Our Staff

With the collaborative support of a large number of industry members and Partner Organizations, the sector council operates with a very small, but highly-experienced executive team, reporting to a Board of Directors made up of industry professionals.

Michael Montgomery, Executive Director

Michael Montgomery has more than 30 years experience as the executive officer of economic development organizations and as a consultant to all orders of government in Atlantic Canada.

Michael has served as Executive Director of the AHBRSC since 2007 advancing the industry campaign for mandatory licensing and certification while researching and planning for the labour market needs of the industry.

He is a strong advocate for enhanced professionalization and a vocal supporter of improvements to apprenticeship systems to make apprenticeship more adaptive and responsive to the needs of workers and industry while increasing enrollments and completions.

Michael is a graduate and class valedictorian of Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Economics and has completed studies at the graduate and certificate levels in business and economic development at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia and the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

Mary Kenny, Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships

Mary Kenny has more than 30 years experience as a senior executive in the development of human resources in Canada – as a partner in an architectural and community planning practice, a director and educator in a number of housing sectors, and researcher/developer of trades skills frameworks and occupational standards. She is recognized for her commitment to building collaboration among governments, industry, educators and other partners for the resolution of increasingly complex issues around human resources development.

Most recently, Mary was CEO of the Residential Construction Industry Training Organization (RCITO) in British Columbia from 2008 to 2012, leading one of seven ITOs providing direction for the province’s innovative industry-based trades apprenticeship and workforce training system.

In 2013, with the Prior Learning Centre in Halifax, she co-led a review of Nova Scotia’s RPL Policy Framework and was responsible for consultations with governments, training providers, sector councils, regulatory bodies, and communities and non-profits. The focus was emerging competency approaches to occupational standards development to better identify transferable skills and credential prior learning.

Her activities with the AHBRSC include the development and implementation of a multi-year strategic action plan to centre the Council’s human resources activities within a competency framework of occupational standards for key trades.

Each of these projects address genuine engagement of all partners as key supports for recruitment and retention strategies, with increasing recognition of the need to more effectively accommodate new immigrants.

Her work in the Atlantic Region, Alberta, British Columbia, as well as nationally, provides important context for re-thinking traditional approaches to human resources development in ways that can mutually benefit both the career aspirations and mobility of employees, and new business development opportunities.

Mary, a BA graduate of Dalhousie University has completed studies at the graduate and certificate levels in housing and community/regional planning, architecture, PLAR and competency-based assessment.

Kevin Hooper, Project Manager

As the AHBRSC’s Project Manager of Social Enterprise and Workplace Equity, Kevin is responsible for supporting increased diversity, equity, and inclusion within the residential construction sector through strategic partnerships with underrepresented and marginalized populations, non-profit organizations, and other related stakeholders.

In addition to his position with the AHBRSC, Kevin is the Manager of Partnerships and Community Development with United Way Halifax, the Chair of the Community Advisory Board for Reaching Home, and a member of Halifax’s Housing and Homelessness Partnership.

Through these roles Kevin has established a broad, cross-sectoral network of housing colleagues and extensive experience in market/sector research, policy analysis, strategic planning, program design, evaluation, and reporting, coalition building, and advocacy. 

With a Master of Urban Planning degree from Dalhousie University and over twenty-years of related professional experience ranging from home construction, real estate development, property management, and emergency/supported housing, Kevin understands both the vital importance of meeting market demand with adequate, well-built housing, and ensuring that everyone has access to a healthy and stable home.

Andrew MacDonald, Labour Market Analyst

Andrew has completed a bachelors in Business Administration and a Masters in Financial Economics. He has been consulting on Labour Market initiatives with the AHBRSC since 2019 and has been working as an Analyst since July 2021. Andrew’s strengths are in data collection and analysis with a focus on database creation and management.

Kerri Marshall, Advancement Coach

Kerri Marshall is a community advocate and research enthusiast that has been focused on Job Developing for the past several years. Kerri has been working closely with individuals pursing success in the workplace, getting to know their needs and abilities, and matching them with the hiring and retention needs of hiring employers.

Kerri is a graduate of Cape Breton University with a Bachelor of Arts Community Studies Honouring in Psychology, with a Research Certificate.

Kerri’s work experience in both Nova Scotia and Ontario, community-based research, and education have prepared her to build strong effective relationships with both clients and community, allowing her to act as a supportive bridge between the two.