MEMBERS OF THE APPRENTICESHIP AND INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD

G. Brian Bickley

Brian Bickley has served as chair of the Board since January 2004. He holds certificates in electronics, industrial instrumentation, watch making and adult continuing education. He has over 40 years experience in industry, and is currently employed by Syncrude Canada Ltd. as Industrial Relations Manager.

During his time with Syncrude, Brian has been Instrument Supervisor, Shutdown Manager and Maintenance Manager. Before joining Syncrude, he worked with the Steel Company of Canada and Texaco Canada Ltd. Brian previously served as a member on the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board between September 1995 and November 2001.

Herman Bruin

Herman Bruin has served as a board member since January 2008. He holds trade certificates with an Interprovincial Standards Red Seal endorsement in the steamfitter-pipefitter and plumber trades, and a gasfitter trade certificate. He is the owner/operator of Bruin’s Plumbing & Heating Ltd. and currently employs approximately 150 individuals in the plumbing, gasfitting, sheet metal, and refrigeration and air conditioning trades. Herman was a member of the provincial apprenticeship committee for the plumber trade and is a strong supporter of Alberta’s apprenticeship and industry training system. Herman is a volunteer representative of the Alberta Construction and Safety Association. He also has extensive service in support of the construction industry including terms as president of the Red Deer Construction Association, chairman of the Alberta Construction Association, two terms as chairman of the Alberta Construction Safety Association, member of the Board of Directors of the Workers Compensation Board, member of the Student Finance Board and member of the Safety Codes Council. Alberta’s Venture Magazine recently recognized Herman as one of Alberta’s 50 most influential people.

Don Bunch

Don Bunch has served as a board member since January 2004. He holds a trade certificate with an Interprovincial Standards Red Seal endorsement in the welder trade. He obtained his apprenticeship training with Wel-Can Welding Ltd. in Red Deer. In 1981, he formed Bunch Welding Limited and has been owner and president of the company for more than 25 years, regularly employing more than 300 certified tradespeople and apprentices. Don participated in Alberta apprenticeship committees, both local and provincial, and served as presiding officer of the welder trade. He was also an active member of the Apprenticeship Scholarship Fundraising Committee, and is very active in high school career days and promotes the RAP Program. Don is an active member of the Keyera Competency Management and Development system promoting lifelong learning and career pathways.

Paul Heyens

Paul Heyens has served as a board member since January 2008. He holds a trade certificate with an Interprovincial Standards Red Seal endorsement in the glazier trade. Since 1994, Paul has been the CEO and co-owner of the Alberta Glass Company Inc. in which approximately 70 of the 100 employees are certified tradespeople and apprentices. Paul has served as both presiding officer and member of the Glazier Provincial Apprenticeship Committee. Paul is currently secretary treasurer of the Merit Contractors Association of Alberta, president of the Termidor Group Inc., and past president of the Provincial Glaziers Association of Alberta. He is a member of the Calgary, Alberta and Canadian construction associations, the Alberta Building Envelope Council, and other various industry associations. Paul has served on other business boards and acted as board chair for an independent Christian school for eight years. He has volunteer experience locally and internationally. The Alberta Glass Company Inc. was awarded the Employer Award of Excellence in 2005 by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry training Board, and has twice received the Merit Contractors Award of Excellence for Excellence in Human Resources management.

Allen (Al) Peterson

Al Petersen has served as a board member since June 2007. He is president and owner of Petersen Buick GMC (ALTA) Inc. and Beaverhill GMC in which 30 of the approximately 100 employees are certified tradespeople and apprentices. Al is a past president for both the Edmonton Motor Dealers Association and the Alberta Pontiac Regional Marketing Advisory Board. He has also held the position of director on the Board of the Motor Dealers Association of Alberta, and has been a member of the General Motors National Marketing Advisory Board. Al is currently the Honorary Chair of Strathcona County’s first Relay for Life and a member of the Capital Health Strathcona Community Health Foundation Board. He has also held the position of president on both the Sherwood Park and District, and Alberta Chamber of Commerce. Al has been heavily involved with the both the Salvation Army and the Rotary Club and many other local charitable initiatives. He was named the Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year in 1997.

Jack Lane

No Bio Available

Silvana Poplawski

Silvana Poplawski has served as a board member since February 2005. She holds a trade certificate with an Interprovincial Standards Red Seal endorsement in the hairstylist trade. Silvana has been working in the hairstylist trade for 22 years, and is currently employed with Bell Avanti Hair in Edmonton. Before becoming a board member, Silvana was active in apprenticeship and industry training for 16 years. She was a member on both the local and provincial apprenticeship committees for the hairstylist trade and the presiding officer for the provincial apprenticeship committee. Silvana was a trade examiner and was involved in development of the provincial course outline and the National Occupational Analysis for the hairstylist trade. She is a community volunteer and soccer coach.

Jeffrey Norris

Jeffrey Norris has served as a board member since January 2004. He holds trade certificates with an Interprovincial Standards Red Seal endorsement in the welder and ironworker trades. He has been involved with the provincial apprenticeship committee for the ironworker trade and is an active supporter of apprenticeship and industry training initiatives Jeffrey has been a member of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers, Local Union 720 for more than 21 years working as a welder ironworker and supervisor on construction and maintenance projects in the commercial and industrial sectors in Alberta. He is currently employed as the coordinator/ training instructor for the Alberta Ironworker Apprenticeship and Training Plan.

Brian Hinton

Brian Hinton has served as a board member since January 2008. He holds a London City and Guilds Full Technology Certificate in Baking and National Diploma in Baking from the School of Baking at the Cambridge Institute of Technology and School of Arts, England. He also obtained a Diploma in Management from Manchester Polytechnic and London Polytechnic, and is a Fellow of the Institute of British Bakers. Brian is chief executive officer for Du Jour Bakery in Calgary. He is also director of technical services for Tapeko Natural Flavors and president of the Bakers Advisory Service Ltd. Brian has participated on both the local and provincial apprenticeship committees for the baker trade spanning 15 years. His participation included serving as the presiding officer on the local apprenticeship committee for three terms (nine years). While on the committees, Brian helped develop course material and test questions for the trade exam. He also served on the National Occupational Analysis (NOA) Committee for Baker Trade. Brian has served on the Advisory Board for the Baking program, on the team that detailed the DACUM chart for the baker trade, and as an instructor at SAIT.

H. A. (Hal) Williams

Hal Williams has served as a board member since January 2004. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Alberta and is a registered professional engineer in Alberta. Hal is currently the general manager of projects with Jacobs Industrial Services Ltd., the largest employer of unionized construction and maintenance trades labour in Canada. Prior to joining Jacobs in 2006, Hal spent four years with Lockerbie and Hole Inc. and 21 years with Kellogg Brown and Root, all in the northern Alberta heavy industrial construction marketplace. Hal has been involved with many industrial and community organizations. He is past chair of the Fabricators Council of the Tube and Pipe Association, current chair of the Operating Committee for the Woodvale Facilities, and vice president of the Millwoods Cultural Recreational Facilities Association.

Gerald Clark

Gerald Clark has served as a board member since February 2005. He holds a trade certificate with an Interprovincial Standards Red Seal endorsement in the electrician trade. Employed by Clark Builders, Gerald has worked in the electrical construction sector throughout western and northern Canada, Russia and China for 15 years. He has been manager of Human Resources for Clark Builders’ field staff for ten years. Gerald has been a certified Construction Safety Officer with Alberta Construction Safety Association, and employed as a Safety Manager with Clark Builders prior to his current position.

Ray Jeffrey

Ray Jeffery has served as a board member since February 2005. He holds trade certificates in the heavy equipment technician, automotive service technician and parts technician trades. He is employed at Finning (Canada) where he currently has responsibility for learning and development. Ray has served as presiding officer and member of both the provincial and local apprenticeship committees for the heavy equipment technician trade, and has been active for the last 31 years on various related industry and institute committees. In 2001, Ray was awarded the Chairman’s Award of Excellence by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board in recognition of his outstanding commitment to his trades and to the principles of apprenticeship through many years of service in the industry network.