Laying the Groundwork

Welcome to Red Army Radio! Today, Francis sits down with Andrew Karam, Kaylish Henry, and Matthew Young-Davies from Tomlinson’s engineering team. In this episode, we dive into the world of temporary and permanent structures, the challenges of shoring and piling, and what it’s really like to be the in-house engineers behind some of Tomlinson’s most complex projects. 

Andrew shares how the team has grown from a one-person operation into an internal consulting group serving bridge, shoring, and infrastructure projects across the company. Kaylish and Matt talk about their paths from summer students to engineers-in-training, and how they’re applying classroom knowledge in the real world. Together, they reveal why having an in-house engineering makes us more productive, while also driving innovation on site. 

From terrifying excavation rescues to creative re-use of bridge girders, this episode showcases the ingenuity, judgment, and teamwork that power Tomlinson’s engineering solutions. 

Episode Highlights: 

• Andrew’s nine-year journey from sole engineer to team lead. 
• Kaylish’s start as a summer student and her path toward her P.Eng. 
• Matt’s move from survey to engineering and his first major design projects. 
• The difference between formwork and falsework—explained simply. 
• Why internal engineering saves time, money, and avoids costly revisions. 
• A near-disaster excavation project and how underpinning saved the day. 
• Designing a massive heated enclosure for winter canal rehabilitation in Kingston. 
• Team insights on choosing steel vs. concrete  
• The most satisfying part of being an engineering 

Key Takeaways: 

• “Eight hundred thousand to a million pounds of force down - which is terrifying because it’s supposed to be on rock, and it’s not.” 
• “It was a really cool slash terrifying project… but we got it done.” 
• “I just really love understanding how things work on a fundamental level.” 
• “Just going to site and seeing everything that you’ve built… that’s what makes me tick.” 
• “We do structural engineering for everyone… come to us with all your needs and we’ll get it done.” 

Welcome to Red Army Radio! Today, Francis sits down with Derek Thomas our Aggregates Sales Manager and Kevin Bowes, Scale Operator, who’s been part of the Tomlinson team for nearly three decades. In this episode, we explore how automation is transforming customer service, the logistics of getting products from quarry to job site, and the teamwork that keeps our projects running smoothly. 

Derek explains how the sales team works with everyone from homeowners to major contractors to match each job with the right products. Kevin walks us through life at the scale house, from streamlining truck turn-around times to some of the wildest things he’s seen in 18 years at the scales. Together, they highlight how Tomlinson is embracing technology, expanding product offerings, and keeping customer satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. 

From large-scale automation to interesting homeowner requests, this episode offers a behind the scenes look at how one of the region’s busiest aggregate operations delivers both speed and service. Tune in for real world stories, operational insights, and a few laughs. 

Episode Highlights: 

• Kevin’s 28-year career path from loader operator to scale lead. 
• Derek’s decade in aggregate sales and approach to building long-term client relationships. 
• How scale automation has cut truck processing from minutes to seconds. 
• New product offerings, from salt to specialty products and why they matter to customers. 
• Real success stories – such as 873 trucks going through the scales in one day 
• The role of Tomlinson’s quality control lab in keeping products up to spec. 
• Creative problem-solving, from rush racetrack builds to multi-home stone deliveries. 
• The future of scale tech: kiosks, cloud access, and improved customer data tools. 

Key Takeaways 

• “How can we get our customers to their job quicker, efficiently, and safely? That’s the goal.” 
• “Once the customer is set up, they just run all day, they don’t have to talk to anybody, they just go.” 
• “Our lab… I’d eat my lunch in there.” 
• “Same day deliveries - we’re trying to make sure we’re available and have the trucking to do that.” 
• “Eight hundred seventy-three tickets in one day - and no lineup.” 
• “It’s too easy, just make the call, and we can make it happen.” 

Welcome to Red Army Radio! In this episode, Rob Pierce hosts a special roundtable conversation with senior leaders across the Tomlinson Group to reflect on the first half of 2025. Joined by Adam Hendriks, Graziela Girardi, Francis Brazeau, and Ron Tomlinson, the group covers strategy, technology, market conditions, and what’s ahead for the Red Army. 

From AI and automation to project wins and cross-team collaboration, this town hall offers a clear snapshot of the pulse of the business and where we’re heading together as One Team. 

Episode Highlights: 

• Rob and Ron reflect on how internal alignment and better communication are driving performance. 
• Graciela shares construction wins, including the Ottawa Hospital project and a record-setting winter for equipment utilization. 
• The group talks AI, automation, and how new tools are saving time, boosting safety, and enhancing customer value. 
• Francis spotlights innovations in concrete mix optimization  
• A  look at market conditions: interest rates, housing starts, and regional slowdowns. 
• The importance of internal customer service and why breaking down silos is key to success. 
• The group highlights the exceptional work of field teams, the energy of summer students, and the strong collaboration happening across divisions. 

Key Takeaways: 

“We have lots of great teams. When they connect and collaborate, it multiplies the business. 

“If you touch a smartphone, tablet, or computer—AI will change how you work.” 

"The Aggregates team took a real leap forward in putting it [automation] on the most complicated plant first." 

“Utilization this winter was the highest we’ve seen in 10 years.” 

"You have to keep evolving and changing. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out—the game changes." 

“We're a longstanding business—but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to challenge our processes.”  

“Strategy isn’t separate from the business—what you’re doing is the strategy." 

Welcome to Red Army Radio! Today, Francis sits down with our AI Program Manager at Tomlinson. In this episode, the conversation takes a deep dive into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in construction and how Tomlinson is leading the charge. He shares his unconventional journey into tech, the company’s early adoption of AI, and how it's transforming workflows across the business.

From the risks of lagging behind to the practical applications of AI—from site safety to contract analysis—this episode offers a comprehensive look at how AI is reshaping one of the most traditional industries. Tune in to hear about what's possible now, what’s on the horizon, and how employees can be part of this exciting shift.

Episode Highlights:

1. He shares his unconventional career path and how he ended up at Tomlinson.
2. How Tomlinson supported his formal training in computer science while working full time.
3. The company’s early and strategic implementation of ChatGPT and other AI tools.
4. Five key AI focus areas in construction: computer vision, NLP, robotics, generative AI, and machine learning.
5. Real use cases including jobsite safety monitoring, automated tender analysis, and digital twins.
6. The growing importance of data maturity and governance.
7. The balance between innovation and risk in an industry slow to adopt tech.
8. The ethical and creative implications of AI in arts, media, and the workplace.
9. Why employee ideas and engagement are vital to building effective AI solutions.

Key Takeaways:

"This company will help grow people that recognize they want to grow and prove it."

"We immediately created an app in Teams so everyone could get on ChatGPT—seven months before copilot existed."

"If we push an AI tool out into the field and it's adding steps to their day, then we failed."

"We're now dealing with large amounts of data leaving the source system... and every large language model to date has been jailbroken."

"We don't want to just push stuff out. We want to hear from people and co-create use cases."

"I don’t want to get to a place where we’re hanging an AI-generated Mona Lisa in our house and pretending it’s the same."

"Try it at home. Ask what you can cook with what's in your fridge. You’ll learn how these systems work."

Welcome to Red Army Radio! Today, Francis sits down with Joe Skrepnek and Stephane Dallaire, construction managers at Tomlinson. In this episode, the group dives into what it means to be a construction manager, exploring daily responsibilities, key aspects of the role, memorable moments, and much more.

Joe and Stephane discuss essential skills for their role, their journey to becoming construction managers, the importance of teamwork, prioritizing tasks, and recognizing their team. They also highlight the significance of safety on job sites and how AI is being integrated into their field. Tune in to gain valuable insights and hear firsthand experiences from our experts.

Episode Highlights:

• Joe Spreknek and Stephane Dallaire share their backgrounds and their roles as construction managers.
• The importance of problem-solving and quick thinking in their day-to-day work.
• Fun and memorable moments from their careers.
• The value of teamwork in construction management.
• The largest projects they’ve ever worked on.
• Utilizing the collective knowledge within the Tomlinson team.
• Promoting health and safety by being on-site with their teams.
• The role of AI in modern construction management.

Key Takeaways:

"Somebody jumped our fence, climbed into an 80-ton crawler crane."

"It's difficult, but there are great rewards and lots of interesting stories."

"You have to really build that team mentality."

"We backed concrete right up through the entire sanitary line."

"Usually I'd be looking after about 20 to 30 projects a year."

"I was blown away at how committed the field staff is to getting the job done."

This week on Red Army Radio, Francis sits down with Brock Tipping and Jad Ziadat, summer students from Carleton University working in construction coordination at Tomlinson. They discuss their backgrounds, including Brock’s transition from landscaping and Jad’s initial experience with shoring and piling. 

Brock and Jad share insights on the importance of on-site experience and the problem-solving skills gained from their engineering degrees. Brock talks about estimation and what that role was like for him. They highlight the supportive onboarding experience at Tomlinson and the guidance from experienced colleagues. 

They also talk about managing priorities, exciting summer projects, and offer advice for future summer students. Finally, they discuss their future plans and the best lessons learned during their internships. Don't miss this episode packed with insights and experiences from our summer students. Tune in to Red Army Radio to get the inside scoop on what it's like to work at Tomlinson. 

Episode Highlights: 

• Brock Tipping and Jad Ziadat, summer students from Carleton University, discuss their roles as construction coordination students at Tomlinson. 
• Brock talks about his transition to construction coordination and the valuable lessons he has learned about production and job bidding. 
• Jad emphasizes the importance of on-site experience to fully understand the scope of the work. 
• The importance of problem-solving skills gained from their engineering degrees. 
• Their onboarding experience at Tomlinson, where foremen and managers are always happy to answer questions and provide guidance. 
• The wealth of experienced colleagues they can turn to for advice. 
• Exciting projects they are currently working on this summer. 
• Advice for other summer students coming to Tomlinson and the significance of teamwork in the company culture. 
• Their plans after school and what they hope to achieve before finishing their internships. 

Key Takeaways  

“You're not treated as a student; people actually take the time out of their day to explain things to you.” 

“Once I saw that you can be on site, manage, and have input on a project – this is definitely what I want to do.” 

“You can go on a sewer and water job, a paving job, shoring and piling, and it’s all different.” 

“Every day is different for a construction coordinator, with lots of tracking and keeping the job flowing.” 

“When I started university, I had no idea what I wanted to do or where I saw myself going.” 

“I went into engineering because I really enjoyed making things at home, seeing how things are made, and actually doing things yourself.” 

“You come here and see Tomlinson dumpsters, Tomlinson bins, trucks – that’s something that really jumped out at me. I want to be a part of the big show.” 

This week on Red Army Radio, Francis sits down with Scott Allen and Cody Stephens from our network and security team to dive deep into the world of cyber security. Our guests share their backgrounds and what inspired them to pursue careers in this critical field. Leveraging their extensive experience, Scott and Cody provide valuable insights into  ransomware, the myriad ways hackers can infiltrate your systems and even get into government-funded hacking.  

They describe how security is like an onion, with multiple layers working together to keep us safe. They recount stories about the testing methods they employ, such as phishing tests, and discuss the consequences when these tests are failed. 

Throughout the conversation, Scott and Cody outline the various precautions that can be taken to protect data, offer practical tips, give shout-outs to team members who excel in cyber security and even share some of the crazy ways they’ve seen hackers try to get data. Don't miss this episode packed with "byte"-sized wisdom. Tune in to Red Army Radio to get the inside scoop on staying a step ahead of cyber threats! 

Episode Highlights: 

• Scott and Cody share their backgrounds and why they decided to get into IT 
• They touch on the different types of security tests conducted and precautions taken to protect teams. 
• Insights into the consequences of ransomware attacks and what to do if you fall victim. 
• The pair discuss the increasing sophistication of cyber-attacks and the need for robust defenses. 
• They share safe practices for online activities such as “Don't access your banking apps at a Starbucks or a random motel" 
• Layers of security and the importance of not blindly trusting vendor-provided solutions.  

Key Takeaways 

"Our firewall sees over 1 million events a day"  

"I could spend $20 and get 1,000 compromised computers" 

"That vape had a USB drive, giving an attacker remote access to their computer" 

“Even if you pay the ransom, it doesn't mean they're out of your network" 

"One of the big misconceptions of security is that we're here to hinder any production" 

"If you get a phone call and it's just dead air - hang up" 

"Gotta fight fire with fire, these attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated" 

"Users are really the front line" 

Welcome to a special edition of Red Army Radio! Usually, we bring you educational content and spotlight our amazing team members, but today we've got some exciting news that you won't want to miss! Stick around until the end for some awesome giveaway info!

This week on Red Army Radio, Francis sits down with Becky Gilmer and John Dwyer from our Industrial Waste team for an in-depth look at the essential work they do. Becky and John share their experiences and shed light on the operations of an industrial waste facility. They explain the types of materials they handle, how they treat hazardous waste, and the importance of proper disposal. You'll hear fascinating stories about some of the unique items they receive, including intriguing WWI relics, and learn about the types of waste they cannot accept. 

The conversation also covers the stringent regulations they follow and the critical role of compliance in their operations. Becky and John highlight the dedicated efforts of their 24/7 team and their collaboration with the Kingston division to serve the eastern portion of Ontario. They discuss innovative projects and the reasons behind their passion for this challenging yet rewarding field. Expect to be entertained by tales of unexpected encounters, including John’s memorable raccoon adventure. 

Episode highlights: 

• Introduction to Becky and John and their roles within the Industrial Waste team 
• Overview of the materials accepted and the treatment of hazardous waste 
• Stories about unique and historical items that come through the facility 
• Encounters with wildlife and other unexpected elements in their daily work (with video to prove it) 
• The unpredictable and varied nature of their job 
• Innovative projects and the dedication of their round-the-clock team 

Key takeaways:

“Every time there's a new waste that comes in, we’re out taking a sample of it – we need to know what we’re dealing with.”

“It’s a busy facility.”

“Our team operates 24/7.”

“With us and the Kingston division, we cover the entire eastern portion of Ontario.”

“Every day is different – John has an amazing raccoon story he can share with us.”

"It’s a dirty job, it’s a hard job, the guys have a lot of fun."

“I turned around and started chasing it, because that's what you do.” 

This week on Red Army Radio, Francis sits down with Ryan Andre, Quality Control Manager at Tomlinson Ready Mix, to explore the world of concrete. Drawing from his 18 years of experience with the Tomlinson team, Ryan shares his journey in the industry, from his beginnings as a Quality Control Manager to the influence of his family on his passion for concrete. 

Throughout their conversation, Francis and Ryan discuss the past, present, and future of concrete, highlighting its ubiquitous presence and daily usage around the world. They delve into the durability and sustainability of concrete, examining its lifecycle and sustainable production with local materials. 

The discussion also covers the focus on low carbon-intensive mixes, exploring how they are created and how Tomlinson Ready Mix collaborates with customers to design mixes that meet specific project goals. 

Episode Highlights: 

·         Ryan’s introduction and extensive background in the concrete industry 

·         The reasons why concrete is the preferred building material 

·         The locally sourced materials used in our mixes; all sourced within 400 km or less 

·         Sustainability in the concrete industry and Tomlinson Ready Mix's ongoing efforts to enhance sustainability 

·         The evolution of concrete mix designs from past to present 

·         An exploration of supplementary cementing materials 

Key Takeaways: 

“My families in it, my father was in concrete, my brothers in it, my wife's in construction” 

“It's a byproduct of the steal – it becomes a bonus product for our concrete industry” 

“Slag cement is the number one supplementary cementing material in Ontario”  

“What we’re trying to do is lower that Global Warming Potential per cubic meter” 

“There are certain elements you're pouring in a project that we can make quite a bit greener” 

“You make an overall carbon budget to hit those targets, it’s the ideal way to do it” 

“Upfront if you were to just visually look at the mix, you’re not going to see any difference”