People Moves: March 2023

Adam Drake has left his role as estimator at Orion Construction after more than four years. Drake announced that after over 20 years in the Lower Mainland construction industry the time has come for him to leave and start down a new path. 

Morgan McDonald has started a new role at Ledcor as director, corporate sustainability, covering all of Ledcor’s many lines of business. Morgan has over 20 years of experience with a background in renewable energy, carbon finance, and sustainability education. Morgan was a past B.C. chapter chair and national director with the Canada Green Building Council. He is also a Juno award-winning musician.

Tia Kjartanson, Tracey Hill, Tony Rodgers and Guy Bellis are new members on the board of directors for The Alberta Construction Safety Association. The association is an independent not-for-profit association governed by the board. The board is composed of members from Alberta’s construction industry. As the largest safety association in the province, it serves more than 55,500 members.

Jeff Provost has left his position as indigenous business relations manager at Bird Construction. Provost stated the he enjoyed the wise counsel and teachings of the many Elders he got to meet met, overseeing Indigenous Cultural Awareness training for 5,000 team members, developing the Bird Walk for Reconciliation that united 19 offices across Canada with one purpose, Truth and Reconciliation day, and managing the erection of a totem pole carved from a 1,000 year old tree that was gifted to Treaty 1.

“For these and many other memories, I say ‘meegwetch’ to everyone,” wrote Provost. “Stay tuned for my next adventure!”

Dani Ferenc has joined Essence Properties as the vice president of construction. Ferenc has over 20 years of industry experience, having managed projects throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. She is an Instructor and sits on the program advisory committee at BCIT School of Construction and the Environment, as well as president and co-founder of NEST Projects Foundation – Canadian Charity, a charity that aims to reduce barriers to education for children.

Brendan Nobes is returning for a second year as chair of the Canadian Construction Association’s board of directors. Nobes has spent more than 35 years in the industry. He is the director of major projects for rcs Construction, a general contracting firm building landmark projects throughout Atlantic Canada. In the coming year the CCA plans to continue its focus on building workforce capacity, advancing fair procurement and a long-term infrastructure plan, including trade-enabling infrastructure, while strengthening the bonds between CCA and partner associations.

David Redfern, CEO of Lafarge Canada (Eastern Canada operations), will serve as the chair of our board of directors for the Cement Association of Canada.

Redfern joined the association’s board in 2019 and will serve as chair for a two-year term. He has more than 25 years of leadership experience in the construction materials industry, both in Canada and globally. The association noted that Redfern will take over the role at a critical time in the cement and concrete industry’s history, as it seeks to accelerate implementation of its Net-Zero Action plan.

“I look forward to working together with our members and allies as we continue to promote and advance cement and concrete as key building materials to create thriving, sustainable, climate-resilient communities across Canada,” said Redfern in his announcement.  

Andy Baines, a real estate developer and investor, has joined Matthews West, the group partnered with the Squamish Nation to develop the Oceanfront Squamish and Cheekeye River projects. Collectively, these projects account for 3,725 new housing units and roughly 400 acres of commercial land.

Victoria Mancinelli has been awarded the 2023 Women of Distinction Award by Hamilton YWCA for tirelessly advocating for women and racialized people in the skilled trades. Through her work as the director public relations, marketing, and strategic partnerships at the Labourers International Union of North America (LiUNA), she has helped to ensure that women have the support they need as they navigate a male-dominated industry.

Mingyuk Chen is Intelligent City’s new associate director of projects. The group noted that  with her extensive experience in mass timber construction, at Intelligent City, Mingyuk leads projects through all phases of design and execution.

Tim Loch has been appointed by Avison Young as their new principal and senior vice president and practice leader of  investment valuation and advisory services in Canada. The firm noted that for more than a decade, Loch has been delivering exceptional service to clients, creating value for some of the largest institutions in the country. Loch will be responsible for helping clients reach their goals with their real estate portfolio. 

Marnie Williams has been promoted to director of project services (Alberta) at RAM. Williams is a certified manager of quality/organizational excellence (CMQ/OE) from the American Society for Quality and has extensive construction experience specifically relating to quality management. Williams formerly held the role of senior manager, quality & inspections, overseeing RAM’s growing team in B.C.

Mia Papasotiriou has been hired as an estimator at Bird Construction. Papasotiriou has worked on jobs within the residential, commercial, healthcare, light industrial, and institutional sectors – experiencing projects through both trade and general contracting perspectives. Papasotiriou explained that she has gained a plethora of skills in her prior positions that have pushed her forward into this role.

Whitney White has started a new role as assistant marketing manager at Turner Construction Company. Prior to this, she was a marketing specialist at the company. Some of her specialties include writing, editing, creating unique marketing materials and photojournalism.

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