Our presenters

Jim started in the plumbing trade on September 8, 1981, at the University of Alberta, Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre. In 1985,  and received his Red Seal Plumbing and Class A Gasfitter designations. In 1992, he challenged and received his Steamfitter/Pipefitter certification.  Since then he has worked on the construction of numerous healthcare facilities throughout western Canada as an installer, foreman, and site superintendent.

In 1998 Jim came to NAIT as a line instructor and after 20 years, 12 of which were in the administration. 

Jim retired from NAIT in 2018 but has kept up with medical gas installation practices and instructing the medical gas courses.

A seasoned construction professional with over 40 years of experience—the vast majority of which has been spent in the Calgary marketplace—Jim has the ability to think outside the box and finds creative solutions to complex design issues. Jim recognizes and understands the importance of proper cost and schedule control, as well as the interaction required between the owners, consultants, and construction management personnel. Jim has been the President of both the Calgary Construction Association and the General Contractors Association, has been awarded Person of the Year by the Calgary Construction Association for his industry contributions, and has presented on design collaboration and ensuring optimum value and services for project owners. Jim adds value to his projects through his effective management of project constructability, and an understanding of the full project delivery. As a natural leader, he provides clients with the optimum balance between cost, schedule, quality, performance, and project lifecycle. Jim has worked on a wide array of construction projects including commercial office buildings, residential towers, retail developments, parks, civil work, industrial facilities, and a variety of other project styles and types.

John F. Wiesel is the president of Suderman Estimating Systems Inc., and has been estimating and teaching estimating since the early 1980s. With 45 years of experience in the electrical industry – from journeyman, foreman, project manager, estimator, designer, sales to vice president of a major electrical mechanical firm – he is a qualified international construction consultant with a broad knowledge base.

John has since taught the course to over 3000 people over the past 20 years He has updated the courses to todays standards and had them registered by the Canadian Construction Association for Gold Seal Accreditation.
John published a new labour manual in 2012 with the latest updates and revisions completed in October 2021.

Keith Merrett is a CPA and Senior Auditor with the Consumer Taxation Audit Branch who specializes in the application of provincial sales tax to industrial environments.  Keith grew up in the North Peace, and is knowledgeable about the local industries operating in the region.

Keith Robinson graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) as an architectural technologist in 1980 and has worked as a specifications writer since 1981. Keith worked for DIALOG; a multidiscipline architectural and engineering company, from December 1996 until his retirement in early 2023.

Keith’s primary role in the last 20 years of his career was writing construction documentation for technically complex by providing project specifications and contract documents for unique and innovative projects. His project experience ranged from hospital and university campuses, high‑rise construction, bridge and tunnel infrastructure, and commercial/retail developments.  His duties at DIALOG included maintaining the in‑house master specification and technical library and addressing various challenges associated with identifying building materials to address environmentally sustainable construction work results. Keith prepared contract documents for all forms of construction delivery including standard stipulated price agreements, construction management and design-build agreements, and public/private partnerships.

Managing risk is a key aspect of any business. Anticipating what those risks are, and providing proactive and practical advice when risks occur is a key focus for Kim in her role as advisor and advocate for her clients.

When it comes to legal disputes, even seemingly minor cases have a way of damaging relationships, tarnishing reputations, delaying work, and burning through enormous sums of money, time, and talent.

Kim understands that when faced with conflict and risk, our clients are looking for timely, cost-effective, and practical solutions that protect their interests now and for the future. When working with our insurance clients, Kim’s thorough attention to detail combined with the ability to see the big picture help to mitigate and manage any exposure on liability and coverage assignments. For our construction clients, this methodical and evidence-based approach aids in minimizing any negative impact on project development and completion plans.

Organization and dedication are the keys to success. Understanding this, Kim helps our clients overcome challenges with a systematic and determined approach, reaching goals for our clients in the most practical and efficient way to grow their business.

She finds her work most rewarding when she is strongly advocating for our client’s interests and showcasing how the law can be used to make a tangible and positive impact in people’s lives.

Prior to embarking on her law career, Kim earned her Bachelor of Legal Studies at Capilano University where she graduated with distinction. Over the course of her academic journey, Kim built a strong foundation in procedural law, the rules that dictate how a court hears and determines what happens in legal proceedings. Even the strongest cases can be lost if parties do not use and follow procedures effectively, which is why Kim’s hands-on knowledge of the rules and exceptions of the court make her an invaluable asset to our litigation clients.

Lee is the Founder and President of Constructing Minds Inc., a company dedicated to providing relevant and applicable training to the construction industry.

Lee has boots-on-the-ground experience. With over 40 years of construction management/general contracting experience under her belt, she has gained extensive knowledge and a solid foundation in construction practices, processes, and procedures in all contract delivery formats in projects valued from $500,000 to $305mil. Lee knows construction because she has built it.

Lee’s enthusiasm for training and the construction industry makes her a highly informative, interactive, motivated, and sought-after Trainer and Consultant for contracting companies from coast to coast.

Lisa is a construction industry professional with diverse experiences having worked as both project Owner and General Contractor, providing a sense of understanding of the different perspectives from each stakeholder. During her time working for a national developer, Lisa led the internal construction services team responsible for the Western Canada portfolio and then spent the past 7 years working for a General Contractor. In her role today, Lisa is involved in both pursuing work as well as being part of the operations team. Industry involvement is important to Lisa, and she has been a board member of the Calgary Construction Association since 2017, as well as volunteering with SAIT, Lean Community of Practice, CalgaryGeneral Contractors Association, and wherever else she can provide support and value to the construction community.

An Associate Counsel with SHK Law Corp., Marc MacEwing has practiced extensively as a construction lawyer in all aspects of the practice for over 30 years. He has particular expertise as a builders’ lien lawyer, as well as in tendering disputes and preparing and analyzing contract documents. Marc advises owners, contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and design professionals.

Marc is a public safety professional with extensive experience in the safe operation of the electric power system and a passion for educating the public. He has worked on many training and safety initiatives on behalf of BC Hydro and the BC Common Ground Alliance, educating the public with the goal of preventing incidents by raising awareness of hazards, the processes in place to help people work safely, and the consequences of - and response to - contact with electrical utilities.