CALGARY, AB – July 12, 2021

MBC Group is proud to have high calibre leaders who work tirelessly to invest in the organization’s success and strengthen each of our lines of business. We are excited to welcome Brian Bessy to the leadership team as our new Alberta Client Relations Manager. He will be based in our Calgary office and will be responsible for forming long-term relationships with new clients and deepening established relationships with existing clients.

Mr. Bessey comes from the restoration industry with over ten years as a manager and director. He is an expert at cultivating and sustaining connections with insurance companies, adjusters, brokers, and property managers. His well-known reputation for integrity will be an essential pillar of managing and developing customer relationships at MBC Group. In addition to managing client relations, Brian will be further strengthening MBC Group’s market share within Alberta, increasing both our brand awareness and authority within the industries we serve.

“Brian will be instrumental in developing and shaping our relationships within the industry and within our community, as well as assisting our salesforce in delivering each of our service offerings,” says Ross Huartt, President and CEO of MBC Group, “Brian’s passion for building lasting connections with clients and coworkers alike makes him a superstar teammate all around and we’re looking forward to seeing where his leadership takes us.”

The complexities of this past year and dealing with a pandemic, as well as the challenges within the industries we serve, inspire MBC’s growth and evolution. We have been placing a greater emphasis on maintaining contact with our clients, having a deeper understanding of their needs, and providing more comprehensive solutions to streamline their projects and solve their problems before they happen. We are thrilled for Brian to take on this new role and we trust he will be a valuable resource as the firm grows and delves into new ventures.

About MBC Group

MBC Group’s mission is to be a single source for a wide array of services, where clients receive a comprehensive, collaborative, and creative project approach to their projects. Already located in more than fifteen cities from coast to coast, MBC’s strength lies in the multidisciplinary team comprised of leading experts in structural engineering and design, property damage appraisal, cost consulting, environmental consulting, and forensic laboratory analysis and research. Each member of the team brings not only a unique background of experience to their methodology and project approach, but a passion for going above and beyond to provide clients with the solutions they need.

Have you been keeping up with our radon education series? Want to learn more about the impact radon can have on your health and what to do if your home or workplace is affected? Sign up now to learn more and with our in-house expert Jeff Wright, one of around 850 Certified Radon Measurement Professionals in Canada.

When: July 12, 2021 at 1 p.m. MST

Where: Online – an email invitation will be sent to you once you have completed the registration process. [Sign up email is now closed]

MONTREAL, QC, July 5, 2021

2021 marks an exciting chapter in MBC Group’s journey with the expansion across numerous business sectors on both a national and global scale. The appointment of Yves Metten as Vice President of Corporate Development begins an exciting new phase of growth for the company. Welcoming Yves to our team will further strengthen MBC Group’s placement in the national marketplace.

Yves Metten is an executive force with a proven track record of delivering on a national scale, transforming global corporations by leveraging their competitive advantage within their respective markets. He brings over twenty-five years of strategic growth experience in sales, marketing, and operations. Having worked both locally and internationally, he also brings a new global perspective to expand MBC’s scope of business practices.

Yves is a visionary leader who uses his interpersonal ability and broad expertise to tackle any challenges that diverse markets may present. Mr. Metten responsibilities will encompass business development and sales organization leadership while expanding MBC’s presence nationally and developing new channels for all business areas.

Ross Huartt, President and CEO of MBC Group stated, “We are thrilled to have Yves join our team, and we’re looking forward to the energy and network connections he’ll forge as we continue to grow. He is coming in to help us establish a higher-level sales and marketing strategy for the ultimate goal of offering our solutions to a broader audience in order to challenge and advance industry standards.”

MBC is thrilled to have Mr. Metten join us, to continue MBC Group’s recent success in expanding into the Greater Toronto Area and further enhancing our service offerings. Yves will provide a fresh perspective and approach to developing a strong foundation for MBC Group’s future, and a capability to maximize the limitless opportunities the market has to offer. As he steps into his new role and continues to support our company’s long-term goals, we would like to extend a warm welcome to Yves Metten.

About MBC Group

MBC Group’s mission is to be a single source for a wide array of services, where clients receive a comprehensive, collaborative, and creative project approach to their projects. Already located in more than fifteen cities from coast to coast, MBC’s strength lies in the multidisciplinary team comprised of leading experts in structural engineering and design, property damage appraisal, cost consulting, environmental consulting, and forensic laboratory analysis and research. Each member of the team brings not only a unique background of experience to their methodology and project approach, but a passion for going above and beyond to provide clients with the solutions they need.

Ron Stephens, a Cost Consultant in Edmonton, Alberta, started only in March of this year, and is already rejoicing in the work and the people he gets to work with. Ron has a long history of involvement in various aspects of properties. He started out in a corporate services position in his early twenties and worked his way into facility management, handling the organization related to office spaces, warehouses, leased and owned spaces.

After thirty years in the industry, the changing economy prompted him to pursue his insurance licensing. With his previous knowledge of facilities and properties, as well as his five years of experience as an adjuster, Ron has settled well into his new role. There have been new things to learn, but there is no shortage of fellow staff willing to pass on their knowledge. Ron has loved seeing the level of expertise in the team and has been impressed by the level of commitment and passion towards the work being done. For him, the collaborative focus across the country is refreshing and reinforces an environment he flourishes in.

Previous experience is an excellent foundation for a company like MBC Group, whose high-level consultants provide innovative and cutting-edge solutions. Ron could see anyone from insurance adjusters like himself, to restoration project managers fitting right in at MBC Group. The knowledge of building aspects, software tools such as Xactimate, as well as experience with construction and restoration processes, allows people to be quickly successful in this environment while still having the opportunity to challenge themselves in new ways.

Ron’s favourite aspect of the job is the diversity in projects. Involvement in pre-loss assignments for commercial properties has been something new and appealing that he didn’t have the opportunity to experience as an adjuster. Recently he was able to assist several tree nurseries with assessments that provided the guidance they needed to obtain the insurance they required.

Having just finished his first solo project from start to finish, and with great feedback from his client on the quality of the service provided, Ron undeniably meets the standard of excellence MBC Group prides itself on. The diversity of work, the integrity of the staff, and the market share that MBC Group has is what attracted Ron to working for MBC Group. He is excited to see what other projects he will have the opportunity to be involved with and the further collaboration he will undoubtedly get to experience.

Ron strives to get the most out of life that he can. He has a passion for cooking, enjoying the process of putting a meal together, right from smoking and dry-aging his own meat. He calls it “playing with his food” and uses the food he lovingly prepares as a vehicle for entertaining friends and family. Ron’s recipe for life, both outside of work and in his role at MBC Group is one we should all add to the menu: a pinch of passion, a dash of gratitude and a gallon of hard work and joy! Thank-you for your positive presence at MBC Group, Ron!

OTTAWA, CANADA, June 22, 2021

MBC Group, one of Canada’s leading multidisciplinary Engineering Consulting Firms, announced the retirement of CEO Marc Bourret on June 1, 2021.

Since 2000 when MBC Group was founded by Marc Bourret, he has played a critical role in the development and success of the organization. While his enthusiastic leadership and positive presence will be missed, MBC Group wishes him the best of luck in his retirement and his new ventures. We want to thank him for the twenty-one years of dedicated service and highlight his many significant accomplishments and career milestones.

The board of directors of MBC Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Ross Huartt to succeed Marc Bourret. As the new CEO and president of MBC Group Ross will be inheriting a company in excellent competitive standing, with a highly professional and dedicated management team. The leadership team at MBC Group continues to uphold all the values on which MBC was founded and we know Ross will operate with the same integrity and motivation.

“Ross’s commitment to excellence together with his industry experience, strategic vision, constant customer focus, and proven record of delivery makes him the strongest candidate to lead MBC Group into the next stages of its development,” says Raymond Bourret, chairman of the board.

Ross Huartt joined MBC Group in Nov. of 2015 as director of Western Canada. Since then, he has gained significant exposure to the Canadian Insurance and Real Estate sectors. Ross has displayed significant drive and energy in the past year, undertaking the ambitious task of refocusing MBC Group as an integrated Engineering solutions provider.

“I am very excited to be leading the MBC team,” said Ross Huartt, “MBC Group has a great business model and talented management team that uniquely positions it to capitalize on the changing insurance business environment. As the industry evolves through restructuring, consolidation, and technology migrations, MBC Group is in a unique position to provide a quality, cost effective, and timely delivery of products and services to help our customers efficiently manage their networks and maximize their budgets.”

Ross Huartt will spend the first few months in his new position further familiarising himself with all of our stakeholders. He looks forward to the opportunity to introduce himself in his new role and meet with our customers and partners in the coming weeks and months. The board of directors of MBC Group is looking forward to the bright future ahead for MBC Group, and is confident Ross Huartt will propel the company with his vision and ambition.

About MBC Group

At MBC Group our mission is to be a single source for a wide array of services, where our clients receive a comprehensive, collaborative, and creative project approach to their projects. Already located in more than fifteen cities from coast to coast, our strength lies in our multidisciplinary team comprised of leading experts in structural engineering and design, property damage appraisal, cost consulting, environmental consulting, and forensic laboratory analysis and research. Each member of the team brings not only a unique background of experience to their methodology and project approach, but a passion for going above and beyond to provide our clients with the solutions they need.

Jeff Wright, Senior Environmental Consultant, joined MBC Group during the acquisition of DF Technical in 2019. With a degree in computer sciences, he began his career at DF Technical doing IT work when Dennis French started the business over 20 years ago. Back then, the team was small, but business started to rapidly expand. Jeff was approached and asked if he had any interest in becoming an Environmental Consultant. Eager as he is, and always ready to try something new, Jeff agreed, and he has never looked back!

Jeff really enjoys his job because it is everchanging and he gets to see and do new things at each turn. Every assignment presents a new challenge and is never the same as the last. This job is about thinking on your feet and knowing what to do, where to do it, and why you are doing it. It is a highly specialized field which requires a lot of training and you need to be dedicated to learning and being receptive throughout training and educational processes. The industry is evolving, the regulations and guidelines are constantly being updated, and it is your job to know the ins and outs to keep everyone on the worksite safe.

As an instructor of MBC Group’s Hazardous Materials Awareness courses and the OHS Asbestos Worker Certification course, Jeff gets to exercise his passion for education and share his experience, specifically teaching people who may come in contact with hazardous materials such as asbestos, mould, radon, and lead, among others. Most recently, Jeff became a certified Radon Measurement Professional through the C-NRPP and launched the company’s Radon Awareness course.

“Our education courses are a service that we provide to be able to spread awareness across all industries” says Jeff, “If parties involved on a worksite are not aware of all the potential air quality issues and hazards, not only could it compromise the safety of those on that site, but it may also turn into a greater issue down the line, potentially resulting in legal action.” Being aware and prepared is our responsibility and it can help us avoid, as well as prevent any unanticipated dangers.

In the air quality industry, Jeff has witnessed a lot of change and evolution, something any Environmental Consultant can say who has been in the position for an extended amount of time. But as with anything, there is always room for growth. The most important aspect, in Jeff’s opinion, is the awareness; people just don’t know, they pull stuff out on site or in their home, unaware of the implications or the risks they may pose. Awareness can be facilitated online now; we live in an increasingly virtual world and Jeff would love to see and contribute to an increased culture of awareness.

When Jeff isn’t educating or investigating hazardous materials, he is trying new things. From working with his hands, building a deck and flowerbeds in his yard, to most recently picking up a compound bow for target shooting, there is not much Jeff won’t try. He prides himself on being easy-going and enjoying all that life has to offer, accompanied by his daughter and his wife. This passion for life extends to his job, where Jeff is always getting the most out of his position. We’re excited to see what you continue to accomplish and contribute to the broader industry, Jeff!

Western Canada, May 12, 2021 – MBC Group is seeing some exciting structural changes this month. We are pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Campagna, CD, CPHR, RPR, SHRM-SCP as our Manager of Human Resources, based in our Calgary office. Mr. Campagna has over 20 years of progressive experience in the Canadian Forces and commercial industries, where he has served in various roles such as the Head of a Human Resources Department, Human Resources Officer, and a trusted advisor.

Mr. Campagna will work alongside members of MBC Group’s Executive Team to implement comprehensive human capital strategies that will help achieve organizational goals, increase employee engagement and retention scores, and enhance the overall employee experience. He will be responsible to plan company-wide strategies to address structural challenges, enhance working conditions, and increase organizational capabilities while maximizing brand recognition. Tim is excited to join such a fast-paced and rising business, where he will contribute to the creation and implementation of cross-regional corporate strategies to increase and promote effective growth, as well as the recruitment of top talent.

Another exciting new advancement in Calgary is the promotion of Senior Alberta Manager, Kristjan Kristjansson to Regional Manager of Alberta and British Columbia. Kristjan has shown great initiative with the Alberta Cost Consulting team, inciting growth and evolution among its members, and there is no doubt that he will demonstrate the same leadership and have a positive impact on BC’s growing team. Kristjan places a high value on trusting his team members to provide the high-quality services that our clients have come to expect, and he encourages them to think outside the box to bring innovative project solutions to the table, resulting in a better overall outcome for each project assigned to MBC Group.

Moving over to our BC Environmental team, Senior Director Christian Injates has been promoted to Vice President of Environmental Services. Over the past year, Christian has shown great ambition during the exponential growth of our BC Environmental team, facilitating the Sure Hazmat acquisition and assisting our Chief Scientist and Director of Research and Development, Dr. Robin Abel, with the impending launch of MBC Group’s laboratory initiative in Edmonton, Alberta. Christian shows a consistent acumen for handling the challenges that come with business growth while remaining a strong leader to the Environmental team.

“We want to continue to build a diverse team and collaborate with people who are enthusiastic, innovative and have a great learning attitude,” says MBC Group President, Ross Huartt “We are passionate about recognizing talented leaders within the company and giving them the opportunity to be more involved in the growth of MBC Group.” Ross continues, “It’s also fantastic to have someone like Tim on board who shares our corporate values, is resourceful, proficient, and who possesses talent, enthusiasm and ideas which will be invaluable to MBC Group as it continues to grow. It’s an exciting time for our company, and I look forward to witnessing these three impressive individuals thrive.”

About MBC Group

MBC Group has been operating for over 20 years, serving clients from coast to coast. We are one of Canada’s leading multi-disciplinary Engineering Consulting Firm specializing in Structural and Forensic Engineering, Architecture and Design, Environmental Consulting, Major Projects, Appraisal and Quantity Surveying and Research and Development. We also offer forensic laboratory services and a wider range of forensic consulting services. Our mission is to provide a third-party independent analysis and streamlined reporting to assist our clients in making cost-effective solutions.

Ryan Verhelst joined MBC Group’s Environmental team in February this year after the company acquired Sure Hazmat and Testing, where he has worked for the previous ten years. Ryan started his career as a technician, working as a student intern at the lab while attending the University of Victoria, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with an Environmental minor. Ryan’s drive to be more actively involved in environmental initiatives led to his current role as a Senior Manager, allowing him to have a tighter control over the process, from quoting right to final review.

He is passionate about the work he does with the environmental team, especially focusing on projects related to Indoor Air Quality and Occupational Hygiene. Ryan recognizes that the COVID-19 climate has changed the way we work and go about our everyday lives. Environmental consultants are more critical than ever because they play an important role when it comes to educating others about environmental hazards. They ensure that everyone’s health and safety is a top priority in the workplace and at home. As a result of this acquisition, Mr. Verhelst and his team of technologists and advisors will now be able to expand their capabilities to a much broader audience across Canada. They are excited to be more involved in environmental management projects, concentrating on controlling, monitoring and mitigating the harmful impact biohazards have on our working and living environments.

Ryan has always been interested in environmental issues and pursuing a career that would allow him to make a positive difference in the world. His determination and drive to follow health and safety standards were one of the key reasons he became an Environmental Technician in the first place. For him, it not only gives an opportunity to provide more of the technical services him and his team are so proud of, but it plays a huge role in the Environmental sector. Legislations and guidelines allow standards to be maintained to ensure the health and safety of all people involved in a project involving hazardous materials, indoor air quality, and occupational hygiene.

Education is power, and Ryan is back at school taking his occupational health and safety certificate to gain an even better understanding and be able to properly build out these services on his team. On top of ensuring health and safety in the industry, he strives to ensure the health and safety of the air quality in his own home as well, keeping it safer for his son. When dealing with hazardous materials, there is a lot we cannot see with the naked eye, and this is where those guidelines and legislations come into play and can really guide our approaches not only on the job, but also in our daily lives.

When Ryan isn’t ensuring health and safety on his project sites, he is outside with his family, exploring the different trails around Vancouver. The “Beautiful B.C.” tagline does not do the province justice, as it provides a rugged backdrop for a variety of outdoor activities; whether it’s hiking up to peaks of the Rocky Mountains, driving along the Pacific coast, or getting lost in one of its many enchanted forests. Since there isn’t much else to do safely in a pandemic environment, Ryan has enjoyed discovering new places he hasn’t visited before. Ryan gets a lot of his ideas from places he sees online or on social media. He and his son enjoy spending quality time together by discovering new parks to play on, looking for more scenic views, and finding new places to explore. Ryan, much like his sense of adventure, is constantly on the lookout for innovative ways to improve environmental industry standards, as well as discovering and learning how to tackle new challenges with each new project that comes his way.

Koffi Deku started with MBC Group in June 2020 as the Director of Engineering, managing the day-to-day operations of the Engineering Division. Prior to joining MBC Group, Koffi worked as a Structural Engineering Manager, primarily designing a variety of buildings and bridges. He was drawn to MBC Group because of the company’s aspiration to become a leading engineering firm in Canada. “It’s great to be involved in the execution of that vision!”  says Koffi. “You get to be exposed to all types of work. Whether infrastructure design and management projects, providing expert opinions, or learning about the intricacies of mechanical and electrical engineering in complex reconstruction projects, MBC Group is very versatile in the engineering services it provides.”  In Koffi’s opinion, this is the perfect place to be for Engineers and others who are passionate and willing to take on new challenges because it is full of committed innovators trying different approaches to execute projects.

Koffi believes in the competence of his team and has yet to be disappointed by their high-level output. Engineering is such a broad category, that it can be perplexing for those who do not fully understand all the activities and functions that an Engineer performs on a daily basis. Koffi explains that structural engineering, for example, is a field of civil engineering which focuses on making sure structures or buildings can withstand loading conditions they will be subject to during their lifetime. In other words, Architects make it look good on paper, and Structural Engineers make it stand. A structure doesn’t just stand by itself; it takes a great deal of attention to detail to transform a vision into a reality.

What inspires Koffi in his role, is to contribute to construction projects that will be essential parts of the community. Koffi became an Engineer because he wanted to contribute to closing the gap in infrastructures availability between sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world. A gap he became aware of when studying in France in Year 2000. Originally Koffi had planned on becoming a pilot, but there was something about becoming a Structural Engineer that seemed much more useful. He didn’t want to be the type of person who just complained about lack of infrastructures; instead, he wanted to understand how things are effectively and sustainably designed and built so he could apply that knowledge to actively make a positive contribution to his community.

Koffi has an Engineer’s mind that is always trying to understand how structures are built and how they can be improved. He looks at bridges, ports, dams, and buildings a lot differently, always seeing what could be and how other people do it. Koffi enjoys driving on roads he has never been on before, seeking out landscapes he hasn’t yet seen in Western Canada and the United States, which he considers to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. From Koffi’s perspective, “We all do landscaping in our backyards, but for Structural and Civil Engineers, the world is our landscaping project.”

A brief look at the history of tools

The earliest record of tools found dates back 2.6 million years, mostly comprising of sharpened sticks and stones used for different functions of hunting and gathering. It was with the use of these basic tools that humans were able to accomplish tasks that were outside the realm of possibility with just their bare hands and enabled them to climb to the top of the food chain.

Tools in the present

Tools are an unavoidable part of our day, whether it be as simple as a whisk at home, the tools we use at work, or the newest smart phone and countless other advanced technological tools we have come to rely on. We ogle tools in the hardware store, kitchen shops, or online, and today, for Worship Your Tools Day, we are taking a moment to stop and appreciate the role tools play in making our lives and jobs easier.

With all the advancements in tools and what they can do, using these new technologies is not only efficient, but also a lot of fun! We asked some of our experts what tools get them excited about doing their work. The results? We’ve definitely come a long way from the days of using sticks and stones!

Thomas Morawiec, our Northern Alberta Manager, and a skilled Cost Consultant with MBC Group, loves when he can use one of our drones, a DJI Mavic 2, for his projects. “I love getting to use industry leading technology” he says of the drone. Beyond the impressive piece of technology it is, the drone has implications for the safety of workers during inspections. “It allows me to get detailed information while keeping my boots safely on the ground” Thomas tells us.

Specially designed goggles hold a mobile device and provides Thomas with a bird’s eye view to observe those hard-to-reach places live, so he can get every detail he needs at that moment. An added advantage is that it saves our clients time and money during more complex inspections.

Another technologically advanced tool our consultants love to use is a 3D camera, which allows us to bring the project site right to the client’s screen. The camera captures 360 degrees and generates a virtual file, where users can click through to see different angles and different areas of the structure. The file generated is comparable to a virtual dollhouse, that can be easily navigated by a quick click of the mouse.

Jeff Wright, a Senior Environmental Consultant with MBC Group, votes for his Leica DISTO E7300 laser measure. He uses it on nearly every job site, whether it be for moisture mapping, mould assessments, hazardous materials surveys, or asbestos bulk assessments. The laser measure calculates square footage to an accuracy within one tenth of an inch, saving the time of having to use a tape measure, or the inaccuracy of having to guess. “Square footage measurements are pertinent to outlining what needs to be removed during a hazardous material abatement,” says Jeff, “and the laser measure not only makes the job convenient, but it also makes our reporting that much more precise.” Jeff is enthusiastic about this tool and has found even more enjoyment of it outside of his sites, “I even used it to measure the distance of my firepit to my deck!”

We all know we couldn’t do what we do without modern technological advancements, so let’s take a moment today to stop and appreciate the tools that make your life and job easier every day!

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool#:~:text=Finds%20of%20actual%20tools%20date,were%20studied%20and%20given%20importance