ASET Technology Alberta Spring 2016 - 19

tech nologist of th e y ea r Ryan Blair, C.E.T. W hat began as an interest for robotics at a young age has become a fulfilling career and an influential life passion for Ryan Blair, C.E.T. Graduating from the Mechanical Engineering Technology program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 2008, Blair landed his first technical position in Vancouver before returning home to Calgary and joining Evraz Inc. NA. In his near six years of employment at Evraz, Blair has applied himself as an engaged and invaluable Mechanical Engineering Technologist, working with numerous teams to develop and deliver efficient and innovative solutions for manufacturing facilities across Alberta and Saskatchewan. "Ryan has a great passion for improving our processes, whether it be to revamp an old or obsolete piece of equipment or machinery, or to tinker with new technologies to make it perform to the level of expectation of the end-user," explains Hasan Yahya, P.Eng. of Blair's passion-driven work ethic. Blair's zeal for new technologies led him on a personal mission to learn 3D printing technology. Upon experimenting with a concept for a work assignment, Blair designed a 3D printed prototype that proved to be a great innovation for the Pipe Heat Treatment (HT) facility in Calgary. "Ryan played a pivotal role in setting up the Ultrasonic Inspection Station (UT) [at HT]," Vishnu Sangem, EIT, discloses excitedly. "The original intention was to use his station on a temporary basis, but the design proposed by Ryan was so efficient that the UT inspection station is now a permanent fixture in the HT facility." As an invested technology professional and ASET member of seven years, Blair believes in the value of supporting the development of new industry professionals through formal and informal mentorship and training. As of January, 2016, Blair has taken on the role of the Co-op and Intern Students Team leader role at Evraz, and he has been a mentor with the ASET Mentoring Program since 2013. Blair can often be found speaking at SAIT and Red Deer College as an Evraz Sponsor of Capstone Projects and an ASET ambassador, sharing insights with students on current challenges facing the industry and the benefits of ASET certification. In response to what this award means to Blair, he exclaimed, "It's an incredible honor to receive this award from an association so important to me.... I hope I can inspire others to get involved, help continue to build this incredible profession and do all we can to positively shape the next generation!" For his life-long passion of advancement in technology, his influential engagement and commitment to the profession, Ryan Blair, C.E.T., is recognized as this year's Technologist of the Year. TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA | SPRING 2016 | 19

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASET Technology Alberta Spring 2016