FEATURED WINNER

Dean Cowling

“I had a picture of a house, and the house was Premiere Mortgage Centre”

Kerri Reed, Premiere Mortgage Centre

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WINNER: The WSPS Award for CEO of the Year

www.michelscanada.com

linkedin.com/company/michels-canada

info@gipi.com

780-955-2120

1102-16 ave, Nisku, Alberta, T9E 0A9, Canada

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WINNER: The WSPS Award for CEO of the Year

Dean Cowling

facebook.com/GreenInfrastructurePartners

@fundexcapital

1188 Whakue St, Rotorua Central, Rotorua

@GIP_social

Dean Cowling is the President of Michels Canada, which provides construction solutions in the energy, energy transition and renewables, power, heavy civil, trenchless, foundations, water, and wastewater industries. Dean thrives on creating a culture at Michels Canada where “every employee goes home safely every day”. Safety is a strategic business objective and a personal commitment to Dean and every leader and employee at the company. In addition to safety culture, Michels Canada takes great pride in its Health, Safety, Environmental, and Quality Management System, Policies, Standards, and Procedures, which employees at Michels Canada implement every day. Dean’s commitment, along with that of the entire Michels Canada Leadership Team and its employees, has fostered a culture where genuine concern for the well-being of every employee is observed every day. In addition, Dean is actively involved in reviewing every incident report, engaging with workers in the field during on-site visits, and discussing safety topics and best practices in a friendly and approachable manner. Since becoming President in 2019, Dean has been proud of the safety culture at Michels Canada, which continues to be a leading performer in the construction industry. Everyone at Michels Canada is proud of this WSPS Award for CEO of the Year.

The Lakes College Culinary Club (TLCCC) started with a team of 12 students and has now expanded to over 30 members, showcasing its continued success through participation in college events and even catering for local community organisations. This program not only imparts valuable culinary skills but also teaches the significance of community service, fosters practical abilities and cultivates a professional work ethic. Spanning ages 11 to 18, the Culinary Club challenges students to create elaborate six-course degustation dinners and manage large-scale catering for college gatherings. Chloe, a Year 7 student, praises the program for imparting essential life skills in an enjoyable way among friends. Likewise, Emily values the connections she forms despite the program’s demanding pace. Under the guidance of Chef Joel, TLCCC contributes to the college’s ethos and the students’ personal growth. The program’s commitment to local ingredients and culinary adventures is evident as it expands to include barista training and Responsible Service of Alcohol certification. The program seamlessly merges science, art and food technology, promoting discipline and shared responsibility. TLCCC embodies a commitment to service, community engagement and student leadership, cementing its unique character and contribution to The Lakes College.

youtube.com/@canterburycollege-waterford

CEO

A health and safety advisor at GIP, Di Fiore originally joined the company in 2021 as part of his internship/co-op program in the Occupational Health and Safety, Health Sciences, and Injury Prevention program through the University of Waterloo. The fundamentals he brought with him contributed to the successful implementation of GIP Infrastructure’s health and safety management system, with his grasp of risk management especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the well-being of GIP field crews. Di Fiore set himself apart by performing above and beyond expectations for a co-op student, and after graduation in 2022 he was hired on full-time as part of GIP’s HSE Team. Since coming aboard, Di Fiore has developed strong working relationships. He’s been heavily involved in the development and implementation of safe practices for work involving infrastructure activities, and maintains HSE communication with clientele at various projects. In 2022 Di Fiore was part of the team supporting the merger between the former GFL and Coco Groups Paving Division. Outside of his normal scope, Di Fiore joined several HSE initiatives to incorporate the best available health and safety practices, which led to additions to the 2023 GIP Health and Safety Manual. Di Fiore was also pivotal in the 2022 GIP Infrastructure Home Safe for the Holidays Campaign, which involved organizing multiple standdown meetings with crews across Canada and effectively articulating the message of the campaign. Day-to-day, Di Fiore plays a major role in the safety of GIP projects. He performs HSE inspections daily to identify gaps in the system and helps implement preventative/corrective actions, and he also follows up to ensure completion in a timely manner. He also develops site-specific safe work practices, project safety plans, and job task analysis to enable crews to work safely without affecting the integrity of services. Di Fiore also has a hand in initiating emergency response plans. Action recommendations put forward by Di Fiore always move the needle on workforce safety, and effective communication skills enable him to understand major deficiencies quickly. With his positive attitude, Di Fiore forges strong relationships and has great success with establishing safety measures; training people requires their cooperation, and positive safety culture is key to enhancing the safety performance of the organization. With an impressive drive to better himself and his skills, Di Fiore has completed over 50 health and safety training courses since joining the company. Dedicated to continuing his education, professional development, and training, Di Fiore has ambitions – becoming certified as a National Construction Safety Officer, and proceeding with certification from the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals once he qualifies. GIP excels in its safety targets and objectives in no small part due to Di Fiore’s genuine passion for his role. In a short time, he has already set himself apart from the crowd, and his flourishing skillset is a great asset to the organization today and into the future.