SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES
- Civil Engineering - Structures and Building Sciences
- Qualified as a Ontario Building Code Designer in General/Legal Process, Small Buildings, Large Buildings and Structural: BCIN 24536
- Construction Claims Analysis
- Structural and Vehicle Fire Investigations - Fire Cause and Point of Origin
- Building Code Compliance Assessment
- Environmental Contamination - Mould Causation
- Personal Injury Claims Analysis
- Project, Construction and Facility Management and General Contracting - ICI and Residential
- Building, Property and Construction Failures
- Risk Analysis, Cost Assessments, Preventative Maintenance and Project Commissioning
- Construction Safety and Productivity
- Accredited Masonry Engineer
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
Master's Degree in Business Administration, York University, 1993
Bachelor's Degree of Applied Science, University of Waterloo, 1988
Faculty of Engineering Dean's Scholarship, University of Waterloo
Undergraduate Research Assistantship - Materials Science, University of Waterloo
Additional Courses
- International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology, Cincinnati, May 2008
- Investigating Propane and Natural Gas Explosions, CAFI, Toronto, Ontario, November, 2007
- Fire Investigation Professional Development, CAFI, Regina, Saskatchewan, November, 2006
- Tenth Conference on Building Science and Technology, Ottawa, 2005
- Ontario Building Envelope Council Conference on Masonry, Toronto, 2004
- Dalhousie University, Continuing Technical Education Seminar, Construction Claims: Analysis, Quantification and Resolution, Toronto, 2003
- Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, 2003, Eastern Kentucky University (recertified 2008)
- CSCE - Design of Shallow Foundations, Toronto, 2002
- Eighth Conference on Building Science and Technology, Toronto, 2001
- North American Conference on Roofing Technology, Toronto, 1999
- Ontario Building Envelope Council Conference on Mould, Toronto, 1999
- Masonry Engineering, McMaster University and Ontario Masonry Contractors Association, 1999
- Construction Tendering Course, Toronto, 1998
- Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator, 1998 (recertified 2008)
- Seventh Conference on Building Science and Technology, Toronto, 1997
- Expert Witness Training, Ontario College of Advocate Training, Toronto, 1997
- Building Commissioning, Ryerson Polytechnic University, 1994
EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND
Giffin Koerth Inc.
Senior Forensic Engineer & Principal
December 2001 – Present, Toronto
Responsible for technical operations and specializing in:
- Management of multi-disciplined forensic investigations
- Fire and Explosion Investigation
- Construction Assessments, including delays, costing, deficiencies
- Building Sciences and Mould Contamination Cases
- Building Systems and Structural Failure Analysis
- Building Code Assessments, including personal injury claims
Walters Forensic Engineering
Forensic Engineer
September 1996 – November 2001, Toronto
Construction Assessments, including delays, costing, deficiencies
Fire and Explosion Investigation
Building Sciences and Mould Contamination Cases
Building Systems and Structural Failure Analysis
Building Code Assessments, including personal injury claims
Hart House, University of Toronto
Facility Manager
August 1995 – August 1996, Toronto
Responsible for multi-million dollar annual budget comprising:
Building Safety, Security and Maintenance
Capital Renovation Projects
Security Staffing plus Maintenance & Cleaning Staff of 15 Unionized Personnel
Planning & Coordination of Special Events
Property Management, Design & Construction, University of Toronto
Project Manager
June 1994 – August 1995, Toronto
Capital projects from $50,000 to $2,000,000, including Accountability for Budgets, Schedules and Quality
Liaising between Faculty, Staff, Contractors, inside and outside Design Teams
Personally designed specialized audio-visual cabinetry for state-of-the-art Electronic Classrooms
Sylma Contracting
Partner, Residential Construction
September 1989 – June 1994, Toronto
Procurement of Custom Renovation projects, Client & Consultant Liaison
Estimating, Budgeting, Cost Control, Purchasing, Site and Trade Supervision
Equipment Purchasing & Maintenance
Building Code Compliance
Minor Design Work
PCL Constructors Eastern Inc.
Project Manager
September 1988 – September 1989, Etobicoke
Initial Budgeting, Client Relations, Contract Management and other PM duties pertaining to a $4 Million downtown Toronto cost-plus construction project
Minor Design Work on Temporary Construction Protection Facilities
Project Coordinator
September 1987 – September 1988, Etobicoke
Contract Management on a $20 Million Hospital Renovation and a $50 Million office tower
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES / ASSOCIATIONS
Associations
- Professional Engineers of Ontario
- Ontario Society for Professional Engineers
- Canadian Society of Civil Engineers
- Toronto and Canadian Construction Associations
- Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineers
- American Concrete Institute
- American Water Works Association
- Canadian Association of Fire Investigators
- National Association of Fire Investigators
- National Fire Protection Association
- Canadian Society of Forensic Science – Engineering Division
- Ontario Building Envelope Council
PUBLICATIONS / SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Speaking Engagements
- “Advanced Investigations of Slip, Trips & Falls and Personal Injury Claims”, Insurance Institute, Toronto, May 1, 2012
- “Fire Investigation”, University of Toronto, lecture to MSE 431S/1031S Forensic Engineering Course, Toronto, March 26, 2012
- “Forensic Evidence and Experts”, Ontario Insurance Adjusters Convention, Toronto, February 8, 2012
- “Fire Investigation”, Advanced Design and Manufacturing Institute, Toronto, June 23, 2011
- “Fire Claims - Tips to Avoid Getting Burned”, Canadian Defence Lawyers, Property Damage Seminar, The Lamont Learning Centre, Osgoode Hall, Toronto, March 21, 2011
- “Demonstrative Evidence - Avoiding Spoliation Claims”, Ontario Bar Institute, Toronto, February 4, 2011
- “Dispute Early Warnings”, 3rd Construction Claims Seminar, Federated Press, Toronto, January 27-28, 2011
- “Practical Tips in Obtaining reports: An Experts Perspective”, Ontario Bar Institute, November 2010
- “Structural Fire Damage Remediation”, Travelers Insurance, September 2010
- “Fire Investigation, Advanced Design and Manufacturing Institute”, October 18, 2007, Toronto
- “Residential Construction”, Various Engagements, 1997 – Present
- “Construction Claims”, Various Engagements, 1997 – Present
Court & Other Appearances
- Qualified as an expert witness in the Superior Court of Ontario in matters relating to theft/fraud (1), personal injury (4), construction (8) and building science/mould (1)
- Acted as an Arbitrator in a construction dispute (1)
- Appeared at mediations in matters relating to fire (2), construction (7) and building science (1)
- Appeared at a New Home License Appeal Tribunal Hearing (1)
Papers
- What is an Accidental Fire?, CIAA Claims Manual 2011
- Provided Commentary to the Professional Engineers Ontario for their draft Guideline on Expert Witnesses, September 2010
- Fire Scene Safety for Adjusters, Claims Canada, May 2008
- Forensic Engineering in Property Loss Investigations. CIAA Claims Manual 2008
- Expert Witnesses - Hired Guns or Truth Seekers, Claims Canada, July 2007
- Various Articles on Forensic Engineering, Insurance Industry Magazines, 1996 – Present
- Determining Liability in Construction Claims, Legal Focus, 1998
- Risk Management of Occupiers Liability, Legal Focus, 1996
- Construction Crane Productivity, University of Waterloo, 1987
- Vibroflotation, University of Waterloo, 1984
