Management Team

A graduate of the Northern College Welding Engineering Technology program, Jeff is an enthusiastic advocate of advanced welding technologies and applications.

Jeff started his career working at Automated Welding Systems in Markham Ontario, assisting in the development of advanced laser welding technologies. He moved into the automotive industry as a Project Manager for stamped and welded assemblies at Multimatic.In 2004 Jeff join Van-Rob Inc. as a Project Manager and was quickly promoted to Engineering Manager subsequently taking on more responsibility. In 2012, he was asked to take the role of Director of Program Management for Van-Rob North America with direct responsibility for all Projects from Canada to Mexico. Jeff was employed as a Senior Manager for Magna Powertrain in the Fluid Pressure and Controls group. In his spare time Jeff enjoys spending time with his family, home improvement projects, tinkering and the great outdoors.

Don is a Civil Engineering Technologist whose career encompasses more than 30 years, a dozen job titles and four continents. He comes to MaJIC after 7 years as Plant Manager of Trans-Cycle Industries, a recycler of transformers and other equipment containing PCBs. His career has entwined technology and education, including an appointment as Dean of Technology at Northern College in Kirkland Lake and work overseas in Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Chile.

In these developing countries, Don worked with industry, funders and government to develop technical schools for the Mining industry. Don is a member of OACETT, Kirkland District Community Development Board of Directors, Northern College Foundation and a recipient of the Premier’s Award in Technology and OACETT Outstanding Educator award.

Jack has 30 years experience as Professor and Co-ordinator of Northern College’s School of Welding Engineering Technology. He worked to build the program’s reputation with industry (from the parochial to multi-national companies) through continued, close contact with employers. In response to Jack’s work, Canada’s welding industry demonstrated enthusiastic support by hiring Northern’s Welding graduates, offering co-op placements, sitting on the Advisory committee and donating money/equipment.

He was primarily responsible for getting Northern College’s Welding Engineering Technology Program recognized by the International Institute for Welding as the only Authorized Training Body in North America for the International Welding Technologist program.

Jack has served on Canadian Welding Bureau Board of Directors for 5 years and is a member of American Society of Metals (ASM) International, Professional Engineers of Ontario, Canadian Welding Association and Authorized National Body of the International Institute of Welding. He is a recipient of the Michael N. Vuchnich Award for the Advancement of the Science, Technology and Application of Arc Welding in Canada and Distinguished Service Award from Northern College.

Jack has been part of MaJIC from the beginning to the present. His efforts were key in developing the original idea, providing technical expertise for funding proposals, developing a Canadian Welding Road Map, incorporating MaJIC, setting up Board of Directors and establishing operations. He is also a qualified CWB Welding Engineer for CSA W47.1 & W47.2 and CSA W59.2 covering steel and aluminum.

Jennifer Polson is a two year graduate with a diploma in Business Accounting from Northern College. Jennifer brings 9 years of experience in financial management, operations management, and marketing, As Office Manager, Jennifer is responsible for daily office operations, marketing programs, management of office staff, and client communications. As a bilingual employee, Jennifer allows MaJIC to offer services in both official languages,

Brian Laite is the Principal NDT Level III for CBI, Steel Plate Structures Division and holds an ASNT Level III in MT, PT, RT, UT & VT. He is an AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) and is also a Professor of NDE Technology for Northern College.

CBI has 18,000 employees world-wide in their offices and projects. Mr. Laite has been working for CBI for 18 years and travels all over the world training CBI employees in the various NDE techniques and applications, and applying new NDE technology for their projects. He attends ASME meetings and is a member of ASME Section V, Working Group on UT and RT.