NextGen Board

Head of Operations
Vaughan Ventures Ltd.

Rough-In Crew Lead
Phase Mechanical Systems

Mic is a Rough-in Crew Lead at Phase Mechanical Systems. He earned his plumbing Red Seal and gasfitting ticket in 2021, and has amassed a wealth of experience across various projects and systems, including concrete towers and wood-frame; domestic water, hydronics, and drainage; and more.

Throughout his career, Mic has increasingly taken on leadership roles, leading crews, collaborating with subtrades and GCs, and contributing to the Joint Health & Safety Committee. He views the NextGen Board as the next logical step to developing as a leader and giving back to the industry.

“I see it as an opportunity to be more involved, to support the direction of our industry, and to represent the perspective of someone who’s still very much in the thick of trades work. As a NextGen Board Director, I can take my career to the next level while contributing to the industry’s standards and future.”

Line Sales Representative
Victaulic Canada

Tayler is a Line Sales Representative at Victaulic. Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Tayler’s career has taken him from the Prairies to the West Coast over the last three years. His career in sales started in 2010, specializing in piping and steel manufacturing sales in the last 10 years. He joined Victaulic in 2019.

Through engaging in social and industry events, he recognized the opportunity to take the next step and advance his involvement in the industry. This led him to becoming an active member of the NextGen Board.

From a supplier lens, one challenge Taylor identifies is navigating the industry’s resistance to adopting new technologies and methods, specifically through the multi-generational lens. Through the younger generation, Tayler sees the potential to introduce new ideas. “They have a fresh perspective on how we can improve our processes.”

Tayler emphasizes the need for ongoing education, mentorship, and career development for the younger generation. He believes industry has a responsibility to help the next generation develop and progress in their careers, noting that this will contribute to increased retention of existing talent. He advocates for an integrated approach to training and incorporating new methodologies into the curriculum.

In his downtime, Tayler enjoys sports, especially golfing.

Executive Director, Apprenticeship & Training
UA Piping Industry College of BC

Will Schwarz is the Executive Director of Apprenticeship and Training at UAPICBC. He also serves as President of UA Local 170, Vice Chair of the BC Building Trades Apprenticeship and Training Committee, and Vice President of the Skills BC Board of Directors.

With Red Seal certifications in Plumbing and Steamfitting, a Class B Gasfitting ticket, and a Welder Foundation certificate, Will has built a broad foundation across the ICI + R sectors and has worked on a wide variety of projects. He has travelled extensively, holding travel cards with UA Locals in Edmonton, Calgary, and Saskatchewan.

In 2014, Will joined UAPICBC as a full-time instructor, teaching all levels of apprenticeship training for five years before transitioning into administration and eventually Executive Director. Since then, he has grown apprenticeship enrollment from 600 to over 1,300 and been named to the 2023 Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction.

Senior Project Manager
Trotter & Morton Building Technologies Inc.

Scott is a Senior Project Manager at Trotter & Morton. where he has worked since 2016. A graduate of the Mechanical Engineering Technology program at BCIT in 2008, Scott began his career as a Construction Estimator and transitioned to Project Coordinator before moving into project management.

Scott has been instrumental in evolving NextGen since joining during its formative years. As a NextGen Board Director, Scott’s vision is to see more young people involved in the industry. One of his key goals is to raise awareness of the vast opportunities in the mechanical trades so the younger generation is inspired to join.

“There are lots of opportunities in mechanical contracting such as estimating, designing, engineering, legal, and accounting.” Scott advises tradespeople wanting to transition to the office to build and develop their skillset. “Accounting practices, financial forecasting – these are vital things to learn for people who want to transition into the office.”

For Scott, success in mechanical contracting is achieved through more than technical skills — it’s about cultivating and nurturing relationships.

“Learn to build relationships. It’s a small industry, and it’s important to understand the people you work with, not just within your organization, but clients, contractors, suppliers, and partners”.

In his spare time, Scott enjoys working on DIY backyard projects and recently took up golf.

Strategic Initiatives Manager
Division 15 Mechanical Ltd.

Amanda Cooke is Strategic Initiatives Manager and an owner of Division 15 Mechanical. Prior to joining Division 15 in 2024, Amanda held senior finance, analytics, and consulting roles across government, transportation, and aviation, leading complex initiatives focused on strategy, performance improvement, and organizational transformation. She holds a BA in Economics from the University of Victoria and an MBA from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

Amanda is passionate about helping people do their best work by removing unnecessary complexity and improving the systems that support them. She believes the best solutions come from listening to the people closest to the work and is committed to developing future leaders and creating more opportunities for women in construction leadership roles.

Amanda’s main focus on the MCABC NextGen Board is to collaborate with industry peers to help bring this vision to life, and to contribute to a strong, innovative, and sustainable mechanical contracting industry across British Columbia.

BC Sales Manager
ProWest Sales

Pierre is BC Mechanical Sales Manager at ProWest Sales. As a licensed gasfitter with hands-on experience in the plumbing and HVAC industries, he is intimately familiar with contractor needs and the day-to-day challenges of mechanical projects. He leans on this experience to develop effective market growth strategies while paying attention to systems and opportunities that support both the residential and commercial sectors.

Pierre believes that relationships are fundamental to our industry, along with delivering quality service and long-term value. He is an active member of the TECA Board and regularly attends ASHRAE events to stay engaged with evolving industry standards, technology, and innovation. As part of the NextGen Board, he believes advocacy, education, and strong leadership are key to maintaining a respected and progressive mechanical industry.

Assistant General Manager
Sullivan Mechanical Ltd.

Shelby brings 15 years’ of experience spanning multiple sectors to her role as Assistant General Manager at Sullivan Mechanical. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on Energy Management and brings a blend of her trades background, analytic mindset, and management experience to the family business.

Navigating the environment and labour landscape in the Northern region brings its own challenges. Striving to highlight and represent the industry in the North, Shelby advocates for improved training and education accessibility in all regions of the province, drawing from her own experience of travelling from Prince Rupert to Burnaby to attend BCIT.

Her vision includes fostering an inclusive environment that provides support for the next generation of tradespeople. “The reason why I’m part of NextGen is representation. I’d like to see resources and training readily available and more accessible for people at a distance.”

Shelby’s advice for anyone wanting to enter the trades is to explore the opportunities the industry has to offer. “Everybody’s different in how they learn. With the trades and the mechanical industry having so many avenues to explore, don’t count yourself out and give one a try.”

Shelby’s goals as a NextGen Director are to lobby for accessible resources, training, and educational opportunities in the Northern region, as well as to expand the presence of the mechanical trades there.

In her spare time, Shelby enjoys the outdoors. She loves to hike in the summer and spends her winters skiing.

Sr Controls Technologist/Sr Programmer
Genesis Building Controls

Tobias started out as an electrician in Germany, but it didn’t take long before he was hooked on the controls and automation side of the trade. “There was something about making systems actually do what you wanted that I couldn’t put down.” Tobias went on to work as a controls contractor in Germany before bringing that experience across to Canada.

Over 20 years he’s grown from hands-on fieldwork into programming and design, and today he’s a Senior Controls Technologist and Senior BMS Programmer at Genesis Building Controls, where he designs smart building systems, integrates different BMS platforms, and looks after Genesis’ programming standards. “I’ve always been drawn to the harder problems, and over the years I’ve leaned more and more into IT and network technology too, because that’s increasingly where building systems live.“

 When asked what motivates him to join NextGen, there’s little hesitation: “This industry has given me a career I genuinely care about, and joining the NextGen Board feels like the right way to give something back. I’m excited by where things are heading—AI-driven foresight, predictive performance, smarter integration—and I’d rather help shape that change than watch it happen.“

The greatest pull for Tobias, however, is the people. “I really enjoy passing on what I’ve learned, and I want to help make sure the next generation coming into the trades has the support and opportunities that I was lucky enough to have. I think my mix of field experience, programming, and a contractor’s perspective from two countries can add something useful to those conversations.”

Scott is the Service Manager at Haakon Mechanical Services, where he oversees service operations, supports field teams, and works closely with customers to deliver reliable mechanical solutions. Throughout his career in the mechanical service industry, he has been passionate about developing people, improving processes, and building strong teams. He enjoys mentoring the next generation of tradespeople and leaders, and believes that investing in people and embracing continuous improvement are key to the long-term success of the industry.

Through the MCABC NextGen Board, Scott hopes to help shape the future of the mechanical contracting industry by supporting efforts to attract and retain talented people, develop future leaders, and promote collaboration across the industry. He sees the Board as an opportunity to learn from experienced industry leaders, broaden his perspective, and continue growing as a leader himself. Scott hopes to bring a service and operations perspective to the Board while working alongside others who are passionate about strengthening the mechanical contracting community and ensuring the industry continues to thrive for future generations.