Ken Barrett
“The best thing to do is to get a hold of your Local Construction Association, or the Gold Seal Certification office and talk to them about your background and interest. Find out if you’re eligible to write the test to obtain this certification and just do it.”
Ken Barrett, GSC, Independent Consultant
Ken is an independent consultant, who works for a mechanical contractor involved in the petro-chemical industry located in Sarnia, Ontario. His role involves mostly those of a project manager, including but not limited to: planning, scheduling, costing, project controls, etc. He worked his way into the industry after graduating as a Mechanical Engineering Technologist back in 2003. He was influenced to take this career path by his father, a millwright by trade.
The Sarnia Construction Association has plenty of information about Gold Seal Certification, and promotes the benefits of the program to industry professionals around town. “After hearing about the Gold Seal Certification, I did some research on it. I was searching for a certification that I could use to appeal to clients. After speaking with a few people in the industry, many individuals talked highly about the Gold Seal Certification, so I went for it.”
Ken earned his Gold Seal Certification in October 2016. He described his motivation as an ongoing passion for education. “There are a lot of industry professionals involved in this industry, it’s in your best interest to try and stand out from the next person. It’s key to earn as much education and experience as you can, it gives the client that much more comfort knowing you know what you’re talking about, and that you follow industry lead practices, standards and are up to date on valuable information.”
However, the path to certification wasn’t always easy. “To get to where I am now I’ve had to work hard on the mechanical side of my job, but also on the client relation side. It has been a long road, with lots of winding turns. I’ve been very lucky to have met great people who’ve mentored me and helped me along the way.”
Today, Ken is extremely happy to have received confirmation of his achievement. Having the Gold Seal credential on his resume provides him with the opportunity to be more marketable with clients.
“Being Gold Seal Certified means to be a part of a growing culture of expecting excellence in the Canadian construction industry. I am now proudly a part of a community of people who value education and experience.”