Deb Palen - Sr. Construction Project Manager,

Feedback from Deb’s ex-colleagues

Let me see

Keep in touch with meI'm using Intch to connect with new people. Use this link to open chat with me via Intch app

Work Background

Cyclic MaterialsDirector, Capital Projects

Apr. 2024 - Feb. 2025Toronto, Ontario, Canada(Providing an environmentally responsible future by recovering rare earth elements from the difficult to recycle products of the modern world. In essence, Cyclic Materials has created a circular supply chain for rare earth elements.) Debra Palen is the Director, Capital Projects for Cyclic Materials Inc. providing executive oversight on all commercial real estate services and building construction management. Working with senior management she sets strategic priorities for all construction development opportunities, developing relationships and partnerships to benefit the organization. She has a solid and broad appreciation for all aspects of fiscal management, and a comprehensive understanding of construction, project and program management that has gained her a respected position in the industry, with reputable contacts from both the private and public sectors. Managing a multitude of projects in the industrial, aviation, healthcare and food processing industries, she is recognized as a subject matter expert in risk management, building condition assessments and the wide range of construction, real estate and business administration disciplines. Prior to joining Cyclic Materials, Debra led the greenfield development for a fully automated vertical micro-livestock facility to address food insecurity on a global scale. The desire to enhance a sustainable society and contribute to innovative operations has led her to Cyclic Materials and their impressive achievements for rare earth element recycling.

Aspire Food GroupConstruction Project Manager

Mar. 2020 - May. 2023London, Ontario, Canada(Leading the drive, Aspire Food Group provides micro-nutrient rich food solutions derived from the supply and development of insects) Led all aspects constructing their first automated vertical micro-livestock processing facility ● Developed and managed a comprehensive facility management program, ensuring efficient tracking, completion of warranty tasks and organized the preventative maintenance contracts and scheduling for superior site management. ● Efficiently managed a high volume of varied work with continued focus on cost control, schedule adherence, project scope and program management. ● Communicated technical design review recommendations with a high focus on transportation engineering, security, and information technology and provided corrective actions to update pre-existing cost estimates, resulting in realistic accurate expenditures. ● Oversaw all project communications for various stakeholders, presenting actual vs. budget, earned value for relevant line items, change orders, schedule updates and health & safety metrics. ● Collaborated in the creation and negotiation of contracts (consultants, integrators, contractors, equipment vendors) and effectively managed their execution and financial transactions. ● Provided presence and support for installations, commissioning, training, and start up activities, input for all site instructions, RFIs, submittals etc. to ensure all systems were tested, functioned as designed, and installed as per the contract documents to maintain quality control standards. ● Identified opportunities (site development, field engineering, design changes, project sequencing) providing cost savings, shortened the timeline and enhanced the quality of the construction project; ● Standardized best procurement principals ensuring competitive bidding and compliant award practices. ● Created high level estimates for all aspects of construction and process equipment baselines for financial controlling and cash flow forecasting

Siemens Canada LtdMaintenance & Tenant Improvement Project Manager

Jun. 2015 - Nov. 2019Oakville, ON(Siemens is a leading supplier of systems focusing on areas of electrification, automation and digitalization technologies worldwide) Hired as their Construction Project Manager for Canada to provide construction & maintenance solutions for all Siemens facilities • Strategized and managed multiple construction projects with varying degrees of complexities across Canada (initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing), adhering to PMP Siemens Real Estate defined PMI project management practices and PMBOK tools (PM@SRE) • Prepared conceptual space plans, high level construction estimates and detailed project schedules necessary for internal project approvals for international investment applications. • Maintained full project responsibilities, created and managed budgets and forecasting, tender & contract packages, issued POs and tracked all costs associated with all projects. • Provided technical expertise preparing building condition assessments for all Siemens owned and leased facilities across Canada outlining required maintenance projects based on priority. Imported and prioritized various projects within a 5 year maintenance plan. • Solely responsible for all aspects of construction fit out projects. Risk & opportunities were monitored and tracked against cost expenditures challenging all change order requests. • Developed presentations to communicate project status for Steering Committees and Project Boards to ensure open transparent communication for all stake holders. • Researched and investigated premature asset failures to recommend best course of action with associated costs. • Prepared and submitted all formal documentation for construction permits ensuring accuracy with all cities and authorities having jurisdiction. • Created and maintained a high level of contractor management practices that included all aspects of construction site safety – trained all contractors to ensure the highest regulations of safety were followed.

CBRE | CanadaProject Manager

Jul. 2014 - Jun. 2015Tillsonburg, Ontario(Providing commercial real estate solutions, CBRE includes PM & FM services for various clients across Canada and Internationally) Hired as the CBRE PM support for Siemens Canada providing turn key construction solutions for their Wind Turbine Blade manufacturing plant * Controlled complete administrative duties for multiple simultaneous projects i.e., prequalification & vetting processes, tender & RFP package creation & management, permit applications, change orders, construction schedules, contract creation etc. • Chaired weekly OAC (Owner, Architect, Contractor) as well as similar internal staff meeting updates for key milestones, discussed new projects and administered objective views on internal methodologies and future forecasting. Ensured status reports were distributed to non-participants as required. • Collaborated and coordinated work efforts with the on-site Facility Technician and cross functional team members for overlapping projects and provided knowledge for applying continuous improvement principals to increase process and maintenance efficiency. • Managed multiple projects engaging various consultants such as structural and civil engineers, excavation & high voltage contractors etc. to ensure each project progressed in a timely manner. • Exhibited a strong and firm approach to sustaining and encouraging safe work environments for all contractors on site, issued permits and safety standards to meet and exceed Siemens safety protocols. • Created various planning visuals to aid with internal and external teams communication presentations for each project to detail the process and expectations during each construction project. • Prepared preliminary sketches & space plans for Siemens Corporate to fast track project discussions for potential real estate transactions. • Assumed entire project responsibility during a 24/7 production schedule, supervised and managed contractors afterhours to ensure as little disruption for employees as possible.

Honeywell Business SolutionsProject Manager

Nov. 2012 - Jul. 2014London & St. Thomas Ontario(Honeywell Building Solutions provides facilities management services for various P3 projects across Canada and Internationally) Provided construction quality management to support the FM team to transition from construction into full operations for two new DBFM (Design/Build/Finance/Maintain) mental health hospital projects under construction • Engaged proactive, systematic, and effective critical thinking methods for leadership communication between contractors and sub trades to ensure prompt resolution to cross-functional field level matters prior to and after substantial completion. • Assumed documentation control and management for all project related information to ensure accurate and up to date records were accessible and compliance met for authorities having jurisdiction. • Ensured that all elements of the facility were installed with strict adherence to established key components and project deliverables as per the contract documents, demonstrating full accessibility for preventative maintenance and testing had been achieved. • Researched and provided guidance pertaining to all aspects of the Project Agreement and Interface Agreement contracts to ensure methods, provisions and project deliverable obligations were provided as contractually required. • Completed full interior and exterior building deficiency inspections including plumbing, electrical, architectural, fire damper & controls accessibility, etc. and coordinated deficiency documentation to contractors for their timely resolve . • Designed & implemented a successful safety orientation training program used at all Honeywell FM sites for all on site trades during handover from construction into facility maintenance of the site. Provided leadership to educate all new sites with this standardization. • Aided and educated the maintenance team on the complexities of the new facility and guided them with commissioning & document control and sourcing information necessary to complete their work orders.

Woodstock General HospitalConstruction Project Manager

Nov. 2009 - Feb. 2012Woodstock, Ontario(With a surrounding community of over 100k, WGH has provided both primary and specialized health care to the community since 1895) Represented the hospital for all aspects of construction for their new 178 bed healthcare facility • Interacted with consultants, vendors, construction teams and hospital staff to ensure accurate information was filtered and communicated between all parties. • Escalated critical design and construction issues and implemented strategies for their timely resolution. • Communicated numerous diverse issues to assist contractors with critical clinical and nonclinical hospital information. • Reviewed, analyzed and researched all contract documentation ensuring specifications and layouts were in the best interest of the clinical staff and their functional programming requirements. • Discovered significant gaps and inconsistencies with contract documents to ensure they were rectified in a timely fashion. • Leveraged consultant’s competencies by providing a common vision and creating an energetic, inspired and honest atmosphere. • Provided clinical staff with documentation required for certification and licensing applications for their various departments (i.e Nuclear Medicine design protocol standards and lead lining requirements throughout Diagnostic Imaging etc.). • Presided over critical commissioning inspections for related healthcare disciplines (i.e. medical gases / diagnostic imaging). • Collaborated with the various hospital teams for research, bidding, procurement, invoicing, deliveries, installations for the entire project. • Demonstrated strong technical experience with various contract disciplines, providing key knowledge allowing beneficial insight and educated decisions. • Navigated through complex technical shop drawings to review and ensure clinical staff understand characteristics and orientation of the equipment being purchased (i.e. medical articulating arms, automated medication dispensing units, etc.).

JetBlue Airways CorporationProject Manager - Corp. Real Estate

Jan. 2005 - Jul. 2009JFK International Airport, New York(Based in New York City’s JFK International Airport, JetBlue is a low-fare passenger airline, providing high-quality customer service) Managed all interior infrastructure for their new $740 million airline terminal 5, constructed at JFK International Airport

C3i, IncFacilities Manager

Nov. 2001 - Dec. 2004Morristown, New Jersey(Catering to the pharmaceutical industry, C3i is at the forefront of CRM practices in an international capacity) Instrumental in implementation of the facility network infrastructure - building a non- existent facilities management & construction department whose company grew 1,100% in 1 year

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.Architectural Project Manager

May. 2001 - Nov. 2001White Plains, New York(With 740 hotels worldwide, Starwood owns/manages the brands of Westin, Sheraton, W, Luxury Collection and the St. Regis) Orchestrated entire corporate office relocation of 743 associates from two locations into one renovated 203,000 sq. ft. facility - employment cut short due to 9/11

Kforce Inc. / Mohr PartnersProject Manager

May. 2000 - May. 2001Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area(Formally Romac International, Kforce was rated one of the top 10 executive search companies in the United States) Oversaw project management / interior design duties (openings / closings / relocations) for 97 field facilities nationwide