1. Do Collaborative Strategies Actually Work? A Report Card on the Engineering and Technical Services Cluster Presentation to APEGGA Edmonton District April 15, 2003

2. The Greater Edmonton Competitiveness Strategy The Engineering and Technical Services Cluster Competitive Challenges Facing the Industry Collaborative Actions Accomplishments Report Card A Future Perspective Questions Outline

3. Launched Spring 2000 Business Plans presented in Town Hall Meeting January 2001 1200 People and 300 business and organizations involved Largest initiative in the region costing over $1 million The Greater Edmonton Competiveness Strategy

4.  Shape the next generation economy  Build regional competitive advantage  Attract investment and new business to the region Key Objectives

5. “Create an environment within industry clusters that drives both collaborative and constructive competition to encourage innovation, competitiveness and to attract and stimulate new business in the region.” Strategy

6. Industry Clusters “Concentrations of similar companies with related products and services their joint suppliers and supporting economic foundations.”

7.  To work together  To cooperate with the enemy “Collaboration” (v. from the Latin: Related to WORK)

8. One of the 8 key drivers of growth in the region Consists of 50% Engineering and Technical Services 50% Construction Services Employs 68,000 Engineering and Technical Services Cluster…Highlights

9. Growing at 3.4% annually – 1% faster than the North American average We’ve developed specialized skills in Oil and Gas, Tarsands and Heavy Industry Lagging behind several North American centres including Calgary Engineering and Technical Services Cluster…Highlights

10. Critical skills shortages (Technical, Professional and trades) The effects of seasonal and economic cycles on the industry Not attracting sufficient young people into the industry Limited marketing of industry services and strengths Competitive Challenges Facing the Industry Engineering & Technical Services Cluster

11. Fragmented Industry Lack Head Office decision makers in Edmonton Need for alternate forms of project financing Cross border registration is a barrier to business in US Competitive Challenges Facing the Industry Engineering & Technical Services Cluster

12.  Increasing the availability and skills of our technical, professional and trades workforce  Mitigating the effects of seasonal and economic cycles on the industry  Collaboratively marketing the unique skills and expertise of the cluster globally 3 Key Action Initiatives Engineering & Technical Services Cluster

13. Commissioned a study on exporting engineering services to USA and Mexico (Alberta Export Engineering Study – April 2001) including: Licensing Export potential Training requirements Commissioned a study of private and institutional training programs available to the cluster (Learning Map Project – June 2001) Interactive website set up of available training inventory Accomplishments…

14. Several training initiatives offered through the Human Resources Flagship Cluster Seminars/Webinar series (SkillsInvest) Topics include Leadership, Best Practices in Recruiting, Retention and Performance Management www.skillsinvest.extension.ualberta.ca Accomplishments…

15. US licensing of Regional Canadian Engineers Help overcome the barrier of exporting engineering services to the US Agreement made with the Montana State Board to hold exams in Edmonton Fundamentals of Engineering “FE” exams held twice a year in April and October Accomplishments…

16. US licensing of Regional Canadian Engineers 18 people wrote and passed first exam in October 43 people are registered to write on Saturday Lecture was included as part of the ENG 400 Class for fourth year students at the University of Alberta Al Schuld and Neil Windsor of APEGGA are being certified to preside over the exams in Edmonton Accomplishments…

17. US licensing was a collaborative effort of several people including: Robb McColl – EDE Gerry Devine - Stantec Raj Rajan – Alberta Research Council Ken Porteous – University of Alberta Al Schuld - APEGGA Neil Windsor - APEGGA Accomplishments…

18. To mitigate the effects of Edmonton’s short construction cycle To promote and expand the use of cold weather construction techniques and technologies To share best practices in the field To meet and network with peers… Accomplishments…

19. First time world class event held in Edmonton on November 3 – 5, 2002 Symposium where educators and industry experts presented papers on the latest design and construction techniques and technologies in use in cold weather regions around the world Industry Expo where companies showcased equipment, products and services for cold weather construction 400 delegates and exhibitorsAccomplishments… The International Winter Construction Symposium and Expo 2002

20. Challenge identified in an industry cluster working group Solution started with one or two people’s involvement Finished with collaborative effort of many steering committee members, sponsors and participants: Co-Chairs Gino Ferri, Read Jones Christoffersen Charles Lendzion, Construction Research Institute of Canada Wayne Mallet, Voice Construction Ltd. EDE Robb McColl – EDEAccomplishments… The International Winter Construction Symposium and Expo 2002

21. Accomplishments…

22. International Winter Construction Symposium and Expo May 16-19, 2004 Edmonton, Alberta Partnership with: IWCSE International Winter Construction Symposium & Expo CSCE Canadian Society of Civil Engineers ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers Co-Chairs Dr. Dan Smith – University of Alberta Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering Gino Ferri – Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. Accomplishments…

23. Energy of a few people Support by EDE representative (Rob McColl) Support and participation of organizations like APEGGA Achieving overall objectives of the competitiveness strategy Achieving objectives of the cluster strategy Achieving cluster action initiatives Report Card… A A A B B B Grade

24. Pace of project completion General Cluster Participation (people, companies, organizations) Future plan to sustain cluster Seed funding for future projects Fulltime resource dedicated to cluster project coordination Report Card… C D F F F Grade

25. Overall Grade Report Card… PASS! More Effort Needed to Graduate

26.  Continue our formula for success… “Small Solutions Not Grand Illusions” A Future Perspective… Engineering & Technical Services Cluster

27.  Hold a general cluster strategy session in 2003 to: Reestablish the key challenges facing our industry Reaffirm or expand our collaborative action initiatives Encourage broader participation from the industry cluster  Figure out how to sustain the cluster group and accelerate its accomplishments A Future Perspective… Engineering & Technical Services Cluster

28. Increased business opportunities regionally, nationally and internationally Wider opportunities for partnerships and strategic alliances Network with industry colleagues Increase your industry knowledge and knowledge of best practices Contribute to your industry and community Personal leadership opportunity Why Get Involved?

29. Contact any of us: How To Get Involved… NameLocationEmailTelephon e Robb McCollEDErmccoll@ede.org780-424-9191 Mike DuffDesign Group Staffing Inc. mduff@dg.ca780-428-1505 Gary CutmoreLockerbie & Holegcutmore@lockerbiehole.com780-452-1250 Raj RajanAlberta Research Councilrajan@arc.ab.ca780-450-5248 Gerry DevineStantecgdevine@stantec.com780-917-7036 Gino FerriRead Jones Christoffersen gferri@rjc.ca780-452-2325 Wayne MallettVoice Construction Ltd.wmallett@voiceconst.com780-469-1351 Rod KariusAssociated Engineeringkariusr@edmonton.associated- eng.com 780-451-7666 Rick PrenticeStantecrprentice@stantec.com780-917-7000

30. Thank You! Would welcome your questions and observations