2023 VICA Annual General Meeting

Matt Rasmussen is the Director of Operations at Rolling Tides Construction. With over two decades of hands-on experience he has honed his craft as a red seal carpenter specializing in a wide range of projects from concrete work to overseeing the creation of innovative new builds. Matt’s professional journey is fueled by a profound dedication to fostering growth both in his team and within the community. His unwavering commitment to excellence is a testament to his passion for leadership and community engagement.

Byron Tarby is the President of Makon Projects Ltd. With a career spanning over 15 years in the construction industry, he commenced his journey as a carpenter and transitioned into Project Management. As a construction enthusiast and advocate for the highest standards in construction practices, he is deeply committed to ensuring our communities thrive through forward-thinking and sustainable construction initiatives. Byron previously served as chair of VICA U40 and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the BC Construction Association. Acting on the Board of Directors for the Vancouver Island Construction Association, he is dedicated to influencing the growth and success of the construction industry on Vancouver Island.

Chris Bozman is the owner of Saltwater Building Co, situated in Ucluelet. Originally hailing from the Comox Valley, Chris began his career in the industry by working during summer breaks from high school.

Chris, along with his family, relocated to the West Coast in late 2020 after residing in the Sea to Sky Corridor for approximately 15 years. During his time in the Sea to Sky region, he was actively engaged with the CHBA Sea to Sky board starting around 2015 and assumed the role of president of that board from 2017 to 2020. As president of the Sea to Sky board, he also served as a board member of the CHBA BC board. In this capacity, Chris participated in various government lobbying efforts focused on housing affordability and contributed to the development of their 5 and 10-year strategic plan. Furthermore, he underwent governance training and had the opportunity to attend several national conferences.

In Ucluelet, Chris currently operates a medium-sized construction company with a staff of approximately 15-20 employees. He, along with his wife and daughter, shares a passion for the outdoors, often engaging in activities such as surfing, hunting, or skiing at Mount Washington when not on construction sites. Chris firmly believes that a robust construction industry benefits everyone and has been particularly beneficial for his family. Their aspiration is to give back in any way possible. Chris is honored by the opportunity to serve on the VICA board and is eager to increase his involvement within the organization.

Jonathan Aucamp is part of the business development team at West Coast Pre Fab. He feels his exposure to the VICA Board would help him become more familiarised with industry standards and protocols, in addition to building a network within the construction community. While his experience in the industry is limited, Jonathan would bring energy, a willingness to learn and a positive attitude.

Ken Smyth boasts 34 years of extensive construction experience, with a career that has taken him from Ireland and the UK to Canada. Currently, he leads the construction efforts for the new RBC Project located in Colwood, British Columbia.

Prior to his relocation from Ireland in 2018, Ken held the position of Vice Chair at the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and is honored to be recognized as a fellow of the CIOB. His contributions extended to board membership with the A.P.T (Atlantic Chapter) and the P.M.I. of Nova Scotia.

In addition to his professional roles, Ken presently serves as a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee, offering guidance to the City of Colwood on heritage planning applications. Ken is known for his practical and pragmatic approach to construction matters, emphasizing collaboration in his work.

Marek Gomolka holds the position of Change Management Manager at Dr. Hoe Civil & Excavating and serves as the President at BC Underground Inc, specializing in Septic Planning and Installation. With an illustrious career spanning over two decades in the Vancouver Island construction industry, he brings a wealth of diverse experience.

His noteworthy accomplishments include successfully negotiating and executing the Tahltan First Nations Joint Venture agreement for the Bruce Jack Powerline and Forrest Kerr Power Project. He also served as a Consulting Project Manager on the Admirals McKenzie Highway Improvement project and played a pivotal role as Superintendent in the construction of the 2010 Bobsled Track in Whistler, BC. In addition, Marek led the Coastal Gas Link 6 and SMJV 3-4 Pipeline Projects and served as the Operations Manager of Nupqu Resources, a Ktunaxa Nation business.

Marek’s motivation for seeking a Director’s position on the VICA Board stems from his desire to contribute to the growth and expansion of the association within the construction industry. His vision for the construction industry on Vancouver Island is to support local contractors and developers in solidifying and expanding their presence in the market.

Notably, Marek has previously held three Director roles in the industry, serving on the boards of the BC Road Builders Association, International Society of Explosives Engineers, Better Business Bureau Vancouver Island, and Haida Gwaii. He is committed to representing the association’s members and the broader community, recognizing the unique business environment of Vancouver Island.

Marek has ensured that he can allocate sufficient time to fulfill the responsibilities of the Director position without conflicts, leveraging his current roles to do so effectively. His dedication and experience make him a valuable candidate for the VICA Board.

Morley Wilkins is a Partner at Method Chartered Professional Accounting where he specializes in providing business advisory and construction related services. Prior to joining Method, he worked as the CFO at Campbell Construction Ltd., in the public sector at BC Transit, and articled at Trenholme & Company Chartered Professional Accountants LLP. He has an MBA from the University of Victoria and a BA in Information Technology from York University. Morley also volunteers as a CPA Mentor and provides future students support and insight that can broaden their mindsets.

Scott is a partner at AFC Construction located in Courtenay BC. With over 35 years’ experience in the construction industry, he has a diverse background and experience managing commercial, industrial, and residential construction projects in both BC and Alberta.

Scott is currently serving on Vancouver Island Construction Association(VICA) Board of Directors as Secretary, is a Committee member on British Columbia Construction Association(BCCA)  S&P Committee and the BCCA Trade Definitions Committee.

He is also currently serving as board member on BC Construction Safety Alliance(BCCSA) and in the past served on the Comox Valley Airport Commission for seven years.

Stuart is the General Manager of Slegg Building Materials flagship location in Langford, along with Slegg’s Manufacturing Division. In this role he works closely with all 9 Slegg locations on the Island, from Victoria, to Cumberland and Tofino.

Stuart is the current Vice Chair of the VICA board, and has just completed his 3rd year on the the VICA board Executive Committee. He has also just completed a 3 year term as one of 2 VICA representatives on the BC Construction Association board.

Stuart has worked in the construction industry for the last 20 years, holding a number of senior management positions in that time. Over the course of his career he has worked in a variety of business units, taking on leadership and over sight roles covering operations, sales, supply chain, and manufacturing. These roles have given Stuart the opportunity to work in and with businesses across Canada, the USA, Japan, Korea; South America & the UK. Stuart has a passion for building and the building industry, and brings his experience on construction projects ranging from hospitals and multi-family developments to single family homes to the VICA board.

Outside of work Stuart spends his time with his young family enjoying the outdoors, team sports and travel.

Neil Edwards joined Starlight Investments in March 2022 as Director of Construction, Western Canada, and was promoted to Vice President, Construction, in 2023. In his current role, Mr. Edwards leads Starlight Investments’ Western Construction Team from Victoria, BC.

Before joining Starlight, Mr. Edwards worked as Director of Pre-Construction for a Vancouver Island-based Developer. In this role, Neil led all pre-construction activities, including developing procurement strategies, scope and bid packages. Prior to that, Neil was the Chief Estimator & Pre-Construction Manager at Kinetic Construction.

Neil has been in the construction industry for 35 years, with 25 years in Estimating and Project Management. Neil earned his Bachelor of Technology at Bournemouth & Poole College in the United Kingdom and has managed projects of up to $200 million.

It is a time in my life to give back to the construction industry which I love, and I believe I have a wealth of knowledge and experience that I want to share with a larger group