Dean Reidt's philosophy: Give more than the minimum in work and in life

Dean and wife, Debbie at the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania

Dean Reidt grew up on a farm in north-central Saskatchewan. As a young child he enjoyed being outdoors. Dean recalls, "As a kid, I started driving trucks, tractors, and just about all the farm equipment pretty much as soon as I could reach the pedals and Mom finally agreed to it."

When Dean decided to pursue a university education, he liked the idea of civil engineering and saw it as an opportunity to be able to spend some of his career in the outdoor environment that he loved.

While at university, Dean remembers one particular day in his third year, "A new "mature" student showed up in one of my classes and sat in the front row. He seemed to know what he talked about and had no problems challenging some of the professors." That "mature" student was none other than Dan Hogan, long time member of our Saskatchewan operation and Vice-President of the Associated Engineering Saskatchewan office from 1996 to 2004. Dean did not know Dan at the time, but Dan's approach taught him that practical experience in the work force provides a platform from which one can then "challenge" ideas and cultivate knowledge based on experience.

Upon graduating from the University of Saskatchewan in 1982, Dean found employment with the Department of Saskatchewan Highways in North Battleford. Dean recalls, "My first direct supervisor was a man named Lorne Edwards. Lorne was influential, teaching me to think solutions through and trust in myself. He told me at the start to make my decisions based on the tools I had and if the problem was thought out, he would back me." It was during his time with the Saskatchewan Department of Highways that Dean was introduced to Associated Engineering. Dean says, "The Saskatchewan Department of Highways made the decision to have the private sector perform more of their engineering and, as a result, my position was no longer required. However, Associated Engineering was literally across the street in North Battleford and they were now receiving more work and needed more staff as a result. I interviewed with Ed Phillipon, who managed the office. At the time, I was a little apprehensive about the move from the public to private sector, but soon found the change fit me well. While I believe that a career in the public sector has its rewards and benefits, the private sector turned out to suit me as I had more opportunity to develop business and client skills, and am able to work on diverse projects - throughout Canada as well as internationally. That was how I began working for Associated Engineering. I am still here some 25 years later, so obviously the move was a good one!"

One of his most memorable projects while at Associated Engineering was a project in Vietnam relating to highway maintenance. Dean recalls, "This project offered the opportunity to work in a developing country and share knowledge with other engineers. I was fortunate to see first hand the basic economic theory of needing a transportation system to get goods to market. It was also an invaluable life lesson demonstrating to both my wife, Debbie, and I how good we have life in Canada."

Dean on a 50 kilometre race in Lethbridge called the "Lost Soul"

Dean credits Associated Engineering's Herb Kuehne, Blair Birch, and Gene Luchka with mentoring him and helping him to hone his technical skills, as well as teaching him about being a consulting engineer and the importance of satisfying your client on all aspects of an assignment. Given the experience of having such great mentors led Dean to become involved in the Associated Engineering Mentoring Program himself. "I believe in the formal mentoring concept that AE has recently developed. Without a formal program, it is far too convenient not to mentor in the busy times as there is so much to do. Likewise, in the not so busy times, it is easy to overlook mentoring as we are all busy with marketing and bringing in more work." Dean loves to travel and has been to such diverse places as southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Phillippines), Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica), South America (Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil), Europe (Germany, Holland), Egypt, and Africa (Kenya and Tanzania).

In addition to travelling, Dean enjoys long distance running. "I started long distance running about 3 or 4 years ago with 50 kilometre runs. This year I finished two 100 kilometre runs, the latest one in Lethbridge this past September. I love the challenge of long distance running and the alone time in nature. The down side of it of course is that it can get pretty lonely running for hours alone so I try to find someone who runs at my pace for some company."

When asked what advice Dean can provide to young engineers entering consulting engineering he says, "I would tell them to take advantage of the opportunities to work on different types of projects and with the other company offices and be prepared to give more than the minimum in your work, just as one would do in life, in order to make your career and life the best experience possible."