Board of Directors

Valerie Penney is a graduate of Civil Engineering from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She started her construction career 19 years ago as an estimator with a local general contractor. From estimating she worked her way into Project Management and has been doing both roles for the last 17 years. Valerie is known as a hard-working professional who takes a pragmatic approach to ensure the project gets completed within budget and on schedule. Understanding the importance of client and supplier relationships is the most important factor in completing a successful project.

Valerie has served five years on the board as a Director-at-Large and Second Vice-Chair and is also chair of NLCA’s Women in Construction pillar. She is looking forward to serving in her role as First-Vice Chair.

Ryan Davis is a Senior Project Manager with Marco Group Limited. He was born and raised in St. John’s and graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2008 with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering Degree. Since then, he has obtained his Professional Engineer License (P. Eng) and his Gold Seal Certification (GSC) in General Contracting.

Ryan began his career in the construction industry with Marco during his engineering work terms and was hired full time once he graduated. He has overseen numerous projects across Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) including several schools, luxury condominium buildings, hospital renovations, car dealerships, retail box stores, university renovations, office buildings, restaurants, a cannabis production facility, expansion to the St. John’s International Airport, and Salmon Hatchery Facilities.

Cory Pittman is the President with Allstar Rebar Ltd and has been with the company for 24 years.  He has been involved in many reinforcing steel projects in Newfoundland and Labrador including Muskrat Falls, Corner Brook Acute Care, Avalon Mall Parkade, MUN’s Core Science Building, Grieg Seafoods Aquaculture, Marathon Gold, and projects in British Columbia such as the RAV Line.

Cory is an active volunteer and has served on the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Curling Committee for 13 years.  He has served 3 years on the PCSP Minor softball executive. He was a coach with the Northeast Minor Hockey Association for 13 years and is currently a coach with Prince of Wales Collegiate High School team. In 2018, Cory received Bantam Coach of the year and the Wayne Mitchelmore award for Overall Coach of the Year at Northeast Minor Hockey.  He has been a member of the Canadian Coalition for Construction Steel (CCCS) and currently has served as Trade Contractors Section Chair at the NLCA for the past 6 years. Cory also has served on the Trade Advisory Council for the Canadian Construction Association for the past 3 years.

Cory graduated from the Civil Engineering Technology program at CONA in 1997. He has been an active member of the NLCA, especially regarding Steel Tariffs and his participation on the master spec committee.  He has also carried out extensive work with the Canadian Coalition for Construction Steel and the Reinforcing Steel Institute of Canada. Cory has been travelling to Ottawa to take part in Hill Day which lobbies government regarding current issues in the construction industry for the past 3 years.

Derek spent two years on the NLCA board as a Director-at-Large, then sought nomination to the Executive. Along with chairing the Board of Directors, he has chaired the NLCA Strategic Planning committee, the annual NLCA conference, and is looking forward to his next challenge as the Secretary-Treasurer and Past Chair. Derek currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Construction Association.

Born and raised in Newfoundland, Derek is currently residing in Paradise with his partner Gail, and his four children, Davis, Mason, Addison and Casey. Derek has extensive construction experience in the commercial, institutional, and industrial sectors of our industry.

He started his career with The Cahill Group of Companies back in 2008 as a Project Engineer working on various shutdowns at the North Atlantic Refinery Site. From there, he was promoted to Project Manager and began leading construction projects throughout the province. From 2011-2014 Derek was Chief Construction Engineer and Nightshift Operations Manager for the approximate $2 Billion Vale Long Harbour Processing Plant Project. From 2015-2017 Derek led a team of over 500 across multiple sites in the construction of the HVDC infrastructure as part of the Lower Churchill/Muskrat Falls Development (approx. $200M contract). Derek was the Project Manager for the mechanical installation at the new MUN Core Science Facility (approx. $80M contract) in St. John’s, NL. Most recently Derek has worked in the Green Hydrogen Space some large international engineering and energy firms on design, constructability, and feasibility analysis.

Education and continuous improvement are very important to Derek. He received his Engineering Degree from Memorial University, he has obtained his Professional Engineering license (P.Eng), his Project Management Professional (PMP) designation, has completed a Masters Certificate in Project Management (MCPM) from the Gardiner Centre, and has completed a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Edinburgh Business School.

With a passion for the local construction industry, he understands the importance of mentoring and developing the next generation of leaders in this sector. Derek Through his role with Life Safety Systems/Atlantica Mechanical Contractors Inc., Derek is looking forward to continuing to serve the industry as Secretary-Treasurer and Past Chair of the NLCA.

Tonya Knopp is a Professional Engineer with over 21 years progressive experience in the construction industry. She has worked in both public and private sector with her main areas of expertise in linear and vertical (building) infrastructure projects. She is currently the Manager of Facility Engineering with the City of St. John’s.

Academically, Tonya is a strong advocate for continuing education and has added the following qualifications to her resume over the years: a Master’s Certification in Project Management from York University, a Lean Green Belt in Continuous Improvement from the Leading Edge Group, a Certified Asset Management Professional from PEMAC, a Master’s Degree (M.Sc.) in International Construction Management with Merit from the University of Bath, a Certified Passive House Designer, a Gold Seal Intern and is currently completing a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Civil Engineering from the University of Bath with a specialization in Climate Resilience of Building Infrastructure.

Tonya has been associated with NLCA since her return to Newfoundland & Labrador in 2013. She spends a lot of her time volunteering with Rotary, PEGNL, WISENL, Tequity+, AMAL Unite & Empower and sits on the Board of Directors with Skills Canada NL. In 2024, Tonya was awarded the NLCA Women in Infrastructure Award of Excellence for her work in advancing women in construction and the promotion of skilled trades and technology as successful careers for youth, and women specifically.

Boyd is currently the Manager, Craft Recruitment & Indigenous Relations – Industrial East at Bird Heavy Civil Ltd. He brings 25+ years of management experience in the construction industry across many diverse sectors including infrastructure, mining, oil & gas, hydro generation development, and LNG, both domestically and internationally. He plays a key role in Field Operations, People & Culture, Labour Relations, Supply Chain Management, Business Development, and Indigenous Relations.

With extensive experience living and working in remote Arctic regions, as well as Asia and Papua New Guinea, Boyd is passionate about cross-cultural collaboration. He upholds a strong commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities and supporting their economic and social development.

Originally from Melrose, Trinity Bay, NL, he remains deeply connected to his rural roots. He has volunteered with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Canadian Red Cross, The Gathering Place, and the St. John’s Ambulance Therapy Dog Program. Now residing in Paradise, NL, he enjoys time with his children and pursues hobbies like travel, NFL football, hiking, golf, hockey, mountain biking and other outdoor activities.

Candace Dominix is a graduate of the Architectural Engineering Technology program from College of the North Atlantic. She started her construction career 19 years ago with a General Contracting company, Granco Construction/LSG Construction. She started in the office as a draftsperson, office administrator and estimator, but after a few years started a Project Management role. Project Management has been her role since leaving general contracting and diversifying into other areas. Currently, Candace is working with Allnorth Consultants in Gander, NL as a Designer and Project Manager.

Candace has served on the board of the NLCA in various roles, as the Central Directors, Education and Training committee and as co-chair of the women in construction committee.

I started my career in June 2000 with Steers Insurance Limited. I have been in the insurance industry for just about 25 years and have moved through all the roles of servicing and sales for both Personal and Commercial clientele.   Along the way, helping me develop and grow within my industry I completed the Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker program in 2005 and the Chartered Insurance Professional program in 2008.  Currently, I hold the title of Western Regional Manager for Steers Insurance.

As a manager, leading my team to success and growth is my main goal. As a broker, my passion and expertise are in bonding and construction. I love hearing about new projects on the horizon and seeing our communities grow across the island.

Being involved with our Commercial Sales and Servicing for approximately 20 years, I have been participating in NLCA events and collaborating with the industry for much of my career.  The NLCA is an organization I appreciate being a member of as it aligns with my goal for continued growth and success in our province.

Stanley Oliver was born and raised in Labrador, Stan is an Inuit who is an avid hunter, fisher, and outdoorsman. He currently holds the position of Manager with Trades NL: Indigenous Skills Trades Office. He has worked in the Labrador and Atlantic region in the Natural Resources field/industry for over thirty-five (37) years. Occupying, several senior management and leadership positions with the Nunatsiavut Government, the Nunatukavut Community Council, and the Atlantic First Nations Policy Congress. He holds a Diploma from Memorial University as Resource Technician, a Certified Engineering Technician with the NL Association of Engineers and holds numerous certificates in Indigenous Governance and Administration.

Stan’s wide range of education, work experience and local knowledge makes him adaptable to complex working environments. His in-depth knowledge of Newfoundland & Labrador Indigenous rights is often requested on the local, provincial, and national level. He currently sits on the National Indigenous Advisory Committee for the Canadian Environment Assessment Agency and was a member of the Circle of Experts on Indigenous Rights for CEAA, the NL Provincial Wilderness Ecological Advisory Council, Canada Parks & Wilderness Society NL Chapter, Forecast NL with Memorial University and the HV-GB Health Community Advisory Committee.

He will tell you his philosophy “is to create free-detailed oriented work environments, that focuses on positive collaborative partnerships with government and business with out loosing sight of grass roots concerns.”

Matthew Craig is a lawyer at Stewart McKelvey in St. John’s, with a practice focused on Construction Law. Matthew has advised general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, engineers, and owners on a broad range of issues, including tendering and procurement maters, contract drafting and negotiation, lien rights, and all manner of construction disputes.

While attending university, Matthew also gained practical experience by working in various construction jobs during his summer breaks.

Matthew’s legal background allows him to provide valuable insight with respect to issues relevant to the NLCA board of directors, including issues of board governance, advocacy, insurance, strategic planning, company leadership, government relations, risk and control management, business development, and legal and regulatory requirements. He has contributed to several presentations for NLCA members, as well as multiple articles published in the NLCA Construction Journal.

When he isn’t working, Matthew enjoys spending time with his partner and their French bulldog, and enjoys playing and hockey, football and golf.

Max Day P.ENG, P.GSC has served on the NLCA Board of Directors previously for five terms as the Standard Practices Section Chair. Max is the Site Engineer with Can-Am Platforms & Construction Ltd. and has been employed with Can-Am Platforms & Construction Ltd as a Site Engineer since 2015. Max is responsible for the oversight of all construction projects with this firm to ensure the work is completed correct, on-time and on budget.

Max is a graduate from Memorial University’s Engineering Program and earned his Professional Gold Seal certification thru the NLCA Center of Excellence. Max has worked in the General Contractor’s Industry since 2008 and has always been employed with firms that are members of the NLCA.

Max is an avid user of the NLCA services participates in the various section meetings, staying on top of current industry trends. Max is also a regular attender of the annual general meeting and has taken many of the courses offered by the NLCA.

David was born and raised in St. Johns, NL, and has a bachelor’s degree in Process Engineering from Memorial University of Newfoundland. David attained his Professional Engineering designation in 2019 and completed his MBA from the Australian Institute of Business in 2022. Upon graduation from engineering in 2013, David moved to Calgary Alberta where he began working for the Cahill Group as a field engineer. After four years in western Canada, he moved back home to NL where he continued to work with Cahill in various roles from a project manager, director of projects, and the past couple years as Senior VP of operations. He has experience on a wide range of construction projects in the oil & gas, mining, utility, and commercial/infrastructure sectors.

Outside of work, David is also active in the community and sits on a couple of boards. He currently is in his fifth year on the board of directors for the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association (NLCA) as the Mechanical/Electrical Section Chair. As well, he also sits on the board of directors for the Construction Labor Relations Association of Newfoundland and Labrador as a director at large and currently is on the executive of this board.

The Cahill Group has been a member of the NLCA for 37 years. David follows the NLCA organization with interest as they stay current with emerging industry trends to provide members with timely education and professional development opportunities throughout the year.

Lindsay Hynes is the Sales Manager at Concrete Products (division of Newcrete Investments), where she is responsible for the production, sales and promotion of the landscape and masonry division.

Lindsay has over 15 years’ experience in sales, 7 of which she worked for Rideout Tool & Machine, selling various tools and machinery all around Newfoundland and Labrador.  Lindsay also worked as an Office Manager at Power Vac Services for 8 years, where she was responsible for payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable and safety!  Lindsay has been working with Concrete Products since March 2019 and is very dedicated to her position and promoting the products and services that Concrete Products and Newcrete provide.  She manages the landscape and masonry division through their offices in St. John’s and Grand Falls-Windsor (Hunt’s Concrete).  Lindsay is also part of Newcrete’s Marketing team, responsible for print/online advertising as well as customer training.

Lindsay has been involved in the construction industry in Newfoundland and Labrador since she entered the work force in 2002.  Lindsay has served as the Manufacturers, Suppliers & Services Section Chair since 2020.  She thoroughly enjoys being a board member within the NLCA and is looking forward to the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally with the association in this role in 2025!  Lindsay is very passionate about the construction industry in Newfoundland and Labrador which is evident in the number of boards that she sits on.  Lindsay sits on the Board of Directors for the Atlantic Masonry Institute (AMI) and the Canadian Home Builders Association – NL (CHBA-NL) and is the Atlantic Canada representative on the board of directors for the Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association (CCMPA).

Lindsay is originally from St. Joseph’s, St. Mary’s Bay.  She has an 18 year old son and currently resides in Torbay with her partner Ron.

With nearly 7 years of experience in the fire protection industry, Michale Piercey brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as Business Development Leader at Vipond Firetech. Employed with the company for almost two years, Michale has built a strong foundation in fire protection inspection and maintenance, contributing significantly to the company’s growth and client success.

Her extensive career has not only sharpened her technical acumen but also allowed her to become a key mentor within her team, actively guiding and developing the next generation of leaders. One of her proudest achievements is her role in creating “REP” (Recycled Extinguisher Program) a non-profit initiative designed to assist Fire Departments gain access to Fire Extinguishers for training purposes.

Michale is an active member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association (NLCA), where she has contributed her insight and expertise for the past year. She is a passionate advocate for women in construction, having served as a panelist at the NLCA Women in Construction Conference. Additionally, Michale will be a panelist at the API Group IMA Summit in 2025, where she will share her insights on leadership and business development.

Known for her goal-driven approach, Michale’s leadership continues to inspire and empower those around her, making a lasting impact in both her company and the wider industry.

Tzu-Hao Hsu (Sue-How-Shu) obtained her Bachelor of Commerce Co-Op and Master of Business Administration degrees from Memorial University. She began her career in the construction industry by joining the inside sales team of United Rentals of Canada in 2012, and currently holds the role of Operations Supervisor. Tzu is a leader in safety, logistics and continuous improvement with United Rentals, and joined the NLCA’s  board as Standard Practices Section Chair in 2024, support the board’s activities and leading the Perk’N’Inspire: Women’s Coffee Circle series as part of the Women in Construction initiatives.

A landed immigrant of more than thirty years, Tzu is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion. She volunteers with many women-led organizations that champion multiculturalism and anti-racism education and is an avid speaker and host for community events and workshops.

When not chairing a safety meeting, presenting in the boardroom or singing the national anthem at community celebrations, Tzu can be found hiking with her beagles, dancing with her twin daughters, or penning her next short story for publication.

Tzu looks forward to continuing to grow her professional and personal network in service of our industry and community, and welcomes your questions and suggestions on how she can best serve!

In the summer of 2015, I started out as a Field Safety Advisor for JCL Investments Inc., known as Johnson’s Construction at the time, and was involved in scopes of work including the forestry clearing, road construction, drilling/blasting, crushing and asphalt operations, and various scopes of work being performed in environmentally sensitive areas.

In August 2018 I stepped into the Sr. Field HSE for JCL’s projects in Labrador. This included the widening and paving of the Trans- Labrador Highway, Mary’s Harbour Breakwater Reconstruction, and Fish Habitat Developments, etc. In 2021, I accepted the role as the Health, Safety & Environment Manager with JCL. These progressional shifts have led to the expansion of my skill set to include Project Management roles over the past several years.

For over a decade I have been fortunate to have been able to work alongside the field crews, where the “boots on the ground” execute the scope of work. With this ability, I have been given a great opportunity to understand the heavy civil industry from all tiers and peers. Starting with the tendering and contract reviews, the moment the teeth of the excavator bite into the ground, to the handing over of as-builts as part of a successful project close out. Having this invaluable experience has continually allowed me to progress through my career, taking on new and exciting challenges with a collaborative and energy packed approach.

Along with my role in JCL, I have participated and continue to participate in various associations and committees across our industry, such as the province’s Construction Safety Association (NLCSA), the Heavy Civil Association (HCANL), and the NLCA Women in Construction Conference.

Being actively involved in this industry is cardinal to me as it directly affects the growth and prosperity of our beautiful province. I recognize the benefit of being engaged in these groups, as they are an avenue of ensuring that all the winding roads we take lead to the success of our industry, and our province. If I can support bringing people together to achieve a common goal, I will do so with the dedication and perseverance it takes.

I look forward to participating with the NLCA on future goals and initiatives to bring forth engagement, communication, and improvements to our industry.

Katrina is a seasoned health and safety professional with nearly 15 years of experience dedicated to fostering safer workplaces and enhancing health and safety culture. Known for her expertise within the construction industry, particularly in the utilities & electrical sectors, she is committed to implementing proactive strategies to prevent injuries and promote best practices in occupational health and safety.

In her current role as the Corporate Health, Safety, and Environment Manager with Locke’s Electrical Ltd., Katrina supports both management and field workers regarding all aspects of their health, safety, and environment program.

Katrina’s work experience includes working for one of the largest powerline contractors in Canada (in remote locations), a specialized high-voltage underground contractor in an urban environment, and the past 5 years with Locke’s Electrical here at home in Newfoundland and Labrador. Katrina achieved her Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation when she was just 24 and she also holds the National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO) designation, along with the Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) designation, which is specialized for her industry. She graduated with honors from the Occupational Health and Safety program at Keyin College, where she now works part-time as an OHS instructor.

Katrina is committed to giving back to her community and supporting workplace safety initiatives as such, she volunteers with Threads of Life (supporting workers and families who have suffered from workplace tragedy). Currently, she is proud to represent the NLCA as a representative on the NLCSA Board of Directors and governance committee. She is always ready to offer guidance and support, encouraging those who know her professionally to reach out whenever they believe she can be of assistance.