Luke Chaput – President
Luke Chaput President As President of Ampjack Industries/America Ltd., Luke oversees the company’s day-to-day operations, including global business development, mentoring engineering, project, and manufacturing teams, and ensuring fiscal responsibility. His vision is to continually innovate safe, sustainable solutions for the electrical industry. With over 32 years of experience in the utility sector, Luke began his career as a lineman apprentice at Manitoba Hydro in 1989. His journey through the industry led him from line work to engineering, and eventually to business, where he served as Business Development Manager and Special Projects Manager at Manitoba Hydro International. After 22 years with the utility, Luke transitioned to contract consulting, working on various projects in the Caribbean, South America, and Central America. Luke holds a degree in Civil Engineering and is a qualified Professional Engineer. Additionally, he is a Journeyman Lineman and Live Line Specialist, bringing a wealth of technical expertise to his leadership role at Ampjack.
Nathan Stahl – Vice President, Engineering
Nathan Stahl Vice President, Engineering Nathan is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng) in multiple Canadian provinces, with 15 years of experience in the high-voltage transmission line and utilities sector. As Vice President of Engineering at Ampjack Industries Ltd., he leads a multidisciplinary team of engineers and external consultants, overseeing all designs produced by the Ampjack engineering team. Nathan is dedicated to developing innovative, safe, and sustainable construction methods for the high-voltage electrical industry. A significant part of Nathan’s work involves the development of the AMPJACK® Lift System, tooling, and work methodologies, as well as integrating new technologies into the maintenance, design, and construction of transmission line infrastructure. Nathan’s expertise extends to the design, analysis, and prototype testing of both new and existing transmission towers, with a strong focus on upgrading, retrofitting, and modifying existing lattice towers. Before joining Ampjack, Nathan worked at Manitoba Hydro in the Generation Construction and Maintenance and Transmission Line Design departments, contributing to the construction of the Wuskwatim Generating Station and the design of the Bipole III transmission projects. At Ampjack, Nathan has served as the lead design engineer for transmission line upgrade projects ranging from 115kV to 735kV. He has successfully completed designs for over 800 lattice tower lifts across more than 15 utilities in North America.
Chris Stasiuk – Vice President, Operations (West)
Chris Stasiuk Vice President, Operations (West) As Vice President of Operations (West), Chris oversees the daily operations of Ampjack’s tower raising, repair, and inspection crews in both the U.S. and Canada. He also serves as the Senior AMPJACK® Technician Trainer, leading the development and delivery of in-house and external AMPJACK® training programs. Chris brings a wealth of experience from his roots in the line trade. A Powerline Journeyman since 1995, he spent over 18 years at Manitoba Hydro, working in Transmission & Distribution Construction, Customer Service, and as a grid troubleman. He holds a certificate in adult education and was previously the senior instructor responsible for the Powerline Technician apprenticeship at Manitoba Hydro’s Utilities Trades Training Center before joining Ampjack in 2014. Currently, Chris collaborates closely with Ampjack’s safety and engineering departments to develop work procedures for the AMPJACK® Lift System, tower repairs, rigging operations, and transmission line tension mitigation. His ability to foster a strong relationship between the engineering and operations teams has been a key factor in Ampjack’s continued success.
Chris Thomas – Vice President, Operations (East)
Chris Thomas Vice President, Operations (East) Chris began his career in the utility industry in 1997 as a Lineman with Manitoba Hydro. He advanced through the apprenticeship program, earning his Journeyman Lineman certification in 2001 and his Live Line Journeyman certification in 2006. During his 18-year career with the utility, Chris held various leadership roles, including overseeing the Recruitment and Training Placement program for the Line Trades Training Department. He also served as Assistant District Operator, Assistant District Supervisor, and concluded his time at the utility as a Department Coordinator. In 2015, he earned his Certificate in Management (CIM) designation. Chris joined Ampjack in 2015 as Construction Manager, bringing a strong background in leadership and project management. As Vice President of Operations (East), he manages multiple projects within Ampjack’s portfolio and serves as the primary point of contact for many clients. Chris takes pride in developing service-focused relationships, ensuring the highest level of customer satisfaction.
Corrosion Division wins a significant tower inspection Contract with Southern California Edison
Corrosion Division wins a significant tower inspection Contract with Southern California Edison At Ampjack, our commitment to delivering excellence has solidified strong and enduring relationships with valued clients like SCE (Southern California Edison). Over the years, we’ve been honored to collaborate with SCE on numerous transmission tower projects, specifically executing hundreds of tower raises across their extensive network. Elevating Tower Inspections: A Value-Added Service During these collaborations, our Ampjack Team went beyond the call of duty, consistently demonstrating the value-added service of tower inspections as an integral part of our tower-raising projects. It was this commitment to quality and safety that captured SCE’s attention. SCE’s Strategic Choice: Tower Inspection Program Recognizing the expertise and dedication we brought to the table, SCE made the strategic choice of selecting Ampjack Industries Ltd – Corrosion Division to spearhead an ambitious tower inspection program. This program encompasses over 12,500 lattice tower inspections within their network, a testament to SCE’s trust in our capabilities. A New Chapter: Tower Inspections Set to Begin As we stand on the cusp of October 2021, we eagerly anticipate the commencement of this massive tower inspection initiative. We understand the critical role these inspections play in ensuring the reliability and resilience of SCE’s transmission network. Gratitude for SCE’s Trust We extend our heartfelt gratitude to SCE for their unwavering confidence in our team and our services. This partnership signifies not only a shared commitment to excellence but also a shared vision for a safer, more reliable energy grid.
Ampjack Peforms a historical 735kV tower raise project
Lévis, Québec 2021 Ampjack was recently awarded our 1st 735kV tower raise contract representing a significant number of tower raises on 2 critical transmission lines for Hydro-Québec. After several months of close collaboration of engineering and planning, our 1st tower raise was executed in the Spring of 2021. For this project, the Ampjack Team engineered a tower raising system that could apply to 2 different tower types on 2 different transmission lines. The 1st phase of this work has now been completed and tower raises on the second line will be starting very soon. We are very pleased to be working with the Hydro-Québec Team and the tower raises are on schedule.
AMPJACK® Underground Cathodic Protection System Installations – Vancouver Island Project
AMPJACK® Underground Cathodic Protection System Installations – Vancouver Island Project Cathodic Protection System Project Introduction: From April to May 2022, AMPJACK® executed a comprehensive corrosion risk mitigation project on Vancouver Island for BC Hydro. The primary objective was to enhance the longevity of 54 existing lattice towers across multiple high-voltage transmission lines. The project encompassed the installation of cathodic protection systems, including sacrificial magnesium anodes, to preserve the structural integrity of the transmission infrastructure. Additionally, AMPJACK® conducted follow-up surveys at 3 and 6 months to verify the systems’ effective functioning. Project Challenges: The Vancouver Island project presented unique logistical challenges due to its remote location. The team had to navigate weather-related obstacles, including heavy rain and cool temperatures, further complicating the installation process. Solutions Proposed: AMPJACK® approached the project with meticulous planning and crew resiliency strategies. The team’s robust planning ensured efficient mobilization to the island, while their unwavering determination and adaptability helped overcome adverse weather conditions. Outcome: Despite the challenges faced, AMPJACK® achieved outstanding results, successfully completing all 54 system installations within the agreed timeframe and contractual commitments. The project’s success stands as a testament to AMPJACK®’s expertise and dedication to delivering top-notch cathodic protection solutions, fortifying the transmission lines and securing BC Hydro’s infrastructure for the long term.
