
Meet Our Leadership Team
Our Founders

Brent Allardyce, P.Eng.
CEO | Founder
Brent brings five decades of experience in the industry with extensive technical expertise and leadership ability to his role as a principal. He began his career in the mid-1970s and leveraged that foundation to build Startec Refrigeration into one of Western Canada’s premier refrigeration companies. Later, he founded Thermocarb Engineering Ltd., delivering advanced refrigeration and process engineering solutions for everything from gas processing to municipal facilities.
Over sixteen years as General Manager at Startec, Brent oversaw the design and installation of hundreds of refrigeration systems, ranging from small single-stage units to multi-thousand horsepower systems for large gas plants and meat-packing operations. His work reflects a dedication to excellence at all levels of every project. A lifelong coach, Brent continues to serve as a leader and mentor.

Rick Bower, P.Eng. (1951-2023)
Founder
With a career defined by innovation and leadership, Rick co-founded BDR Engineering and played a pivotal role in the design and execution of various sized projects at more than 4,000 facilities. His expertise in plant troubleshooting earned him a reputation as an experienced operations optimizer, increasing efficiencies of oil and gas projects. Rick
Beyond his professional achievements, Rick’s greatest impact was felt through his commitment to family and community. His vision for the Allardyce Bower Foundation continues to inspire efforts in Calgary and surrounding regions.
Rick’s legacy will always be remembered, his life serving as a beacon representing the genuine impact the Allardyce Bower Foundation can have on future generations.

Michael Allardyce, C.E.T.
General Manager
Originally a geologist, Mike brings that foundation to solving engineering challenges. He began his career at ABC as a Project Manager before completing his C.E.T. credentials in 2016. Today, as General Manager, he oversees the day-to-day operations of the office. With a foundation in engineering, he combines hands-on project experience with strategic leadership, ensuring adequate resources and direction needed to deliver results for our clients' projects. When he’s not steering the ship at work, you’ll likely find Mike coaching Little League baseball or football at a local high school.

Mark Conacher, P.Eng.
Senior Corporate Director
With 35 years of combined experience in the design, construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of gas and oil field equipment, Mark brings technical expertise to the team. A University of Saskatchewan graduate, he is valued for his practical insight and commitment to complex process and operational integration. Mark gained much of his experience at Suncor, where he worked in heavy thermal, mining and extraction, and conventional gas operations. Drawing on his extensive knowledge, Mark’s role enables him to provide valuable and experience driven guidance to strengthen our company. Outside of work, Mark can usually be found hitting the slopes or chasing fresh powder snowmobiling.

Craig Weller, C.E.T.
VP of Client Relations and Business Development
With more than a decade of technical support and project management experience at ABC, Craig has successfully led and supported a wide range of projects. Before joining the industry, Craig played professional hockey, developing adaptability, teamwork and resilience, shaping his leadership style. As ABC evolved, he naturally transitioned into the role of Director of Client Relations and Business Development, applying these skills to drive meaningful contributions. In his role, he focuses on building and sustaining long-term client partnerships while aligning ABC’s strategic goals align with client needs, creating a foundation of trust, collaboration, and shared success. Outside of work, Craig enjoys cheering on his daughters at their dance and volleyball events, relaxing with his wife over a good show, and spending time outdoors mountain biking, golfing, or fishing.

Gui Tremblay, P.Eng.
Process Engineering Manager
Gui started his journey at ABC Engineering as a Project Engineer, gaining experience a wide range of projects, from small facility retrofits to large green field developments under the direct privilege of Rick Bower. He graduated to his role as Process Engineering Manager, having developed a strong technical background and passion for carbon capture technologies. His expertise and drive have made him a key contributor in ABC’s commitment to advancing in carbon capture capabilities in our engineering group. When he’s not at work, Gui enjoys travelling and running.

Kevin Nijhuis, P.Eng.
Project Management Manager
Kevin is a Professional Engineer with 20 years of experience across multiple oil and gas disciplines, with a strong focus on project management, asset development, technology development, and reliability engineering. As Manager of Project Management, he provides leadership and structure to project teams, ensuring clear communication, disciplined execution, and alignment on scope, schedule, and budget. Kevin currently oversees a portfolio of natural gas processing and optimization projects, power generation initiatives, and post-combustion carbon capture developments. When Kevin’s not managing timelines and budgets, you can find him juggling his kids between hockey rinks.

Damian Bransby-Williams, P.Eng.
Conventional Engineering Manager
Damian graduated from the University of Calgary with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and spent 18 years as a Project Engineer at previous engineering firms. His experience in a variety of different projects helped build a strong foundation in project execution and team management. He later joined ABC Engineering as a Project Engineer before stepping into the role as Conventional Engineering Manager. His initiative in fostering collaboration and driving successful project deliverables played a key role to his transition into leadership. In his spare time, Damian enjoys reading and mountain biking with his daughter.

Chad Smith, SCO
Electrical Engineering Manager
With nearly 30 years spent in the electrical industry, Chad brings technical expertise and hands-on leadership to his role as Electrical Engineering Manager. He began his career in the field as an electrician before moving into design, project management, and executive leadership - including more than 15 years as Founder and Executive Vice President of a leading electrical engineering firm. His background spans EPCM services and complex electrical projects throughout Western Canada’s energy sector, with a consistent focus on quality, safety, and team development. When he’s not leading engineering teams, you’ll likely find Chad casting a fly line on the river or finding new ways to make life - and the workplace - a little more fun, scooters included.

Charles Falardeau
Controls & Automation Manager
With 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry (15 years as a Controls & Automation Specialist and 14 years as a Red Seal Instrumentation Mechanic), Charles brings a wealth of experience to our team. As our Senior Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Specialist, he designs, implements, and optimizes automated systems to keep our projects running smoothly, efficiently, and safely. In addition, he also works on everything from on-site commissioning and troubleshooting to PLC/HMI programming, and process control analysis. Beyond his critical role, Charles has recently taken up growing hot peppers - proving he knows how to keep things spicy both on and off the job!

Russ Craig
Construction Manager
Russ has been a dedicated member of our team since 2012. During his 13 years with the company, he spent the first 10 years as our Field Construction Coordinator before advancing to his current role as Construction Manager. His field experience is unparalleled; he brings extensive knowledge guiding our construction operations, ensuring quality execution and excellence in every project. In his down time, he enjoys golfing and has even been lucky enough to get a hole-in-one!

Carey Brightwell
Drafting Manager
With over 35 years of design & project management experience, Carey’s background in leading complex projects gives him a strong understanding in good planning and clear communication - making him a key player in keeping our drafting team on track. His keen eye on details ensures our team’s drawing production is accurate, consistent, and aligned with engineering and design standards. At the end of the day, Carey is all about delivering high-quality work and making the process smoother for everyone involved.

Cailey Anderson, MBA
Controller
With 10 years of progressive experience at ABC, Cailey has built a diverse foundation across project cost control, procurement, and project management. After completing her MBA at the University of Calgary in 2022, she stepped into her current role as Controller, where she leads financial operations and supports executive decision-making across the organization. Cailey brings a strategic and solutions-focused approach to financial management, ensuring ABC’s systems, reporting, and structures enable sustainable growth. When she’s not navigating multi-entity accounting or year-end planning, you can usually find her staying active — skiing through the winter months or summiting mountains in the summer.
