Pictured above are, l. to r., front row: Berren Sonier, L-73 (Halifax, Nova Scotia); Dan Dutkiwich, Local 146 (Edmonton, Alberta); and Steve McGuire, Local 128; second row, Scott Brechin, L-146; Greg Florell, Local 555 (Winnipeg, Manitoba); Grant Jacobs; Sam Basque, L-73; Jody Pedersen, L-146; and Jerry Flaherty, Local 203 (St. John’s, Newfoundland); third row, Gerry Klimo; j’Amey Holroyd, L-146 training coordinator; at center of group, Andy Ogrodnik, L-555; J. P. Gogosha, L-128; Hugh Cameron, L-128; and Skipper Branscum; back row, Scot McMahon; Dave Roy, L-128; Terry Wood, L-73; Troy MacDonald, L-73; Jim Watson; Duane Gouin, Local 359; and Al Bennett.
17 members from six locals attend
SEVENTEEN CONSTRUCTION Boilermakers from six local lodges attended the first project management course to be held in Canada with all-Canadian participants. The training took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Nov. 7-12.
The week-long course was taught by Dale “Skipper” Branscum, Director of Construction Division Services, and Gerry Klimo, Local 154 (Pittsburgh) safety training coordinator.
Training coordinators Scot McMahon, Local 128 (Toronto, Ontario) and Al Bennett, Local 359 (Vancouver) audited the program.
“This was an excellent course, and we received very positive feedback from participants,” said Grant Jacobs, Canadian National Director of Apprenticeship and Education. “Both instructors excelled at extracting real-life experiences from the class, which included members who have worked as general foremen, superintendents, and project managers.”
L-128 BM-ST Jim Watson, who enrolled in the course in order to evaluate it, said it offered “a window into the world” of contractors and owners and the challenges “they face in a highly competitive and adverse market.” He added that he would recommend the course to other business managers, area representatives “and members currently serving as project managers or who are in a position to ascend to that level.”
The course included 18 sections covering the various disciplines of project management, such as planning and scheduling, conflict resolution, cost control and tracking, managing customer expectations, and quality control.
