How a General Foreman and Red Seal Carpenter found his True Calling as a Leader and Mentor

As a general foreman, Rob Michelin is the person in charge on a job site. He brings specialist knowledge and 30 years of experience in construction to overall management on large-scale projects.

His job is multi-faceted. He’s the guy who hires and trains new employees. He coordinates with all the other trades on site. He works with the superintendent on deliveries and supplies. He’s responsible for safety on site. And then there’s the inspections.

He always has his mind focused on the end result: getting a project finished safely, efficiently, on schedule, and on budget.

Rob got his start in construction from an early age. As a 17-year-old, driven by a desire to step up and support his family through a tough time, Rob entered the construction work force as a labourer. At 21, he seized the opportunity to pursue a carpenter apprenticeship and by the time he was 25 he was a Red Seal ticketed carpenter and moving up in the construction company. He continued learning, getting better, and taking on more responsibility. At 30, Rob was promoted to general foreman.

He thrives being the guy in charge and the one who is responsible for his crew of 50 men. Even though he’s been on job sites for 30 years, being a leader and mentor motivates him to keep learning and pushing to improve.

If you are interested in learning more about a career in trades, find out more at Canada’s Building Trades Unions​.

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