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Technical and Manufacturing Our Experts
Graham Wilson
Managing Partner
Graham Wilson is one of the founding partners of Cadre and is based in our Toronto office. Graham’s career has focused on the full-service recruitment of technical professionals for both contract and permanent positions in the Transportation, Defense, Nuclear, Pharmaceutical, Consumer Packaged Goods, Industrial Manufacturing and Civil Aviation, Distribution and Electronics industries.
Graham’s career in the recruitment industry began in 1994. During this time, in addition to founding Cadre, Graham progressed through his career as a member of a national firm as a Technical Recruiter, Account Manager and Engineering Recruitment Manager. Graham has built strong client relationships by providing superior customer service in the successful provision of recruitment services in fluctuating labour markets and has maintained many clients since his first year in the recruitment business.
Graham holds a Bachelor of Arts from York University with a focus in Geography. He is actively involved in the Canadian Staffing Association (ACSESS) Health and Safety Program and is a leader of Work Place Safety. Graham’s entrepreneurial drive and business acumen have allowed him to provide strong value-added services that go beyond the recruitment process.
Patrice Longchamps
Senior Recruitment Consultant
Patrice Longchamps has over 20 years of experience as a leading technical recruitment professional. Having spent the majority of his career in the staffing and search industry, he is recognized as a subject matter expert as it relates to identifying and qualifying engineers, metallurgists, technical experts and other operations personnel within the manufacturing and heavy industrial sectors.
After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, Patrice started his career as an Employment Counselor before he began working as an Executive Search Consultant and Recruitment Manager for sizable staffing organizations such as Manpower, The Merges Group, Hays and Design Group. As a result, he has successfully placed over 500 individuals in technical roles and to this day, maintains a robust network of talent that has enabled him to execute client’s needs efficiently.
For the past three years, Patrice has been responsible for leading the execution of Cadre’s key accounts in Quebec. During this time, he has successfully placed Heavy Equipment Operators, various Trades Professionals, Plant Engineers, Production Managers, Electrical Supervisors, Production Superintendents and beyond.
Patrice’s passion for surpassing clients’ expectations is evident in the long-term relationships he has maintained throughout his career. As a full-cycle recruitment expert, he understands the need to continue to grow his network by utilizing the technologies and connections available to him.
Yvan Michon
Senior Advisor, Quebec
Yvan Michon has more than thirty years of experience in various managerial and executive-level roles within the recruitment industry. His reputation and long-lasting relationships formed throughout a variety of industries in Quebec, Canada and internationally has been instrumental in successfully establishing Cadre’s latest operations.
After beginning his career as a Process and System Analyst, Yvan entered the recruitment business by joining ST Amour and Associates in 1979. In this role, he was responsible for establishing the first engineering and information technology division in the company’s history. The division grew from a single-desk operation to the most recognized technical search practice in the province, generating the highest profitability of all the practices within the organization. After achieving growth and financial stability within the division, Yvan chose to establish his own Human Resources consulting practice where he continued to recruit for technical, information technology and engineering professionals worldwide. The practice grew to include two offices and seven international partnerships. As President of the organization, Yvan saw Consultec Human Resources grow over a period of fifteen years to be recognized as a national supplier of technical professionals prior to participating in a merger with TES Canada allowing him to take on the next challenge in his career.
Continuing on with TES Canada as the Vice President of Professional Technical & Staffing Alternatives, Yvan was responsible for transforming the organization from a contract staffing company to a more diversified organization offering permanent, contingency and search business to clients in Canada and the US. Yvan oversaw the executive search operations in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Burlington Mississauga, Raleigh and Dallas, developing new product offerings including TES Scientific Resources. In 2003, he joined Spherion Professional as the Vice President of Corporate Development where he maintained national responsibility for the information technology, finance, administration, engineering and sales sectors. Yvan was instrumental in introducing a new division and concept to Spherion creating the Mergis group which provided new technologies to the organization capable of providing international clients with real-time interviewing capabilities as well as creating a full-service professional delivery program throughout nine provinces across Canada. The concept was later introduced to the US parent company and adopted throughout the country.
In a recent position, Yvan served as the Director of Major Initiatives for Diagnos Inc. where he utilized his expertise and networks in areas of manufacturing, technology and software engineering to assist in the establishment and growth of its International operations in Asia and Europe. As the former President of the Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services (ACSESS), Yvan brings a wealth of knowledge to the table both within and outside of the recruitment industry.
Ward Sutherland
Indigenous Advisor
Ward Sutherland has over 30+ years of extensive experience in senior management and government relations roles primarily within the hospitality and technology sectors. Mr. Sutherland served as a two-term Calgary City Councillor from 2013 to 2021, where he served on the Board of Directors for Calgary Economic Development, Calgary Police Commission, Silvera For Seniors, the Calgary Stampede and Chaired the City’s Business Advisory Committee.
Mr. Sutherland is a proud member of the Metis Nation of Alberta and while elected, advocated for Indigenous recognition, education and engagement with Council, Treaty 7 and Metis nations. Calgary’s White Goose Flying report was the first Call to Action document (Indian Residential School Truth and Reconciliation) to be passed and implemented by a City Council in Canada. In addition, Mr. Sutherland served on the Board of Directors for the Muskrat Metis Society, received a Metis Recognition Award and currently serves as Senior Special Advisor to the President of Metis Nation, Region 3.
Recently, Mr. Sutherland was appointed to the Otipemisiwak Metis Self-Government Transition Committee. With his strong background in community and public service, Mr. Sutherland received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee & the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Sandie Cossa
Practice Lead, Western Canada
Sandie Cossa is Cadre’s Practice Leader in Western Canada and oversees our oil and gas practice out of our Fort McMurray office. Prior to joining Cadre, she worked as a Recruiter for Petro-Canada (now Suncor) where she played an integral role in managing large-scale recruitment activities. Educated at both the University of Waterloo and Lambton College, she attained both a Bachelor of Science degree and an Industrial Hygiene Technology Diploma.
Sandie’s background includes more than 13 years of experience in other facets of business that have provided her with a broader understanding of organizations and the requirements of line managers and supervisors. Her ability to quickly establish rapport, to actively listen and understand client issues and to follow through on commitments have been definite assets towards her career, earning her an ‘Exceptional Contributor Award’ for accelerating the hiring of priority roles with a facility reaching full complement in eight years. Sandie was the sole Recruiter based in Fort McMurray hiring for the Operations and Maintenance roles on the Fort Hills Project. She was involved in developing the recruitment strategy, resume screening, pre-screening of candidates, behavioral-based interviews, reference checks and offer extensions. The positions filled included Senior Engineers, Operational Leads, Power Engineers, Skilled Trades, Heavy Equipment Operators and Administrative Staff. Sandie remains a key member of the Cadre team and was most recently dedicated to leading the Recruitment Process Outsourcing for the Imperial Oil account.
Get in Touch
To learn more about the many ways Cadre serves the technical and manufacturing industry or for answers to specific questions, please contact us directly.