Stephanie is from Hurkett Ontario, located 45 Minutes east of Thunder Bay. Hurkett is very small community that is situated between Nipigon and Dorion with a  rough population of maybe 100. “I am finding this to be a trait of Northern Ontario residents” Said Stephanie. 

Stephanie was in Architectural Technology Program at Confederation College. It has given her a distinct advantage over other technologists as the Architectural Technology Program studied HOW buildings “work” though detailed plan examination and creation using both AutoCAD and Revit. Further to that she designed and coordinated buildings with electrical, mechanical, and structural systems. She also mentioned “The graduates held a very strong employment rate in not just the “architectural” based firms, as the program name suggests, but also Construction Management, Electrical, mechanical, and structural engineering consulting firms. Finding employment after graduation was incredibly easy as these graduates were highly sought after in Thunder Bay. Since the closing of the program, it has left a significant void in our industry, leaving those with these skills in high job security, but also very large workloads”

Stephanie met her husband Sean, just over 10 years ago. A lot of their friends tease about how it really was “love at first sight” and tell her they could sell the story and likely make a fortune!. About her husband she said “He is truly my exact opposite, as I am his. As the story goes “opposites attract” It wasn’t long before we wanted to start a family. We also designed and built our own home – fully involving the kids along the way”. She also said “To be completely honest, I don’t believe moving away from Thunder Bay was even discussed; Thunder Bay is our home, and likely will always be. Although my parents still live outside of the city, they make frequent trips, and his family lives quite close to us”.

When asked about her professional life, she mentioned about Women in Technology Representative for the Thunder Bay Chapter of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT), and the Electrical Designer and CAD Development Supervisor for TBT Engineering Limited in Thunder Bay; TBT Engineering is Northwestern Ontario’s largest independently owned multi-disciplinary engineering consulting firm and is one of Canadas top Small & Medium Employers.

She has been part of over 300 projects throughout Northwestern Ontario and First Nations communities. Many of those buildings included new educational facilities, recreation centers, and residential condominiums. Providing spaces for living, learning, and giving back to communities through updated and safe environments. More recognizable buildings include, Salvation Army, Thunder Bay Baggage Building and Water Garden Pavilion, Sioux Lookout High School, and Churchill Elementary. The impact renovations and new construction has on a community is a multi-layered effect. With a result of an improved quality of life for the users and residents.  Having contractors live and work within the smaller communities stimulates the economic growth in other industries to manage the needs for those visitor employees.

Stephanie said she is part of Shift because she wanted to meet other young, like minded professionals who wish to see Thunder Bay to continue to grow in a positive light. Her message for your professionals was “Thunder Bay has provided quite the stage for mentoring and empowering girls, especially in the STEM fields. I have been able to speak at many workshops about my career, my interests whilst in school and the academic path that lead me to where I am. Its been my pleasure to encourage girls, and young women, to never give up on their passions”

“I have often thought about how to give back to my community and, how to raise awareness for the need of, technically sound, complete, accurate, and coordinated construction drawings, and highly skilled individuals to create them. Something I know our industry already feels the pinch for. We know there is a push for trades, and I have also found there is a push for Engineers. It is my fear that those interested in these fields will not see our profession as an option and we will fall short in coaching the next technicians and technologists. It is my personal goal to empower girls to follow their passions in Technology, Engineering and Math, and to not let gender stereotypes, and naysayers, squander their dreams. Its also my hope to inspire the next generation of designers, by inducing this occupation to a younger audience”.