Ottawa Construction News staff writer
The Ottawa Construction Association (OCA) has reported a healthy financial surplus and membership growth as it announced that Graeback Construction president Hubie Splinter will be the association’s 2024 chair.
The association outlined in its financial statements at its March 21 annual meeting a surplus of $205,152, greater than the projected surplus of $111,496 for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2023.
Overall, the OCA had $7,799,566 in net assets, which would translate to about $6,932 per member – based on the association’s year-end membership of 1,225.
(The association reported in its annual report that membership increased slightly, by 18, during the year.)
“My goal as 2024 OCA Chair is, of course, to continue to provide exceptional service to our members,” Splinter said in a statement.
“One of the initiatives I’m proudest of is our new OCA Careers website which will be an important tool for connecting people interested in careers in our industry with the tools and resources they need to take meaningful steps toward that goal, and to make connections with those looking to recruit new talent.”
In its statement, OCA noted that Splinter grew up around construction, working with his father in residential construction while growing up in Kingston. After his family moved to Ottawa, he gained further experience working on construction sites that his father was superintendent for while working with Teron Construction.
His first experience in non-residential construction came while working as a labourer with Thomas Fuller Construction while attending college. After enrolling in Algonquin College’s Construction Technologist program, he went on to work as an estimator and project coordinator, and later project manager, for Bectar, a large masonry company, and then with Mount Royal Contracting gaining experience in roofing, waterproofing and building envelope systems.
Splinter re-joined Thomas Fuller Construction in 1994 and worked there for 17 years as an estimator, project manager and eventually vice-president. He joined Graebeck Construction in 2011 and became partner with Greg Lynes in 2015 and then company president and owner in 2022.
Today, Graebeck Construction is a mid-size general contractor that employs 20 people and which serves institutional-sector clients, including hospitals, schools and universities. The firm also pursues work on larger-scale private-sector projects.
“Over my career, I’ve been fortunate to benefit from the advice and experience of many mentors,” Splinter said. “That’s a large part of what helped me build a strong career in this industry. I want to advance that spirit of providing advice and guidance to youth as we look to address our industry’s shortage of skilled trades workers.”
Splinter joined the OCA board of directors in 2013. Previously, he served as president of the General Contractors Association of Ottawa (2011). He is also a member of the Executive Leaders with the National Capital Region Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada, and was a volunteer in his children’s sports and activities.
Splinter has been married to Kathleen for 28 years. They have three children: Jacob, Alex and Valerie.
Other 2024 OCA board members include: General Contractors Section: Bruce Thomas, Ron Eastern Construction Ltd. and Steve Schmalz, PCL Constructors (section directors-at-large); Trade Contractors Section: Jason Adams, Duron Services (section chair), Vincent Lamont, Jacques Lamont Ltée. and Jeff W. Clarke, Inflector Environmental Services (section directors-at-large); Mechanical/Electrical: Ken Crawford, C&M Electric (section chair), Jeff Tremblay, T & M Electric and Cathy Godin, SK Sheetmetal (section directors-at-large); Manufacturer/Supplier/Service: Daniel Leduc, Soloway Wright LLP (section chair), Bob Bent, Home Hardware and John Graf, J.L. Richards & Associates Limited (section directors-at-large); Road Builders and Heavy Construction: Greg Clarke, Valley Utilities Ltd. (section chair), Humberto Ferrer, Marathon Underground Constructors and Graziela Girardi, Tomlinson Infrastructure (section directors-at-large).
