’ research focuses on consumers' emotional responses to marketing, visual communications and brand associations. He holds a Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Florida and an M.A. in Communications from the University of Illinois. He has published work in numerous reputable journals and has presented research findings in over 20 countries. Additionally, he has taught at universities in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong, Russia and the United States.

Diana Ton

Diana Ton is the Centre Director for the Centre for Cities and Communities. She earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree from MacEwan University in 2016 and later completed a Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development from Cape Breton University.

Diana brings a wealth of experience from diverse roles and industries, including human resources in non-profit organizations, media consultation in an advertising agency, and project management in both construction and higher education. Her multifaceted background equips her with a unique perspective in leading community-focused initiatives and fostering innovative urban development strategies.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Diana is passionate about traveling, health and fitness, and cherishing quality time with her family.

Will Alloway

Will Alloway is the growth coordinator for the Centre for Cities and Communities. He graduated from the Alberta School of Business' Bachelor of Commerce program in 2017 and has worked in business banking, communications and as an analyst in law enforcement. Will enjoys being at the intersection of commerce and creativity, using practicality and business to facilitate artistic endeavors in the community. He has volunteered in the city-building space for three years and is a self-published fiction author. Outside of work, Will enjoys going on river valley hikes and trying new food.

Dave Young

Dave Young is the executive vice president and managing director at CBRE Limited. In this role, Dave leads CBRE’s National Investment Team in Edmonton and has been involved in the sales of over $6 billion in investment properties throughout the province. He leads a team of senior professionals in the office, industrial, retail and multi-family markets. Dave’s extensive knowledge of the market allows him to provide clients with the appropriate resources to solve complex real estate transactions.

Chris Nicholas

Chris Nicholas is the president of MLC Group. He leads an agile and experienced management team with a focus on residential land development and management – from pre-development due diligence through the full construction life-cycle to post-development construction completion. In addition to his role with MLC, Chris sits on the board of directors with the Urban Development Institute, a non-profit association representing the land development industry in Edmonton.

Marc Prefontaine

Marc Prefontaine is the president of Commercial Real Estate Finance at KV Capital. With over 20 years of full-cycle experience in the Canadian mortgage banking and brokerage industry, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the CCC advisory board. Marc has always had a passion for real estate and city-building. He loves Alberta and takes pride in watching great Albertan cities grow and progress.

Alex Thomson

Alex Thomson is the vice president of development at Cameron Development Corporation, a member of the Executive Committee of NAIOP for North America, as well as the corporate board member for the Edmonton Chapter. Throughout his career, Alex has held senior leadership roles with institutional advisors and private companies. He specializes in real estate transaction negotiation, real estate development, corporate leadership, operations and more.

Ian Large

Ian Large is the executive vice-president of Leger Alberta and heads a team of researchers in Calgary and Edmonton. With more than 30 years of experience, Ian is a seasoned researcher in virtually every sector, including public affairs, financial services, energy and municipal affairs. His background includes stints in the Middle East, Hong Kong and Ontario with various research agencies and clients. Ian also holds positions in the Edmonton Downtown Business Association and the Strathcona County Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee (EDTAC).