PWTRANSIT - Key Persons
Debra Ayling has over 20 years of senior financial management experience in both private and public sectors in various industries. Debra has an MBA and CPA designation. She is responsible for Transit's financial operations and believes the role of her department is foremost to ensure accurate, timely information; as well as in assisting our division managers to develop and reach their business unit goals. This is accomplished by ensuring integrity in financial processes and procedures, delivering timely and accurate reporting, maintaining and reviewing controls and budgets to enhance accuracy and mitigate risk, and strategically collaborating with other Transit team members. Debra has been with PWTransit for approximately three months, and her fresh perspective to our business has and will continue to create value for our internal business units and by extension, our clients.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Pacific Western Group of Companies in 2018 As the Vice President of the Transit Business Unit
- Vice President, Transit
Greg Nichols joined the Pacific Western Group of Companies in 2018 as the Vice President of the Transit business unit. He became a member of the team after nearly 20 years' experience with two of Canada's largest transportation and logistics companies, including leadership roles in transportation management, marketing & sales, customer services and finance. Greg is a graduate of the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan. Throughout his career, Greg has focused on being of service to his employees so they can deliver safe and exceptional service to their customers and he now leads a team of transportation professionals with extensive experience in passenger transit operations, safety & security, fleet maintenance, facility management, service design, and transportation technology.
Job Titles:
- Director, Business Development
- Member of the Senior Management Team
James Vine has worked for Pacific Western for over 8 years, starting in 2009 as a management intern and coordinator of special projects for the transit line of business. In 2010 he transitioned to a management role in our Prince George Transit operations, managing 60 employees in a unionized
environment. Throughout his tenure with Prince George Transit, James was active in the Business Development activities of PWTransit Canada on a project basis, and in 2016 transitioned to a full-time role in this capacity. James was a recipient of a 2013 Top 40 Under 40 Award from Mass Transit Magazine for his leadership of employees and involvement in transit system planning and analysis, and also holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and is nearing completion of the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation.
Jason Graham joined the Pacific Western Group of Companies in March of 2018 as the Director of
Safety for the Transit and Motor Coach business units. Jason joins the team with 23 years' experience in the transportation industry which has navigated through Health and Safety, Regulatory Compliance, Logistics and Operations. Jason has earned designations in Health and Safety, Logistics and, in addition, is nearing completion of the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation. Understanding most opportunities present various ways to achieve a goal, Jason focuses on fostering and developing those effective and creative conduits to achieve a successful result.
Job Titles:
- Director, Communications Centre of Excellence
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Director, Maintenance
Richard Haukka was hired by PWTransit Canada in January of 2018 following a 19+ year career with Coast Mountain Bus Company (TransLink), where he was a licensed Commercial Transport Mechanic before transitioning to a management role in the maintenance department starting in 2013. Richard has extensive experience in fleet maintenance, managing/effectively communicating with maintenance employees, managing fleet campaigns, evaluating fleet renewal plans, and leading/organizing various committees related to the maintenance function of the business. Richard's experience managing a department responsible for the maintenance of hundreds of transit vehicles proves extremely valuable to our division managers, bus technicians, and clients alike.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations ( BC )
Steve Antil joined PWTransit over 11 years ago and has accumulated over 22 years of total experience in the bus transportation industry. His PWT career started in a leadership role preparing for operation of transportation services for the 2010 Olympic Games in Whistler, and then transitioned into the permanent role of Service Delivery Manager for Whistler Transit in April 2010. Steve has experience managing transit system operations of various sizes and served as Interim General Manager for Whistler Transit in 2016 and 2017. He has participated in multiple strategic transit system re-designs and innumerable transit schedule changes. Steve is 2018 graduate of PWT's Leadership Development program and has been recognized both within PWT and by BC Transit for his committed and innovative leadership, as well as his embodiment of PWT's Core Values. Steve's portfolio consists of managing and supporting all PWTransit's BC operations.