Michele Jones, Executive Vice President and CEO, National Insulation Association
Salon A

Welcoming Address

Danny Breen, Mayor of St. John’s

Danny Breen was first elected to the St. John’s City Council in the Fall of 2009 and was re-elected by acclamation in 2013, representing Ward 1, in the east end of St. John’s. He was first elected as Mayor of the City of St. John’s in 2017 and acclaimed as Mayor for a second term in 2021.Danny has served as Chair of the Public Works Committee, Chair of the St. John’s Sport Event Partnership and Chair of the Finance Committee of the Eastern Regional Services Board. He has also served as Chair of the City’s Audit and Accountability Committee and the Finance Committee, as well as Co-Chair of the St. John’s Regional Fire Services Committee.Danny is a Graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Political Science & History). In the past Danny has been actively involved in his community serving on The Board of Directors of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. He has also been involved in several school councils, minor hockey and many other community organizations.Danny was born and raised in St. John’s, where he resides with his wife Ann. He has two daughters, Erika and Katie, and two grandchildren, Kyla and Neil.

Keynote Presentation

The Roadmap to a Successful Team: Curling, Family and Entrepreneurship

Brad Gushue, Canadian Curler and Olympian

An iconic Canadian curler from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Brad is a celebrated Olympian and Tim Horton’s Brier Champion for 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022. He is also the 2021 Canadian Mixed Doubles Champion. In 2006, incredible teamwork and leadership led his team to a Gold at the Olympic Games. This medal marked the first time that a Canadian team won Gold in men’s curling.  With his teammates, Gushue also became the first Newfoundlander ever to win an Olympic gold medal. Brad and his teammates followed up that Olympic gold with an Olympic Bronze medal at the most recent Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.At the 2018 Tim Horton’s Brier, Gushue set a new record for Brier game wins as a Skip, breaking a three-way tie with previous record-holders.  Gushue and his rink also won the 2017 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship.A graduate of Memorial University with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Brad has recently completed an MBA through the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University in Kingston.  Brad has successfully balanced a demanding athletic career, family life and several businesses. He was inducted into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador and received an Honorary Doctorate from Memorial University, Newfoundland.

Technical Presentation

Enabling Business Growth with AI

In this presentation, Cory will provide a ‘Machine Learning 101’ session to educate you on the fundamentals. He will then venture into the domain of Generative AI, explain what sets it apart from other facets of AI, and uncover the reasons behind its current buzz. Cory will also provide valuable insights on implementing AI in your business and share current applications in the manufacturing and industrial sectors.

Cory Janssen, Co-founder and Co-CEO, AltaML

Cory is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of AltaML, one of North America’s largest venture studios focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Previously, Cory co-founded Investopedia, a financial education site that provided content and tools to help educate individual investors. From its founding in 1999, Investopedia became one of the most popular financial sites on the web and was sold to Forbes Media in 2007. He is also a director at VerticalScope Inc., and sits on several private-company advisory boards. Connect with Cory on LinkedIn.

NIA Presentation

Carbon Goals – Start Now, It’s Easier Than You Think

Working together, the mechanical insulation industry can lead the country to achieve national carbon goals. Jack Bittner, Senior Product Manager at Johns Manville Industrial and the 2024-25 National Insulation Association (NIA) President, dives into NIA’s recent Study on Insulation’s Positive Impact on Energy Efficiency and Emission Reductions and explains how mechanical insulation moves the nation closer to the U.S. 2030 carbon goals (and 2050 Net Zero goals if included in the presentation). Bittner describes how this study’s facts can help your company, customers, and the country use mechanical insulation to rapidly achieve decarbonization goals while saving energy and providing system benefits for each insulation project.

Jack Bittner, President NIA 2024

Jack Bittner is a Senior Product Manager at Johns Manville Industrial and the 2024-2025 NIA President. Bittner has been in the insulation industry for more than 45 years, starting as an insulator with Brown & Root then moving to Thorpe Products Company, an industrial insulation distributor in Houston.  He began in customer service and over the next 12 years advanced to an outside sales role, as well as Branch Manager for the Beaumont, TX and Gonzales, LA locations. Bittner relocated to Denver, CO and Jack began his career with Johns Manville in 1991. Through Jack’s tenure at JM, he has been a Sales Territory Manager, Market Manager, Vice President of Marketing with Industrial Insulation Group, a Johns Manville/Calsilite joint venture, and Senior Product Manager for High Temperature Industrial Products. Bittner holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Houston and holds an MBA from Lamar University.

Jack has been married to his beautiful wife and life partner, Wendy, for 44 years, has grown 2 daughters (and sons-in law) and 3 grandchildren.  He considers his family to be his greatest accomplishment.  Jack and Wendy live in Conifer, CO, a small community in the mountains west of Denver.

For questions on this presentation, please email research@insulation.org.

TIAC Presentation

TIAC’s Trajectory with Tristan

In this interactive session, dive into the heart of TIAC’s initiatives and future trajectory. Join us for an insightful discussion led by TIAC’s Director of Industry Affairs as we unveil our strategic plans for fostering industry growth, sustainability, and excellence. Explore how TIAC is shaping the future of the thermal insulation industry and discover opportunities for collaboration and engagement.

Tristan Bertram, Director of Industry Affairs, TIAC

Tristan Bertram serves as the Director of Industry Affairs at the Thermal Insulation Association of Canada (TIAC), where he plays a vital role in advancing the industry’s interests and promoting mechanical insulation solutions for a more sustainable future. Since joining TIAC in 2023, Tristan has spearheaded initiatives to enhance member value and improve the industry’s overall impact. Passionate about environmental sustainability, Tristan leads efforts to position mechanical insulation as a critical component of Canada’s decarbonization initiatives. With a deep understanding of the industry’s challenges and opportunities, Tristan is committed to fostering innovation and collaboration to create a more sustainable world without sacrificing industry. Tristan is blessed to have the support of his loving family, including his wife, Jess, and their two sons, Keller and Oaklan.

Become acquainted with the city of St. John’s and its surroundings, including Cape Spear, the most Easterly point in North America. This is the oldest colonized region in the new world and your local guide will regale you with its steeped history, legends & lore – all flavoured with their personal anecdotes and good humour from which Newfoundlanders are so famous. Enjoy the brilliant vistas from Cabot Tower and Signal Hill, one of the most recognizable skylines in Canada. Walk through a cliffside World War II gun battery, watch for whales and seabirds and visit the oldest standing lighthouse in North America. Other stops include Quidi Vidi Village, Jelly Bean Row, Government House, the Roman Catholic Basilica and an orientation of the shops and restaurants of the downtown core.

Bally Haly Country Club is 36 hole facility which offers a challenging test for all levels of golf. Our Championship South Course is a par 72 with tees ranging from 6581 to 5082 yards to accommodate all abilities from the elite to the casual golfer. Our Executive North Course is a par 62 with tees ranging from 3716 to 2934 yards. This course, although shorter than the South Course, offers a wonderful test of golf for all levels.

Located 7 minutes from downtown St. John’s, we are conveniently placed for golfers who want the full country club experience right in the heart of the city. This Graham Cooke designed facility presents our Members and guests with deceptive drives and dynamic lies to make sure every round is distinct. Our greens remain unparalleled locally, with tour quality roll and where fast greens are the norm.

Bus transportation being provided.

Today begins with a drive along the Southern Shore to visit the historic Irish outport community of Bay Bulls. Here we take a ride with O’Brien’s Boat Tours out to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve Bird Islands, home to millions of Atlantic Puffins, Murres and Kittiwakes in the spring and summer. Keep a sharp eye for whales that frequent this bay in great numbers. Multiple sightings are considerable and frequently enjoyed in this plankton rich marine environment. Iceberg viewings are also possible in late spring and early summer.

Cliffs, coves, and beaches! Leave the city behind and head north, following Marine Drive along the rugged coastline of Newfoundland. Visit the Ocean Sciences Center to see the touch tank, seal observatory, and the finger rocks of Logy Bay. Explore Middle Cove’s pebble beach and dramatic cliffs while looking for lucky rocks. Visit Tapper’s Cove, an active fishing wharf in the town of Torbay. In Flatrock, enjoy the expansive view of Newfoundlands’ unique geology while visiting a Grotto cut into the cliffside. Learn about the folklore, humour, and deep-rooted culture of the Newfoundland people along the way. In season, watch for icebergs, whales, seabirds, and capelin.

The North Head Trail is the most popular and arguably, the most spectacular hike in eastern Newfoundland. Follow the winding ‘cart path’ through the ‘Battery’, a historic fishing village that lines the harbour entrance. Cross an inviting and most accommodating family’s ‘front stoop’ and cinch up your laces for a thrilling and exerting adventure that passes through abandoned world war 2 bunkers, spans rock clefts, and hugs the cliffs so closely in places, there’s scarcely room for a chain rail to assist your crossing. There are plenty of stairs, though they are strategically separated by amazing views, an assortment of wild flowers, wild blueberry bushes and of course, the never ending interpretations of our fascinating geological world. Let your imagination soar as you think of the many nations who shared this island’s fishing resources and the battles they fought to maintain and protect these very pathways and its entrance to the finest landlocked harbour in the world. Group will finish at local micro-brewery for a pint.

GOLF TOURNAMENT SPONSORSHIP

Aeroflex USA, Inc. manufactures and supplies AEROFLEX^® closed-cell elastomeric foam insulation to all of North America from its headquarters and manufacturing campus in Sweetwater, Tennessee, located just south of Knoxville. Building owners count on our products to help them conserve energy, support indoor air quality, and protect expensive mechanical systems for commercial and residential applications. We’ve built a reputation for producing high-quality products and have combined this with an outstanding, responsive customer service team.

For more information, please visit: https://aeroflexusa.com/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aeroflex-usa/

Amity is proud to be Western Canada’s sole 100-percent Canadian-owned and operated distributor and fabricator specializing in thermal insulation systems for industrial work. Our dedication at Amity to family values and the ideals represented by small business provides a sense of history and accomplishment that makes us proud of what we have accomplished in over 35 years serving Canadian industry. Our vision of the up-close, personalized service of a corner store, and diverse industrial base of a modernized global business, makes Amity uniquely positioned to contribute to the mechanical insulation industry and the world it serves.

For more information, please visit: https://www.amityinsulation.com

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amity-insulation-group-inc-/

As the inventors of flexible foam for equipment insulation and a leading provider of engineered foams, Armacell develops innovative and safe thermal, acoustic and mechanical solutions that create sustainable value for its customers.

Armacell focuses on insulation materials for technical equipment, high-performance foams for high-tech and lightweight applications and next generation aerogel blanket technology.

Our vision is to be the global leader in providing innovative, technical insulation solutions and components to conserve energy and make a difference around the world.

For more information, please visit: https://www.armacell.com/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/armacell/

Twitter: @armacell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArmacellGroup/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ArmacellMultiMedia

The British Columbia Insulation Contractors Association (BCICA) has operated continuously since 1958. It was created to develop and distribute mechanical insulation standards to designers, specifying authorities and users of mechanical insulation systems. BCICA has grown to represent all elements of the insulation industry – union contractors, open shop contractors, distributors and fabricators, and manufacturers.

BCICA serves its members and the construction industry through the development of standards and procedures, member training and professional networking.

For more information, please visit: https://www.bcica.org/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bcica-the-bc-insulation-contractors-association/

Established  in 1963, Crossroads C&I is the leading distributor & fabricator  of commercial  and industrial insulation  products and accessories in Canada, having supplied over 50 million square foot of products to date.

For more information, please visit: https://www.crossroadsci.com/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crossroads-c&i/

CUSTOM INSULATION SYSTEMS is a Toronto based firm specializing in the Thermal Insulation of Pipe, Ducts and equipment for industrial and commercial markets. Established in 1986, CIS has offered its clients quality and service in installations.

For more information, please visit: http://www.custominsulation.ca/

With a vision of turning leading-edge innovation into the norm, our mission is to provide safer, smarter, faster products that help positively impact our clients profit and safety.

For more information, please visit: https://idealproducts.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/idealproductsgroup/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ideal-products/

Twitter: @Ideal_Products

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IdealProducts1/featured

Pol R is a group of companies (Impro, Nadeau, Scotia, Nu-West, Artik/OEM, Mecart) that manufacture materials that promote and ensure comfort, quiet, safety and efficiency within buildings, spaces, plants and/or products.

The group offers a wide range of integrated products and services for various industries and applications, including, construction, manufacturing, mining, pharmaceutical, energy and public transit. Its business units are clustered around three main areas: the distribution and fabrication of commercial and industrial insulation products, the design and fabrication of thermal and acoustical systems and specialty products for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and, finally, the engineering, manufacturing and installation of controlled environments.

For more information, please visit: https://polrcorp.com/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pol-r-enterprises-inc-/

Wallace Construction Specialties Ltd. is a leading distributor of specialty construction materials. We have been serving the commercial, industrial, and institutional construction markets since 1972. We have a philosophy of providing informed recommendations, excellent service, and quality products at competitive prices.

For more information, please visit: http://www.wallace.sk.ca/

White Cap Supply Canada

White Cap Supply Canada combines the best of Brafasco, National Concrete Accessories, and Brock White Construction Materials into One Team, dedicated to superior customer service from coast to coast.

We provide our customers with an outstanding offering of professional-grade construction materials, and industrial and safety supplies from leading brands. Our experienced associates – the most knowledgeable in the industry – provide invaluable technical support. We are proud of our longstanding history of delivering exceptional value to our customers who rely on us to complete their jobs on time and on budget.

With over 65 locations across Canada, trust the White Cap Supply Canada team for your next project.

For more information, please visit: https://whitecapsupply.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitecapsupply/

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whitecapsupply/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitecapsupply

Twitter: @whitecapsupply