June 23, 2010

Boosting volunteers a priority for new Consulting Engineers of Ontario chair

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

HUNTSVILLE, Ont.

Boosting the association’s volunteer ranks has been earmarked as a priority by newly elected Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO) chair Shawn Gibbons.

“We have had significant success (in the past) because of the contributions of volunteers,” says Gibbons, senior vice-president of GENIVAR, a Canadian-based international consulting engineering firm

“My challenge to all of you when you go back to the shop is to try to recruit a couple of people to be part of a chapter, to be part of a committee.

“It is that level of commitment that we really need in order to be successful as we go forward.”

Gibbons said other priorities for his one-year term of office are government relations, identified as a top priority in a member survey conducted last fall, and implementation of a young professionals’ program.

He succeeded David Amm, senior vice-president of Hatch Mott MacDonald as chair of CEO.

Gibbons, who graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and from McGill University in 1980 with a master’s degree in hydrology, has more than 30 years of experience in the industry.

His credits include management of large multi-disciplinary projects, preparation of environmental study reports and other environmental assessment documents, design and preparation of tender documents, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and analysis, municipal servicing and water resources planning.

During his career, Gibbons has directed a variety of projects ranging from slope stabilization and storm water management facilities to major water and waste water infrastructure projects.

CEO represents 225 consulting engineering firms across the province.

Print | Email | Comment