Kenneth Williams, C.E.T.
Ken Williams graduated as class president from the architectural technology program at SAIT in 1985. He’s enjoyed various roles within (and without) the construction industry in Alberta. Ken served for eight years in the Canadian Armed Forces (reserve and regular force) in the junior ranks of the army and an officer in the air force.
Within the construction industry Ken was employed initially as an architectural technologist with an architect in Calgary, drafting historical detail drawings on contract for Heritage Park, preparing drawing packages for the marketing division of Texaco Canada (“I’m THAT old!”), worked for a structural engineer in Edmonton as the architectural lead, and assisted forensic investigations of structural failures and fires along with various insurance cases.
Ken next ran his own consulting and construction management firm for 16 years in Edmonton, working primarily on commercial projects ranging from $1M to $20M, receiving the bulk of their work from client references. Since 2016 he’s been employed by NAIT as an instructor in the construction engineering technology program. There he brings his broad base of experience into the classroom and helps prepare the future leaders of the industry for the excitement that is design and construction! To further enhance his leadership abilities, Ken is currently attending the online master in education program with Yorkville University.
Ken currently serves on Council with ASET, holding a Councillor position the past two years. Previous volunteer positions have been as a member of the board of examiners with ASET from 2018 to 2022, an active ski patroller, instructor and equipment manager with the Canadian Ski Patrol system, as a ski patroller providing first aid support to portions of the Trans- Canada Trail 2000 Relay, and providing first aid and disaster response services with the Canadian Red Cross. Additionally, he helped out with Habitat for Humanity, and prior to 2020 introduced his students to work sessions with the organization.
“I believe that my broad background with project and people management skills suit me extremely well to serve as second vice-president for ASET. I can lead, moderate, and most importantly listen to the needs of industry and the ASET membership to maintain the high degree of respect and aptitude which we maintain and continually work for. I believe that Council must be proactive and should assist in the provision of leadership to ASET membership.,” Ken says.
In the progress toward the Professional Governance Act in Alberta, Ken will uphold and promote the abilities and skills of all technologists and technicians, which are a vital resource to the province, and as professionals are critical in ensuring the safety of the public in design, construction, and operational environments, he says.
“ASET has done a tremendous job of getting recognition from APEGA and the Government of Alberta for the engineering technologists, but I also believe that this same pursuit could result in greater recognition of architectural, landscape, and interior design technologists, through a proactive discussion with the Alberta Association of Architects and Technology Accreditation Canada,” Ken says.
“ASET should also be a leader in the promotion of sustainability in all methods of construction, design, and energy conservation through pragmatic processes, which move forward with the realization that there is no quick fix or shortcuts to our current societal and environmental issues,” he adds. “ASET has the people to provide global leadership and to effect positive change for all of the industries which we affect through our membership.”
Ken is a proud husband with four wonderful children, and a three-time cancer survivor now six and a half years clear!