Civil Engineering Technology and Technician alumna driving change as president of family-owned business
Jan. 8, 2025
For as long as she can remember, the construction industry has been part of Lisa Bertram’s (class of 1989 and 1990) DNA. She’s an alumna of Georgian’s Civil Engineering Technology Municipal and Civil Engineering Technician programs.
With her family’s company, Bertram Construction, operating since 1934, she spent her early years running through the lumber yard, helping with small construction projects, and even working her first part-time job.
But before Lisa would work her way up to her current role as the company’s president, she sought opportunities to grow independently, broaden her horizons and enhance her skills.
Lisa Bertram was a 2024 Premier’s Awards nominee in the science, technology and engineering category.
Hands-on learning and co-op work terms key to success
Lisa knew hands-on training would be a vital next step in setting the stage for her successes to come – and that is precisely what she found at Georgian.
The college’s industry-experienced instructors, experiential learning opportunities and the program’s co-op placements allowed her to expand her toolkit of tangible skills and introduced her to new focus areas she hadn’t been exposed to before.
My time in the Civil Engineering Technician and Civil Engineering Technology Municipal programs offered me a different type of learning environment than what I experienced through my family’s business, as well as different opportunities to apply the skills I was learning, all of which prepared me for the leadership role I hold today.
College education a foundation for further learning
For Lisa, these skills served as the basis for her own growth and the eventual evolution of her third-generation, family-owned company.
She followed up her time at Georgian with an engineering degree from Lakehead University and an MBA from the University of Liverpool before finally returning to Bertram Construction. Lisa then worked her way up the ranks over the next 30 years with roles as estimator, project manager, manager, vice president and, ultimately, president.
Kevin Weaver, President and CEO, Georgian College (left), and Steve Lowe, Chair, Georgian College Board of Governors (right), proudly present Lisa Bertram (class of 1989 and 1990) with her 2024 Premier’s Awards nominee certificate.
A pioneer in the Simcoe County construction industry
Lisa now helms the largest firm in Simcoe County – and the first female-owned-and-operated construction company in the area – using her vast education to significantly increase revenue and diversify the firm’s business to include mid-to-high-rise construction and large-scale industrial projects.
At the same time, she has also driven workplace innovation, establishing an employee shareholders’ program and committing 10 per cent of annual profits to charitable organizations making a difference in the region.
Recruiting top talent from Georgian’s alumni
As the competition for top talent intensifies, Lisa’s admiration for the Georgian experience has also defined how she’s preparing her company for the future.
Her firm actively recruits Georgian grads, who have benefitted from the same hands-on, practical training she did. She also uses her platform as a trailblazing business leader to speak with young people, particularly women, about careers in the construction sector.
Even though her path seemed destined from the start, Lisa’s success wasn’t guaranteed. However, with a solid foundation from Georgian, Lisa has not only built further upon her family’s long history of excellence but has paved the way for a more inclusive and innovative future for the construction industry.
Lisa was a 2024 Premier’s Awards nominee in the science, technology and engineering category.
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Published Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025