The Environmental Contracting Team You Can Trust

Jeffrey W. Clarke

Chair of the Board, President & CEO

As Chair of the Board, President & CEO of Inflector Environmental Services, Jeff is responsible for developing high-level strategies, building strategic client relationships and leading operations nationally. Inflector has seen exponential growth under Jeff’s leadership, emerging as one of Canada’s top environmental contractors and executing some of the largest-scale remediation projects in Canadian history. Jeff credits much of Inflector’s success to the drive and passion of its over 500 dedicated employees, instilled by the progressive culture Jeff has worked hard to evolve.

Jeff’s passion for the industry and community spans far beyond Inflector. He is on the Board of Directors for The Ottawa Hospital Foundation and supports an array of charitable foundations through The Clarke Walsh Family Foundation. Jeff’s ability to lead, impact and inspire others is widely recognized by key stakeholders and organizations across the industry. Jeff’s impact received national recognition as he was honoured as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40® in 2020.

Tony Sottile

Chair of the Audit Committee & Director

Tony Sottile is a Professional Engineer with experience in the mechanical contracting industry since 1984.

Has Inflector past Sr. Vice President Strategic Initiatives, he primarily worked with the executive team to plan and execute growth strategies, while also assisting in the planning and implementation of internal processes that propel Inflector toward successful project completion.

Prior to his role at Inflector, Mr. Sottile worked with Modern Mechanical, the founding organization of Modern Niagara Group, of which he became a partner in 1993. He advanced to CEO from 2004 to 2016, guiding a substantial period of growth for the company. Outside of this executive experience, he has worked in various commercial and institutional construction sectors such as health care, data centres, commercial buildings, education and laboratories.

Mr. Sottile has served as the Chairman of the Ottawa Construction Association (OCA), as well as the Chairman of the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) of Ottawa and the Canadian Mechanical Contractors Education Foundation (CMCEF). He is on the Board of Governors of The Ottawa Hospital and sits on various private sector boards.

D.E. Gordon Cudney

Director & Sr. Vice-President Corporate Development

As Sr. Vice-President, Corporate Development, Gordon Cudney leads our mergers and acquisitions team. He is responsible for executing Inflector’s growth strategy by way of the acquisition (and subsequent integration) of targets across Canada.

Prior to joining Inflector, Mr. Cudney was an equity partner at Gowling WLG specializing in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, secured transactions and business succession planning.

Mr. Cudney has a BAH in Political History from Queen’s University, a Master’s degree from the University of Ottawa and his LLB from Dalhousie University.

Mr. Cudney is Past-Chair of the Board of the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health (2018-2021) having received an Inspiration Award (the Foundation’s highest honour) in 2018 for his leadership and advocacy work in mental health. In 2004, Mr. Cudney played and walked 12 rounds of golf in a single day averaging 83.6 strokes/round raising $60,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society as a tribute to his late mother Sheila.

Deian Kutev

Director

As a Senior Member of Fengate Private Equity, Deian Kutev is predominantly responsible for sourcing, executing, and managing targeted investment opportunities within North America. Notable prior transactions include Ecotex Healthcare Linen Services, Cricket Energy, eStruxture Data Centers, York1, GraceMed, and Inflector Environmental Services. Mr. Kutev currently serves on the board of GraceMed and Inflector, and previously served as a board member of Ecotex.

Mr. Kutev joined Fengate in 2015 and helped establish the firm’s private equity business in 2016 alongside the current Group Head. Prior to joining Fengate, he held several investment banking roles at TD Securities in both Toronto and Vancouver where he focused on M&A, capital raising, and relationship management across a variety of industries. Prior to TD, Deian worked at GrowthWorks Capital.

Mr. Kutev is a CFA Charterholder and holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from the University of British Columbia.

Lawrence Tjan

Director & Chief Financial Officer

As Value Creation Director of Fengate Private Equity, Lawrence Tjan is responsible for late-stage execution of new investments, portfolio management and the implementation of value creation initiatives. With operational experience in finance, information systems and post-acquisition integration, he supports Fengate’s portfolio companies in achieving transformational growth and meeting their business goals.

Prior to joining Fengate, Mr. Tjan was a consultant to various venture capital, private equity, and infrastructure investment firms, including Birch Hill Equity Partners and Bastion Infrastructure Group. Before entering the alternative investing space, Lawrence was a Finance Director at Vodafone Group in both Canada and the U.S. where he was involved in financial planning and accounting management, as well as, overseeing Vodafone’s governance team at Vodafone’s U.S. wireless joint venture, Verizon Wireless.

David Walsh

Director of Field Operations Canada

As the Director of Field Operations, Canada David Walsh is responsible for the execution of all aspects of the organization’s hazmat operations nationwide.

David’s expertise in the construction industry comes from a career spanning over 30 years, overseeing more than 10,000 projects. He holds numerous certifications in hazardous materials handling and project management, with international experience running multimillion-dollar projects including the largest single asbestos abatement project awarded in Canada, the R.L. Hearn Thermal Generation Station in Toronto.

Xavier Cifuentes

Vice President, Health & Safety

Xavier Cifuentes is a Ryerson University Alumnus, having obtained his Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Health and Safety. Mr. Cifuentes has worked in a variety of construction sectors including Heavy Civil and ICI. He is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional and currently leads Inflector Environmental Services’ safety initiatives as Vice President of Occupational Health and Safety. Xavier is a firm believer in continuous education and has completed additional post-graduate certificates in risk management, internal auditing, and building information modeling. His success in the field has largely relied on a people-centric approach to health and safety.

Kristie Eberhardt

Vice President, Estimating & Project Controls

Kristie Eberhardt, our Vice President of Estimating & Project Controls, brings over two decades of exemplary experience to the Inflector team. Joining us in 2021 as a Senior Estimator, she swiftly ascended to her current leadership role. Kristie has played pivotal roles in complex projects, including the Centre Block Rehabilitation in Ottawa. Her versatility and dedication shine through as she leads the national estimating teams and reviews project estimates across the regions.

 Kristie’s proven success as a Project Controls Manager with a global EP&C leader, then serving as a Senior Estimating Manager for a global design, manufacturing and construction company of water rides, and later transitioning between industries to contribute her skills to a global consulting firm, highlights her exceptional abilities in cost management, construction cost control, and forecasting. Her leadership in establishing and refining estimating departments showcases her commitment to excellence. As a longstanding member of AACE International, with a results-driven approach and a focus on growth, Kristie ensures that our estimating practice aligns with the highest standards.

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Michael Simmons

Vice President & Area Manager, Eastern Ontario

Conducting the preparation and execution of field operations for the Ottawa and Kingston divisions, as well as working closely with the Toronto division on large-scale projects, Mike is a demonstrated professional in the construction industry with 18+ years of experience. Prior to his role with Inflector, Mike had a successful career as an operations manager, foreman and superintendent with a specialization in the demolition and abatement field.

Mike’s renowned abilities to build successful teams, strong relationships and successfully manage projects, with over 3,000 projects under his belt, makes him a valued member of the Inflector team. Overseeing high-value projects like the Western University Hospital in London, Chatham Kent General Hospital, Health Science North Hospital in Sudbury, Bank of Canada and GCC the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa, Glencore Thayer Lindsley Mine, Marathon Pulp and Papermill, Iroquois Falls Pulp and Papermill and Glencore Smelter Acid Plant in Sudbury, Mike is an exemplary leader with Inflector.

Claudio Belli

Vice President & Area Manager, GTA

As the Vice President and Area Manager of the Inflector GTA division, Claudio Belli is responsible for the management of all operations within the Greater Toronto Area including pursuits, procurement and execution on large, high-value projects.

Claudio brings 13 years of construction experience to the Inflector team, having worked with Canada’s largest general contractor in an array of roles from field engineer, superintendent and project superintendent. He played a pivotal role in the execution of multiple landmark projects including the Archives of Ontario, Ryerson School of Image Arts, Ripley’s Aquarium and the KPMG and PWC Towers. Claudio has expertise in construction logistics, planning, scheduling and execution, and is an innovative problem solver who excels while completing complex projects.

Claudio holds a Construction Management Degree from George Brown College, is a Gold Seal Certified Superintendent and has been the recipient of multiple industry recognition awards. His client-focused approach has allowed him to establish, nurture and cultivate lasting relationships with numerous industry partners. He is a dynamic and committed leader who fosters collaboration by building trust and facilitating relationships with those involved in every project he takes on.

Robert Hagerman

Vice President & Area Manager, Kingston

As the Vice President and Area Manager for Inflector Environmental Services, Kingston, Rob is responsible for overseeing all operations within his regions. He manages all aspects of the environmental contracting including abatement, demolition and emergency response contamination clean up with care and precision.

With over 15 years’ experience including in managerial roles, Rob brings unparalleled knowledge to his role with Inflector. Rob has acquired an aptitude for tender estimating, project management and has been part of the successful completion of thousands of projects within various sectors, on time and within budget, throughout his career. He is determined and known to thrive in demanding, challenging environments. Rob approaches all projects with strategic focus, motivating each individual for the benefit of the team, and concentrated on maintaining a clear path to achieving project goals.

Dan Chisholm

Vice President and Area Manager, Atlantic Canada

As the Vice President and Area Manager for Inflector Environmental Services, Atlantic Canada division, Dan is responsible for operations, project management and talent acquisition as well as other aspects of the daily business life cycle.

Dan holds a Business of Commerce degree and a diploma in Construction Management which have facilitated his commitment to remaining current with the ever-evolving construction industry.

Dan has successfully executed construction projects with Canada’s largest general contractor in both field and management roles, working in industry sectors including sports stadiums, airports, hospitals, manufacturing and commercial spaces. Dan offers solution-based leadership to the Inflector team through his positive attitude and deep knowledge of his field.

Robert MacDonald

Senior Director, Atlantic Canada

Rob MacDonald is an industry professional in the abatement and environmental contracting sector of construction, with over 32 years’ experience in the field. Over the three decades he has been building his career, Rob has worked a plethora of roles at different levels, from on-site superintendent, to project management and estimating and overall management. In 2005, Rob started EnviroBate Inc. as the Co-Owner and worked as President up until 2022.

Rob joined the Inflector team as Senior Director after years of providing trusted clients with consistent delivery of on-time and on-budget projects in a respectable and professional manner. He holds a reputation in the industry as a strong leader who promotes fairness and integrity, which has led to his professional success in the construction industry primarily in the Atlantic Canada region.

John Allan

Area Manager, New Brunswick

John Allan joins the Inflector team as Area Manager, New Brunswick, with over 23 years’ experience in the industry. His work experience includes a variety of different roles, from foreman and superintendent, to project manager, in all areas of the environmental and demolition industry. He has hands-on experience working in asbestos removal, mould remediation, heavy metals remediation, infection control and interior demolition. In addition to this hands-on experience, John is also well versed in tendering, negotiation and completing projects of all sizes.

John is known in the industry as a friendly and professional leader, upholding values in strong client satisfaction. His professional growth and development into his current role with Inflector is due, in large part, to his dedication to developing his skills and knowledge within the industry. He is a valued addition to the Inflector team.

Kevin Viggor

Vice President & Area Manager, Alberta

Kevin brings valuable knowledge to his role as the Vice President and Area Manager, Alberta, with his long history of working in the construction industry. Responsible for all operations of the Alberta division, Kevin holds extensive experience working with asbestos, mercury, PCBs, mould, infectious disease, biohazards, oil and chemical spills, in an emergency response role with an emphasis in the oil and gas, mining and industrial sectors.

In addition to his work in the environmental industry, Kevin also has experience working for major construction groups in industrial commercial construction, airports, bridges, hydroelectric dams, mines, hospitals, and various other commercial projects. With hands-on experience in construction, Kevin has applied an innovative approach to completing projects, introducing new methodologies and equipment.