Knowledge Counts: Our journey to PQS

For this issue of “Knowledge Counts”, we are speaking with three CIQS members who share the path they took to join CIQS and earn their designations. • Host: Wendy Hobbs, PQS(F) • Producer: Ryan Schriml • Guests: Mykola Pulnyev, Kelly Parker, Michael Gabert About Our Guests: Mykola Pulnyev, PQS, MRICS, PMP, GSC was born in Ukraine, where he lived until he moved to Toronto with his family in 2002 in pursuit of new opportunities. He started off working in construction with a Ukrainian plumber while taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at night. In 2004, he was accepted into the Construction Engineering Technology program at George Brown, where he took a construction cost estimation class. His instructor inspired him to join CIQS as a student member and he earned his PQS in 2014. “I have always wanted to be associated with landmarks that will remain on the Canadian landscape for generations.” At the time of this interview, he was the preconstruction manager at EllisDon in Ottawa. Currently, he is the commercial director for EllisDon in Chicoutimi, QC. Kelly Parker, PQS has over 25 years of experience working as a contractor’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) quantity surveyor in the UK before relocating to Canada and joining Tech-Cost in 2015 as an M&E cost consultant. As a “poacher turned gamekeeper”, she understands how services are installed on-site, which is key when preparing estimates and reviewing change. Growing up, she saw herself as working in a bank or possibly being a brick layer. When her father told her that quantity surveying was a good profession, she “decided to count the bricks instead of laying them.” She volunteers as a CIQS Ambassador and sits on the CIQS education committee, and she is excited about promoting the Institute and quantity surveying as a strong career choice. “As quantity surveyors, the world is our oyster and we are limited only by our own beliefs.” Michael Gabert, PQS(F), MRICS, GSC is the director for BTY’s Prairie’s region, specializing in Lender’s Technical Advisory, Independent Certification, Payment Certification and Cost Management services for public authorities, owners, developers, architects and financial institutions. His experience encompasses independent costing, compliance review, preparation, and certification of substantial and total completion on major projects. He has worked in a wide variety of project sectors, including airports, health care centers, waste-water treatment plans, highway and bridge projects. “There is so much to learn in this profession. You go to work every day knowing that you will learn something new.” For complete show notes, go to https://ciqs.org/podcast.