Kassi Zaba ― Manager ― Stakeholder Relations
Since the unification of the Alberta Common Ground Alliance, Alberta One-Call, and the Where’s the LINE campaign in 2021, Utility Safety Partners’ working committees have been busy. These committees are industry-led and volunteers from various damage prevention and safety stakeholder groups have worked hard over the last three years on several important initiatives, including publishing an updated version of the Damage Prevention Process in Alberta document (Best Practices Committee), maintaining training standards and endorsing training providers to the standards (Training Standard Committee), introducing legislation to the Alberta government (Government Relations Committee), and planning events and outreach activities throughout the province (Education & Awareness Committee).
As the committees continue to plan activities that push our collective pursuit of improving damage prevention in Alberta onward and upward, USP recognizes the need to relieve some of the administrative burden these dedicated volunteers have taken on. The Stakeholder Relations team was formed to do just that.
Ben King, Administrator, Stakeholder Relations (ASR)
Ben has been a part of Utility Safety Partners since 2022 starting out as a Damage Prevention Associate on the front line of the USP team. Now moving into the ASR role, Ben provides administrative support to USP’s committee chairs by scheduling meetings, sending out meeting packages, taking meeting minutes, managing committee documentation, and facilitating and coordinating committee initiatives as needed. Ben has a history in damage prevention but in a more boots-on-the-ground setting. In the trades world, he was hands on as a plumber/pipefitter during the City of Calgary, Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant, Plant D Co-Gen expansion prior to the pandemic. During this time as a pipefitter Ben learned the importance of organization, communication, proper training, and heavy lifting. A rigging specialist with a talent for making sure systems are secure prior to lift off, Ben will be bringing his all to the committees to ensure their initiatives flow.
Kassi Zaba, Manager, Stakeholder Relations (MSR)
Kassi has been with Alberta One-Call/Utility Safety Partners since 2011. In her previous role as Public Awareness Coordinator, she maintained USP’s Public Awareness Program and coordinated numerous advertising, awareness, and communication activities. Kassi enjoys driving so she welcomed jumping in her car and travelling to tradeshows, workshops, and safety breakfasts to promote safety and damage prevention throughout the province. It’s a great excuse to see all of Alberta’s diverse landscapes and attractions! In her new role as MSR, Kassi supports the activities of USP’s committees, manages the activities of the ASR and USP’s Safety Ambassadors, and leads USP’s outreach, advertising, and communication activities.
Ben and Kassi look forward to working with committee members and supporting the ideas and projects that are about to unfold.
Are you interested in joining a committee? Email us at info@utilitysafety.ca.