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MHCA STAFF

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CHRIS LORENC, BA, LLB

President & CEO

clorenc@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379
Follow Chris on twitter
Bio

WENDY FREUND SUMMERFIELD

Manager of Finance & HR

wendy@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379
Bio

CHRISTINE MILLER

Operations Manager

christine@mhca.mb.ca
204-594-9053
Bio

CATHERINE MITCHELL

Policy and Communications Manager

catherine@mhca.mb.ca
204-594-9055
Follow Catherine on twitter
Bio

LEE WOODS, MBA

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

lee@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379
Bio

JULIE DESROCHES

MHCA Office Administrative Assistant

julie@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379
Bio

WORKSAFELY® STAFF

DON HURST, B. A., M.A. (Econ.)

Director of WORKSAFELY®, Education and Training

don@mhca.mb.ca
204-291-4740
Bio

PHIL McDANIEL,
OH&S Cert., P. Gold Seal Cert., NCSO, CRM

WORKSAFELY® Senior Safety Advisor & Indigenous Engagement Leader

phil@mhca.mb.ca
204-997-5205
Bio

RANDY OLYNICK,
NCSO, CRSP

WORKSAFELY® Regional Safety Advisor, Eastern Region

randy@mhca.mb.ca
204-295-3876
Bio

TREVOR SHWALUK, NCSO, B.P.E.

WORKSAFELY® Regional Safety Advisor, Central Region

trevor@mhca.mb.ca
204-594-9061
Bio

DAVE McPHERSON, NCSO

WORKSAFELY® Safety Advisor and Indigenous Liaison, Northern Region

dave@mhca.mb.ca
204-271-2088
Bio

GERRY McCOMBIE,
Gold Seal Cert., NCSO

WORKSAFELY® Regional Safety Advisor, Western Region

gerry@mhca.mb.ca
204-720-3362
Bio

DELANEY KUNZELMAN-GALL, B.Env.Sc., OH&S Cert., NHSA 

WORKSAFELY® Regional Safety Advisor, Southern Region

delaney@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379
Bio

JESSIE SMITH,
OH&S Cert., NCSO

WORKSAFELY® Education Programs Coordinator

jessie@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379
Bio

SARAH CRAIG, OH&S Cert.

WORKSAFELY® Client Services Advisor

sarah@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379
Bio

KRISTEN RANSON

MHCA WORKSAFELY®
Administrative Coordinator

kristen@mhca.mb.ca
204-594-9056
Bio

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CHRIS LORENC, BA, LLB

President & CEO
clorenc@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379
Follow Chris on twitter

A lawyer by background, Chris Lorenc has served as President & CEO of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA) since 1991, and President of the Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association (WCR&HCA) since 1995.

Mr. Lorenc is employer representative (2023-2027) to the Board of Directors of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba, a position he previously held from 2016-2019.

Mr. Lorenc has served since 2000 as member of the Manitoba Employers Council; is a founding member (2009) and past Chair (2016-2018) of the CentrePort Canada Board of Directors; founding Chair (since 2004) of the SAFE Roads Committee; founding member of the Manitoba Construction Sector Council (2001-2008) and returned to the Board in 2019. He served as employer representative on the Manitoba Labour Board 2008-2018 and was re-appointed in 2021. He is member of the Canadian Construction Association Civil National Advisory Council (Civil NAC) and Board member of the Civil Infrastructure Council Corporation (CICC) which advocates for sustained, predictable and incremental investment in Canada’s core infrastructure with a focus on growing the economy.

Mr. Lorenc served on Winnipeg City Council from 1983 until 1992. While on Council he was member of the Executive Policy Committee and chaired several of its Standing Committees, including Publics Works and Environment. He retired from elected office in 1992.

Since 1991, Mr. Lorenc has been active with the Canadian Construction Association (CCA). He has been a leading advocate championing the links between strategic investment in trade-enabling infrastructure and economic growth. His contributions at the national level were acknowledged with a public recognition presented to him by the CCA, the first time a chief operating officer has been so recognized.

In 2011, Mr. Lorenc chaired the Infrastructure Funding Council (IFC) Report for then Mayor Sam Katz and the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM). It identified sustainable infrastructure funding models for municipalities. The report continues to influence and shape infrastructure funding policy discussion.

The Mayor’s Trade Council report he chaired (2007-08) for Mayor Katz is often cited as the genesis of CentrePort Canada. For this work, he was awarded in June 2009 the ‘Manitoba Service Excellence Partnership Award’ by the Government of Manitoba.

He was a member of the Winnipeg Football Club Board of Directors (2014-2020) and served  as Corporate Secretary, member of its Executive Committee, Chair of its Community Relations Committee and member of its Governance and Nominations Committee; employer representative on the WCB Act Legislative Review Committees in 2005 and again in 2017; Chair of the WCB’s Prevention Committee (2017-2019); he chaired the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region Master Transportation Plan Implementation Task Force in 2015 resulting in a report Transportation Driving Growth (2016); in 2014 he initiated and was named chair of the CCA Aboriginal Engagement Best Practices Task Force, whose report Indigenous Engagement Guide is the first best-practices guide of its kind designed to assist the Canadian construction industry to meaningfully engage with Canada’s Indigenous communities. In 1998 and again in 2000 he chaired the Strategic Infrastructure Reinvestment Policy (SIRP) task forces which provided infrastructure investment guidance to the City of Winnipeg.

Mr. Lorenc has served on and/or chaired many civic and provincial policy task forces. He is often invited to speak to a variety of forums and to comment in media on broad public policy topics.

Mr. Lorenc has been married to Maria since 1981; they have three sons Marek (’84), Gregory (’86) and Michael (’88). He enjoys travelling, reading, boating, and spending time at the family cottage at Winnipeg Beach (’82).

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WENDY FREUND SUMMERFIELD

​Manager of Finance and HR
wendy@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379

Wendy is a highly organized and detail-oriented manager who is responsible for a number of MHCA financial portfolios. Wendy manages the finances for MHCA’s WORKSAFELY® and WORKFORCE® programs, and also oversees the finances of The Road and Infrastructure Program of Canada (Manitoba) and the Western Canada Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association.

Dealing directly and professionally with many departments, agencies and individuals to produce error-free financial reporting, Wendy’s diligence helps the MHCA achieve objectives set out by the executive and management team. Wendy’s attention to detail and her organizational skills are key assets in her responsibilities to coordinate Board and Executive Committee meetings, managing human resources and assisting legal matters. Wendy joined the MHCA in 1993.

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CHRISTINE MILLER

Operations Manager
christine@mhca.mb.ca
204-594-9053

Christine is a creative and dedicated professional with promotional and management expertise, delivering exciting, successful events that exceed expectations. Responsible for overseeing all major MHCA events, she is the driving force behind Golf Classic Tournament, Spring Mixer, Chair’s Gala, and Breakfast with the Leaders. Her experience in event planning, promotion and sponsorship, combined with impressive organizational skills, explains why MHCA events are popular and deliver great value to the association and attendees.

Christine is responsible for growing and maintaining the MHCA membership base, which she does through promoting and communicating the benefits of the association to the heavy construction industry throughout Manitoba. Christine joined the MHCA in July, 1999.

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CATHERINE MITCHELL

Policy and Communications Manager
catherine@mhca.mb.ca
204-594-9055
Follow Catherine on twitter

Catherine Mitchell is the MHCA’s policy analyst and has oversight of the association’s communications strategy and projects.

Catherine joined the MHCA in 2016, following 30-plus years with the Winnipeg Free Press as a journalist. Her last 16 years at the Free Press were spent as a member of the editorial board, during which time she received a National Newspaper Awards merit citation for her writing.

She draws upon experience in public policy, and editorial and commentary writing in her responsibilities at the MHCA for policy analysis, advocacy, community and government relations, communications and issues management.

Catherine has direct oversight of MHCA’s media relations, publications and printed materials, including the association’s annual membership directory, annual report, bi-annual supplement in the Winnipeg Free Press and the Heavy News, the industry’s go-to weekly news source. She is a resource to numerous association committees, and regularly attends industry and business events in the community to keep the association’s members on top of economic and community developments.

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LEE WOODS

Marketing & Communications Coordinator
lee@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379

Lee joined the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association in 2018, as the marketing & communications coordinator. He holds a masters of business administration from Brock University and has worked in marketing related roles since 2015. Lee moved to Winnipeg in July of 2018.

At the MHCA, Lee manages the association website, compiles the Heavy News each week and prepares marketing materials for the association and its many annual events. He supports the WORKSAFELY®, Events and Communications programs and activities, and coordinate the multi-stakeholder SAFE Roads Committee and its bi-annual awareness campaigns.

Tourism Winnipeg has awarded Woods the 2020 Volunteer of the Year Award, presented to a volunteer in the hospitality industry who exhibits excellence and dedication in his work to provide outstanding service to enhance visitors’ experience.

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JULIE DESROCHES

MHCA Office Administrative Assistant
julie@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379

Julie re-joined the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association in 2023, as the office administrative assistant, and is the first point of contact for members, industry workers, suppliers that assist in MHCA business, and the public.

Julie, a Flin Flon native, has extensive and varied experience in the administration field, including the early start at MHCA (2001-2003) as an administrator with the health and safety program, then known as SHEP.

Since then, Desroches has worked in administration and human resources in the health care, agriculture and education fields, and at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

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DON HURST, B. A., M.A. (Econ.)

Director of WORKSAFELY®, Education and Training
don@mhca.mb.ca
204-291-4740

An economist by background, Don Hurst has been the director of the MHCA WORKSAFELY® Education and Training Program since 2015.

Don joined the MHCA after nearly three decades in public service at both the provincial and federal levels.

Don is responsible for overseeing all education and training-related programs, including the delivery of the COR® safety program, heavy construction industry workforce training and advocacy in the areas of safety and health legislation, policy and enforcement, and WCB prevention policy.

Don has extensive background in economics and strong executive leadership skills. His experience in various government departments includes developing policy in economic development, finance and taxation. As the past director of Workplace Safety and Health for the province, his responsibilities included new developments with government legislation; the first joint prevention plan between the Workers Compensation Board and government; and the development, approach and implementation to inspections, regulations and compliance awareness within the construction sector. It was the relationships he built along the ways that led him to MHCA.

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PHIL McDANIEL, OH&S Cert., P. Gold Seal Cert., NCSO, CRM

WORKSAFELY® Senior Safety Advisor & Indigenous Engagement Leader
phil@mhca.mb.ca
204-997-5205

Phil is a graduate of Red River College’s Occupational Safety and Health Program. Phil is a seasoned safety professional with extensive work experience in Manitoba’s heavy construction sector. He has attained designations in the safety, health and risk management disciplines, including: National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO); Gold Seal Certification for Construction Safety Coordinator (GSC) through the Canadian Construction Association; and a Certificate in Risk Management (CRM) from the University of Winnipeg.

Phil is responsible for the development and delivery of training courses for the Introduction to Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program and for the development and delivery of other heavy equipment operator training and skills assessment initiatives for contractors, Indigenous communities and organizations.

Phil participates on industry technical committees as a subject-matter expert in the National COR® Safety Program.  He plays a key role in administering the National Construction Safety Officer designation on behalf of the heavy construction industry safety practitioners.  Since joining the MHCA in 2007, he has been instrumental in promoting and helping employers in the industry successfully attain and integrate COR® and SECOR® certification.

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RANDY OLYNICK, CRSP

WORKSAFELY® Regional Safety Advisor, Eastern Region
randy@mhca.mb.ca
204-295-3876

Randy is the WORKSAFELY® safety advisor for eastern Manitoba. Randy delivers COR® course instruction, reviews internal audits, conducts external audits, and also conducts spot safety inspections at company worksites and site visits.

His extensive experience and knowledge in safety and health legislation, incident investigations disability management are real assets for WORKSAFELY®. He is the program’s lead resource for incident investigations and assisting companies with disability claim management and return-to-work programs.

Randy’s experience in safety and health spans two decades and his previous experience in the private sector includes serving in supervisory roles in the environment, safety and health field. He also served as a senior safety and health officer at Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health branch. Randy started with MHCA in 2015.

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TREVOR SHWALUK, NCSO, B.P.E.

WORKSAFELY® Regional Safety Advisor, Central Region
trevor@mhca.mb.ca
(204) 594-9061

Trevor Shwaluk is the Central Region Safety Advisor in MHCA’s WORKSAFELY® program, having joined the MHCA in 2016. At WORKSAFELY®, Trevor delivers COR® course instruction, reviews internal audits, conducts external audits, makes worksite visits, and conducts spot safety inspections of company worksites. As well, he helps companies with musculoskeletal prevention, conducts flag-person and traffic-coordinator training.

Trevor comes to WORKSAFELY® with a background in kinesiology and athletic therapy. He holds a Bach. of Physical Education degree from University of Manitoba and also the National Construction Safety Officer designation.

He has over 10 years of experience working in bodily injury insurance with Manitoba Public Insurance and the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.

Trevor began working in the construction industry as a director of operations/safety coordinator when a friend requested assistance in acquiring COR® for his fast-growing company.

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DAVE McPHERSON, NCSO

WORKSAFELY® Safety Advisor and Indigenous Liaison, Northern Region
dave@mhca.mb.ca
204-271-2088

Dave brings years of leadership, safety, health and environment experience to MHCA’s WORKSAFELY® team. Based in Flin Flon, Dave works diligently to fulfil industry needs in Manitoba’s northern communities, including in remote First Nations locations. Services Dave delivers include COR® course instruction, review internal audits, conduct external audits, worksite visits, and spot safety inspections of company worksites.

Dave joined MHCA in 2015 after retiring from a management position at Hudbay Minerals. At Hudbay, he worked in a variety of roles, including co-chairing the Health and Safety Committee as a union representative, and serving as chief union steward before entering Hudbay management in 1996.

A Manitoban of Metis descent, Dave has a passion to help business and employees across northern Manitoba meet their safety and health goals through training and awareness. He believes that follow-up with people is critical in the COR® process and that monitoring through auditing allows for continual improvement in the industry.

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GERRY McCOMBIE, Gold Seal Cert., NCSO

WORKSAFELY® Regional Safety Advisor, Western Region
gerry@mhca.mb.ca
204-720-3362

Originally from Flin Flon, Gerry has lived in Brandon for over 20 years. As WORKSAFELY®’s safety advisor in western Manitoba, Gerry is responsible for COR® course instruction, reviewing internal and conducting external audits, general site visits, and conducting spot safety inspections at worksites.

Gerry joins us after working at Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health branch from 2013-2017. He spent 10 years working as a safety manager in the heavy construction industry.

Gerry brings extensive experience and knowledge of the heavy construction industry and the COR® program, and holds both the National Construction Safety Officer and Gold Seal certifications.

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DELANEY KUNZELMAN-GALL, B.Env.Sc., OH&S Cert., NHSA 

WORKSAFELY® Regional Safety Advisor, Southern Region
delaney@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379

Delaney joined the WORKSAFELY® team in 2018 as a client services advisor. He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science from the University of Manitoba. Working previously in retail, the service industry and agricultural technology development, he went on to graduate from the Occupational Health and Safety program at Red River College.

At the MHCA, Delaney now serves as a safety advisor for the Southern Region and hopes to learn more about the heavy construction industry by conducting audits and teaching classes.

You can contact Delaney at delaney@mhca.mb.ca

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JESSIE SMITH

WORKSAFELY® Educations Programs Coordinator
jessie@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379

Jessie Smith joined MHCA WORKSAFELY® in 2022 as Education Programs Coordinator. A graduate of Herzing College in Occupational Health and Safety, Jessie brings over 6 years of heavy construction industry experience in the areas of safety, training and locates while working at Crown Pipeline and No Limits Underground, including 3 years as safety officer in underground utilities which gave her experience in investigations, policy writing and inspections.

Jessie also led the human resources recruitment team for No Limits Underground.

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SARAH CRAIG, OH&S Cert.

WORKSAFELY® Client Services Advisor
sarah@mhca.mb.ca
204-947-1379

Sarah worked as a personal lines insurance broker for 3 years before joining the Alberta Construction Safety Association where she worked in the COR®department. Sarah moved to Winnipeg in 2011, and joined the MHCA in 2012.

At the MHCA, Sarah oversees the WORKSAFELY® program database for the COR® program. She is responsible for developing customized COR® manuals, promoting and coordinating e-COR®, and overseeing the application of COR®quality-assurance procedures and the quality assessment of training program delivery.

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KRISTEN RANSON

MHCA WORKSAFELY® Administrative Coordinator
kristen@mhca.mb.ca
204-594-9056

Kristen has 15 years of experience in administrative roles, including within a college environment where she handled registrations, enrolment and student record keeping, bookkeeping and database management.

Kristen plays a vital support role to our WORKSAFELY® education and training program, maintaining our data base and ensuring all COR® -program company and training records are accurately recorded.

She serves as the primary contact for course inquiries and registrants, prepares materials for training sessions, and provides necessary materials and information to companies seeking to register for the COR®/SECOR®program. Kristen joined the MHCA team in 2016.

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Chair’s Gala

November 18, 2022
RBC Convention Centre

Close to 650pp attended from both industry, government and stakeholder partners.  It was the closing of Nicole Chabot’s two year term as Chair.  Dennis Cruise of Bituminex Paving was welcomed as the new Chair.

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2022 Heavy Santa

December 16, 2022
David Livingstone School

This event was made possible through fundraising at the MHCA Chair’s Gala and Spring Mixer.

104 goodie bags and presents were prepared for the grades 1-4 students at David Livingstone School. 

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Awards Breakfast & Annual General Meeting

November 18, 2022
RBC Convention Centre

Manitoba Transportation & Infrastructure (MTI) Award Winner

  • Grading – Strilkiwski Contracting Ltd.: PTH 6 Grahamdale
  • Paving – Coco Paving o/a Russell Redi-Mix: Bituminous Reconstruction PTH 83
  • Urban Works – Coco Paving o/a Russell Redi-Mix: Bituminous Reconstruction PA 634 and Bituminous Pavement PTH 5
  • Special Projects – Mekhana Development Corp/Arnason Industries Ltd: Theresa Point Airport
  • Major Structures – D. Steele Construction: Bridge Replacement over the Red River Floodway on PTH 59N
  • Minor Structures – Moncrief Construction Ltd.: Reinforced concrete box culvert on PTH 5
  • Water Management – Brunet Ltd.: Flood response, Morris ring dike closure

200 members and guests gathered to hear greetings from Premier Heather Stefanson and the newly elected Mayor of Winnipeg, Scott Gillingham. Hon. Doyle Piwniuk, Minister, Manitoba Infrastructure, handed out the MTI Awards.

31 companies were recognized for their milestone membership commitments.

Matthew Neziol, of Bayview Construction, received the Safety Leader Award.

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