2025 CCRA Conference

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Welcome to the 2025 CCRA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Information Page

Our Conference will be held at the luxurious JW MARRIOTT EDMONTON ICE DISTRICT, Edmonton, AB. To view the daily schedule, scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Get ready to experience the vibrant energy of Edmonton at this year’s conference! Known for its stunning river valley, thriving arts scene, and welcoming community, Edmonton is the perfect backdrop for inspiring conversations and innovative ideas.

From engaging sessions with industry leaders to networking opportunities with like-minded professionals, this is a chance to connect, learn, and grow. And let’s not forget the amazing local cuisine and cultural experiences waiting for you!

Once registered for the conference, your will receive your confirmation e-mail including the link to The JW Marriott Hotel to reserve your room. The cut off date for reserving your accommodations at the conference rate is on or before May 6, 2025.

Conference Registration - Early Bird Pricing effective until May 9, 2025 at 12:00 midnight

Member registration $1,175 After May 9 - $1,300

Spouse/Partner/Companion $750 After May 9 - $850

Your registration includes breakfasts, lunches & health breaks, accessibility to the evening Hospitality Room "The Spreader Bar", photographer service for professional head shots, presentations and educational session, and the all inclusive The Get Together and Closing Banquet. Golf and Tour are additional.

Golf Club Event - $275 Golf Club Rentals - $60 (no shoe rentals available)

ALBERTA'S PREMIER CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE

Welcome to Northern Bear Golf Course, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, located in Sherwood Park, Alberta, just 30 minutes from downtown Edmonton. Built on Jack Nicklaus' legendary tradition of designing prestigious and spectacular courses, it offers the ultimate play for every golf enthusiast. The Bear is a perfect blend of tree lined fairways, strategic bunker placements, five lakes, and USGA standard greens. With five sets of tees ranging from 5800 to 7400 yards, it is designed to entice novice and experts alike.

Edmonton City & Wine Tour - $220

The return to the hotel will be around 3:30-4:00 pm

Special Events

Get Together / Wednesday, June 4th at 6:30 pm (Included in your registration)

Join Us for "The Get Together" at the Icehouse Rooftop Patio!

Get ready to elevate your conference experience! For one night only, we invite you to "The Get Together" at the Icehouse rooftop patio—the largest rooftop in Western Canada!

Enjoy an unforgettable evening filled with great company, delicious food, and breathtaking views of the city skyline. This is your chance to unwind, connect, and have some fun!

What to Expect:

Spectacular Views: Take in the stunning sights of Edmonton as the sun sets and the city lights come alive.
Delectable Bites & Drinks: Savor a curated selection of tasty appetizers and refreshing cocktails, designed to delight your palate.
Engaging Connections: Network and mingle with industry leaders and fellow participants in a relaxed and inspiring setting.
Exciting Games: Test your skills in our batting cages or challenge your colleagues to a variety of patio games.

Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to create lasting memories and connections at "The Get Together." Join us for an evening of fun, games, and camaraderie that you won’t want to miss!

Closing Banquet June 5, 2025 at 6:00 pm (included in your registration)

Cocktails service at 6:00 pm.

2025 CCRA Conference - Edmonton

June 3 - 5, 2025
10344 102nd Street
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
T5J 0K9

Event Workshops

Arrival - Monday June 2nd

June 2, 2025 09:00 - 21:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:170

Arrival at JW Mariott.

Our Conference Office is in the Boardroom. Come to meet the team, confirm your event registration, receive your name badge (to be worn at all events) and ask any questions you may have.

The daily “Spreader Bar” our hospitality lounge, will be open at 8 p.m.

Agenda - Tuesday, June 3rd

June 3, 2025 07:00 - 04:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:170

Breakfast for Golfers and Tour Participants	7:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Bus leaves for Golf - Hotel Lobby	7:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Bus leaves for Edmonton City Tour - Hotel Lobby	9:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Free time
Spreader Bar	8:00 p.m. - till closing

Agenda - Wednesday June 4th

June 4, 2025 09:00 - 17:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:170

Scroll down for Speakers' Biographies

Networking Breakfast - Mezzanine level		7:00 - 9:00 a.m.
First Timers' Welcome		8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Opening Keynote - Gordie Howe International Bridge Heather Grondin–Chief Relations, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority Jose Luis Mendez–Project Manager, Bridging North America		9:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Networking Break		10:15 - 10:30 a.m.
Supplier Presentations:
Jose Perez - Broderson Manufacturing		10:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Jimmy Hodges - Kobelco Construction Machinery USA		10:45 - 11:00 a.m.
Wire Rope Technical Panel Justin Brown - Unirope - Chase Richter - WireCo Richard Marcotte - Bruce Power		11:00 - 12:00

Networking Lunch		12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Richard McAuliffe & Tanner House - Siemens Financial Ltd.		1:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Bridge Formula Research Project - Dr. Shay Abtahi, Ph.D, Univ AB		1:30- 2:00 p.m.
Networking Break		2:00 - 2:15 p.m.
Canadian Lift of the Year Presentations - Under 20 Tonnes Canadian Lift of the Year Presentations - Over 20 Tonnes		2:15 - 4:00 p.m.
Free Time		4:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Early departure for J.P Wiser Distillery Tour		5:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Departure for J.P Wiser Distillery (and Get Together)		6:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Spreader Bar - The VU		10:00 - closing

		Heather Grondin – Chief Relations Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority Heather Grondin has 20 years of experience, specializing in strategic planning, communications and engagement. As part of diverse public-sector teams working on high-profile projects and portfolios, Heather’s consistent goal has been to build meaningful relationships based on trust, openness and understanding. Holding the executive position of Chief Relations Officer at Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) since 2015, Heather leads an integrated team of professionals who inform, inspire and interact with others in support of WDBA and the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.
		Jose Luis Mendez – Project Manager, Bridging North America Jose Luis Mendez joined Dragados more than 20 years ago, after obtaining his M. Eng at the University of A Coruña (Spain). Between 1999 and 2011, he served in different positions in the North West region of Spain, where he was finally appointed Director with corporate responsibilities over bidding and operations for both the vertical and heavy civil construction branches of the company in that geographical area. In 2011, Jose Luis moved to the US, where he has been responsible for the operations of the West Branches of both Dragados USA and Dragados Canada until 2018, when he was appointed President of Dragados USA. Currently, Mr. Mendez is the Project Manager of the Design Builder for the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project.
		Jose Perez - Broderson Manufacturing I began my career with Broderson Manufacturing back in 2008. I have been in many roles including Material Handler, Production Planner, Inventory Specialist, and Export and Government Sales Manager. My main objective is to retain our current customers and help develop new global markets while delivering the reliable carry deck cranes we are known to manufacture. Title: New Technologies in the RT-400-B and IC-400-C New technologies have been designed into our latest iterations of our RT-400 and IC-400. These include updated RCL, hydraulic system, and a work area envelope feature.
		James Hodges - Kobelco Construction Machinery USA, Inc. I was born and raised in Houston, TX and started at Kobelco Cranes in January of 2018 after graduating college at Texas A&M University with a degree in Industrial Distribution. After a yearlong training program in Houston, TX, I moved to Atlanta, GA to cover the eastern territory for Kobelco Cranes in January of 2019. During this time, due to our struggles with Hino, I covered the Southeast territory for Kobelco Excavators – along with the crane territory – from June 2021 to December 2023. Since then, I have moved back to Houston and began covering the western crane territory. Even with all the constant change in territories and product lines, the one thing that has been consistent is that I have always been over the Canadian crane territory. This will be my fourth CCRA Annual Conference and I am excited to present to you a “state of the union” with Kobelco Cranes. In my spare time I like to watch sports, hunt, fish, play golf, and be with friends and family.
		Richard Marcotte - Bruce Power Richard Marcotte, a seasoned professional in the field of rigging and lifting, hails from originally from Hamilton, Ontario. His extensive experience spans various oil sands projects across Canada, where he has made significant contributions as both a boilermaker and a steamfitter. His work has been pivotal in across countless industries including but not limited oil refinery construction and maintenance, heavy manufacturing (steel, plastic and chemical), automotive, aircraft and heavy equipment production, and power generation. Richard worked for Industrial Training International (ITI) for nearly a decade as Crane and rigging instructor, trainer, and senior consultant, where Richard imparted his knowledge to others, to aid in ensuring safe and efficient lifting operations across the globe. His certifications include rigger Levels I and II from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO). Notably, he became the first Canadian ever to achieve this prestigious Lift Director certification. Richard’s expertise extends to a ASME B30 standards where he has been serving for decade, on standards including winches, slings, hooks, and hardware. He has worked alongside NASA, Boeing, Blue Origin, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, ExxonMobil, Suncor, Shell, Exelon, Southern Nuclear Company, and McDermott to name a few. His contributions have shaped critical projects and elevated safety standards across the industry and world.
		Justin Brown - Unirope Over the last 20 years, Justin Brown has worked extensively with crane manufacturers and end-users to improve the lifetime of their wire rope systems and troubleshoot potential and existing problems. He has performed countless failure investigations and is no stranger to the spectacular views from the top of a tower crane. Justin is President of Unirope Limited, a company on a mission to make workers safer through training, testing and supplying the best wire rope and rigging products. He is also President of the Associated Wire Rope Fabricators, member of the AWRF Technical Sub-Committee for Wire Rope, a member of CSA Z-150 and CSA Z-248 and is a management board member of OIPEEC - the International Organization for the Study of Ropes.
		Chase Richter - WireCo Chase Richter is a Business Development Manager with WireCo Worldgroup. At WireCo, Chase is responsible for all business development and commercial activities relating to their Casar, Oliveira, and Union high-performance crane rope products in the Americas region. In this role, he works closely with crane manufacturers, rigging shops, and end users to ensure performance and certainty when selecting and using high-performance wire ropes. Over the last 13 years, Chase has worked in various commercial and management roles for leading steel and synthetic rope manufacturers. Over this period, he has supported many wire rope users and applications, ranging from deep underground mines to traveling a hundred miles offshore to inspect ropes on pipelay vessels and drillships. Chase holds a BBA from Baylor University and resides in League City, Texas, with his wife and two daughters.
		Richard McAuliffe- Siemens Financial Richard McAuliffe is a highly qualified executive with over thirty years of financial management experience in the banking and leasing industry and is the President, Head of Siemens Financial Services Commercial Finance, Canada. He is a results-oriented leader with a proven track record in finance, administration, and business development. Richard is a team builder with strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills. He has held various executive positions throughout his career, including responsibility for Key Equipment Finance's Canadian operations, managing equipment finance programs, and supporting clients' equipment finance needs. Richard is an active board member of the Canadian Equipment Finance and Leasing Association, a board member and executive of the Halton Learning Foundation and is involved in various local community-sponsored sports programs.
		Tanner House- Siemens Financial Tanner House is the Regional Sales Manager for Siemens Financial Services' (SFS) Canadian Commercial Finance team. He plays a crucial role in expanding the equipment and leasing offerings to clients in Western Canada. He is tasked with enabling the business’ western expansion to create a foundation for successful growth, serving both new and existing customers. Prior to joining SFS, Tanner worked as a Senior Business Development Manager at Canadian Western Bank Equipment Financing for six years after beginning his career in equipment finance as an account manager for Meridian OneCap (formerly Roynat Lease Finance).
		Dr. Shay Abtahi Ph.D. Dr. Shay Abtahi is the only female faculty member of the Structures group in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta. Education: Ph.D., Structural Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, 2022. M.Sc., Structural Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, 2016. B.Sc., Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, 2014. Professional Experience: Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, May 2023 - Present. Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, November 2022 - April 2023. Structural Engineer, Parsjooyab Consulting Engineering Company, Esfahan, Iran, June 2016 - August 2017.

Agenda - Thursday June 5th

June 5, 2025 08:45 - 16:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:170

Scroll down to view Speakers' Biographies

Networking Breakfast	7:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Opening Keynote - Ryan Jenkins, Closing the Generational Gap	9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Apprenticeship Panel Discussion : Heather MacCallum, Moderator Lorna Harnum IUOE Apprenticeships Training for the Future Shannon Moir- Riendeau, Shanna Hodgins, CCAD	10:00 - 11:005 a.m.
Networking Break	11;00-11:15 a.m.
Annual General Meeting	11:15-12:15 a.m.
Networking Lunch - Mezzanine Longevity Awards Photo Opportunity - Photo Booth	12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
Randa Fernandes- Wright Plan Inc.	1:15 - 1:45

Provincial Updates Assoc. des propriétaires de grues du Québec (APGQ) Crane Rental Association of Ontario (CRAO) BC Crane Safety - BC Crane Safety: A Changing Landscape	1:45 - 2:15 p.m.
Networking Break	2:15 - 2:30 p.m.

Safety Awards Presentations	2:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Technical Committee Report & Presentation	3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
Closing Remarks	3:45- 4:00 p.m.

Free Time	4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Cocktails - Augustus 27	6:00 - 6:45 p.m.
Closing Banquet Canadian Lift of the Year Awards Presentations 2024-2025 Chair Introduction & "Talking Stick" Presentation	6:45 - 10:00 p.m.

		Ryan Jenkins - Generational Gap Ryan Jenkins, CSP is a Wall Street Journal bestselling leadership author on the topics of team connection, generational differences, and the future of work. His latest book is Connectable: How Leaders Can Move Teams From Isolated to All In. Ryan’s thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Fortune, and CNBC. For over a decade as a keynote speaker and consultant, he has helped hundreds of the world’s leading organizations like Netflix, Salesforce, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, State Farm, and John Deere. He is also Partner at WorkRivet.com, a technology platform that facilitates meaningful one-on-one connections across multi-generational teams. Ryan lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife, three children, and two yellow Labradors.
		Heather MacCallum President & CEO NCSG Crane & Heavy Haul Heather started her career in 2007 with Ernst & Young, reaching manager level for the Assurance and Advisory practice. In 2011, she left EY and began offering her services as an independent consultant, with clients including a large Edmonton-based public company and NCSG. In 2013, she joined NCSG as the VP Finance and moved into the role of CFO in 2019. In November 2020, Heather was promoted to President & CEO, NCSG. Heather believes in continuous improvement—”pushing ourselves to do the best work we can.” She describes NCSG as hard-working people who care about getting the job done properly and safely and making sure customers are satisfied. In 2007, Heather completed her Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta. In 2008, she graduated with a Master’s in Professional Accounting from the University of Saskatchewan. In 2009, the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Alberta awarded her the Chartered Accountant Designation.
		Lorna Harnum - IUOE Lorna Harnum is an International representative with the IUOE. She also serves as the chair of Newfoundland and Labrador's Provincial Apprenticeship and Certification Board and on the Executive Board and Board of Directors of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum. She is a strong proponent of training and apprenticeships in the trades.
		TBA - Apprenticeship Panel
		Randa Fernandes, Vice President of Operations and Customer Experience at WrightPlan Inc., is an accomplished executive with a focus on operations and customer satisfaction. Leveraging her extensive expertise across diverse industries and her solid background in Business and Computer Science, she collaborates closely with her teams to deliver purpose-driven software solutions that meet the diverse needs of customers. Committed to innovation and growth, Randa continuously explores emerging technologies to effectively address industry challenges. She has a proven track record of building teams and systems that enable organizations to adapt to changing circumstances, scale sustainably, and uphold their missions while remaining true to their core values. In recognition of her achievements, Randa was honored on Crane and Hoist Canada's Top 10 under 40 list for 2023 and featured in the December 2023 issue of Crane Hot Line for her article on Simplifying Digital Transformation for the industry.
		Clinton Connell Clinton is the Executive Director of BC Crane Safety. He has served on multiple boards, including not-for-profits, 9 years as Director with BCACS, and an active member of the BCTA Board since 2008. Clinton has over 25 years’ experience in senior management, commercial transport, construction, and the industrial services sector
		Roberta Sheng-Taylor Roberta is a certified health and safety professional, technical writer, and strategist specializing in producing measurable results and cultural change. Roberta has a track record in long-term occupational health and safety behaviour change management initiatives, focusing on systems and standards development, responsive communication, and program sustainability.
		Jason Brown - Kova Engineering Jason Brown is a Mechanical Engineer Technologist with Kova Red Utl Engineering and most recently was awarded with his 10 year tenure. He began his career in the crane and hoist industry shortly after high school and has been forging a name in the industry for over the past 15 years. His experience began working on the floor of Commercial Truck Equipment as he built various types of lift equipment before returning to BCIT – Institute of Technology. He pursued his Mechanical Engineering Diploma and was then hired by Kova Red Utl Engineering and has been a predominate and passionate team player in the crane community. Jason believes in the power of communication, mentoring those new to the industry and developing his education. He recently earned his CWB Level 3 Weld Inspector status while building and maintaining his career. His passion for connection with others, the development of the crane industry and the sites he has seen remains to be his source of inspiration in his field.
		Closing Keynote Speaker - TBA

Departure - Friday June 6th

June 6, 2025 07:00 - 09:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:150

JW Mariott Hotel Restaurant - is situated on the lower floor and opens at 7 a.m.

Wishing you a safe trip home and we look forward to seeing you next year!