Our Team
Arel Blau
Construction Management
As Co-Founder of Wild Branch Builders, Arel holds over 10 years of experience in the building trades. He holds a Master's Degree in Construction Management from New York University with a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Vermont with an academic minor in Green Building and Design from Yestermorrow Design/build School.
As the son of a fine woodworker, Arel's fascination with handcrafted, custom products began at an early age. Today, he has a professional passion for green building - creating tangible projects to leverage materials efficiently, sustainably, and with the least impact on the natural environment.
At WBB, Arel brings an instrumental understanding of all stages required to execute a project, from planning and initiation to quality control. He oversees the large scope of our projects and construction management services while maintaining a presence on site in the daily operations of a project.
Robert Hale
Design
As Co-Founder and Design Lead, Bob has a passion for guiding clients through thoughtful design decisions, bringing a client’s vision to fruition. He brings an instrumental understanding of building science and efficiencies to Wild Branch, and works to develop successful partnerships through clear communication, understanding, and fulfillment of client needs.
Bob holds a BS in Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology and over 10 years of experience in the Design/Build and engineering world. He approaches each project with elements of the client’s home and lifestyle in mind. He strives to provide creative, custom building solutions for a functional, cost-effective and efficient space.
Bob draws design influence from fine woodworkers such as George Nakashima and Sam Maloof, as well as an affinity towards historic New England farm houses and the stories they tell.
Peter Hoops
Carpenter
Peter joined Wild Branch in 2021 and brings with him an engineer's point of view to building science and problem solving. Peter holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vermont and has a deep appreciation for crafting custom homes.
Peter's interest in carpentry began at a young age when he was designing and building skateboard ramps, treehouses, and other small projects in his spare time. After graduating from UVM and pursuing a career more typical of a Mechanical Engineer, he pivoted and followed his interest in construction. His entry into home building started with custom residential projects, giving him an appreciation of the quality that can be achieved in any project.