From Apprentice to Builder: Real Career Paths, Mentorship & Lessons From the Field

Description

2 CPD CREDITS (TBC)

Course summary:

This course brings together a diverse group of renovators and builders to explore how real careers in residential construction are built — and how those journeys shape the way owners plan, manage, and grow their businesses. Through candid stories and field‑tested insights, the panel dives into the strategic decisions, operational systems, and administrative practices that helped each speaker evolve from hands‑on apprentice to confident business leader.

Participants will hear how founders built credibility from scratch, how successors modernized established companies, and how pivotal projects, mistakes, and mentors influenced long‑term business planning. This session blends personal experience with practical guidance, offering a rare look at how successful builders think about strategy, management, financial discipline, and leadership in an industry that’s constantly changing.

Key Takeaways

Participants will leave with:

• A clearer understanding of real career pathways in residential construction — including the differences between starting a business and taking over an existing one.
• Practical strategic planning insights drawn from lived experience: how builders set direction, evaluate opportunities, and make long‑term decisions.
• Management systems that actually work in small and mid‑sized construction businesses, from scheduling and capacity planning to team culture and subcontractor coordination.
• Administrative and financial practices that strengthen business stability, improve profitability, and reduce risk.
• Lessons from pivotal moments — projects, clients, mistakes, and turning points that reshaped how these builders run their companies today.
• A deeper appreciation of mentorship and how guidance, support, and shared knowledge accelerate both career growth and business maturity.
• Actionable advice for emerging builders on credibility, leadership, resilience, and building a business that reflects their values and vision.

Please  note cancellations made within 2 weeks of the course date are not eligible for a refund.

PANELISTS:

Mark Cooper, President, Shakespeare Homes & Renovations Inc

Raised on the North Shore in an artistic family, Mark discovered his passion for building while attending Carson Graham High School in the 1980s and later formalized his training through the BCIT Construction Program. With more than 30 years of experience as a journeyman carpenter and contractor, he founded Shakespeare Homes in the early 1990s and went on to gain valuable entrepreneurial and strategic business insight through his role in launching a successful high‑tech company. Today, that blend of hands‑on craftsmanship, financial acumen, and business leadership continues to shape Shakespeare Homes’ operations and reputation.

Mark is widely recognized as a national leader in homebuilding and renovation, serving on the CHBA Canadian Renovators’ Council, its Management Committee, and as Vice‑Chair of the CHBA Provincial Renovation Council. A longtime HAVAN member and past Chair, he remains an active Board Director and contributes extensively to HAVAN’s education, technical committees, and advocacy work. Honoured with HAVAN’s 2024 Chair of Honour Award, Mark is also deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of tradespeople. His expertise spans advanced building science, geotechnical and stormwater management, HVAC systems, and energy‑efficient construction, supported by certifications including Built Green®, Energy Star®, RenoMark™, and Step Code 5.

Henri Belisle, President, TQ Construction

Henri Belisle is President of TQ Construction, a second-generation design-build company serving homeowners throughout Metro Vancouver. Having grown up working alongside his family in construction, Henri trained at BCIT as a Red Seal Carpenter and is committed to excellence in residential building.

A dedicated volunteer and industry advocate, Henri serves on the Boards of Directors for HAVAN and CHBA BC and chairs both the Provincial and National Renovators Councils. He also contributes to several CHBA committees and the BC Construction Safety Alliance, helping advance residential construction and renovation across British Columbia and Canada.

James Murphy, Owner, HIT Quality Construction ltd 

Rohit Bali, Core Founder & Project Manager

Rohit’s passion for construction started when he saw the first single-family home being built in his neighbourhood and curiously observed at how it all came together. That curiosity led Rohit to learn more about the construction process and become a Licensed Residential Home Builder through BC Housing a few years later. A Sauder School of Business graduate, Rohit brings tremendous value and experience; as a project manager, he has successfully completed many large scale renovation and construction projects. Rohit’s commitment to adhering to the highest quality standards, providing outstanding client service, and doing things the right way allows him to oversee each aspect of construction, ensuring it meets the highest standard. When Rohit is not busy helping clients or managing projects, he enjoys traveling, trying out new restaurants and spending quality time with family and friends.

Meredith Yuen, Marino General Contracting ltd (TBC)