Meet Christian Injates
Christian Injates, MBC’s Senior Director of Environmental Services, looks back on his 27 years in the industry in reflection of how much has changed. The changes he has observed have not only been in health and safety, but also how there is more emphasis on retaining employees and creating careers for them, rather than the old model of filling spots for a project. Being thrown into the deep end himself at the beginning of this career, Christian has learned a lot about being a leader.
Christian started with MBC Group in March of 2020, with the mission of building the environmental division’s presence in Vancouver. He was drawn to MBC Group after meeting the senior leadership team, impressed by their energy for growth, and how they were all so different in character, each bringing something unique to the table. With the desire for a new challenge, Christian certainly got his wish, stepping in to build the Vancouver Environmental Services operation from the ground up, with a pandemic on his tail. Regardless of the challenges he has faced, Christian has built a strong team already, and watching them come together and work together has been a great accomplishment and what he is most proud of.
Christian looks for more than just education and experience when he is looking for new talent to join the team at MBC Group. He puts a focus on ensuring people fit into the culture of the company. MBC Group provides so much support for growth and innovation, something Christian believes to be unique in this industry. MBC Group’s exponential growth will continue to provide so much opportunity for anyone who has vision and can think outside the box. MBC Group encourages people to take initiative and to not be afraid to think critically and innovate their approaches to projects, finding new ways to increase efficiency.
Christian is excited about the evolution of the company, as well as the broader industry. The traditional model no longer works, and he is anticipating that there are a lot more changes to come. Even at MBC Group, there is a lot more youth in the company than the consulting firms he has worked for in his time.
A people person through and through, Christian loves to fit into new situations, interact with all different kinds of audiences, and observe people, right down to their watches. “When I meet someone new, I notice their watch immediately,” Christian says. “You can tell a lot about a person by the kind of watch they wear.” He has collected watches for a long time and for him, they are both functional and amazing pieces of art. There are no robots that can put together an automatic watch. The parts are so small that it requires the human touch to put all the intricate and moving parts together. Like a team, if one part isn’t working or fitting properly, the whole watch won’t work. In his role at MBC, one can observe how Christian puts this into practice in every decision he makes as the strong leader he is.
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MBC Group Expands its Capabilities with the Acquisition of Sure Hazmat and Testing
BURNABY, BC, FEBRUARY 8, 2021 – At MBC Group, our mission is to continually expand our service offerings to meet more of the needs of our clients. MBC Group’s most recent venture is a direct result of listening to the requests and feedback received from our valued clients. We are pleased to announce our acquisition of Sure Hazmat and Testing in Burnaby, BC. This key strategic partnership will allow us to offer in-house lab services which will reduce both costs and wait times for forensic analysis.
“The acquisition of Sure Hazmat will immediately strengthen MBC Group’s environmental capabilities in Western Canada” says Christian Injates, MBC’s Senior Director of Environmental Services. “We are more than excited to add ten professionals to our environmental practice and to be able to extend analytical laboratory capabilities to our current offerings in the region.”
As MBC Group continues to grow upward and onward, we want to ensure every project we undertake has dedicated scientific and industry expertise to guarantee successful completion of project milestones. Since 2003, Sure Hazmat has been dedicated to the cause of creating safe and healthy spaces for people to live and work in. Their well-rounded approach to hazardous material management takes place both in the lab through their knowledgeable laboratory personnel, and right on the project site through their experienced field technologists. Combining our team’s technical capabilities will ensure fast, accurate and first-class services, contributing to our national services while we continue to expand into new fields and adjacent markets.
“We are excited to have Sure Hazmat’s highly experienced and passionate team join our experts in our common goal,” says Ross Huartt, President of MBC Group, “they will be a key part in advancing our scientific initiatives and will allow us to broaden our client base and widen the reach and scope of our solutions.”
Acquiring Sure Hazmat supports MBC Group’s evolution by enabling us to offer increasingly inventive solutions nation-wide. Our Research and Development Division is moving into the next stage of growth, this acquisition coming in line with our recent announcement of our Integrated Laboratory for rapid testing and analysis, going live this Spring.
For more information, please email assignments@mbc-group.ca.
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.
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3 Ways to Have A Healthier Home in The New Year
By: Dan Faraldo, Avigael Laeda, & Sarah Dahlqvist
Most New Year’s Resolutions focus on self-improvement in some way. Generally, people try to quit smoking, start exercising, or change their diets to include healthier food choices as ways to improve their health. However, most neglect to make resolutions about improving the air they breathe. It goes without saying that the air we breathe is vital to our health, especially during this critical time as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise. A lot of us are working from home in the midst of the pandemic, and all of us are spending more time quarantined at home, so why not make 2021 the year you make your home the healthiest it has ever been!
Here are three ways to have a healthier home in the new year:
- Focus on improving indoor air quality. This newfound focus will require many tasks – but they shouldn’t be hard to do. Regular vacuuming, dusting, and mopping will eliminate many of the dust particles that prevent our air from being at its purest. Buying houseplants would also be another great thing to consider, as they help to improve the oxygen content of the air we take in. As well, making sure to take your shoes off before entering your home will prevent excess dirt and grime to come in from outside. Our team of environmental experts at MBC specializes in Air Quality Services. We employ a number of trained individuals who all have strong understandings of the indoor environment. They maximize their inspection processes to target all areas of concern in your home or office. The air you breathe in your home, if not looked after, can cause health and wellness issues that can be avoided through thorough inspections.
- Test for asbestos. Known for causing lung cancer, mesothelioma and other deadly respiratory diseases, asbestos is definitely a material you do not want in your home. This is not to scare you! Even if asbestos is present, it is not a danger unless the materials are disturbed. If you plan to do renovations, or if you live in an older home, our consultants can complete on-site assessments as well as sampling and analysis of the materials collected. Our team will be able to let you know if you should be concerned about asbestos, and if applicable, locate asbestos contained within such areas as your furnace, plumbing, electrical wiring, attics, cinder block walls, flooring, and ceilings.
- Limit the moisture in your home. When you’re taking a shower – especially when you take those long hot showers during the winter – it’s important to get your exhaust fan running, and to leave it running for about 20-30 minutes after your shower is complete. When you’re cooking in the kitchen, running your exhaust fan is just as important. Limiting moisture in your home will help to prevent the growth of mould. Another helpful tip is to look at your windows and if there is a moisture build-up. If so, it might be time to consider addressing the problem. When mould spores are airborne, they can present many health hazards to our respiratory systems. Asthmatics should be especially aware of this.
Another service we offer is Moisture Monitoring Services, which evaluates buildings for moisture sources such as building envelop failures, leakage issues and occupant-based moisture sources that could be the cause of mould development. We also offer Mould Assessment Services that include inspections involving analytical sampling, moisture analysis and thermal scanning. If you have noticed mould in your home, or areas that have a lot of moisture, be proactive and reach out today.
Let’s work together to make 2021 your healthiest year yet! For more information on any and all of the above-mentioned services, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-547-0608 or email us at: assignments@mbc-group.ca to see how we can help.
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Meet Ismael Charrat
Ismael Charrat is MBC Group’s Senior Manager in Vancouver, BC. Ismael originally obtained his bachelor’s degree in Engineering in Morocco, eventually making his way to Montreal, where he studied and received his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering. Ismael holds the Professional Engineering designation and has made many strides in his impressive career, with a decade of experience working for contractor companies to complete large and complex commercial and residential projects.
In September of 2020, Ismael moved to Vancouver from Montreal in the wake of the pandemic to embark on a new adventure and expand his opportunities. When Ismael met Ross Huartt, MBC Group’s president, he recognized the drive for innovation and ambition to incorporate new technologies into current processes to refine and advance our service offerings for our clients. It was clear that as a company which is expanding so quickly there would be room for unlimited growth at MBC Group.
Ismael is currently evolving the systems in place to account for the growing company, working with efficient technologies to decrease turnaround times without decreasing the quality of work. For Ismael, the possibilities are endless, showcased by the upcoming acquisition of a lab in Vancouver as well as the opening of additional labs across Canada. For him, it’s very exciting and rewarding to be a part of that. Ismael’s team consists of 7 experts and works very efficiently, half who address insurance losses such as fires, floods, and impacts. This half of the team complete damage assessments and assist with acquiring building permits, among other tasks. The other team focuses on structural engineering, such as new buildings, repairs, and tenant improvements. And who can forget about Diane, their administrator who helps to coordinate the whole operation. Ismael is proud of the systems he is already helping put in place and knows he will be just as proud for the foreseeable future.
The nature of work at MBC Group is diverse, which keeps it exciting. From small repairs and renovations to very large design builds, there is never a dull moment! He encourages those with the same passion and drive for growth to look to MBC as their destination. Ismael calls for people who see further than themselves and have a great outlook on the future to join the team at MBC Group and be part of the culture of innovation. MBC Group experts must be passionate about what they do, have a great approach to communication with clients, and a drive for success and innovation that matches the leaders who are making it all happen.
When Ismael isn’t focusing on his work, he enjoys playing guitar. He sets the pre-pandemic scene we all yearn for by describing having his favorite people around the table, a cup of wine, and the strumming of some flamenco tunes, an influence from his home. Ismael, we are excited to see how you continue to fine-tune operations here at MBC Group!
Ismael can be reached at Ismael.charrat@mbc-group.ca or 1-800-547-0608.
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MBC Group Announces New Partnership with RML Appraisals for Equipment and Industrial Machinery
CALGARY, AB, JANUARY 11, 2021 – MBC Group is always on the lookout for experts that can add to our valuable and reliable suite of client solutions. As a company who offers multiple services to streamline projects, we strive to employ not only outstanding individuals, but also partner with companies whose work quality and delivery time is on par with our own.
We are proud to announce our most recent partnership with RML Automotive Appraisals, who have been setting the standard for automotive & equipment damage appraisals since 1979. The RML team of appraisers conduct appraisals for domestic and foreign automobiles, light and heavy trucks, and equipment including farming and heavy equipment, recreational vehicles, water and marine craft, all-terrain vehicles, and provide low and minimal impact reporting, other specialty vehicle appraisals, Drug Testing on Theft Recoveries, as well as Manufacturing and Industrial Equipment.
RML’s reputation for booking jobs within one day and delivering on a consistently fast turnaround makes them a top choice for appraisals in Canada.
“This is a partnership that means more resources for both our clients as well as MBC Group’s. It is important in this realm to be able to have trustworthy sources for our clients so they know they will get the highest quality service,” says David Riddell, President of RML Automotive Appraisals, “I am looking forward for the synergy this new relationship will bring.”
RML delivers outstanding service, which results in happier insureds and makes for better retention and happier insurance brokers. It also means fewer phone calls to adjusters and better overall claims management. The high-performing appraisers at RML are dedicated to improving the customer experience and paying attention to the needs of their clients and the value of their service.
Ross Huartt, President of MBC Group comments, “The combined capabilities of RML and MBC means a continued expansion of our service offerings from a trusted source. I am confident that our clients will be impressed with the quality of work RML consistently provides.”
For more information about our service offerings please contact Naomi Myers, our Director of National Services. Ms. Myers can be reached at naomi.myers@mbc-group.ca or toll free at 1-800-547-0608.
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.
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MBC Newsletter: Issue 1 – JAN 2020
New year, new newsletter! Check out the first edition of The MBC Voice. Catch up on all the exciting changes at MBC as we take a look at the last year and what’s to come.
To view the newsletter, please click here.
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Ricky Cormier Joins MBC Group as the Senior Project Manager for Atlantic Canada
MONCTON, NB, JANUARY 4, 2020 – With the addition of Ricky Cormier as our Senior Project Manager for the Major Projects team, MBC Group will increase its presence in Atlantic Canada and enhance the client experience. Ricky is based in Moncton and will be providing full bilingual services in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and other surrounding areas.
Ricky has over 20 years of experience in the construction and insurance industries, as a project manager, insurance adjuster, and contract specialist. Throughout his career Ricky Cormier has consulted on a wide range of complex insurance losses including residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural properties. Mr. Cormier has also been involved in a number of major projects across Canada including the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton and the Suncor Voyageur Village Complex in Fort McMurray. Over the years, Ricky’s experience has evolved to include a variety of specialized services that further strengthen Mr. Cormier’s credibility as a renowned consultant.
“Ricky will undoubtedly be a great asset to MBC Group’s growing presence in Eastern Canada. I am impressed by his expertise and know he will accomplish great things at MBC Group. Mr. Cormier’s broad, functional experience will help us further align and coordinate our efforts as we work to achieve our goals for customer success, category leadership, and growth.” says MBC Group’s President, Ross Huartt.
As MBC Group continues to grow and expand our service offerings, we are actively securing talented project management staff to meet the increased demand for our services and strive to exceed the expectations of our clients across Canada. We are excited to add Ricky and his wealth of knowledge and experience to our Appraisal team.
To strengthen our presence in these areas, Ricky Cormier will work closely with our Associate Director of Atlantic Canada, David Merks. For further information, Mr. Cormier can be reached at ricky.cormier@mbc-group.ca or toll free at: 1-800-547-0608.
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.
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Meet John Kuerbis
John Kuerbis has been a Cost Consultant with MBC Group since January 2020 and has a vibrant history leading up to his current position. In addition to running an Independent Adjusting Company in Fort McMurray for 18 years, he has performed international catastrophe work in Florida, Australia, and New Zealand. Reminiscing on his experiences in Florida during the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, he recalls what was like a post-apocalyptic scene, where driving into the city there was debris and garbage piled up to 30 feet high in the ditches. John considers it a privilege to be able to contribute to these catastrophic losses and work with people who had this massive tragedy happen. For him it is a surreal experience, being in a place away from home and helping these people put their lives back together while feeling the impact of these losses.
John believes that no matter where in the world, people are people, and continuing to meet people is one of his favorite aspects of the job. A big part of handling people is managing communication between all parties involved in a file. Ensuring everyone involved is on the same page and remains in the loop is a crucial part of moving a file along efficiently and reducing the friction that can occur when multiple parties are involved. His experience as an adjuster makes him a huge asset, being able to speak the language our clients speak when articulating what we do and the motivation behind it to eliminate any uncertainty and maintain trust.
John’s philosophy and his advice to anyone is to never stop learning. No matter what you do or your position in this world, there are always transferrable skills. Many people will stay in a job they don’t like because they don’t think they are capable of doing anything else. But if you are open to constructive criticism, if you can objectively look back on the things you have done and make every effort to refine your skills, you will continue to grow as an individual. Even at 55, John strives to keep learning and growing, avoiding being set in his ways. He is proud to say that even as an expert, he has found ways to improve his report compositions and approach to file reviews. Contributing to a big loss in a positive manner and being able to assist in smoothing the progression of a claim is an essential part of what we do at MBC Group.
His passionate and adventurous spirit extends beyond John’s professional life. As a father of 4, and grandfather of 2, he strives to maintain a good work-life balance, spending time with his family, as well as convening with the mountains. John has been extreme snowmobiling for 30 years, and still finds it exhilarating. For him it is amazing and humbling to see a part of the world at the top of some of these mountains, and to know less than 100,000 people have seen that view. And then going down the mountain at speeds of up to 100 miles an hour without being able to touch the brake. As John puts it, there on the hill, as well as in life, you have to trust in yourself and your abilities.
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Meet Kristjan Kristjansson
Kristjan Kristjansson began as an Appraiser with MBC Group in the Spring of 2018 and in just two years has stepped up to the position of Appraisal Manager for all of Alberta. Out of high school and for the ten years following, he began his career as a technician, going straight up the ladder to become a foreman and eventually moving to project management. Kristjan’s job performance is impressive, and his eagerness to constantly expand his knowledge and base of expertise is what makes him stand out in MBC Group’s management team.
For Kristjan, the success of a manager is determined through the success of the team. The appraisal team has doubled this year, and the most rewarding part is seeing that his team is properly trained, coming full circle to where those employees are now doing the training themselves. His team’s growth is what inspires him, and the domino effect of watching people come up to the plate and knock it out of the park with their job performance.
Kristjan would like to see people who are willing to learn and take on a challenge, join MBC Group’s team. It takes open-minded individuals who are willing to grow and adapt to have the kind of creative capacity that makes MBC Group stand out. The industries that MBC Group provides services for are always changing and every project is different, but the team is always willing to take on a challenge and approach each project with an open mind. They utilize their years of experience in related fields to come to a creative and comprehensive solution.
It is just this kind of team approach that leads to the success of MBC Group. Take the floods in Fort Mac earlier this year; Kristjan could not have been more impressed with the exceptional teamwork that took place. The team went in full force, all lines of business on the ground on day one and performed at their best, working together for a common goal, and combining their own opinions and expertise for the best outcome. Kristjan cannot wait to see catastrophe response flourish even more at MBC Group.
Kristjan looks forward to the growth opportunity not only for himself, but also the team he manages. His passion for raising the bar of what can be accomplished and never believing that anyone can ever know it all, is the kind of passion that is driving not only MBC Group’s consultants but also the innovation of the MBC Group on a wider scale. When Kristjan isn’t raising the bar at work, he raises the bar quite literally over his head. His passion for Competitive Olympic Weightlifting is a metaphor of the problems we all face day to day and lets him tackle them in a concrete way. The more weight he can lift (or carry on his shoulders), the greater he can be in life as well as the workplace. Great form, Kristjan!
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Les femmes en STIM
Aujourd’hui, nous honorons et nous nous souvenons des victimes du massacre de l’École polytechnique, et de la Journée nationale de commémoration et d’action contre la violence faite aux femmes qui a été instituée à la suite de ce sombre événement de notre histoire. Cette tragédie a suscité une énergie empreinte de fierté et de l’importance de mettre en lumière les femmes en STIM partout au Canada. Nous avons saisi cette occasion pour rencontrer Laurice Eppers, l’une de nos ingénieures qui travaille dans notre bureau de Vancouver.
Laurice est originaire du nord de Chicago. Elle a obtenu un baccalauréat en architecture à Milwaukee en 1989 et a ensuite poursuivi un deuxième baccalauréat en génie civil, ainsi qu’une maîtrise en génie civil avec une spécialisation en ingénierie des structures. Entre ses études, elle a travaillé comme ingénieure à Chicago et a décidé plus tard qu’elle voulait s’installer sur la côte ouest, ce qui l’a amenée à Vancouver. Avec sa formation d’architecte, Laurice a le souci du détail et le don de visualiser les choses en trois dimensions et de traduire ces informations en documents bidimensionnels. La partie de son travail qu’elle préfère est la coordination avec les entrepreneurs et les architectes au début d’un projet ou pendant la phase de construction, ce qui lui permet de garder les dossiers à jour afin d’assurer qu’aucun élément ne soit oublié dans les documents de construction.
Lorsqu’on l’interroge sur son expérience en tant que femme dans l’industrie, Laurice répond que cela comporte des hauts et des bas et ne peut pas nier que, selon la personne à laquelle on a affaire, il se dégage une certaine hésitation à l’égard des femmes dans l’industrie en général. Malgré la hiérarchie évidente qui existe, elle se sent chanceuse d’avoir eu une expérience plutôt positive au cours de son parcours. Pour les filles ou les femmes qui se sentent intimidées, Laurice souhaite leur transmettre le message suivant: « Ne rendez pas les armes et ne laissez jamais personne vous décourager dans vos passions ou vos objectifs. »
Comme aujourd’hui est un jour non seulement de commémoration mais aussi d’action, joignez-vous à nous pour prendre le temps d’honorer le legs des victimes du 6 décembre 1989. Recherchez des organisations locales et nationales pour faire un don si vous êtes en mesure de le faire. Prenez le temps de vous renseigner pour trouver d’autres moyens de soutenir ces causes importantes ou découvrez les femmes qui ont ouvert la voie aux jeunes générations et qui préparent le terrain pour les générations à venir.
En apprendre davantage :
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/fr/article/tragedie-de-polytechnique
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/dossier/26985/tuerie-polytechnique-25-ans
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/fr/collection/les-femmes-en-stim
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/063.nsf/fra/h_97413.html
https://femmesenstim.ingeniumcanada.org/
Faites un don :
https://scwist.ca/fr/get-involved/donate/
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