January 18, 2013

Hamilton-Halton Construction Association selects Hubber as top young leader winner

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

The Hamilton-Halton Construction Association (HHCA) is poised to present its 2013 Young Leader Award to Blair Hubber, the 37-year-old president of Lancaster Sheet Metal Ltd.

The award, first presented last year, recognizes an individual who exhibits outstanding vision, leadership and organizational skills, has a demonstrated ability to steer and implement change and has contributed to the betterment of the construction industry.

“As a founding member of the Young Leaders’ Group, Blair was instrumental in raising the profile of the group within the HHCA and the community,” said association general manager Sandy Alyman.

The group’s mandate is to provide a forum where the emerging generation of business leaders can hone their professional skills as well as forge business relationships with their peers.

Hubber, who chaired the group from 2003 to 2007 and currently sits on the HHCA board, said he has found opportunities to “get out from behind a desk” and network with other young professionals particularly invaluable.

“Before the group was founded, there was a real void in terms of avenues for meeting other young people in the industry who were coming up through the ranks,” he said.

“Networking just wasn’t happening.”

Hubber, who was honoured to receive the award, got his feet wet in the industry mowing the lawn at Lancaster Sheet Metal when he was 12. A Mohawk College graduate, he obtained his certificate of qualification in the sheet metal trade in 2000.

He then joined the estimating department at Lancaster. He became president of the family business in 2009.

Lancaster is a leading HVAC and sheet metal contractor.

Hubber was nominated for the Young Leader Award by HHCA board member Shayne Jennings, an outside sales representative at Crane Supply.

“Blair’s leadership can be seen every day at Lancaster,” Jennings said.

The award will be presented officially at the HHCA’s upcoming annual general meeting and dinner Feb. 21 at Carmen’s Banquet Centre.

Follow Patricia Williams on Twitter @Patricia_DCN.

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