Steve MacInnis, P.Eng. (Vehicle, Mechanical, Civil)
Steve has 35+ years of mechanical and civil engineering experience. A Civil Engineering graduate from Carleton University In Ottawa, he worked for 2 years as a civil design and construction engineer in Calgary. Subsequently he spent 5 years as an offshore regulatory engineer with Energy Mines and Resources in Ottawa routinely travelling to Labrador, the Grand Banks, Sable Island, and the Arctic. After 10 years with Shell Canada as a drilling engineer and coordinator of offshore development, Steve founded SAMAC in 1992.
For the last 18 years, his focus had been two-fold; vehicle accident reconstruction (speeds, computer simulations and animations, occupant dynamics, seat belts, etc) and failure analysis (oilfield, industrial, commercial, fires, civil, mining equipment). Steve has been personally responsible for 2000+ failure analyses and vehicle accident reconstructions and has specialized expertise and training in tires failures, occupant dynamics, computer simulations, and mine truck fires (>$5M losses). He has testified over 40 times at all levels in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
Background - Born on a farm on Prince Edward Island, I was brought up in Quebec, Toronto, and Ottawa as part of an aviation family. Since I couldn't fly due to poor eyesight (and air sickness), I became a radio operator in the Army reserve during high school and then a Navy officer during University. In 1967 I spent 3 days on a Mobil Oil drilling rig located on Canadaès graveyard of the Atlantic, Sable Island, 180 km east of Nova Scotia - big equipment, beachcombing and ponies, a trip to remember. After graduation from Carleton, the West beckoned and I joined Imperial Oil as a civil engineer. Over the next 12 years, I moved the family 5 more times - I must be one of the few that have moved to Calgary 4 times (1974, 78, 81, and 86)! After starting out as a civil engineer, I quickly became a drilling/mechanical engineer before Shell provided an opportunity to start SAMAC Engineering in 1992 and changed my career path to failure analysis. Activities I've enjoyed over the years include horseback camping in the mountains with the kids (no wives), descending in a diving bell 600 ft (180 m) to the bottom of the Labrador Sea, and travelling/working across Canada, the Arctic, the East Coast offshore, the USA, and overseas.
Gilles Amirault, P.Eng. (Mechanical, Vehicle)
Gilles graduated from Dalhousie University's co-op mechanical engineering program in 2004. With SAMAC since graduation, he is now our lead accident reconstruction engineer, having oversite responsibility for both high speed and low speed collision investigations (i.e. speeds, potential to avoid, event data recorder analysis occupant dynamics, seatbelt effectiveness), and is our primary metallurgical contact regarding failed mechanical components. Gilles is currently in the 2nd year of his M.Eng. in Materials Engineering part-time at the University of Calgary. He is also responsible for our instrumented mechanical tests (vehicle idle speeds, seatbelt compliance, mechanical fittings, etc.) Gilles has been court qualified.
Background - I was born and raised in southwest Nova Scotia in a small French-Acadian fishing village and lived there for the better part of my first 18 years. Craving some "big city" adventures, I moved to the giant, daunting city of Halifax (don't laugh, for a villager, it was huge) to do engineering. During the summers at university I would entertain myself with offshore fishing to pay the bills that Dalhousie and the university life seemed to require. Once done school, and after another summer season of fishing (wasn't in the mood for engineering at the time, and I love free seafood), I moved out to Calgary and found a job with SAMAC. Having been in Calgary since '04, I've found something I enjoy in nearly all seasons. Winter has skiing, summer has boating, fall has hunting, and spring....haven't yet figured it out, maybe just waiting for summer, like many other folks.
Dave Hines, P.Eng. (Electrical Engineer)
Dave joined SAMAC in 2010 as an electrical engineer specializing in failure analysis and product liability investigations of electrical equipment and components; electrically related fire investigations; vehicle fires; residential, commercial & industrial equipment failures; and code reviews. He is currently enrolled in his second year of part-time MSc in Fire Protection from Worcester Polytechnic Institute near Boston, MA. A native of Cape Breton, Dave graduated as an electrical technologist in 2004 and then as an electrical engineer in 2006. His experience includes 5+ years working with industrial, commercial and residential electrical systems, an excellent knowledge of electrical codes, and extensive experience in fire suppression and control systems. Prior to taking his degree, Dave worked in many different areas, including stints as a project manager, electrical apprentice, commercial truck driver, and carpenter.
Background - I was born in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley, the only person in my family not born in Cape Breton. After a year we moved back to Cape Breton, where I was raised in the Mira area of South Eastern Cape Breton. Whether it was the influence of the ocean, or knowing the surrounding economy was quickly dying, Cape Breton seemed to bring out the wanderlust in me. In 1995, I set out overseas with a holiday work visa for the UK and spent the next 2+ years living, working, and travelling. With friends, I set up a network of houses and jobs in London (this was before e-mail was widely used) that people could use as a base camp for travel. Overall, I saw 17 different countries in that time.
After coming back to Canada and seeing my own country coast to coast, the travel bug had run its course. I moved back to Nova Scotia and enrolled in an Electrical Technology Program. While studying, I worked with Canada's oldest Economic Development Agency on a project to start a Wind Power Co-operative based on an existing Danish model. By 2006, I finished my Electrical Engineering Degree at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, ON and headed straight for Alberta. I enjoy the hiking, skiing, golfing, and generally active lifestyle of Alberta, and also the vibrant music scene a thriving city like Calgary has to offer.
Vladimir Panlilio, M.Eng, M.Sc, P.Eng. (Mechanical, Vehicle)
Vladimir has over 25 years of mechanical engineering and forensic experience in accident reconstruction, injury causation, and defect investigations (he analyzed his first car crash in 1983!). He has a M. Eng. from the University of the Phillipines (1979) and a M.Sc. from the University of Calgary (1981). With his wide variety of experience, he analyzes vehicle accidents as well as mechanical failures in many areas. Vlad is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the UofC.
Prior to joining SAMAC, he headed up the University of Calgary's Injury Research Unit for for 15 years (1992 to 2006), a road safety research project funded by Transport Canada. Vladimir also has extensive experience with event data recorders and teaches the RCMP and other police agencies on how to analyze the data for use in accident reconstruction. He has been court qualified.
Background - I started life in the glare of trouble lights and wrenches. My father was an electrical/mechanical engineer who practiced his craft and taught at the the university. My mother was the patient homemaker. My formative years in the Philippines were spent in the hustle and bustle of things humming along, breaking down, and getting fixed. I spent many summers in my primary and secondary school years tagging along with my father on his projects, learning all things practical. I picked up photography as a hobby early on, becoming the photo editor at my high school. Basketball initially appealed to me but I ended up preferring volleyball. At university, I was in the Reserve Officers' Training Corp (ROTC), specifically the artillery company. Graduate studies in North America beckoned in 1979 and I moved to Calgary. In 1982, I moved briefly to Itacha, New York where I married Mayi who was then finishing her PhD at Cornell. We have since called Calgary our home.
Tyler Dyck, B.Eng (Mechanical Engineering)
Tyler Dyck joined SAMAC in 2009 and focuses on both high and low speed collision investigations (speeds, vehicle motions, event data recorder analysis, occupant dynamics, seatbelts, etc.). After 5 years in the WHL (Western Hockey League), Tyler took engineering at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, graduating 1st in his engineering class (GPA 4.2/4.3) A scholar athlete, he has received numerous academic and hockey awards over the years.
Background - I was born in Calgary before moving to Saskatchewan for 7 years, as my father was in the oil patch. The intention was always to move back to Calgary, which we did when I was 13. I have been skating since (maybe before) I could walk, and grew up at the rinks. At the age of 16, I began playing in the Western Hockey League with the Kootenay Ice, where I won a WHL championship in 2000 and played in the Memorial Cup in Halifax. Other stops included the Tri-City Americans and Brandon Wheatkings. After 5 years in the WHL and attending 3 National Hockey League training camps (Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames), I attended/played for St. Francis Xavier University for 3 years (National Championships berth in 2007) and Dalhousie University for 2 years. I got married in 2008 and after graduation in 2009, have been working at SAMAC. I have been certified in the past as a strength coach and continue to enjoy weight training, as well as golf, hockey, and all other sports I've tried.
T. M. (Ted) Semeniuk (Mechanical and Safety Specialist)
Ted is a highly qualified vehicle defects investigator, OH&S specialist, and a heavy duty mechanic certified Canada wide. A native Calgarian, he has over 35 years of related experience, including 11 years as Transport Canada's defect investigator in Western Canada, 13 years with the Calgary Police Service Traffic Unit as their mechanical investigator, and 3 years as the OH&S coordinator for geophysical firms. Having been court qualified over 200 times, Ted offers our clients expertise in the following areas:
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Vehicle defect and SIU investigations on all vehicle systems
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Low speed investigations and collision reconstruction
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Event Data Recorder (black boxes) downloads and interpretation
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Occupant restraint system training and investigations
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OH&S related investigations
Background - I was born in Calgary and became an apprentice mechanic after high school. I finished the apprenticeship and received my mechanic's license in 1974 and my Heavy Duty Mechanic license in 1979. While living in Edmonton from 1971 - 1973 (I went there for a weekend to visit some friends and stayed for two years), I started working for a Geophysical company and made my first of many trips to the high Arctic. I worked throughout the Arctic islands, spending two years working with a crew on Ellesmere Island and travelling to north of the 80th parallel. I also worked throughout BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the NWT, as well as a summer stint in Wyoming and Colorado. I would occasionally work in Calgary during this time so I could enjoy my drag race car that I had built. In 1982, I decided to stay closer to home with the family and worked with the Calgary Police Service as a mechanical specialist and at the University of Calgary Injury Research Unit. After spending a year in Libya as a health and safety advisor, I decided it was time to get a real job in 2009 (with SAMAC). I enjoy teaching scuba diving, restoring older cars and working on my cabin on Shuswap Lake in BC.
Chris deRosenroll, C.F.I. (Fire Cause and Origin Consultant)
Chris has over 40 years experience as a fire department professional and consultant. This includes 17 years as a Fire Chief and Fire Marshal, the investigation of hundreds of fires, and testifying over 25 times as a technical authority. He also reviews fire department management issues, building safety standards, and fire safety programs.
Chris works closely with our metallurgical and industrial engineering experts to approach problems with the wide range of training and experience needed to provide our clients with the right answers. He has investigated hundreds of fires and explosions including structural, industrial, aircraft, marine vessel, motor vehicle, heavy equipment, electronic installations, and natural cover.
Ron Harder (Civil Engineering Consultant)
Ron graduated as a civil engineer from the University of Calgary in 1975. His experience includes the design, construction and project management of residential, commercial, institutional and industrial buildings. Ron has assisted with numerous failure analyses for SAMAC.
Taras Semeniuk, M.Eng, P.Eng. (Metallurgical Consultant)
Taras is an industry recognized expert in metallurgical and materials failure analysis. With over 20 years of experience, he helps SAMAC provide the definitive "fingerprint" of a failure. Taras was with SAMAC for 6 years until branching out on his own. Working closely with Gilles Amirault, Taras is often an integral part of any multidisciplinary SAMAC team that perform failure analyses and forensic engineering on industrial components, e.g. compressors, pipelines, and mining equipment, as well as on plastic and ceramic commercial failures.
Chris Pierce (Oil & Gas Engineering Consultant)
Chris graduated as a mechanical engineer from the University of Alberta in 1981 after working in the oilpatch for several years. With 35+ years experience, he has the extensive hands-on field and engineering experience to support clients with pipeline and surface facility design, procurement, construction and operations issues across Western Canada. Chris has been consulting with SAMAC for over 10 years.
We also utlize other engineering and technical consultants with failure analysis experience