Course Instructors

AJ Winters, CRM, CAIB, ACSB

A.J. Winters, CRM, CAIB, ACSB, Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services (Victoria) Inc. | Assistant Vice President

AJ has been in commercial insurance working with contractors, business owners, and management teams for 14 years. He has served two terms as Vice-Chair and Chair of VICA’s Young Builders Network and was recently the recipient of VICA’s U40 Person of the Year award. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Island Equipment Owners Association. AJ works with a variety of clients and his main focus is helping contractors in the construction and forestry industries.

Amy Spark, BA, CF APMP

Amy Spark, BA, CF APMP, PCL Construction | Proposal Manager

Amy is a strong pursuit and marketing professional with extensive experience managing small and large-scale proposals and 12+ years of experience supporting various industries including pipeline, heavy civil, highway maintenance and construction, industrial, healthcare, major infrastructure, and utilities. She is a passionate lifelong learner with a commitment to professional development. Since 2019, she’s earned a Technical Writing Certificate from Mount Royal University, Digital Publishing Certificate and Digital Marketing Professional Certification from NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) and her CF APMP (Bid/Proposal Foundation Certification) from the Association of Proposal Management Professionals. Currently, Amy facilitates technical writing and grammar workshops aimed at empowering others to gain confidence in their technical writing. 

Andrew Johnson, B.Eng. (Hons), MSc.

Andrew Johnson, B.Eng. (Hons), MSc., BIM Academy | Project Manager

 Andrew is responsible for delivering BIM implementation projects alongside designing and developing digital transformation programmes for industry clients. Andrew specialises in digital strategy development through information management on live projects and through research.

 In 2019, Andrew left the Corps of Royal Engineers after a full 24 years’ service, leaving as a senior soldier. Throughout his 24-year service Andrew gained a huge amount of technical experience designing, leading, and delivering projects all over the world, mostly in austere environments. His world-wide deployments included Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Oman, Canada, Kenya, Germany, and Poland.

 Prior to leaving the military, Andrew completed his postgraduate MSc in engineering management, with a thesis that investigated the cultural impact of implementing BIM in the UK construction industry.

BCCSA | British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance

The BC Construction Safety Alliance is a not-for-profit association that provides services to over 52,000 construction companies employing over 220,000 workers. Funded by construction, plus select aggregate and ready-mixed industry companies, BCCSA is paid for through a portion of employers' WorkSafeBC annual assessments. BCCSA provides a range of services that (a) focus on injury prevention and creating or enhancing a culture of safety on construction sites; and (b) meet a diversity of needs among owners, managers, supervisors, and workers.

BCDC - British Columbia Construction Documents Committee

The British Columbia Construction Documents Committee (BCDC) is a provincial joint committee responsible for the development, production and review of standard British Columbia construction contracts, forms and guides – including BCDC2 and BCDC2e documents. 

BGC Partners Inc.

BGC Partners Inc.

BGC Partners Inc. provides Gold Seal training courses and services to the construction industry across Canada. Based out of Abbotsford, BC, their team of instructors work closely with dozens of industry associations and alliance partners in providing the very best curriculum, tailor-made for construction managers and staff in Canada. BGC believes that well trained staff are the key to success in construction. Leaders from over 2000 construction companies and industry associations can attest to the value of their training.

BidCentral | BC's Largest Construction Marketplace

BidCentral is BC's largest online construction bidding marketplace. Built by the construction industry for the construction industry, BC’s construction businesses save time, money and resources using BidCentral’s secure online system for document and bid management.

General Contractors take advantage of secure, by-invitation bidding for private projects and remain in control of tenders using BidCentral’s complete document distribution system.

Trade Contractors, Manufacturers & Suppliers can easily access tender documents on the go. Be seen in BC’s largest construction bidding directory, with access to thousands of public, private and early stage pre-bid projects.

Bill Chomik, AAA, SAA, OAA, AIBC, FRAIC, RCA

Bill Chomik, AAA, SAA, OAA, AIBC, FRAIC, RCA, Kasian | Senior Principal, Vice President - Institutional 

A leading Canadian architect and considered a visionary in his field, Bill has 40 years of experience in architecture overseeing the design and construction of over 750 buildings worldwide.  Bill’s accomplishments include the University of Calgary’s Taylor Family Digital Library; National Music Centre, Calgary; Calgary Courts Centre; Guangzhou Planetarium, China; Alder Planetarium, Chicago, Illinois; Grande Prairie Library and Art Gallery, Red Deer Performing Arts Centre and Simon Fraser University Trottier Observatory. As a Senior Principal at Kasian, he leads the delivery of architectural, strategic planning (master planning and programming), and interior planning and urban planning services. 

Bob Hildenbrandt,P.Eng.,LEED AP,GSC

Bob Hildenbrandt, P.Eng., LEED AP, GSC

With over 40 years of experience in the Alberta marketplace, Bob has recently retired from Graham Construction where he was Vice-President, Prairies. In this role, he developed and led a regional team of construction groups in Western Canada that focused on performance and client satisfaction. Bob’s prior experience includes leadership roles at Ledcor and PCL with an extensive list of major projects as project manager and executive-in-charge. He was also part of a team developing strategic initiatives and executing major projects in Alberta’s oil and gas market,

Bob has an excellent reputation for building teams, motivating staff, and overcoming challenges in the delivery of construction projects. Throughout his career, he developed strong personal relationships across all facets of the industry including Clients, Consultants and Trades.

Bob is a past Chair of both the Calgary Construction Association and the Alberta Construction Association. He has also served on the Board and Executive of the Canadian Construction Association, and as Chair for national construction industry organizations focused on BIM and Lean Construction.

Brad Stevenson,CPA CGA,BTech,PMP

Brad Stevenson, CPA, CGA, B.Tech, PMP, Unitech Construction | Chief Operating Officer,

Brad Stevenson is the Chief Operating Officer of Unitech Construction Management. In his current position, he is responsible for integrating Unitech’s Construction Management divisions into one cohesive unit. During his 15 years with Unitech he has held a variety of roles including operations, finance, human resources, safety, business development and information technology. Integrating Unitech’s systems, processes, and procedures, with a focus on team collaboration and day-to-day business has been a key outcome of Brad’s contributions. He monitors and assists all personnel to ensure that Unitech’s company culture reflects the core values of being client-goal driven, collaborative, concise, firm, fair and fun through a proven collaborative construction process. 

Brian Soutar, P.Eng., PQS

Brian Soutar, P. Eng., PQS

Brian is a professional engineer and quantity surveyor with over 40 years of ICI experience. Working across North America, the UK, and Africa, his experience spans management, procurement, design, contract management, estimating and quantity surveying. Brian has worked on commercial, institutional, industrial, mining, transportation, water development and multi-family residential projects. His career was split between working in the private and public sectors. In the private sector, Brian worked for: construction companies in project manager, estimator and construction superintendent roles; for design firms in project manager and branch manager roles; and for developers in project manager roles. In the public sector he has held positions as an executive director, director of major capital projects, project manager and cost manager. Notably, Brian led four portfolios for Alberta Infrastructure: procurement, the Project Management Office, cost management, and capital planning. He believes passionately in collaboration and has served on many multi-sector teams, including as chair of the Institute for BIM in Canada, and the Canadian Construction Document Committee’s task force to create the standard contract for Integrated Project Delivery.

Builders Code

The Builders Code sets a standard code of conduct for workers on construction sites in BC. It defines an “Acceptable Worksite” as the starting point for reducing risk and ensuring a safe and productive environment for all workers. The Builders Code is intended to help construction employers communicate a reasonable, consistent behavior expectation to improve the safety, productivity and retention of skilled tradespeople, and reduce project risk.

The Builders Code is an initiative of the Construction Workforce Equity Project, which is generously funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training through the Canada-BC Labour Market Development Agreement (BC-LMDA) and the Sector Labour Market Partnerships Program (SLMP).

The Builders Code brings together an influential group of collaborating partners, who already support construction employers through their daily activities of safety, training, benefits and business services. This partner network is one of the most powerful elements of the Builders Code. Funding and support for the project comes from BCCA, local BC Construction Associations (VICA, SICA, NRCA, VRCA), Minerva BC, BBCA EBT,  LNG Canada, BCCSA, WorkSafeBC, and ITA.

Carole Bissett

Carole Bissett, Managing Director & Branch Leader | Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services Inc.

With over 30 years of experience as a broker providing construction insurance and bonding services, Carole is the definition of a subject matter expert! She has also served on VICA’s board of Directors, presiding as Chair.

Cody Friesen. CFA

Colby Young, BSW, DPSM

Colby Young, BSW, DPSM, Program Lead | Tailgate Toolkit Project

Formerly working as a support worker and program facilitator with a local non-profit organization, Colby has years of experience educating members of our community. He has previously provided skill building programs to people in Victoria’s Downtown core experiencing mental illness, homelessness, and addiction. Colby has received a Bachelor of Social Work and a Diploma in Public Sector Management from the University of Victoria. His previous experience with local services and initiatives grounds Colby’s approach to harm reduction in a local context. He brings a collaborative approach to his facilitation that seeks to build upon the strengths of our industry, teams, and leaders.

Craig Shirra, AScT, GSC, PSQ, LEEDGA

Craig Shirra, AScT, GSC, PSQ, LEEDGA, UBC Properties Trust | Director of Development

Craig is currently the Director of Development at UBC Properties Trust, where he acts as the owner’s project managers for all new capital projects at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus and Kelowna region.

Craig stated his construction career as a steel stud and drywall tradesman working on some of Vancouver’s most significant pre-Olympics projects, including the Richmond Oval and renovations of BC Place and the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Craig then joined Task Construction Management, a boutique CM firm, where he managed projects that included the Vernon Library and South Surrey Rec Center. In 2012 Craig joined Bird Construction where he was part of the team that delivered the new UBC Student Union Building, Kelowna RCMP building, and the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre at UBC Vancouver.

Craig holds a degree in Construction Management, and Diploma of Technology as a graduate of the Architectural Building Engineering Technologies program, both at BCIT. He is also a LEED Green Associate, registered Professional Quantity Surveyor (PQS), and has earned his Gold Seal designation in Project Management.

Craig’s current projects include the UBCO Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Innovation (ICI) Building (a 150,000 square foot research facility), and the new UBC Downtown Kelowna Campus.

Dean Slater, P.Eng., GSC

Dean C. Slater, P. Eng., GSC 

Dean is a Professional Engineer APEGA Life Member with 40 years’ experience in the construction and development industry. A past president of the Calgary Construction Association (CCA), his experience spans estimating and construction management as the General Contractor, Project Manager, and Project Owner’s representative / Vice-President. Dean has also held various executive level positions working in General Contracting, Development, and the Alberta Health Services (AHS) project management group. He has worked on significant Alberta construction projects including Calgary’s Petro-Canada (Suncor) Centre, the Olympic Saddledome, the Hyatt Hotel, Telus Convention Centre, SMART Technologies Building, major hospital expansions, and the South Health Campus. Since retiring in January 2018, Dean has embarked on a new role as a fundraising volunteer with Wellspring Calgary – a cancer support group. Dean was recognized in 2018 with CCA’s ‘Person of the Year’ award.

Debbie Hicks, B.Sc

Debbie Hicks, B.Sc, DSH Consulting | President

Former President of the Southern Interior Construction Association (SICA) in BC for 22 years, with a comprehensive education background (Diploma in Business Administration, Bachelors of Science, teaching credential, and MBA in progress) learning has always been at the core of Debbie's career. During her time with SICA, she worked with a range of industry stakeholders including the buyers of construction services, architects, engineers, and contractors, coordinating and providing industry advocacy and education. Recent experience as the owner Rep for the construction of Kelowna Yacht Club's new Clubhouse has provided an additional perspective. Debbie's extensive experience in construction industry both as a stakeholder and educator make her uniquely qualified as a trainer and facilitator. With her energetic and dynamic instructional style, you won't want to miss an opportunity to train with Debbie!

Derek Smith

Derek Smith | Constructionlab

Derek is a design professional with 15+ years of experience teaching at the college level. As a design professional, he has collaborated on over $300 million in built or contemplated ICI and residential projects working for clients like Chrysler Corporation, Penske Industries, University of Windsor, Nature Fresh, COCO Paving/Developments and more. In 2007 he became Executive Director of the London & District Construction Association. During his time in this role, he chaired the Construction Lien Act Task Force for the Council of Ontario Construction Associations – which led to the recent prompt payment and adjudication in Ontario. In 2010, Derek also acted as employer bargaining agent to General Contractors and Civil Contractors in a successful strike free round.

Since he founded Constructionlab in 2015, Derek has been trusted by over 1000 small, medium and large construction firms, law firms, design firms and real estate development firms to deliver best-practice advice on labour, procurement, contract administration, and more. He counts 12 mixed-trade and labour relations construction associations as clients. Derek is also the inventor of the JOBSITE boardgame! He recently invented, manufactured and released this series of construction industry and design sector themed board games to raise awareness of construction careers through spirited play and learning.

Diane Jolicoeur

Diane Jolicoeur, Builders Code | Employer Advisor & Worksite Culture Training Facilitator

Diane is a certified coach in personal/professional development and emotional intelligence. Her experience in human resources includes specialized recruitment, employee relations, career transition and displacement; as well as training development and facilitation on subjects including worksite culture, stress management and emotional intelligence in the workplace. Diane supports employers and leaders in the construction and trades-related industries with resources and best practices for creating a positive and inclusive worksite culture.