25+ Years of Turning Places Around.
We started The Conifer Co. with one conviction: not everyone is ready for an architect — but everyone is ready for Conifer.
We work with churches, cities, and nonprofits who know what they have isn't working — they just aren't sure what comes next. We help them figure that out. A focused strategy that identifies what to change, why it matters, and how to get there within their budget.
For those who ready to build, The Conifer Co. leads the Design Build Churches team — one team, three firms, every phase covered. We start together and stay together, from the first sketch to the final walk-through.
Most organizations are closer to their next step than they think.
What We Believe
Churches get stuck. Cities stall. Nonprofits plateau. We help them all move.
Most organizations we talk to know something needs to change. They feel it every Sunday, every council meeting, every time a donor walks through the door. But they get overwhelmed by the options, intimidated by the cost, or talked into solutions that are bigger than what they actually need — and then they do nothing. Conifer exists to break that cycle. Your next step is almost always smaller and more achievable than you think.
Every organization deserves this conversation.
Most churches, cities, and nonprofits have never had a real strategic conversation about their space. Not because they don't care — but because the industry hasn't made it accessible. Conifer exists to change that. Every organization deserves the same quality of thinking regardless of size or budget.
Strategy before spending.
We have watched organizations spend money in the wrong order for years. A renovation before a plan. A new sign before a brand. And we have watched too many organizations pay good money for a beautiful plan that sits on a shelf because nobody could figure out how to actually do it.
The first thing we do is take a fresh, out-of-the-box look at the real issues — not the symptoms. Then we build a strategy that is actually executable. Not a grand vision document that overwhelms everyone who reads it. A clear, phased, real-world plan that tells you exactly what to do next and how to afford it.
The best next step is usually not the biggest one.
Churches don't need to build their way to impact. Cities don't need a master plan before they can make progress. Nonprofits don't need a new building to show up differently in their community. They need to make the right momentum building decisions in the right order. Sometimes that is an inexpensive refresh that changes how Sunday morning feels or how a community center is experienced. Sometimes it leads to a full campus build or a downtown revitalization strategy. Either way, we help you figure out which step is actually next.
MEET THE TEAM
The Conifer Co. was built by people who have been on both sides of this work — as ministry leaders, civic executives, and industry professionals. That experience shapes everything about how we serve our clients.
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Urban planner. Architect. Executive pastor. City Manager. Church design-build executive. Award-winning placemaker. Aaron Blair has spent 25 years creating spaces that move the needle for the people inside them.
He has recruited businesses that cut downtown vacancy rates from 75% to nearly zero. Led a community to debt-free status while building a public art scene from scratch. Attracted $200M+ in private sector investment. Negotiated $100M mixed-use development agreements. As an executive pastor, oversaw a $14M church campus build from the inside — carrying the weight of every decision a ministry leader faces when their congregation is betting everything on a building. The work changes. The instinct doesn't.
A recipient of the Albany Area 40 Under 40 award, multiple International Downtown Association Merit and Excellence Awards, and a selected member of the James Irvine Foundation New Leadership Network — Aaron brings a track record that spans city halls, church boards, and building committees across the country.
Aaron founded The Conifer Co. in early 2025 to bring that experience to churches, cities, and nonprofits as an independent, strategy-first consultancy with no product to sell and no construction to push. Just honest assessment, clear strategy, and momentum.
He also leads DesignBuildChurches.com — a full-service church design-build platform for congregations ready to go from first conversation to ribbon cutting.
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Jessica Blair is a co-founder of The Conifer Co. and brings deep experience in community engagement, church ministry, Main Street leadership, event development, and small business operations.
As a former Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Director, she championed tourism and local business development by forging strategic partnerships and producing large-scale community events that strengthened both visibility and revenue for the region.
As a Main Street business owner, Jessica transformed a once-blighted property into a thriving enterprise, contributing to the revitalization of the surrounding district. Her leadership earned her recognition as a finalist for the Albany Chamber's Small Business of the Year and the top honor at the Albany Area Black Expo in 2012. She is also a recipient of the prestigious 40 Under 40 award.
Beyond her civic and business accomplishments, Jessica plays a vital role in church development, missions work, and ministry events. Her passion for missions and global outreach reflects her heart for serving communities beyond the local church walls.
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Sierra Granados is a brand and visual communications expert with a BFA in Graphic Design, bringing creativity and precision to organizations across ministry, real estate, and hospitality.
She has served a diverse roster of clients including Sandals Church, ARC Churches, Oral Roberts University, Voice of the Martyrs, Wedgewood Homes, and Oregon State University.
Her expertise spans branding, logo development, social media visuals, and event design, with a gift for translating an organization's vision into compelling visual language. Having lived in eight states and eleven cities, she brings a broad cultural lens and a collaborative spirit to every project.
Contact us
The first conversation is always free. Just 30 minutes to talk about your space, your organization, and where you are headed.