Speakers

Barry McFadyen

Heat Design Equipment
Session: Infrared Heat Paving Technology
Date: Wednesday, Dec 3, 11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Room: Campania AB – Convention Floor

Changing the way the world constructs and maintains asphalt infrastructure utilizing infrared technology for longer lasting pavements, Barry has a Business Management education coupled with an entrepreneurial drive and a desire to achieve. Focused on customer service and a passion for asphalt. Dedicated and committed to the organization which he works for with strengths in management and sales. A proven leader with a successful track record in the road building/construction industry.

HDE manufactures Infrared asphalt heaters. A wide range of heaters used as tools in asphalt road construction, commercial asphalt maintenance, asphalt recycling and storage across the globe. All based on our patented infrared technology.

Colleen Munro

CEO Munro Construction
Keynote Message: Lessons from the Old Boys Club – A Woman’s Guide to Building a Better Business
Date: Thursday, Dec 4, 8:15 am – 9:30 am
Room: Tuscany/Trentino

Colleen Munro is sole owner and President of Hugh Munro Construction Ltd. (HCML), A heavy civil construction company. She has developed many partnerships with Indigenous peoples and signed agreements with a multitude of communities. She brings her expertise and knowledge of this industry to these groups providing education and training with a drive to help them become sustainable. While the heavy construction industry is cyclical in its nature, Colleen employs between 80 and 200 of people annually, covering all parts of the Province and locations outside of Manitoba as well.

In addition to HMCL Colleen is sole owner and President of the Munro Group, including Lilyfield Quarry Inc. Fort Whyte Lowbedding, and RockGlass. Colleen has worked in the business since 1977. She was named Secretary/Treasurer in 1982 and became President in 2008.

Jonathan Sherman

Birch Bark Safety
Session: Lessons from the Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge
Date: Thursday, Dec 4, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Room: Tuscany/Trentino

Bio: Jonathan Sherman has worked in occupational health and safety for over 16 years in various industries including construction, mining, manufacturing, post secondary and government. He most recently held the position of Director, Prevention at the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board before starting his consulting serivce in May of 2025. Jonathan is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and holds a BSc and MA from the University of Saskatchewan. He lives and works out of Saskatoon Saskatchewan.

Session: In this presentation we will learn about the various health and safety innovations utilized during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge (GGB) during the 1930s including the first modern recorded use of hard hats, individual fall protection, face cream to protect workers from high winds during construction, and of course the famous safety net, credited with saving 19 workers through the course of the build. The story does not end there, as the bridge quickly became the most deadly in North America, despite its revolutionary construction safety performance.

Frank Miller

Wirtgen Group
Session: Smart Compact Pro – Real-Time Density Scanning
Date: Wednesday, Dec 3, 11:15 am – 12:15 am
Room: Verdi – Main Floor

Frank Miller is a heavy equipment professional dedicated to helping contractors optimize productivity and achieve successful project outcomes. At The Wirtgen Group, he applies his technical expertise in milling, paving, and compaction solutions to deliver practical, results-driven support. Embodying the company’s “Close to our Customers” philosophy, Frank focuses on building lasting relationships, providing tailored solutions, and ensuring every project benefits from the highest standards of service and innovation.

Smart Compact Pro – Real-Time Density Scanning In this session, we will introduce Smart Comact Pro, an advanced compaction system that boosts consistency, quality, and accuracy by making automatic adjustments on the roller with minimal input from the operator. We will highlight the capabilities, the operation, and the applications along with practical benefits it brings to modern paving operations.

Gord Haines

Ministry of Highways
Session: Recycling Asphalt – Microsurfacing Pilot Project
Date: Wednesday, Dec 3, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Room: Verdi – Main Floor

Gord Haines is the Weyburn District Operations Manager at Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways. He joined the Ministry in 1986 as a labour employee and continued his career path to a managers position in 2007. He is currently a member of the Ministry of Highways RAP Management Working Group. Gord continues to enjoy the work at the Ministry and is always looking for ways to improve our Highways to serve Saskatchewan citizens and the traveling public.

Jeff Janssens and Ann Guider

McAsphalt Industries Ltd.
Session: Innovation in Asphalt Pavements
Date: Thursday, Dec 4, 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm
Room: Tuscany/Trentino

Jeff Janssens, B.Sc.M.E., P.Eng is a dynamic and results-driven professional with a diverse background spanning sales, marketing, engineering, and risk management. A licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng) with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Jeff brings over two decades of cross-industry experience to the table, including leadership roles in construction materials, insurance, and event management.

Currently serving as a Sales and Marketing Representative at McAsphalt, Jeff manages key accounts, coordinates logistics, and drives business development across multiple markets. His technical acumen, complements his strategic mindset and customer-focused approach. Jeff consistently delivers excellence through innovation, integrity, and a passion for building lasting relationships.

Ann Guider is an environmental scientist with a passion for sustainable solutions and innovative research. She earned her Master of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Regina, where her thesis on chemical-free arsenic removal led to a proprietary NSF-certified media approved for drinking water treatment. With a strong foundation in environmental science from Royal Roads University and additional training in business and nutrition, Ann has built a diverse career spanning water treatment, research leadership, and asphalt technology. For the past 15 years she has served as the Cold Processes Engineering Services Manager at McAsphalt Industries Regina Laboratory where she oversees mix design including cold mix, cold patch, sealcoating and microsurfacing.

Session Description: Innovation is critical for addressing infrastructure demands, sustainability goals, and cost efficiency in paving solutions. Key advancements include warm and cold mix processes that lower energy use, recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) for resource efficiency, and thinner applications to conserve materials without sacrificing durability. Emerging technologies such as bio-based additives and self-healing pavements further enhance performance and reduce reliance on non-renewable resources. Successful implementation requires strategic planning, innovative procurement, and collaboration among industry, government, and academia to overcome technical and regulatory challenges.

Joel Ulring

Minnesota Department of Transportation
Session: Micro-Milling & Thin Preservation Treatments
Date: Thursday, Dec 4, 11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Room: Tuscany/Trentino

Joel grew up and has lived in Minnesota most of his life.  He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from South Dakota State University.  He has been the MnDOT Pavement Preservation Engineer since January of 2020.  He joined MnDOT in 2013 as the State Aid Pavement Engineer where he assisted local agencies in Minnesota.  Joel considers himself very fortunate to have a long and very enjoyable career in transportation, geotechnical and materials engineering.  He has over 12 years with MnDOT, 17 years serving three Minnesota Counties and 11 years private consulting in geotechnical engineering and materials testing which included 4 years with Golder Associates in Anchorage, Alaska.  He has worked in the upper Midwest (South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota), Alaska, Canada and Western Australia.

Joseph Sarvajc

Joseph Sarvajc, G.I.T, is the acting Senior Project Manager with over 6 years of experience in government with the Ministry of Highways, and another 4 years in various positions within exploration geology. Using his geological exploration background, he focuses on managing the exploration and development of aggregate resources across Saskatchewan. He also has some brief project management experience with the Design group. Outside of work, Joey enjoys an active lifestyle of hockey, golf, and travel.

Kelly Pederson

Kelly Pederson is the Senior Materials Standards Engineer for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways. He first joined the Ministry in the spring of 2009 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan. Kelly’s roles with the Ministry have included roles as a Construction Project Manager, Logistics Program Manager, Regional Materials Engineer, Senior Materials Engineer, and most recently Senior Materials Standards Engineer. In this role Kelly is involved in development and updates to roadway materials standards, testing procedures and is also involved in the assessment of Ministry materials test sections. Kelly resides in Saskatoon and is married with five and seven year old daughters to keep him busy outside of work.

Asphalt Binder Selection For Pavement Design: A brief review of asphalt binder selection for asphalt mixtures. This will also include discussing the use of Polymer Modified Asphalt (PMA) and recent changes to the Guidelines for Selection of Asphalt Cement Grade for Surfacing Designs for Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways projects. 

Kurtis Robson

Deblo Industries Ltd.
Session: Hydrant and Valve Maintenance
Date: Wednesday, Dec 3, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Room: Campania AB – Convention Floor

Lauren Sergy

Public Speaking & Communication Skills Expert
Keynote Message: Collaborative Communication – Managing Tensions & Building Relationships
Date: Wednesday, Dec 3, 8:15 am – 9:15 am
Room: Tuscany/Trentino

Since 2011, Lauren has been helping organizations, businesses, and the professionals who work within them leverage the power of communication and speaking to improve their work and business. She’s worked with a wide variety of people from a range of intense, competitive industries. Her fresh and remarkably effective approach to public speaking helps people of all skill levels. Her method applies her diverse experience and education in acting, radio, lecturing, academics, staff training, and business.

Her book, The Handy Communication Answer Book, was recently published by Visible Ink Press. The Handy Communication Answer Book tackles real questions about communication in work and life, dealing with topics like business communication, public speaking, social skills, communication technology, history, and more. It is available at bookstores in the U.S. and Canada and through all major online booksellers.

Mike Aurillo

Session: High Performance and Self-Healing Pavements
Date: Wednesday, Dec 3, 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Room: Tuscany/Trentino

Nathan Duncan

Finning Cat Application Specialist
Session: The Importance of Quality Operator Training for the Future
Date: Wednesday, Dec 3, 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Room: Campania AB – Convention Floor

Experienced in equipment, construction technologies and machine sales with a demonstrated history of working in the construction industry. Skilled in Negotiation, Customer Service, Sales, Solution based sales, and value selling. Strong sales professional with a Redseal Heavy duty equipment mechanic trade certification. Antique Caterpillar enthusiast and collector.

Nichole Andre

Ministry of Highways
Session: Recycling Asphalt – Microsurfacing Pilot Project
Date: Wednesday, Dec 3, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Room: Verdi – Main Floor

Nichole Andre is the Pavement Preservation Program Engineer at Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways.  Nichole graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1998 with a degree in Civil Engineering.  She joined the Ministry of Highways working in various positions. Nichole joined the Technical Standards Branch in 2003 and has worked in pavement asset management and pavement preservation for 21 years. In Nichole’s current role she is responsible for pavement preservation programming for the province.

Scott Loyns, P.Eng.

Ministry of Highways
Session: Basics of Pavement Design for Sask Ministry of Highways
Date: Thursday, Dec 4, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Room: Campania AB – Convention Floor

Scott Loyns, P.Eng, is the Surfacing Project Manager for the Ministry of Highways and is currently on a term as the Senior Surfacing Engineer. In his role, he provides technical support on surfacing standards and specifications. Scott joined the Ministry 2 years ago, bringing with him more than 7 years of experience in municipal government, where he delivered capital infrastructure projects and managed the maintenance and operations of roadways, sidewalks, and water and sewer networks, including the distribution, collection, and treatment. In 2018, Scott also gained experience on the contractor side, working on the construction of the Boychuk and the McOrmond overpasses in Saskatoon.

Sylvia Marshall, P.Eng

Ministry of Highways
Session: Basics of Pavement Design for Sask Ministry of Highways
Date: Thursday, Dec 4, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Room: Campania AB – Convention Floor

Sylvia Marshall, P.Eng, is a Senior Project Manager with over 13 years of experience in government and more than 7 years delivering infrastructure projects. Her expertise includes managing surfacing designs, airport projects, culverts, and functional designs across Saskatchewan. Sylvia has led major initiatives such as the Saskatoon Freeway and has experience preparing federally funded applications and negotiating agreements. She has overseen project scope, consultant contracts, and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful outcomes.

Outside of work, Sylvia is a proud mom of two daughters and loves spending time with them doing crafts, baking Christmas cookies, and exploring local parks. She enjoys traveling and occasionally rolls the dice for fun, bringing a sense of adventure and balance to her life.

Trina Markusson

Keynote Speaker/Author
Session: Empowered Resilience: Introduction to Mindful Living
Date: Wednesday, Dec 3, 11:15 am – 12:15 am
Room: Tuscany/Trentino

Trina Markusson has been studying and practicing mindfulness for almost 20 years. She has participated in professional trainings in Mindful Teaching and Mindful-Based Stress Reduction and is certified in EFT (Tapping). Not only has she introduced mindfulness to thousands of people keynoting conferences, corporate professional development sessions/workshops, athletic focus for teams, private sessions and school visits, Trina now offers EFT Tapping presentations. As a Mindfulness Coach/Speaker, Trina’s passion is sharing these tools with both others, so they may live a calmer, more present and happier life. Trina has recently launched a new wellness app called “Release.” This unique app incorporates both Mindfulness and Tapping exercises to support positive mental health.

“Trina Markusson is an inspirational speaker. She is a “mindful” coach whose peaceful presence motivates individuals to discover happiness and gratitude in their daily lives. Trina’s presentations inspire positive change!” – Session Participant

Vitek Obr and Antonio Bauce

Exact Street Sweden
Session: 3D Milling: From Pilots to a Standard
Date: Wednesday, Dec 3, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Room: Tuscany/Trentino

Dr. Vítězslav Obr, Ing. (M.Sc.), Ph.D., Technical Director of Exact Street and Control System CA, more than 25 years of experience in the field of high precision surveying, more than 10 years of experience in the development and implementation of 3D road repair technologies, head of the R&D department engaged in the development of 3D milling technologies in cooperation with a number of scientific organizations, such as the European Space Agency, author of several patents in the field of 3D road repair.

Antonio Bauce, Business Development Director for Exact Street and Control System CA, focuses on acting as a bridge of commerce and communication between North America and Europe, promoting the exchange of ideas between Governments and Industry, particularly for Infrastructure and Technical Innovations. Antonio has 10 years of experience in International Trade and Trans-Atlantic Business Consulting and has served four different Governments in several countries including Taiwan (R.O.C), Czechia, the United States of America (USA) and Canada. Antonio manages the Canadian and American business development operations of Exact Street and has been instrumental in proliferating specifications for 3D Milling across North America.

Geoffrey Meinert, Ministry of Highways

Session: Highway 16 Restricted Crossing U-Turn Intersection

Date: Thursday, Dec 4, 11:15 am – 12:15 pm

Room: Campania AB – Convention Floor

This presentation highlights Saskatchewan’s first Reduced Collision U-Turn (RCUT) intersection on Hwy 16, a groundbreaking project that improves safety and traffic flow at a major intersection near Saskatoon. As the first of its kind in the province—and likely in Canada—the RCUT demonstrates innovative design and traffic flow to improve safety along Hwy 16. The project has earned multiple awards for excellence in transportation engineering and innovation, showcasing its success as a model for future infrastructure improvements.
Bio: Geoff is a Civil Engineer with over 20 years at the Ministry of Highways. His career spans multiple branches in the Ministry including Bridges, Construction, Operations, Major Projects, Design, and is currently the Director of Fleet Programs within Provincial Operational Services. Geoff has been involved with countless projects across Saskatchewan in all phases of work, working with municipalities, First Nations, businesses, landowners and contractors. He has contributed to several Ministry firsts, including Environmental Impact Assessments, Duty to Consult, alternative procurements, and the province’s first Reduced Collision U-Turn (RCUT) intersection on Hwy 16.