Leadership Team

Peter Ashcroft joined the Mainroad Group April, 2012. Mr. Ashcroft has over twenty-five years of experience in construction and project management for commercial, institutional, residential high-rise and civil projects both in Canada and internationally. He holds a B.Sc. (Hon) in Building from Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, Yorkshire, UK and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Building. As President and CEO, Mr. Ashcroft reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for leading the Executive Team to ensure the strategic objectives of the company are met.

Doug Bjornson is a Chartered Accountant who has been with Mainroad since 1990. Mr. Bjornson moved from Controller of Mainroad Contracting to Secretary/Treasurer of the Mainroad Group of companies in 1994. Mr. Bjornson is a member of the Mainroad Board of Directors and is responsible for corporate governance, financial, insurance, and bonding requirements. He is a past Chair of the BC Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association and past Treasurer of the BC Safety Network and was a director of the Employee Share Ownership Association.

Noel Mankey is a Civil and Structural Applied Science Technologist, with over thirty years of experience in the administration of highway maintenance programs in the busiest areas of the province of British Columbia. Since joining Mainroad in 1997, Mr. Mankey has filled the role of Project Manager and General Manager – East Kootenays, and General Manager – Lower Mainland and Howe Sound service areas before becoming the Vice President, Operations in April 2006 where he now oversees all of Mainroad’s maintenance and contracting businesses. Prior to 1997, Mr. Mankey worked with the Ministry of Transportation for thirteen years, the bulk of which time was spent in the Lower Mainland. He served on the Board of the BC Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association from 2008 to 2014 and was the Chair in 2013.

Anthony Yates holds a BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering from Coventry University, UK. Mr. Yates brings an extensive background in civil infrastructure with exposure to major contracts in the UK and Western Canada. Prior to joining Mainroad Group, Mr. Yates has spent fifteen years with Carillion, with the last six years in Canada. During this period, he progressed from his original role as General Manager, Alberta to Senior Vice President of Western Canada and was responsible for twelve provincial transport maintenance sector contracts in Alberta. Between 2011 and 2013. Mr. Yates also held the position of Chairman of the Highway Maintenance Committee within the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association (ARHCA). This position focuses on Mainroad’s continuing growth and business development opportunities across North America.

Richard Sakaki is responsible for the Company’s human resources and labour relations functions. Mr. Sakaki’s diverse HR career has spanned the retail, construction, engineering and funeral industries. Most recently, he was the Director, Human Resources for Service Corporation International (SCI), North America’s largest single provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services. During his eleven year tenure at SCI, Mr. Sakaki was responsible for all HR related issues for SCI’s Canadian operations which consisted of approximately 2,800 employees across Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Industrial Relations / Human Resources Management from the University of British Columbia and is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and member of the BC Human Resources Management Association.

Rèal Charrois has been involved in the privatized highway maintenance industry in British Columbia since 1988. Over a twenty-five year tenure at Mainroad, he has developed a deep understanding of the industry and how to best service the needs of our numerous stakeholders. Mr. Charrois oversees a diverse group of operating companies in our maintenance division within Western Canada. These companies include Mainroad Lower Mainland Contracting LP, Mainroad Howe Sound Contracting LP, Mainroad South Island Contracting LP, Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting LP, Mainroad Pavement Marking LP, Mainroad Infrastructure Maintenance LP, Mainroad Fraser Maintenance LP and Mainroad Chinook Contracting LP based in Calgary, Alberta. Rèal Charrois is Vice Chair for BC Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association’s maintenance sector and the past Chairman for Mainroad’s Board of Directors.

Dave Williams is a graduate of BCIT and the University College of Fraser Valley with diplomas in Building Technology, and Business Administration respectively. Mr. Williams has over twenty-five years construction experience in British Columbia and Alberta and has worked on many high profile projects including the Georgia Hotel Development, UBC Biodiversity Building, VGH Robert H. Ho Research Centre and UBC Fred Kaiser Building in Vancouver, BC. In his most recent role, Mr. Williams was Project Director for Scott Construction and previously held the roles of Manager of Project Controls and Project Manager. Mr. Williams oversees Mainroad Group’s contracting businesses including G&E Contracting LP, Salvador Ready Mix Concrete LP, Raylec Power LP, Mainroad Transtronics Services LP and SPR Traffic Services LP.

Bob Nielsen has been a Veteran of the Road Maintenance and Construction industry for over 20 years.  As the Director of Corporate Compliance and Safety, Bob provides strategic leadership to the Mainroad Group of companies providing innovative solutions to exercise his passion for safety that have been described as both engaging and effective.

His areas of expertise include; designing, implementing and auditing safety, quality and environmental programs for road maintenance and construction. Bob implements International Standards by using ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 and COR. These standards have allowed Bob and his team ensure that creative solutions are achieved using the power of WE. They have been strategic tools that have reduced incidents by minimizing waste and errors while increasing awareness, communication and engagement.

Bob and his team won both the Mavis Johnson award from the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals as well as the National Special Project award from the Canadian Society of Safety Professionals for “The Cone Zone Experience”.  Bob has served on the Mainroad Group Board of Directors and is a current Board Director for the Cloverdale Rodeo Association.

Bob is also an active, contributing member of the following organizations:

BC NAOSH Committee
BC Road Safety Strategy Group “Vision Zero”
Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals
Chartered Quality Institute
Institute of Corporate Directors
International Register of Certified Auditors
Road Safety at Work Alliance
The Employers Forum
Transportation Association of Canada
Work Zone Safety Alliance
Winter Driving Safety Alliance