Board of Directors

Mara Esser's passion for the "home" industry has been evident throughout her life. She grew up loving her parent's vintage home in Wisconsin, studied first psychology but then interior design, and has traveled to several countries to explore architecture and lifestyles. Practicing interior design through her own company and honing her business skills through corporate management jobs in the furniture industry, she brings a mix of industry understanding, creativity, and business acumen to the position of Executive Director for NARI Charlotte.

Outside of the office, Mara enjoys time with her husband, Kurt, and her 9 year old son, Logan. They enjoy the outdoors, playing games, crafting, legos, and exploring.  Mara spends her free time cooking, reading, and making a mess of her garden!  Above all, her goal in life is to have fun while making a difference.

David graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in with a BA in Management & Society.  He is a past president and 2014 Distinguished Rotarian of the Charlotte Providence Rotary Club, a South Park Youth Association baseball coach and active member of Christ Episcopal Church.  In 2013, David was named one of the Charlotte Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40”young professionals. In his free time, he cheers on the UNC Tar Heels and Carolina Panthers, and spending time with his wife, Lauren, their two sons, Aidan and Jack, and daughter, Alex.

Bill is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a BA in Business Management.  He began his career with Barefoot & Company in 1996 and has held several management positions since. Bill has often been called the ͞Face of Barefoot͟ and he is proud to say, ͞I love what I do and I want people to know it!͟ His professional affiliations include NARI Charlotte (2012 Volunteer of the Year; Local, Regional and National CoTY Award winner) and NAHB.  

Erin Dougherty is serving her fourth year on the board of NARI – Charlotte.  She is a Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler.  She and her husband, Vince Busby, own Distinctive Design / Build / Remodel which has won numerous Contractor of the Year (CotY) awards at the local, regional and national levels.  Erin is also currently serving on the Ethics and Bylaws Committee for NARI – National.  She firmly believes these leadership roles have helped her get the most out of her NARI membership and she encourages other members to get involved.  In her free time, Erin enjoys hacking around the golf course with her husband and spending time with her two teenage daughters.

Originally from Philadelphia, Rich is a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Economics.   His career with Ferguson Enterprises began in February of 2004 and has since advanced through a number of leadership positions with the company.  He is currently an Area Manager for Showrooms.  In 2006 Rich attending the Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business Core Leadership Development program. Rich has served on the NARI Board of Directors since 2015 was awarded the NARI Hope Award in 2016 for leadership in the remodeling industry.  Rich is an avid golfer, diehard Philadelphia sports fan and enjoys spending time with his wife Suzanne and their two boys Henry and Charlie.

Kareena began her career in the construction industry 23 years ago, working at the Kennedy Space Center Space Station Processing Facility.  With an extensive background in Commercial Construction, she has worked on everything from build-outs to re-stacks. She continues to use her knowledge and experience from her roles in business leadership to support the growth and development in the Alair Homes Charlotte office."