Who We Are

Shelly started her career in the Heavy/Civil Construction Industry over 30 years ago. Her father was a Civil Superintendent for a heavy construction company, thus Shelly started working in the industry at a young age. She started from the ground up – laboring, flagging, operating heavy equipment, administrating/managing small projects, and working in the health and safety field.

Shelly worked for a few different companies then started her own firm in 2004 geared towards heavy/civil clients to provide applicable, honest and reliable consulting services. Over the years it has grown and changed to meet industry demands, now focusing on our HEO program, equipment training and safety training.

Being able to have the “from the ground up experience” has enabled Shelly to fully understand the industry’s training and safety program needs from a broader perspective. It’s never a simple answer and often requires lots of planning within complex situations.

Shelly is a Mom to 3 beautiful daughters, a wife to a supportive and hardworking husband and plays an active role in the community.  She volunteers in her daughter’s schools, on field trips and in whatever community activities she can.  Shelly has a passion to help people – and nothing is more important to her then her faith, family and friends. Shelly is a HUGE fan of travelling and creating memories with her family. Adventures and anything outdoors are on the top of her To-Do list. She also loves cooking, baking and laughter!

A piece of advice (from her father) that has helped Shelly overcome many obstacles and challenges in this ever changing, diverse, tough but rewarding industry, is this: “If someone else can do it, so can you”. Some words of advice from Shelly: “Always be respectful, keep your integrity. Don’t be afraid to start at the bottom. In fact, look for an entry level job to get your foot in the door. Then don’t stop. Keep moving and keep growing!”

Craig has worked in this industry since 1996, starting from the ground up. He has a huge passion for operating machines and running projects! Craig will never forget the call that got him into the Heavy Construction field – he was 14, it was summer holidays, and he was still in bed. A local family-owned construction company called him and asked him if he wanted to work. YES! He got on his bicycle and rode a few miles down the road and to work he went, on a D6 Dozer pulling a packer. This is what 14-year-old boys dream of!! Gone are the days of just jumping on any machine as a youth. Welcome to the days of valuable knowledge and training mixed with experience.

Craig spent the next several years working Heavy Construction on his summer breaks and then went into the field full time when he was done high school. He has operated skid steers, pavers, trimmers, packers, motor scrapers, loaders, rock trucks, dozers, excavators, backhoe’s and graders. His favorite would have to be the grader. He has worked for many heavy/civil construction companies, oil and gas, mining and road building companies all over Canada.

Craig became a Foreman at the young age of 25. Not long after that, he was promoted to Superintendent and has spent many years running large and small projects throughout MB, ON and SK. Craig has hired and trained 100’s of Heavy Equipment Operators over the years and has worked on many diverse projects. He knows what the industry is looking for and what employers expect of their operators. Having this background is what led him to what he focuses on today – Lead Trainer for SWS. Craig brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and students benefit from his contacts within the industry. He not only knows how to operate heavy equipment, but he focuses the practical side of training on how to maintain the equipment, how jobsites run, what the expectations are, industry best practices/etiquette and production tips. He is passionate about working hard and encourages starting at an entry level position and working your way up.

Craig is forever grateful for that call on summer break when he was 14, introducing him to an industry that he loves and has so much respect for. “This industry can be challenging, but the rewards far outweigh any negatives. It’s given me a way to support my family and enjoy what I do. I’m not a sit at the desk all day kind of guy, I need to move and be challenged, work with my hands. There isn’t any better career then operating heavy equipment. You are literally shaping the earth, one project at a time.”

He had some great mentors that guided him to where he is today and can’t thank them enough!

Craig enjoys anything outside in his off time – quadding, fishing, snowmobiling, camping etc. He has 3 daughters that keep him on his toes and is happily married to his best friend and soul mate.

SWS employs other part time trainers, all connected closely to industry. These trainers are all registered with MB Economic Development and Training and are industry leaders in operating, safety, project management and production.

Matty brings nearly 20 years of heavy civil construction experience to his role as Lead HEO Trainer at SWS. Since entering the industry in 2008, he has worked with some of Manitoba’s largest heavy construction contractors and gained extensive hands-on experience on real jobsites throughout his career.

Matty started where many people entering the industry begin — as a labourer. From there, he worked his way into heavy equipment operation and eventually into positions where he was responsible for running smaller jobs and leading work on site. That progression gives him a valuable perspective when training students who may be stepping into the construction industry for the very first time.

As Lead Heavy Equipment Operator Trainer, Matty plays an important role in developing skilled, safe and job-ready operators. His training goes beyond simply teaching students how to move a machine. He focuses on understanding grades and material, developing good operating habits, jobsite awareness, productivity, problem-solving and learning how to think like a professional operator.

His favourite machines are the dozer and grader, where precision, planning and an understanding of how a job comes together are just as important as operating ability.

Matty brings real industry expectations into every SWS class and is committed to helping students build the skills, confidence and work ethic they need to succeed once they leave the training site and enter the workforce.

Benny brings over 15 years of hands-on experience in the heavy civil construction industry to the SWS training team. Since starting in the industry in 2010, he has worked with several construction companies throughout Southern Manitoba, gaining real-world experience operating equipment and working on active construction sites.

That industry experience is exactly what Benny brings into the classroom and training field. He understands that becoming a great operator is about more than learning the controls — it’s about developing good habits, understanding the jobsite, working safely and efficiently, and learning how to think like an operator.

Benny’s favourite machines to operate are the excavator and grader, and he enjoys passing along the tips, techniques and lessons he has learned throughout his career to the next generation of operators.

He also believes training should be enjoyable. Benny is known for starting the day with a joke, keeping students engaged, and creating an environment where they can ask questions, make mistakes, learn and build confidence.

Kevin brings over a decade of heavy construction experience to the SWS training team. Since entering the industry in 2013, he has worked his way from labourer to heavy equipment operator and eventually site lead, giving him a well-rounded understanding of what it takes to build a successful career in heavy construction.

Throughout his career, Kevin has worked with both large and small heavy construction companies across Manitoba. His experience in the field allows him to teach students not only how to operate equipment, but also what employers are looking for when they step onto a real jobsite.

Kevin is especially passionate about Indigenous economic growth and creating opportunities that strengthen individuals, families and communities. He believes that practical skills, confidence and meaningful employment can create opportunities that extend far beyond the jobsite.

His favourite machines are the excavator and dozer, and he enjoys helping new operators develop the skills, confidence and work ethic they need to succeed in the industry.

Kevin joined the SWS team in 2026, bringing his real-world experience into the training field and helping prepare the next generation of heavy equipment operators.

Paul brings a lifetime of heavy construction experience to the SWS training team. Having spent his career working in the industry, he brings an incredible amount of practical knowledge and real-world jobsite experience into the training field.

Throughout his career, Paul has worked as a foreman and supervisor, leading a variety of construction crews and projects. He has extensive experience in sewer and water installation, ditching, lagoon construction and many other areas of heavy civil construction.

That background gives Paul the ability to teach students much more than how to operate a piece of equipment. He understands how operators fit into the bigger picture — reading the jobsite, working with ground crews, understanding the sequence of work, communicating with others and getting the job done safely and efficiently.

Paul’s favourite machine is the excavator, a machine that fits naturally with his extensive background in underground, earthmoving and site work.

Paul joined the SWS team in 2026, bringing decades of industry knowledge with him and a desire to pass that experience on to the next generation of heavy equipment operators.

Kerri is the Student Enrolment Coordinator at SWS and one of the friendly faces helping students take their first steps toward a career in heavy construction.

Construction has been part of Kerri’s world for as long as she can remember. Growing up around the industry and SWS has given her a unique understanding of both the opportunities available in heavy construction and the impact the right training can have on someone’s future.

Since joining the SWS team in 2024, Kerri has become an important part of the student journey. She works directly with prospective and incoming students, answering questions, helping them understand their training options, guiding them through the enrolment process and making sure they know what to expect before their first day.

Kerri is approachable, organized and genuinely enjoys connecting with people. Whether someone already knows they want to become an equipment operator or is simply exploring whether heavy construction might be the right career for them, she’s there to help them navigate that next step.

Outside of work, Kerri is always up for an adventure — and despite spending most of her workday in the office, she definitely has a favourite piece of iron: the haul truck.

For Kerri, SWS is more than a training school. It’s about helping people discover new opportunities, build confidence and take that first step toward a career they can be proud of.

Brooke is the Program & Student Success Coordinator at SWS, helping ensure students have the support, encouragement and resources they need throughout their training journey.

Like Kerri, heavy construction has been part of Brooke’s world from an early age. Growing up around SWS and the industry gave her an appreciation for heavy equipment, the people who operate it, and the opportunities a career in construction can provide. She joined the SWS team in 2024 and has continued to grow into a role focused specifically on the student experience and success.

Brooke works closely with students throughout their training, checking in on their progress, helping identify challenges, connecting them with support when needed and encouraging them to keep moving forward. She also works alongside the training team to help ensure SWS programs continue to deliver the practical, industry-focused experience students need to succeed beyond graduation.

She genuinely enjoys getting to know students and seeing the transformation that can happen over the course of their training — from someone who may arrive unsure of themselves to someone leaving with new skills, confidence and a clear direction forward.

Outside of SWS, Brooke loves animals, gardening, hiking, the mountains and pretty much anything outdoors. She’s also a hockey fan, loves anything with a motor, and when she gets the chance to jump on the equipment herself, the skid steer is her machine of choice.

For Brooke, student success isn’t simply about earning a certificate — it’s about helping people recognize what they’re capable of and preparing them for what comes next.