9 Winter 2024 | East Deanna Ciaccia As Co-Owner and Lead Designer of Spruce Homes, Kaitlyn Blair has shown that true success comes from embracing challenges and stepping into the unknown. It is what led her to become Saskatoon’s 2023 Customer Choice Builder. Kaitlyn’s early life was far from the entrepreneurial journey she would later embark on. Kaitlyn never saw herself as an entrepreneur. With a degree in Human Resources, she envisioned a corporate career. But the harsh Canadian winters -- especially February, the coldest she’d ever experienced since she had moved up from St. Louis, Missouri - demanded adaptability. She joined her husband’s fourth-generation family agricultural business. The work was challenging, and she learned that in a family business, respect must be earned. “You always feel you have to work harder to deserve a seat at the table,” Kaitlyn says. While working full-time in the agricultural business, she and Brad launched their own venture. Nights and weekends were spent flipping houses and learning real estate. There were moments when Kaitlyn thought, “This would be so much easier if Brad took over the family business,” but they were committed to building their future, even when the path was uncertain. “Like most great things in life, you have to muck through the hard stuff to find the bliss,” suggests Kaitlyn. After four years, Kaitlyn and Brad took their business full-time and launched Spruce Homes. Their journey wasn’t without stumbles. One major lesson came during their first “inventory house” build. When the framer told Brad to have the lumber there by 7 am, they were shocked. “Lumber? We thought it was included...” It wasn’t, and just like that, $30,000 disappeared from their projected profit. Yet, they pressed on, using social media to build trust and share their story. “We grew our entire company on the foundation of social media,” Kaitlyn said. “And I wouldn’t be here talking to you today if I didn’t know that it works.” Kaitlyn’s story is more than just business—it’s about resilience in the face of life’s biggest challenges. In 2022, Kaitlyn received “the absolute worst phone call” of her life: her mother, her best friend and biggest supporter, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Kaitlyn’s new role as long-distance caretaker tested her in unexpected ways. Despite the hardships, Kaitlyn chose to stay positive and find joy, even on the toughest days. “For my mom, we focused on planning fun adventures during off-chemo weeks—not living in fear but choosing to laugh and find joy. Even hard days can feel lighter.” This resilience became her foundation for hope. During the next 17 weeks of her mother’s illness, Kaitlyn’s outlook remained strong. “My mom still managed to pull off a 6-year-old’s birthday for my daughter,” she said with a bittersweet smile. It reinforced her belief that joy can be found even in the darkest moments. “With a different lens, we can choose to find joy in each day.” With the housing market shifting and interest rates rising, Kaitlyn and Brad felt stuck. It was during this time that their agent said, “If you don’t like where you are, move; you’re not a tree.” That powerful reminder pushed them to look beyond their situation. In early 2024, after gaining recognition for her social media marketing work, Kaitlyn saw an opportunity for growth as the social media marketing lead for retail stores in Texas. This experience motivated Kaitlyn and Brad to launch RW Media, a full-service social media agency specializing in agriculture and construction. “The doors will be open to those that are bold enough to knock,” Kaitlyn shared with the audience. The agency’s mission is to bring the same tenacity and creativity that built Spruce Homes to a new level. Her advice is simple yet powerful: “Choose joy and remember you’re not a tree.” For Kaitlyn Blair, building a life worth living means embracing challenges, finding joy amid hardship, and taking leaps of faith—even when the future is uncertain. Through it all, she shows that true success is not just in business achievements but in the courage to chase your dreams, no matter how difficult the road may be. “Like most great things in life, you have to muck through the hard stuff to find the bliss,” “With a different lens, we can choose to find joy in each day.” CHASING DREAMS AGAINST THE ODDS FARM LIFE TO BUILDING A THRIVING BUSINESS
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