RORY KULMALA
VANCOUVER ISLAND – The Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) and its membership received five industry leaders to its 2022-2023 Board of Directors during their Annual General Meeting on November 17th, 2022. There were ten nominees from across Vancouver Island.
Continuing to utilize online voting software, the 2022/23 election saw a high percentage of eligible members participate in the election. Each Industry Member is entitled to one vote per election. 2022’s Annual General Meeting represented the first AGM since the loosening of pandemic restrictions, allowing VICA Members and their guests to celebrate their new board. The 2022 AGM was held at Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse in Saanichton, BC.
For 2022/23 we welcome Kate Ulmer, Herold Engineering, as our new Board Chair, Stuart Cuthbert, Slegg Building Materials, as Vice-Chair, Barclay Ellis, Trades Labour Corporation (TLC) Victoria, as Treasurer, and Scott Torry, AFC Construction, as Secretary.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve as the chair of the VICA board for 2023. I look forward to ongoing collaboration with our talented and diverse board, the VICA members, and VICA staff for their continued commitment to our industry as we work to deliver projects that positively impact Vancouver Island Communities. As chair, I am committed to supporting VICA’s pillars of advocacy, professional development, good governance, and member value to keep our Island industry positioned for continued success,” said Kate Ulmer, Board Chair of Herold Engineering.
Kate Ulmer represents the second woman ever to be VICA Board Chair in the 110-Year history of the Vancouver Island Construction Association, with Carole Bissett being first in 2009. As the industry continues to encourage women in find careers in construction, having women in leadership positions at the highest level of our sector will optimistically inspire women and girls to consider construction as a vocation.
VICA Members also welcomed Joshua Fayerman, Milestone Equipment Contracting, Mark Donahue, EllisDon and Mark Wong, Kinetic Construction, to the board.
Incumbent Directors James Clapp, Wilson M Beck Insurance Services and Chris Williams, Houle Elected, were re-elected for another term.
Outgoing director Mark Liudzius, Kinetic Construction, was recognized for his years of service on the VICA Board. Mark has been a pivotal figure in the industry for over 40 years, and we thank him for his contributions to the Vancouver Island Construction Association as well as the construction industry on Vancouver Island.
“Another year has passed and another year of challenges that went along with it. The industry continues to deliver on the unprecedented demand for construction services and we eagerly await any new challenges which may arise. With that said, I am pleased to advise that the Vancouver Island Construction Association has elected an experienced, diverse Board of Directors to steward the Association forward into 2023,” said Rory Kulmala, CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association.
