Our presenters

Chad is the President of Integrity Design Studios Inc. Chad is a "Georgie" award-winning designer and has been designing commercial, industrial, and high-end residential construction projects for over twenty years. He received his AScT in Building Science at BCIT and graduated with honours and an award resulting from a design competition.

Chad joined the Applied Science Technologist Association in January of 1995. He is an experienced trainer that has taught technical drafting and AutoCAD 3D (BIM) at a University level. Chad also holds a residential builders license.

Christy Nikel is the President and Principal of Lean U Consulting, located in Kelowna, BC.  As a Master Lean Black Belt with more than 18 years of experience teaching and applying the tools, her goal is to share Lean thinking in a practical, effective, and energizing way.  

Clayton is a Human Resources Professional specializing in Learning and Development with over 10,000 hours of facilitation. Clayton has refined his craft by providing outstanding facilitation on a multitude of topics. Workshops include Leadership, Coaching & Mentoring, Conflict Resolution, Teamwork, Sales Techniques, Customer Service, Mental Health First Aid, and Presentation Skills. In addition, he leads a fantastic group of Corporate Trainers. Clayton has been in corporate training since 2004 and is known for his dynamic, motivating, and humorous speaking style.

In combination with course creation and classroom facilitation, Clayton is an avid lifelong learner. He is an active member of the Institute for Performance and Learning, Human Resources Management Association of B.C and a graduate of the Sauder School of Business, Justice Institute of British Columbia, and Royal Roads University (M.A.)

Clayton’s strength comes through his unique ability to use his business experiences to understand the knowledge/skills participants need to increase their performance and productivity. Clayton designs and delivers programs in a way that excites and motivates participants to use new skills and change their behaviors. Most integral is his belief that education and a sense of enjoyment are interdependent for the adult learner; he consistently looks for ways to integrate them into everything he does.

Craig Munroe is a leading labour and employment lawyer and litigator. Representing many of the largest and most prominent companies and organizations in British Columbia and nationally, Craig provides strategic, solution-based advice to clients facing complicated labour relations issues.

In representing and advising public and private clients, Craig regularly appears before various courts and tribunals including the British Columbia Labour Relations Board, the Canada Industrial Relations Board, grievance arbitration panels, the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, and the provincial and federal courts.

Craig is Past-President of the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers, is listed in the International Who’s Who Legal and has been recognized as a leading practitioner in Chambers Canada, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, and Best Lawyers in Canada.

Craig Woods, External Relations Advisor, has been at SkilledTradesBC for 5 years. He has 20 years of experience supporting education, training, and employment in the skilled trades. As an External Relations Advisor, Craig is focused on helping enhance relationships with SkilledTradesBC’s diverse stakeholders and partners, seeking insight and input on the needs of B.C.’s growing skilled trades labour force. 

Craig’s role includes overseeing the Sector Advisory Groups, developing engagement plans for program standard reviews, sharing industry analytics with internal stakeholders, facilitating industry involvement with new initiatives, and updating & informing the industry on SkilledTradesBC's programs and services.

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

Craig started his construction career as a steel stud and drywall tradesman working on some of Vancouver’s most significant projects pre-Olympics like the Richmond oval, BC place renovation, and Queen Elizabeth Theatre renovation. Craig then joined Task Construction Management, a boutique CM firm managing projects such as 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, and the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre @ UBC Vancouver. Craig holds a degree in Construction Management and a Diploma of Technology as a graduate of the Architectural Building Engineering Technologies program, both at BCIT.

Craig is a LEED Green Associate, A registered Professional Quantity Surveyor (PQS), and has earned his Gold Seal in project management. Craig is currently leading exciting projects such as the UBCO Interdisciplinary Collaboration &Innovation (ICI) Building, which is a 150,000-square-foot research facility, as well as the new UBCDowntown Kelowna Campus.

Darcy is an industry leader in the area of Public Operations, having served the public for more than three decades. Darcy's passion for this industry has led to numerous leadership roles throughout Western Canada, including senior managementpositions within Waterworks, Sewers, Landfill, Public Works, Sustainable Operations, Solid Waste and Underground Utilities, prior to his retirement from the role of Regional Director, Environmental Services, in Northern Alberta. Darcy is also recognized as one of the best trainers the industry has to offer, and he has long since been a primary contributor in developing training curriculum and delivering programs throughout Western Canada.Since retiring from the public sector, he remains focused on training and consulting.

Dave Shavalier brings over 30 years experience as a certified FSR A & Master Electrician and Provincial Electrical Safety Officer and was also three-time President of the Electrical Inspectors Association. He has facilitated countless Tech Talks and code sessions in areas across the province and now teaches as a Senior Instructor with SparkBC Technical Training.

David was born and raised in Kelowna. He graduated from Okanagan College in 1992 with a diploma in Computer Informative Systems. Afterwards he worked in IT as a programmer for Okanagan College for 5 years and taught various Microsoft programs in Continuing Studies at Okanagan College. He also had his own software development company for 25 years. He built custom Microsoft software solutions for small to mid-sized companies in the Okanagan and Lower Mainland. He has also been teaching part-time at PowerConcepts for many years and expanded his teaching more recently.

David Turpin is a CPA who has been involved with commodity tax for over 20 years. Mr. Turpin has extensive experience with the British Columbia provincial sales tax and he has also worked at the Canada Revenue Agency administering GST and HST. David has a passion for public speaking and the power of creating innovative solutions through diverse teams.