Alumni Profile - Brendon Hollier

1998 RRC Structural Engineering Technology Grad

Managing a large construction project with a budget of over $200 million might be daunting for some, but for Brendon Hollier, it’s the chance to put his skills and talents to use.

With an office on the construction site that sits in the shadow of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), Brendon is the project manager for the museum and is in charge of the day-to-day activities on the site. From managing the budget to working with sub-contractors, Brendon has a challenging job and he got started at Red River College.

Brendon came to RRC after several years at the University of Minnesota where he played hockey and studied business. Feeling he needed a change, he talked to a couple of friends about his future options. “They told me to take a look at the Civil Engineering Technology program at RRC,” he says. “It looked interesting to me so I decided to go forward with it.”

Specializing in Structural Engineering Technology, Brendon learned the ins and outs of the trade. “RRC helped me to develop good problem solving and time management skills,” he says. “Those skills help me on a daily basis at my job.”

During his first co-op work placement, Brendon went to Manitoba Hydro where he worked on a few hydro dam projects. PCL Constructors Inc. hired Brendon for his second work placement where he worked in Pukatawagan, about 200 kilometres north of The Pas, on the sewer and water system.

After graduation, Brendon got hired on full-time at PCL and hasn't looked back. For the past 12 years, he has been employed by PCL and has worked on dozens of projects including several bridges around the floodway before becoming the project manager for the CMHR. “I was well-prepared for work coming out of RRC,” he says. "RRC helped me immensely.”

Outside of the office, Brendon, a husband and father, enjoys playing recreation league hockey, fishing and heading off to hot destinations for vacations with his young family.

Visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights website and check out the live webcam video to see the museum being built.

If you’re interested in being profiled in the RED alumni e-newsletter, e-mail Dale Oughton, Alumni Coordinator, at alumni@rrc.mb.ca.

RRC Alumni Wine and Cheese

On Thursday, September 30, join us for the Alumni Wine & Cheese event at the Exchange District Campus (formerly Princess Street Campus). The annual event is a great opportunity to connect with friends, former classmates and instructors. This year, alumni will have the opportunity to meet RRC’s new President, Stephanie Forsyth.

Event Details

Date:           Thursday, September 30, 2010

Time:           5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location:     Loewen Atrium, Exchange District Campus

                   160 Princess Street, Winnipeg

Please confirm your attendance by contacting Melissa Warden at 632-2118 or e-mailing smwarden@rrc.mb.ca.

Look for an official invitation in your e-mail inbox in the next few weeks!

To see photos from last year’s event, visit the REDblog.

Alumni Membership Advantages

Did you know that as Red River College alumni, you are eligible to receive exclusive discounts at several local businesses?

Garriock Insurance

Save up to 20% on your insurance. Contact Garriock Insurance for more details.

Uniglobe Travel

We know RRC alumni love to travel and UNIGLOBE Geo Travel is providing exclusive travel discounts for RRC alumni. To view the discounts, visit the UNIGLOBE Geo Travel website.

For more information, visit the RRC Alumni website or contact Dale Oughton, Alumni Coordinator, at alumni@rrc.mb.ca or call 632-2359.

Need a job? Looking to hire?

Are you a recent RRC grad looking for work? Visit RRC Employment Services for help with your job search. They can provide assistance with job-seeking strategies, resumes, cover letters, interview preparation and other employment-related issues.

If you’re an employer, RRC Employment Services can provide a link between you and your future employees found in the College’s student body. RRC Employment Services can assist you with posting your job opening targeted to RRC students, be a liaison between you and the various department coordinators at RRC, and help promote on-campus recruitment sessions for your business.

For more information on RRC Employment Services, visit www.rrc.ca/employmentservices.

Alumni Dinner

Network with fellow RRC graduates and support the College at the 2010 Alumni Dinner, happening on November 19, 2010, at The Fairmont Winnipeg. The signature event features a tribute to the 2010 Distinguished Alumni recipient, John P. Gale, as well as the presentation of several student awards. The hour-long cocktail party starts at 6:00 pm with dinner and the award presentations to follow.

Tickets to the event cost $135 or you can purchase a table of eight for $1,080.

The Alumni Dinner sells out every year! Have you purchased your ticket yet? Contact Dale Oughton at 632-2359 or e-mail alumni@rrc.mb.ca to get yours today.

Stay Connected

Make sure we have your most up-to-date contact information so you can stay current with College news, learn about exclusive Alumni events and find out about the latest job opportunities.

To update your information, visit the Address Update webpage at www.rrc.ca/alumni or call (204) 632-2359.

Other ways to stay connected:

REDblog: rrc.ca/redblog

Facebook: facebook.com/redrivercollege

Twitter: twitter.com/rrc

YouTube: youtube.com/redrivercollege