Michael enjoys helping clients realize their projects from the design development through to handover through a structured process and application of innovation to achieve high-performance and improved speed of construction.Michael assumed the role of President at Taplen Commercial Construction in 2005 after fifteen years of international construction management, design-build, and construction program audit experience in Europe, the Middle East and the United States. Michael earned his Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Maryland in 1990 and MBA from the George Washington University in 2001. As President, Principle-In-Charge and Health & Safety Officer, Michael coordinates all activities at Taplen and is responsible for project control, client relations, financial management, and health and safety policy implementation.Michael actively supports the local, provincial and national construction industry and served on the Board of Directors of the General Contractors Association of Ottawa (GCAO) from 2007 to 2012 and was its President in 2010. His in-depth understanding of contracts led to his recent appointment in August 2012 to represent general contractors of the Canadian Construction Association as a member of the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC - www.ccdc.org) who are a national joint committee responsible for the development, production and review of standard Canadian construction contracts, forms and guides.