Canadian Business unveils 30th annual list of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies
Winnipeg, Manitoba - (September 13, 2018) Canadian Business and Maclean’s today ranked Manitoba’s TREK Geotechnical Inc. (TREK) as number 383 on the 30th annual Growth 500, the definitive ranking of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies. TREK is one of only 14 Manitoba companies to achieve a ranking this year and ranked 21st among the 35 professional services companies named.
Executive Vice-President
James Blatz is the Executive Vice-President and Chair of the Board of Directors for TREK. James served as TREK’s President and CEO from its establishment in 2010 to 2023. James practices primarily in the area of litigation and legal claims related to the design and construction of geotechnical infrastructure. He has served as a technical advisor and reviewer on major projects in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. He conducts research on flood protection infrastructure and risk management in geotechnical engineering design.
Senior Vice-President
Nelson is the Senior Vice-President and Senior Geotechnical Engineer at TREK with over 20 years of experience in Manitoba, western Canada, and the Arctic. Nelson holds a Doctor of Philosophy in geotechnical engineering where his research focused on soil-pipe interaction for gas pipelines in landslide prone areas. He specializes in geotechnical investigations, construction management, erosion protection, engineering materials, and engineering in remote locations.
Vice-President Quality and Innovation
Michael is the Vice-President Quality and Innovation and Senior Geotechnical Engineer at TREK. Michael served as TREK’s VP Finance and Chief Financial Officer from 2018 to 2023. Michael holds a Doctor of Philosophy in geotechnical engineering where his research focused on probabilistic evaluation of sub-surface investigations and slope stability analysis. Michael has worked across the prairie provinces, Ontario and the Yukon, and works primarily in the transportation infrastructure sector. Michael has extensive experience in the design and construction of slope stabilization, foundations and in dynamic pile loading testing using the Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA).
President and CEO
Kent is TREK’s President and CEO and is also a Senior Geotechnical Engineer at TREK with over 25 years of experience. Kent holds a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering and has extensive leadership experience serving as TREK’s first VP Engineering after being the Geotechnical Section Head at Manitoba Hydro. He has worked in both the public and private sectors throughout western Canada, and has extensive experience leading geotechnical aspects of major design-build infrastructure projects along with the design and assessment of dams and foundations.
Director
Ken Skaftfeld is a Director and Senior Geotechnical Engineer with 38 years of experience. Ken holds a Master of Science Degree in Geotechnical Engineering and provides senior review and technical input on a variety of projects. Ken has worked on a wide range of infrastructure, mining, flood protection, slope stability, foundation, and flood protection projects in western and northern Canada. Ken recently served as Co-Editor for the newest edition of the Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual to be issued in 2024.
Vice-President Engineering
Brent is the VP of Engineering and Senior Geotechnical Engineer at TREK with 15 years of experience. He manages TREK’s engineering services in Canada’s north. Throughout his career he has worked in Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Brent’s primary area of practice is permafrost engineering, construction support and site remediation in Canada’s north where he is leading TREK’s market expansion efforts.
Director, Building Services Lead
Ryan is a Director and Senior Geotechnical Engineer at TREK with 16 years of experience. He manages TREK’s services related to the design and construction of building foundations. In this role, Ryan oversees geotechnical exploration for residential, commercial and industrial developments, as well as pile installation observation and dynamic pile testing (PDA) services. Throughout his career he has worked in Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.
Manager of Water Resource Engineering
Senior Water Resource Engineer
Jim Friesen is a Senior Hydro-technical Engineer and Manager of TREK’s Water Resources group and has 20 years of experience. Jim has provided hydrologic and hydraulic analysis and designs to urban, rural and First Nation Clients in Water Resources and Municipal Engineering. His services have been applied to hydraulic modelling; infrastructure design; flood protection development; technical investigations; mine water management, environmental protection designs; Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis; economic cost benefit studies; and provision of resident engineering services relating to the design and construction of municipal infrastructure, drainage and shoreline protection. Jim joined TREK in 2017 to lead a new Water Resource Engineering group to complement our established geotechnical practice.
Associate Geotechnical Engineer
Steven is a Geotechnical Engineer with ten years experience in laboratory testing, research, and consulting. Steven has been involved in the design and construction of projects across Canada and specializes in slope stability and foundations.
Associate Geotechnical Engineer
Jenna is a Geotechnical Engineer with six years of consulting experience. Jenna has been involved in the design and construction of projects in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. Jenna’s experience includes geotechnical support for pipeline and mining projects as well as foundation engineering, slope stabilization works, and geotechnical instrumentation.
Associate Geotechnical Engineer
Nuno is a Geotechnical Engineer with five years of consulting experience and eight years of construction Project Management experience in Portugal and France. Nuno holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineer and is currently enrolled in a Master of Engineering program at the University of Manitoba. Nuno has conducted sub-surface investigations and provided geotechnical recommendations and design support in Saskatchewan, Ontario and Manitoba.
Associate Geotechnical Engineer
Beta is a Geotechnical Engineer with nine years consulting experience. Beta has been involved in the design and construction of projects in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.
Associate, Geotechnical Engineer
Matt is a Geotechnical Engineering Intern with five years of consulting experience. Matt has been involved in the design and construction of projects in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Alberta, BC and the Northwest Territories.
Senior Engineer
Larry is a Senior Engineer at EGE, with over 30 years of experience in environmental engineering, waste management, hydrogeology and engineering geology projects. Mr. Bielus’s involvement on these projects has included: site characterization; review of technical alternatives; conceptual planning; preliminary and detailed design; preparation of tender documents; construction management; instrumentation and monitoring; financial assessments; liaison with regulatory bodies; public hearings; open house presentations; and overall project management.
Associate Geotechnical Engineering intern
Jashandeep is a Geotechnical Engineering Intern with four years of consulting experience. Jashan holds B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from University of Manitoba. He has been involved in the design and construction of projects in Manitoba, British Columbia, and Ontario.
Associate, Geotechnical Engineer
Reinhardt is a Geotechnical Engineer with eight years of consulting experience. He serves as TREK’s CORTM safety representative. Reinhardt has been involved in the design and construction of projects in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.
Associate, Administrative Assistant
Sara is an Administrative Assistant and has been with TREK for 5 years.
Associate, Materials & Construction Manager
Angela Fidler-Kliewer is the Manager of Field and Laboratory Services at TREK and has 31 years of experience as a practicing geotechnical technician. Angela has been involved in Solid Waste construction projects in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and throughout the United States specializing in geomembrane installation.
Senior Geoscientist
David Klassen is a Senior Geoscientist at EGE, with more than 30 years of environmental consulting experience. David has worked on a wide variety of Phase I/II/III Environmental Site Assessments, Hazardous Building Materials Assessment and Abatement, Remediation, Remediation/Risk Management Plans and Environmental Impact Assessment and Licensing projects in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta for public and private sector clients.
Senior Geotechnical Engineer
Gil Robinson is a Senior Geotechnical Engineer at TREK with 28 years of experience in a variety of engineering projects including notable projects such as the Red River Floodway Expansion (Bridges & Transportation), MB Hydro Bi-pole 3 Converter Stations, True North Square project, RBC Convention Center Expansion, the James Richardson International Airport Site Redevelopment and Manitoba Hydro’s Downtown Office Building. He has excellent experience with foundations, including high strain dynamic testing, for bridges and various types of buildings from single storey structures to hi-rise buildings.
VP Finance and CFO
Greg is the VP Finance and CFO at TREK having joined TREK in 2023 to fuel its growth and culture through his 25 years of expertise as a Chartered Professional Accountant. Greg oversees all financial, human resources, IT and business administration activities. Greg’s past experience also includes that of owner, executive and CFO in various private companies operating across Western Canada.
Senior Hydrotechnical Engineer, Water Resources Manager
Natasha is a Water Resources Engineer with 10 years of experience in hydrologic and hydraulic engineering. Natasha joined TREK after 7 years at Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure where she gained experience in project management and design of water related infrastructure, notably culvert crossings, bridge crossings, provincial waterways, dams and control structures. She is proficient in 1D and 2D hydraulic modelling and has undertaken dynamic flood studies.
Senior Hydrotechnical Engineer
Jay is a Professor Emeritus Scholar of Civil Engineering at the University of Manitoba, where he worked from 1993 to 2024. He has 36 years of water resources / hydrotechnical engineering experience, both in academia and through private consulting. Jay has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in hydrology, hydraulics, design of hydraulic structures, river and ice engineering, and watershed modelling. He has trained nearly 30 Master’s, doctoral, and post-doctoral students and authored or co-authored more than 100 publications. Jay has been a consultant to many local engineering firms, the Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, the United Nations, and has also appeared in court to provide expert testimony. Jay’s excellence has been recognized through awards from Engineers and Geoscientists Manitoba (EGM), including the Early Achievement, and Technical Excellence Awards.
