Archives: Most Influential People

Reynolds and Vogel, co-managing partner and partner at law firm Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel, respectively, played a significant role in helping the Ontario government modernize the province’s construction law and helped to shape the Construction Act. Among the changes to the legislation are the creation of a prompt payment regime and the introduction of a mandatory interim binding dispute resolution system. Both were also retained as counsel by the federal government to assist in the introduction of new legislation on prompt payment and adjudication, helping author the independent expert report Building a Federal Framework for Prompt Payment and Adjudication.

Named Vancouver Regional Construction Association president last year, Martin brought with her more than 25 years of experience in the construction and engineering industries, including her work as president of the British Columbia Construction Roundtable, vice-president of business development and director of pre-construction at Carlson Construction Group, and positions at COWI, Vancouver Pile Driving and AMEC. She was also on the board of directors for the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – British Columbia. She is already making her mark, recently launching the Women in Construction Conference, LEAP.

Smith stepped down as president and CEO of EllisDon last summer after an epic run. He joined EllisDon in 1981, and was named president and CEO in 1996. Smith was crucial in creating EllisDon’s culture of entrepreneurial enthusiasm empowering employees to challenge the status quo and evolve EllisDon into a leading global construction services company. He also spearheaded the employee-ownership program where 100% of the company’s equity will be transferred to the company’s employees to create an environment of fairness, prosperity and innovation for the future.

Maierle’s first major construction role was a junior estimator at a large contractor when he was just 19 years old. After gaining valuable experience, he set out on his own in 2015 and founded ETRO Construction with the goal of doing construction differently. Today, ETRO does hundreds of millions of dollars in work and has racked up award after award. They are implementing cutting-edge technology and are highly focused on building their business around people—both their employees and their customers.

Minniti serves as CGI’s vice president of operations for Western Canada and has been instrumental in its technological transformation towards a digital age. He is responsible for business development, safety, estimating, project management and HR within his region. also leads the design-build team and develops CGI’s graphic presentations. Beyond the jobsite, giving back to the community is important to Minniti. He served on the board of Vancouver Island Construction Association, Saanich Foundation, Construction Foundation BC, Cordova Bay Association, and is currently serving on the BC Construction Association and St. Margaret’s School Board of Governors.

Gibbens, known on social media as Karly the Sparky, is a B.C.-based electrician that is destroying construction stereotypes. Her TikTok account has amassed more than 696,000 followers and 16 million likes. Her Instagram account boasts more than 269,000 followers. She regularly posts videos showing her life on the jobsite, explaining the complexities of electrical work as well as showcasing her favourite tools. Her content also always includes a dash of humour.

Filipchuk has had a big year. The president and CEO of PCL, Canada’s largest general contractor, was recognized as the Canadian Construction Association’s National Pinnacle Leader. The association noted that his achievements are reflected not only in his firm’s success and growth, but also in his leadership, dedication to excellence, and community contributions, which position him as an exceptional leader, partner and example to all. It’s even more impressive knowing that he first joined PCL Edmonton in 1984 as a field engineer.

If you ever wanted a masterclass on how to use social media to grow your brand in construction, look no further than Kruger. The Saskatoon-based contractor has amassed 2.1 million followers on Instagram, 2.2 million on Facebook, 484,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 700,000 followers on TikTok. This makes his company, Kruger Construction one of the most followed construction companies in the world. He says he has grown his audience by consistently sharing gear reviews, jobsite tips and his daily life as a builder.

After years of struggling with ill-fitting, inadequate personal protective equipment, Hüettner decided to take things into her own hands. She founded Helga Wear in 2014 to help companies find more safety and more money through body-specific PPE options, starting with safety coveralls and safety bib-overalls. She works with industry stakeholders to promote sustainable inclusivity by educating, performing on-site assessments, and offering safety clothing developed and field tested to meet the needs of tradeswomen and women in various STEM fields.

Six years ago, Van Buren made history, becoming the first woman to lead the Canadian Construction Association. She has guided CCA into a new era that is digital first and inclusive. Her focus on modernization was critical in CCA’s ability to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, while advocating on behalf of the industry and continuing to deliver member value in the face of a global crisis. Under her leadership, CCA has developed an expanded focus on innovation and best practices. One of the most significant achievements of her tenure has been the review of CCA’s governance model, and the restructuring that allowed the association to be more nimble in addressing member issues.

Calgary-born Douglas Cardinal, who has Blackfoot ancestry, has become a forerunner of philosophies of sustainability, green buildings and ecologically-designed community planning. His architecture springs from his observation of Nature and its understanding that everything works seamlessly together. Cardinal’s has countless professional achievements including 20 honorary doctorates, Gold Medals of architecture in Canada and Russia, and an award from United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO) for best sustainable village. He was also titled an Officer of the Order of Canada and was awarded the declaration of being “World Master of Contemporary Architecture” by the International Association of Architects.

Lomax is a member of the Gitxsan Nation and grew up in Terrace, B.C. He currently serves as president and CEO of First Nations Bank of Canada (FNBC). Earlier this year, Lomax announced a partnership with Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to form a $100 million loan participation agreement with the FNBC for enabling infrastructure in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. The funds will ensure that Indigenous communities will have access to affordable and flexible financing to unlock enabling infrastructure development that can support improved living conditions, new economic opportunities and housing.

Miller’s success as president of F.A.S.T. First Aid & Survival Technologies and executive for JJM Construction is just part of her story. She has dedicated years of service to the industry as a whole. She was a Canadian Construction Association board member for nine years and served as board chair in 2012. She was the founding director and chair of the BC Construction Safety Alliance and was the BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association’s first female chair. And earlier this month, F.A.S.T launched a dedicated line of women’s high visibility safety clothing which Miller says is needed as more women enter the industry.

As chief information officer for PCL, Bryant is responsible for the strategic and innovative advancement of information technology within the PCL family of companies, the nation’s largest builder. He has more than 30 years of IT expertise, having served in the financial services, software, manufacturing, and AEC industries. In 2019, Canadian CIO of the year for the private sector category, by the Information Technology Association of Canada. He is helping lead the use of emerging technology to solve construction’s biggest challenges.

Brodie is a construction tech phenom. Her company, Bridgit, develops the leading web- and mobile-based workforce planning solutions for the construction industry. Its flagship product, Bridgit Bench, has helped revolutionize construction workforce management, assisting mid-large construction firms streamline core operations, match the right people with the right projects, and forecast demands. Founded in 2012, Bridgit is a Series B company, having raised over $43.5 million in funding from investors like Camber Creek, Export Development Canada, Salesforce Ventures, Storm Ventures, and more.

Connell is a fearless leader with an impressive track record in the construction industry, dedicated to breaking barriers and promoting diversity. As Senior Vice President of Development and Strategy at Clark Builders, she drives strategic positioning, marketing, brand management, external engagement, revenue management, growth initiatives, and preconstruction services. Passionate about fostering teamwork, Connell nurtures individual excellence and camaraderie among colleagues. Actively involved in Calgary’s community, she volunteers and serves as a co-chair and trustee for the Calgary Construction Association’s education fund, former director on the Calgary Construction Association, a founding member of the former Women in Construction committee and on YWCA boards. As Clark Builders celebrates its 50th anniversary, Connell’s leadership has maintained their commitment to excellence, innovation, and superior service. Recent achievements include formalizing plans for Environmental Social Governance, Social Procurement, achieving CCAB’s PAR Bronze certification, and advancing diversity initiatives.

Paynter is showing builders how data and technology can help transform cities and solve the nation’s biggest problems. As building transformation & adaptive reuse leader, principal, for global design firm Gensler, he led the development of a tool for rapid assessment of existing office building stock for ESG performance and conversion into housing. This technology has most notably been implemented in Calgary to create thousands of new housing units. This approach has now spread to other major cities, including Toronto, New York and San Francisco

In 2018, Gray became the first woman to serve as CEO of SkilledTradesBC, a provincial government agency that works to advance B.C.’s trades training system. She has helped lead the organization through monumental changes, including the recent implementation of skilled trades certification. Gray and her team’s strategy appears to be working. Last year, the province saw a record 41,000 apprenticeship registrations. Gray also serves as chair of the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship, as an executive committee member of Canadian Apprenticeship Forum.

A respected champion for innovations in wood design and increases in the use of mass timber systems, Newfield’s work has pushed the height limits of traditional wood framed structures both in practice and through code development. As a principal at RJC Engineers, he also leads highrise and developer-oriented projects. He is a member of the BC Advisory Group on Advanced Wood Design Solutions, co-authoring guidelines that support code changes for tall wood buildings. He has authored several guides, given numerous presentations, and provided support for Michael Green’s Tall Wood Study, and FP Innovations CLT Guideline and Tall Wood Guideline.