Michael A.

Gassi
255 Loutit Road, Fort McMurray AB, T9K 0L6
Phone (780)747-6824 – E-mail michaelgassi@shaw.ca
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TOP PERFORMING EXECUTIVE

Ethical, Professional, Results, Integrity, Leadership, Intelligence, Inspiring

Vice President Operations * Vice President Human Resources * 25 Years Management

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SUMMARY

Expertise and experience in motivating organizations toward success. Highly developed

leadership and communication skills. Cultural change management specialist, advocate
of team environment and developing potential toward achievement of organization high
level goals and objectives, while sustaining excellence in safety and environmental
focus. Articulate public speaker, utmost integrity, with vision, and passion for
achievement. Driven to succeed and action oriented.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Cow Harbour Construction Ltd, Fort McMurray AB April 2009 – February 2010

Vice President Human Resources

Recruited to provide accountability for managing, reporting and directing organizational

effectiveness, leadership quality, employee engagement, professionalism and leadership
principles, training and mentorship, development of core values, prepare business for organic
growth and increased revenue.

• Implemented Hays comparative wage evaluation system and reorganized all salary
positions for net savings to company of $400K
• Lead technical team to successful award of 5 year contract with Syncrude Canada,
increasing revenue significantly and employment by 500
• Implemented “Accountable Leadership Training” for all supervisory and staff to raise
professionalism, focus on deliverables and quality customer service
• Developed and implemented “Code of Business Conduct”
• Developed and implemented “Employee Conduct Rules”
• Managed, reported and directed Joint Health and Safety Committee
• Implemented “Professional Responsibility” document to encapsulate commitment to value
system and culture of change
• Lead management team contract negotiations with International Union of Operating
Engineers
• Integrated lean modeling principles, computerized maintenance management system.
(Resigned position in February 2010 for Professional reasons)

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Cross Oilsands Contracting, Fort McMurray AB March 2008 – March 2009

Vice President Operations

Recruited by Hays for executive level role - Accountable for managing, reporting and directing
safe, efficient operations, while optimizing resource potential to achieve maximum gain for
shareholder value.

 Improved safety and environmental performance to best in industry

 Presented with “President’s” award for safety excellence at Syncrude Canada
 Implemented Key Performance Indicator Tracking Systems
 Increased revenue and employment through marketing and pricing strategies
 Introduced “Code of Business Conduct” and “Process Improvement Plans”
 Development of Accountability Matrix and Role Specifications
 Introduced “Employee Conduct Rules” and Human Resource Policies
 Implemented “Leadership Principles and Guidelines”
 Provided organizational structure and realignment and recruitment of key management
and technical personnel
 Introduced DuPont “Stop” Supervisory Leadership training for all leadership
 Developed excellent rapport and relationship with customers, employees, community
 Participation in contracts, bid proposals and all commercial terms
 Developed detailed heavy civil and mining execution plans and technical standards
 Exceeded all financial targets through increase in revenue by double previous year
 Curtailed spending in organization by $800K through implementation of purchasing
protocol

Essar Steel Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie Ontario December 2006 – March 2008

Manager - Transportation

Promoted to area of great concern by Essar management, where labour problems, performance
issues and requirement to manage increase of production by 2 million tons required significant
leadership and direction.

 Succeeded in preparation of equipment and infrastructure to exceed target objective of 4

million tons production
 Prepared strategic capital plan and creative options for procurement of new equipment
 Restructured the Supervisory and Staff positions to increase technological support, and
credible management of assets and human productivity
 Implemented “Lean Modeling Principles” to optimize services
 Implemented performance tracking systems through equipment reliability tracking and
key performance indicators for each manager section of department
 Improved health and safety performance from worst to best in industry with increased
focus on injury prevention and leadership at every level
 Introduced professionalism, structure and operating disciplines
 Provided tenacious focus on quality and delivery of services

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  Benchmarked Transportation Services against other industry leading transportation
services
 Procured new locomotives and upgraded rail systems and switching logistics to optimize
resource potential
Essar Steel Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie Ontario July 2004 – December 2006

Superintendent - Utilities and Energy

 Managed, reported and directed safe operations and maintenance of facilities in

accordance with boilers and pressure vessels requirements
 Accountable for Power Engineers and associated technical standards compliance
 Re-organized Supervisory team to focus on safety, business targets, project goals and
cost reduction
 Engaged shop floor employees to accept greater accountability for roles by increased
involvement, key performance indicators and ownership
 Initiated technical advancements with distributed and advance controls technologies for
boilers and steam generators
 Developed strategic organization plans and capital forecast
 Successfully implemented Computer Maintenance Management System
 Participated in development plans for co-generation facility
 Implemented energy savings initiatives throughout the steel facility
 Developed procedures for optimization of by-product fuels in generation of internal
secure power with savings of $1 million per month in purchased electricity
 Participated in plans and preparations for overhauls to boilers, steam generators and
pressure vessel piping

Additional Experience:
Essar Steel Algoma – Sault Ste. Marie Ontario

Project Supervisor - Construction Services (October 2003 – July 2004) - Accountable for
managing, and execution of major capital projects

General Foreman - Masonry (August 1995 – September 2003) - Accountable for selection of
ceramics and application in all heat containment applications

General Foreman - Heavy Equipment Repairs (September 1993 – July 1995) – Accountable
for managing, reporting and directing maintenance of entire mobile equipment fleet including
heavy haulers, locomotives, scrapers, slab haulers and light equipment.

Canadian Welding Bureau – Certified CWB Welding Supervisor (2000)

Day Foreman - Mechanical Maintenance (June 1992 – August 1993) - Accountable for
Tinsmiths, Mechanics, Pipefitters, Scale Repair services plant wide from Central Maintenance
Services.

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Senior Planner - Overhead Cranes (January 1992 – May 1992) - Special assignment to
develop overhead crane maintenance practices and procedures in compliance with lifting
devices Act within OHSA.

Shift Foreman - Overhead Crane Repairs (July 1987 – August – December 1991) -
Accountable for safe maintenance of all overhead travelling cranes on shift schedule.

Interprovincial Industrial Millwright (1978 – 1982)

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Graduate Mechanical Engineer – Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology – 1986

Member of APEGGA - 2008

Engineering Management / MBA Program – Lake Superior State University - 2001

Levinson Leadership – Boston MA – 2003

Certified CWB Welding Supervisor - 2004

Lean Modeling Principles – University of Michigan - 2006

Safety Due Diligence Training for Senior Managers – Ontario OHSA - 2007

Situational Leadership Training – 2007

Financial Management Training - 2007

Construction Safety and Technical Standards certification - 2008

DuPont STOP Leadership Training - 2009

Oilsands mining extraction – University of Alberta - 2009

25 Years experience in industrial environments

2 Years Success in Executive Management as Vice President

Certification as 4 position Welder - 1983

Industrial Millwright Apprenticeship Training – 1978 - 1982

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 References

Armando Plastino

Chief Executive Officer

Essar Steel Algoma

(705) 945-2501

Mark Nogalo

Vice President Operations

Essar Steel Algoma

(705)945-2531

Pat Crisby

Supervisor Mining Operations

Syncrude Canada

(780)715-9572

Clifford Dimm

Mine Manager Aurora

Syncrude Canada

(780)715-9888

Ann Marie Toutant

Vice President Operations

Suncor Energy

(780)743-6762