Hydro Tech is very excited to welcome Romas Staskevicius as our new Business Development Manager (Water Bearings). Romas brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team with a career that has spanned over four decades. Our newest team member has a proven track record of excellence and innovation in engineering, drafting, and design, as well as having been co-founder and Technical Director of FUGESCO Inc.

Throughout his illustrious career, our new Business Development Manager has demonstrated exceptional leadership and technical skills. Romas’s journey from lead draftsman to co-founder and vice-president of a successful company highlights his dedication and passion for engineering and design.

Outside of work, Romas enjoys playing guitar in a band, is an avid cyclist, and a former half-marathon and marathon runner. He is also an enthusiastic reader, which complements his diverse interests and pursuits.

Please join us in welcoming our new Business Development Manager of Water Bearings! We look forward to achieving new heights together with Romas’ valuable guidance and expertise.

Welcome to the Team!

We are excited to welcome Marlos de Moraes as RH Saunders Project Manager for Hydro Tech. Having worked in various high-level roles across the globe, Marlos brings extensive experience in project management, hydraulic turbines, and electromechanical equipment.

Marlos has previously served as a Senior Proposal Manager, Senior Project Manager, Technical Director, and Business Development Manager. He developed business opportunities in the hydroelectric market for Europe, Africa, Central and South America, excelling in customer relationship management, market intelligence, and project/site management.

Marlos successfully managed the erection and commissioning of hydro-mechanical equipment for important Projects such as Oxec II (Guatemala), Banja (Albania), Mazar (Ecuador), Tucurui II (Brazil), and Coaracy Nunes (Brazil). Additionally, he was the Technical Office Engineering Manager for the prestigious 5,150 MW Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Project.

Marlos’ experience as a Resident Engineer at the 11,800 MW Belo Monte, and 3,750 MW Jirau Hydro Power Plants further highlights his expertise in managing electro-mechanical assembly and erection projects.

Recently, Marlos was involved in multiple Project Management services at the 1,500 MW Mphanda Nkuwa HPP (Mozambique), and the Owner’s Engineer of the 14,000 MW Itaipu HPP Technological Update Project (Brazil).

Marlos holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Brasília (UnB) and is the co-author of two books on AutoCAD and MicroStation, as well as having several published papers to his name.

We are confident that Marlos will be an invaluable addition to our team and look forward to his contributions to Hydro Tech’s continued success. Welcome, Marlos!

Hydro Tech is excited to introduce Kourtney Harrison, the newest addition to our Health and Safety Team in the role of Health, Safety, and Environmental Coordinator. After graduating as an Advanced Care Paramedic, Kourtney started her career as an onsite medic in an underground gold mine and quickly found her calling in Health and Safety. Her journey led her from the depths of mining to the steel industry, where she became Operations and General Manager of her division. With over a decade of experience in industrial and safety management, Kourtney then returned to her roots in mining for a period before joining us. Kourtney will be an onsite safety presence for Hydro Tech, ensuring H&S compliance, auditing, completing inspections, and providing support and liaison for our team in all aspects of Health and Safety.

Off the clock, Kourtney’s creativity shines through her love for party planning, decorating, and baking custom cakes. She’s equally passionate about outdoor adventures, whether camping in the wilderness or relaxing in a cottage by Lake Superior with her two dogs.

Hayley Scott has joined Hydro Tech’s team as our new Payroll Coordinator. With over 10 years of experience in payroll management, Hayley brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our Accounting department. Her extensive background in handling payroll for both office staff and site staff at Hydro Tech demonstrates her proficiency in managing complex payroll processes with precision and efficiency.  Hayley’s dedication to accuracy and attention to detail make her an invaluable asset to our team.

Away from the office, Hayley thrives on the energy of mothering two dynamic little boys. She especially loves time spent at camp with the family and their outdoor adventures.

Hydro Tech is very pleased to welcome Steven (Steve) Boucher to our team in his role of US Field Services – Special Projects. Steven’s extensive background in hydro technology and his experience in achieving remarkable unit-availability rates make him a valuable addition to the Hydro Tech group.

Steven began his hydro journey in 1985 with manufacturing turbine components and acquiring installation methods from seasoned experts. He refined his skills in onsite field machining and progressed to become an application specialist for Belzona Molecular. Transitioning to International Paper Co., Steven managed maintenance for 23 hydro turbines and various facilities. After 29 years with the paper mills, Steven joined Eagle Creek Renewable Energy as their inaugural Maintenance Manager covering Maine to NY. Eventually focusing on Maine and New Hampshire, he supervised 87 turbines across 24 facilities. With a highly skilled team, Steven achieved 99.8%-unit availability during peak years.

Aside from work, Steven is an outdoor enthusiast who especially loves winter activities like snowmobiling, skiing, and even shovelling! Summer finds him riding his motorcycle or boating Maine’s beautiful lakes. Steven is also a deeply committed family man who prioritizes supporting his aging parents next door and he is planning a new build for them this summer 🙂

Please join us in welcoming Steven to our Hydro Tech family! His wealth of hydro experience will undoubtedly contribute to our continuing success.

Ananthu Chandrababu joins the Hydro Tech team as a recent graduate of Western University’s Masters program in Mechanical and Materials Engineering. Ananthu also holds a PG Diploma in Quality Engineering Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. An ASQ Certified Quality Technician, Ananthu will be working from our Niagara Falls office and will be responsible for Quality Assurance in support of Hydro Tech’s engineering and design team. Away from the office, Ananthu is an avid cricket player with both the London Sports Club and Mass Niagara of the London Cricket League and Niagara Cricket League, respectively.

Tabris Lusterio recently joined Hydro Tech as our new Marketing Strategist, bringing fresh insights and innovative strategies to our team. Tabris excels in creating integrated digital marketing plans that seamlessly blend with traditional marketing efforts. Her strategic thinking and creative approach are indispensable to navigating the digital marketing world. In her free time, Tabris loves to spend time with her dog, Tobi, and discovering new recipes!

Stacey Enequist is the newest addition to our OPG Saunders G3 Overhaul crew. As a Site Clerk, Stacey assists in the clerical day-to-day activities on site including the onboarding of new employees, time tracking, and assists in the ordering and receiving of supplies and materials. Stacey also assists with Health & Safety, ensuring that all safety records are being kept up to date for all employees and sub-trades.  When away from work, Stacey enjoys taking long drives, exploring the country, shooting pool, and watching hockey or football with her family.

Holly Lasante is the newest addition to Hydro Tech’s team! Holly is an HR professional who brings over 25 years of expertise in Personnel Management, Training and Development, Health and Safety, Recruiting, and Environmental practices.

Having started her Human Resource career with Tembec Inc in the Pulp and Paper Industry, Holly worked 8 years as a Workforce Personnel scheduler and a Training and Development Coordinator. During that time, she managed to obtain Diplomas in Social Service Work and Drug & Alcohol Counselling, while also raising a family. Holly received the Northern College Award of Excellence for all her hard work.

Holly then moved on to the role of Health, Safety & Environmental Coordinator for Tembec, supporting a Multi-dimensional Sawmill, Planer mill and Cogeneration plant for a period of 5 years.  In this role, Holly was accountable for the ISO 14001 and 9001 systems, while also obtaining her qualification as an Internal Auditor for the ISO Standards.  Holly continued to pursue her education during this time and completed her Recognition of Achievement in Human Resources.

From Tembec, Holly and her family moved to Sault Ste. Marie, where she began working at Sault Area Hospital in the Human Resources department.  For 5 years, Holly focused on Abilities Management and Health & Safety, gaining exposure to Collective Agreements and Labor Relations work. She was also tasked with developing and facilitating the training plan for 1300+ employees on the Hospital’s Learning Management System.

Holly then went on to Pollard Banknote Limited where she worked as the Human Resources Manager for the Sault Ste. Marie Finishing Plant, supporting the employees and company with Health & Safety, Security, Quality and HR Management.

Since starting her role at Hydro Tech this past Spring, Holly has quickly become a valuable asset to the Hydro Tech team! When not working, she can be found spending her spare time with her family and dogs, hiking, and exploring the Algoma District.  Holly is also a competitive powerlifter and has participated in several international competitions as a member of Team Canada across the globe from Belarus to Newfoundland!

Hydro Tech is exhibiting at the 2023 HydroVision International Convention in Charlotte, NC.

Meet with Hydro Tech’s experts at booth #1002 to learn more about our latest developments in hydro mechanical modernization and bearing designs.

Don’t miss our presentation during the Summit Session: Case Studies of Equipment Upgrades at 11:00 a.m. on July 13 at W206B.

See you there!

Robert Jewer recently joined Hydro Tech’s technical team in May of 2023. After completing his Mechanical Engineering Degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2016, Robert gained extensive experience installing and overhauling large vertical Francis and Kaplan turbines and generators. Rob extensively supported projects such as Muskrat Falls installations and Labrador’s Churchill Falls overhauls.

Robert is a registered Professional Mechanical Engineer in the province of Newfoundland. He will now be supporting the engineering team division of Hydro Tech in our Niagara Falls office.

We would like to welcome Robert to our growing team of hydro specific engineers.

Steven Denicourt is the newest member of Hydro Tech’s technical and management team. Steven’s new position at Hydro Tech is General Manager of the Bearing Division. In his new role as GM, he will be responsible for managing the entire bearing division, including PTFE and Babbitt oil bearings, as well as turbine and stern tube water bearings.

Having completed his Mechanical Engineering Technology (3-yr) degree at Sherbrooke College, QC (French program), Steven quickly gained extensive experience working for one of the main Turbine OEMs as a Technical Advisor for 8 years before moving on to various roles within the same company. Steven was part of several new turbine/generator installations, unit overhauls, and turbine maintenance support/supervision. Back at the office, to further improve himself, he concentrated his efforts on training new coworkers for the field, while also serving as a Project Manager on small/medium size overhaul projects. With the objective of optimizing project costs and strategy, Steven then took on the role of Proposal Manager. Finally, drawing on his full 13 years of experience, Steven became part of the team working to establish a new US entity for Litostroj Group as its Technical Director.

We are excited to have Steven aboard the Hydro Tech team and look forward to working alongside him as he drives our bearing division to greater heights. 

Mohamad El-Chazli, B.Eng, joined Hydro Tech’s Field Services Engineering Department in late November, 2022. Mohamad completed his Mechanical Engineering degree at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON. Following university, he spent 3 years gaining work experience, working closely with Senior Engineers and driving projects to completion. In November, Mohamad relocated to Cornwall, ON to join the RH Saunders Overhaul team for Hydro Tech. He has been enjoying learning about the hydroelectric industry and the on-site experience of providing engineering services in support of a hydroelectric unit overhaul. Outside of work, Mohamad is an avid sports enthusiast, playing soccer, hiking, and canoeing while also enjoying following professional sports like basketball and tennis.

Erin Ryckman recently joined the Hydro Tech team as our Health and Safety Officer. An experienced and accredited Health and Safety Professional with demonstrated success working across departments and organizational hierarchies, Erin works from our Sault Ste. Marie office. She has extensive experience in both unionized and non-unionized environments, which is ideally suited to Hydro Tech. Skilled in Occupational Health and Safety Management, Erin is a recognized implementation specialist in change management and organizational culture development and is currently pursuing her MBA in Safety Leadership. A mom of two grown children, Erin is eagerly looking forward to her new role as Grandma this coming fall and is also a loving fur-mom to her three rescue dogs!

Jessica Culligan is Hydro Tech’s new Accounting Clerk in Sault Ste Marie. She holds a 2-year Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Management from the University of South Africa. With Jessica’s 12 years of bookkeeping experience, she has quickly adapted to her new role in our accounting department. During her off-time, Jessica enjoys camping with her family and is a busy mom of two young children!