Gene Lublinkhof, Director, Major Capital Projects, Facilities

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in southern Alberta, living in Fort Macleod, Lethbridge and graduating high school in Coaldale. When I got married, we lived in Calgary for a couple of years while my wife was in school, and I finished my apprenticeship training at SAIT.

I have had two distinct careers in my working life. I started as an apprentice automotive technician when I was 17 years old and earned my Interprovincial Journeyman certification by the time I was 22. I was always into cars and trucks when I was younger. My principal goal when I was in my 20s was to have a tall truck with big tires or a fast car with bald tires. Lol. 

When I was in my late '20s, I went back to school for Engineering Design Drafting Technology at Lethbridge College. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to go back to post-secondary and I realized that some formal education could be life-changing. I had ambitions to be a designer and CAD draftsman in engineering or architecture.  

My experience in post-secondary was transformative and, while I learned various design technology skills, I also had the opportunity to develop skills in writing, contract administration and other areas related to planning and construction processes. For my first three to four years after college, I worked for various homebuilders, architects and private clients designing residential and light commercial renovations and new builds. I have about 50 projects in the area that I had a hand in. Part of that time I was also working here.

How long have you been at ULethbridge and what do you do here?

I started as a Technical Specialist in what was then known as the Capital Projects office in 2003. We were located in the portables that used to be in the green space adjacent to Hepler Hall. I was reclassified to Project Manager in 2005 when I led the Parkway Services Complex planning and construction.

Over the following approximately 10 years, I executed numerous renovation and maintenance projects in virtually all areas of campus. In 2015 I was seconded to work on the Science Commons project. In that project, I was part of the planning and construction management team until 2018 when I was asked to lead the move and operations planning. The transition to Science Commons involved a considerable effort to move and help all the occupants get adjusted to the new facility. By far that was the most challenging role I have taken on. As the dust was settling after the move, I was asked to lead the former Campus Planning office, now Campus Development.

What is the best part of your job?

I get a lot of satisfaction from making and building things, so project planning and construction are an extension of that process.  

There are a lot of stakeholder perspectives as well as institutional priorities that need to be accounted for when putting a project together. Over the years I have worked with stakeholders from almost every department on campus as well as various external organizations. We have so much going on that there always seems to be a problem to solve. I enjoy taking a project from a stakeholder’s idea or a specific challenge they are having, to an executable plan and hopefully a successful outcome. I can walk campus and point to numerous projects that I have helped become reality and that is a source of pride for me.  

My experience at the University has changed my worldview considerably. I have been able to meet and talk to people from all over the world with so many different backgrounds. I find talking with someone face to face about their home country and their everyday experiences, politics, environment, and cultures is incredibly interesting. Even a simple question like 'What is the weather like?' can be fascinating.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I have been married to my wife Carmen since we were 21 years old. We have two daughters, Jorja, 21, and Averi, 17, who are both outgoing and independent young women that we are very proud of. 

I enjoy being outdoors and have been putting on a lot of miles hiking with my dog Honey, going to car shows and spending time with my family. 

I usually have one project or another on the go; before the pandemic, I was customizing old Honda motorcycles and then during the pandemic, I restored an old Camaro. Sometimes it can be difficult to see progress when sitting behind a desk so I usually have what I call a “hands-on” project of some sort where I can fix or build something and see the progress in real time.