Kerry Rudd, President, announces new staff appointments

Gary Hussey returns to Kelowna as Branch Manager

Gary Hussey, P.Eng. has been appointed as Branch Manager of our Kelowna office. Gary is a Civil Engineer with over 30 years of experience on infrastructure, transportation, water, and environmental projects. Since joining Associated Engineering, Gary has held roles of increasing responsibility including project manager, branch manager, and, most recently, Vice President and General Manager of our Southern Alberta operation. With Dick Vest's retirement as Branch Manager, Gary has accepted the position to return to Kelowna, where he started his career with Associated Engineering.

Ed Bird appointed as Risk Manager

Ed Bird, P.Eng. has been appointed as Risk Manager for the Associated Engineering group of companies. Ed’s primary role will be to identify, analyze, evaluate, and mitigate operational risks. A Senior Civil Engineer, Ed has 30 years of experience in infrastructure, water, and transportation engineering. Ed joined the company in 1980 as a project engineer, and since then has undertaken roles of increasing responsibility, including project manager, branch manager, and, most recently, Manager of the B.C. Municipal group.

Dale Loewen appointed as General Manager of Southern Alberta

Dale Loewen, P.Eng., PMP has been appointed as General Manager of our Southern Alberta operations. Dale is a Senior Civil Engineer and Project Manager with over 20 years experience on infrastructure, water, transportation, and environmental projects. Previously Manager of Infrastructure Services in Calgary, Dale brings to his new role a strong technical background and understanding of local issues. His proven management expertise, understanding of local communities, and knowledge of the engineering and the construction industry will be an asset in his new role.

Former Associated Engineering chairman and president, Jack O’Brien passes

It is with sadness that we announce that Jack O’Brien passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2005 after a long illness. Jack retired as Chairman of Associated Engineering in 1988 after almost 40 years with the company.

Jack’s entire career was with Associated Engineering, commencing as a student in 1949 in Edmonton. In 1959, Jack moved to British Columbia to manage the B.C. Operations until 1974 when he returned to Edmonton in a Senior Vice President role. In 1982, he became President and CEO of the company and in 1985 he assumed the role of Chairman.

In his many years of service to Associated Engineering, Jack oversaw a wide range of water supply and waste treatment projects and municipal works in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories. He directed the development of the company’s operations in B.C. and the expanded operations in the Pacific Rim area. At Jack’s retirement in 1988, one colleague likened his contributions as “the stuff that builds firm foundations for personal development as well as a strong corporate structure” and “demonstrates the spirit of our code of ethics, integrity and devotion to the engineering profession”.