We are proud to announce that Adam Ruberto is our new Structural Department Head for Thunder Bay.

Adam joined KGS in 2008 as a Structural Engineer-in-Training after completing his Bachelor of Engineering from Lakehead University. He has worked in our Thunder Bay and Mississauga offices, most recently, serving as Assistant Department Head for the structural engineering group. His expertise includes leading structural and multi-disciplinary projects within the commercial, industrial and institutional sectors.

Adam is experienced in structural analysis and design as well as in feasibility studies, concept and detailed design, rehabilitation and construction of new and existing structures and has extensive experience in structural condition assessments. He has also been a part of the civil/structural analysis and inspection aspects of water retention/dam projects.

Congratulations on your new role Adam!

At KGS, we believe mentorship is one of the most effective ways to grow – both as individuals and as a company. 

After launching our Mentor the Future Program in 2025, over 270 mentors and mentees came together to  share knowledge, build relationships and support each other’s development in meaningful ways. 

Whether it’s sharing technical expertise, offering career guidance or providing a new perspective, these relationships have provided value to both mentors and mentees over the past year. 

What is the program? 

Mentor the Future is a year-long program open to employees across all KGS locations. Participants are thoughtfully matched based on their goals and experience, with opportunities for one-on-one, group or peer mentorship. 

Focus areas are guided by each partnership’s goals, covering everything from career development and technical skills to leadership and navigating day-to-day workload management.  

The program reflects one of our core values – stop, teach, mentor – giving participants the opportunity to have open conversations and share experiences to elevate each other.  

Looking ahead 

The connections formed this year are just the beginning. We look forward to seeing them continue to grow and new ones develop as we embark on our second year of the program in 2026! 

Harman Mallhi is now the Market Lead – Wastewater and will be focused on expanding our services across the municipal, agricultural and the food and beverage markets. Harman’s deep understanding of the industry and strong leadership abilities will help guide multidisciplinary teams needed for these projects.

With over 17 years of experience, Harman specializes in solid waste management, waste treatment, water distribution and wastewater conveyance. He has extensive experience in project management, authoring preliminary studies, preparing vendor technology recommendations, preparing plans and specifications, contract administration and cost estimating.

A few notable projects Harman has worked on are the Grand Beach Provincial Park Lagoon Upgrades and the Muscatine Power and Water Landfill.

Congratulations on your new role Harman!

We are pleased to share that Brian Peter is now the Principal – Hydro Project Delivery and will be leading our Hydro Project Delivery Department out of our Winnipeg office.

In this role, Brian is responsible for managing large hydro projects and bringing together key resources to enhance collaboration across disciplines and consistency for how we deliver our services for our clients.

With over 38 years of experience, Brian specializes in project management, hydroelectric development, flood protection, major infrastructure design and construction management.

While Brian’s leadership will be instrumental in driving project success, his advocation to fostering mentorship, growth and development in his team will provide long-term benefits to our intermediate and junior project managers, project coordinators and other support team members.

Congratulations to Brian on his well-deserved new role!

We are honoured to announce that Michael Turko was recently named the Market Lead – Municipal Infrastructure for our Winnipeg group. In this role, he will be working to expand our municipal infrastructure services.

About Michael
In his 14 years at KGS Group, Michael has been a key part of our growing municipal group. He has taken on increasing responsibilities including managing projects as well as mentoring and managing staff.

Michael has managed a variety of projects including the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba Water Services Board and The Forks. He has also worked on several flood responses in Manitoba and more recently, in the Yukon.

Uniquely, Michael is one of the first technologists to achieve the Eng.L. designation from Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba. This license allows non-engineers to practice in a specific scope of engineering. It recognizes a combination of education and extensive experience as a means for qualification, attesting to Michael’s depth of experience and knowledge.

Congratulations Michael!

We are proud to announce that Kevin McNichol has been appointed the Transportation Department Head of our Saskatchewan team.

Kevin has over 16 years of transportation engineering experience for the public and private sectors, with a focus on construction administration for transportation infrastructure projects. His work has primarily involved highway construction, where he has gained extensive experience in contract management, construction delivery and project management.

In this role, Kevin will oversee the growth and development of the transportation team, while helping expand their planning, design, construction and lab services.

Recently, Kevin has been involved in expanding construction administration services through the Tell Properties Multilane Roundabout project, the City of Regina’s Assiniboine Avenue On-Ramp project and the R.M. of Estevan’s Shand Road Rehabilitation project.

He also currently serves on the ACEC-SK Transportation Committee and the Tri-Party Steering Committee with the Ministry of Highways and the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association. He also recently served on the APEGS Licensee Admissions Committee and plans to continue volunteering with APEGS through other groups and committees.

We are thrilled to announce that Abraham Barrios has recently joined KGS Group as the Municipal Market Lead in our Mississauga office.

With over 25 years of experience, he is passionate about designing, managing and delivering land development and infrastructure projects for a wide variety of clients. He is a great addition to our Mississauga team, with deep experience managing projects, leading multidisciplinary teams and providing strategic support for business planning and development.

Abraham has a strong background in municipal engineering, water resources engineering, public infrastructure and land development. He specializes in turning complex technical challenges into practical, innovative solutions that support long-term growth. Committed to shaping Ontario’s future, Abraham works closely with partners and clients to address key issues like urban growth, water security and the shift to a low-carbon economy.

We are excited to see the impact Abraham will have at KGS!

We are pleased to announce that Melissa Haresign is the new Department Head of our Winnipeg Water Resources Department.

Since starting at KGS in 2012, Melissa has excelled in various aspects of water resources engineering, particularly in hydro and dam projects. Some notable examples of her work include leading hydraulic analyses for several hydroelectric studies, conducting dam safety reviews and preparing emergency preparedness and response documents for various dam owners. 

In addition to her technical expertise, Melissa is dedicated to mentoring and guiding our junior staff members, all of whom can attest to her knowledge, expertise and leadership abilities, especially during her time as Assistant Department Head.

Melissa’s commitment to her work represents KGS Group’s core values, which has earned her the respect of her colleagues and clients. We can’t wait to see what the Water Resources Department can achieve under her guidance as they continue to work on new and exciting projects.

We are excited to share that Peter Hassan has joined KGS Group as the Regional Manager of our Mississauga office.

Peter has taken over the role of Regional Manager from Stefan Kohnen, who will continue his role across the organization as Principal for Hydro Asset Management.

With over 35 years of hydropower engineering experience, he has a strong foundation in civil-geotechnical engineering and specializes in the assessment and performance monitoring of dams. In addition to his technical expertise, Peter has contributed to major hydroelectric rehabilitation and new construction projects, applying his deep knowledge of structural integrity and risk management.

As a senior leader, Peter has managed multidisciplinary engineering teams delivering services across broad geographic regions. He has led operational support efforts, overseen work on major projects and  participated in safety assessments of hydroelectric, thermal and nuclear waste facilities.

A self-proclaimed lifelong learner, Peter has invaluable insights into how communication, commitment and accountability can foster great client relationships.

We want to offer a heartfelt thank you to Stefan for his many years of dedicated service as Regional Manager and congratulate and welcome Peter to KGS Group!

We are thrilled to announce a key leadership change within our Transportation Department, reflecting our continued growth.

Nathan Ruecker is now the Market Director (East) for our transportation group. The role focuses primarily on Manitoba and Ontario, where Nathan will continue to help grow our already strong name and reputation in transportation. 

Nathan has consistently demonstrated exceptional technical expertise and a deep commitment to team development and operational excellence. He has already proven his capabilities as Department Head for our Saskatchewan transportation group, effectively managing operations and driving continued success. 

With more than 20 years of experience delivering transportation infrastructure projects, his focus has been on design and construction projects, with an emphasis on the provision of quality lab services.

We are excited for the continued growth and success of our transportation team and welcome Nathan to have a broader market focus for the group.

Recently, three members of our team celebrated 25 years working at KGS Group!

Their unwavering commitment and exceptional expertise have been invaluable to our team, and we’re so proud to celebrate them.

You can learn a little bit about each of them below.

Bruno Arpin
Geotechnical Assistant Department Head

Bruno’s penchant for fieldwork, his expertise in flood protection and his ability to effortlessly collaborate with contractors set a tone of trust and expertise early on in his career.

Today, Bruno serves as Geotechnical Assistant Department Head, where he’s known for his ability to turn a single project opportunity into a million-dollar success story. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone at KGS who works as hard as Bruno.

Over the years, Bruno has evolved into a mentor and leader for junior staff members and fellow managers. He has guided staff through complex projects and career growth, shaping the next generation of engineers at KGS. He’s the kind of leader who doesn’t just teach; he inspires.

Petra Deffner
Design and CAD Lead

When Petra first joined KGS, she brought with her a quiet determination and a keen eye for detail and a love for math and drawing. Now, more than 25 years later, Petra has become an indispensable part of the geotechnical team, leading with grace, precision and a smile that never fades, even under pressure.

While her technical excellence and dedication have helped shape many successful initiatives, it’s Petra’s leadership and approach to mentorship that truly sets her apart from the rest. Calm under pressure, quietly dedicated, and always approachable, Petra leads by example and inspires those around her to do their best work.

Her adaptability has allowed her to thrive in her role, where she now guides an exceptional team with professionalism and care. Petra is the type of colleague who makes the workplace better simply by being in it.

Allan Wolotko
Senior Project Manager

Allan Wolotko is a seasoned Senior Project Manager with nearly four decades of experience in the consulting field. He has successfully led numerous building envelope and roof replacement projects for clients such as Ontario Power Generation, SaskPower and the City of Thunder Bay.

Allan is known for his collaborative approach, working closely with his colleagues to deliver exceptional results and elevate those around him. A graduate of Confederation College’s Architectural Technologist program, he has held senior roles at KGS since 2000, where he continues to oversee complex design and construction initiatives with precision.

Allan’s colleagues and clients value his expertise and professionalism, making him an indispensable member of the KGS team.

We are happy to announce that Pooya Shariatahmadi has joined KGS Group as the Electrical Department Head in our Mississauga office.

Pooya brings over 30 years of experience leading engineering teams and delivering award-winning and high-impact energy and industrial projects globally. She has been a registered professional engineer in Canada (Ontario and Alberta) since 2006, as well as a licensed professional engineer in the U.S. states of Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

Pooya has a wealth of experience leading strategic engineering initiatives for mining and mineral processing projects across multiple regions. This includes managing cross-functional teams of engineers, overseeing capital expenditure estimates for major sustainable energy and mining projects and leading technical proposals for integrating battery energy storage system solutions into mining operations to improve energy efficiency.

Please join us in welcoming Pooya to KGS!