Issuu

FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE

• LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

• HEALTH & SAFETY

• DEVELOPMENT & SALES

• RECRUITMENT UPDATES

• CAREER GROWTH & CURRENT OPENINGS

• LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

• EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

• COMPANY NEWS

• PROMOTIONS

• UG GALLERY

LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

As we move through the first quarter of 2026, it’s clear we’re building on the strong momentum created in the final months of 2025 thanks to the dedication of everyone across the Universal Group family. I’d like to take a moment to reflect on those accomplishments and outline what lies ahead.

In 2025, we completed the implementation of the payroll portion of the ADP project for nearly all of our British Columbia operations and the Sage 300 accounting system project for the majority of our British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec operations.

In 2026, we are targeting and looking forward to bringing our Central Canadian (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba), Ontario, Québec, and U.S. operations (Washington and Oregon States) on ADP for payroll and HRIS (Human Resource Information System), our British Columbia operations onto ADP HRIS, and our Central and U.S. operations on Sage 300 for accounting.

In addition to integrating our various regions under common platforms which create efficiencies for our employees and the organization, the ADP payroll project will help ensure payroll is timely and accurate; the ADP HRIS project will replace Bamboo HR for many regions and will integrate with ADP payroll, improving the employee experience and providing useful resources to both employees and our HR team; and the accounting system project will help standardize and streamline our accounting across the organization to deliver timely and accurate metrics that will allow us to strive to perform at our best and better support our operations and employees across all regions.

These projects are complex and very timeconsuming, so I’d like to recognize all of our teams across multiple departments and regions who have collaborated well and worked tirelessly to make these implementations highly successful.

Amazing work team!

Dave Barkwell, CFO

HEALTH & SAFETY

LAUNCHING OUR NEW OHS PROGRAM AT ATC AND D&H

Over the past several months, we’ve been focused on building and implementing a new Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) program at both ATC and D&H. This has been a significant undertaking, one that goes well beyond updating policies. Our goal was to develop a structured, practical, and scalable safety framework that supports day-today operations while strengthening accountability and consistency across both organizations.

At D&H, I had the privilege of working closely with Brock Wegschieder and Randy Olson. Their operational knowledge and honest feedback were critical in shaping a program that works not just on paper, but in the field. They brought practical insight and a clear commitment to protecting their teams.

At ATC, Chris Carlton and Jamie Vadnais played an equally important role. Their engagement throughout the development process ensured the program reflects real-world conditions and aligns with how their crews operate. Their leadership and collaboration made a meaningful difference.

Implementing an OHS program requires a strong operational partnership. I want to sincerely thank Brock, Randy, Chris, and Jamie for the time, effort, and leadership they invested in. This was truly a team effort.

The new program clearly defines roles and responsibilities, strengthens hazard assessment processes, standardizes safe work practices, and

formalizes incident reporting and investigation procedures. Most importantly, it creates a consistent foundation that supports supervisors and crews in proactively managing risk.

The official rollout begins in the first week of March. We will be delivering training to all staff at both ATC and D&H to ensure everyone understands the program, their responsibilities, and how it supports safe operations. Training will focus on practical applications, not just what the expectations are, but why they matter.

This is not about adding unnecessary paperwork. It’s about building a stronger safety culture, improving consistency, and ensuring every employee goes home safe at the end of the day.

A great deal of work has gone into developing this program, and we are proud of the foundation that’s now in place. As we move into rollout, training, and continuous improvement, we are building something that will have a lasting impact on our people and our operations.

Robert Clark, VP - Health & Safety

BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT & SALES

PATTULLO BRIDGE GATES INSTALLATION

Location: New Westminster, BC

Client/Partner: Fraser Crossing Group (through strategic partner Valtir)

We completed the sale and installation of an engineered gate system that allows emergency vehicle access to the opposite side of the bridge while maintaining a safe barrier between lanes.

This win is a major accomplishment for our team, as this type of product is few and far between in the BC market and it was a first for our install team. A factory representative also flew in from California to assist and guide the installation. We have another gate system going in on the south side of the bridge this month to complete the installation.

Teams Involved: Estimating, Installation, and Sales

GUARDRAIL PROJECT

Location: Quesnel, BC

Client/Partner: Castbro Construction Services

We secured a guardrail project totaling 543 metres, including four Mfleat end terminals, valued at $316K.

This is a significant win for the Universal Group, as it represents a large-scale project and the first of its type for our organization. It reinforces our growing capability and recognition as a company

that can deliver comprehensive services across the traffic control and safety sector.

Teams Involved: Installation, Estimating, and Sales. We are also currently working on securing the TMP and traffic control components of the project.

PARK 2.0

Location: Ottawa, ON - The Glebe

Client/Partner: EBC Inc. (Owner: City of Ottawa)

Beacon Lite is proud to support the revitalization of Lansdowne Park in Ottawa’s Glebe neighbourhood. Our team is on-site daily contributing to this major redevelopment project, providing traffic control flagging services along with the rental and installation of traffic control equipment, PXO signage, and electronic warning signage. This project highlights the dedication and coordination of several Beacon Lite teams working together to deliver safe and effective traffic management.

LANSDOWNE

HYDRO-QUÉBEC PROJECT

Location:

Montreal, QC

Client/Partner: Hydro-Quebec

December was a record-breaking month for our contract launched in April 2025. We reached a monthly peak of 35 flaggers (TCP) deployed on December 10th during a shutdown on Sherbrooke Street. Communication between our crews and Hydro-Quebec 16 teams was a key factor in this success. A nice steady progress!

AECON STEEL BARRIER INSTALLATION

Location: Hwy 2- Leduc/Millet/Wetaskiwin (AB)

Client/Partner: Aecon Group Inc. -Transportation

We completed the installation of approximately 3km of ZoneGuard and defender steel barrier on Highway 2. This provided safety and peace of mind to Aecon’s crew members as they completed minor grade widening and paving work mandated by the province.

This was a major accomplishment for our team, as it was a sizable project executed flawlessly with minimal notice. This was the largest steel barrier installation for our Edmonton team, showcasing

their talents and abilities on a large scale. We received glowing reviews from the Aecon project management team, who stated that Barricades was a pleasure to work with and exceeded their expectations. We will continue working with them on this project in the spring and fortify our relationship with Aecon through this project’s successes.

OREGON CROSS-STATE SUPERLOAD MOVE

Location: Idaho/Oregon border, USA

Client/Partner: Ness Campbell Crane and Rigging

We completed the traffic control planning, logistics, and field execution of a 600+ mile crossstate superload move from Newberg, Oregon to Nampa, Idaho. The load was so large it occupied the entire roadway for most of the trip, requiring leapfrogging traffic control teams to clear the way.

This accomplishment reinforces our expertise in managing complex logistical projects from planning through execution. It also strengthened our relationships with regional Departments of Transportation and solidified our reputation statewide, leading to additional requests for similar projects.

RECRUITMENT UPDATES

RECRUITMENT UPDATES (NOV–DEC 2025)

We are pleased to share continued growth across The Universal Group, with strong recruitment momentum to support our expanding operations. During November and December 2025, we successfully welcomed 101 new field employees, strengthening our ability to deliver safe and reliable service to our clients.

TOTAL HIRES

Universal Group: 84 hires

Beacon Lite: 2 hires

Groupe Signalisation: 15 hires

Total: 101 hires

This growth reflects the dedication of our teams and our ongoing commitment to building a strong, capable workforce.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPOTLIGHT

In collaboration with the Operations team, our Talent Acquisition team proudly represented Universal Group at the local Santa Claus Parade, connecting with community members and spreading holiday cheer. The team distributed candy bags to families and shared hiring flyers with attendees interested in career opportunities. Events like this help us build strong community relationships, promote our brand, and attract future talent in a fun, engaging way.

CAREER GROWTH & CURRENT OPENINGS

We encourage employees who are interested in advancing their careers to explore current office and leadership opportunities. These roles provide a pathway to expand your skills, take on new responsibilities, and grow within the organization.

Dedicated people. Safer roads. Stronger future CURRENT

If you are interested in any of these roles or in advancing to a Lane Closure Technician position, please apply on our job postings or speak with your manager to discuss your career progression.

LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

TCP RENEWAL DATES

Is your TCP ticket expiring soon? Don’t miss our ONE-DAY renewal courses happening!

8:00 - 4:00

May 30, 2026

8:00 - 4:00

UPCOMING UGU COURSES

Enhance your skills and stay sharp with upcoming UGU courses focused on respect, safety, cultural awareness, and customer experience.

• The Four Phases of Project Management

This session covers the four phases of project management and steps to help you move from one phase to the next. The four phases make it easy to navigate a project from inception to delivery.

• How to Create a Project Plan

This course explains what a project plan is and the five main sections that comprise a project plan. You’ll also learn a four-step process and tips for making your project plan as accurate and effective as possible.

• 5 Project Management Mistakes to Avoid

During this lesson, you’ll learn how to avoid some of the most common project management pitfalls. First, we’ll list five frequent mistakes that cause projects to fail. Then, you’ll learn how to spot and solve each of those mistakes before they get out of hand.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Denise Ward – LCT, Interior BC, UG

Since joining Universal in April 2024, Denise has consistently gone above and beyond in her role. She is dependable, proactive, and always willing to take on additional responsibilities to support her team. Over the past several months, she has naturally stepped into a mentorship role, offering guidance and encouragement to others. Her calm demeanor and supportive approach make her a valued and trusted member of the team.

Chrysstyna Dillon – Production Team, BSL

Chrysstyna is a valued member of the Winnipeg sign shop production team. She consistently demonstrates her helpfulness by supporting multiple departments, including assisting in the warehouse whenever needed. With a positive attitude and strong work ethic, she is always willing to step in and contribute wherever required.

Pablo Pomareda – Municipal Traffic Technician, BL

Pablo is always willing to take on any job and can consistently be counted on to get the work done without complaint. He is known for his reliability, often being the one who answers the call and steps up when needed, including during emergencies or outside regular hours. Whether digging out signs in the snow or staying late to finish a task, Pablo approaches every job with a positive attitude. His dedication to Beacon Lite is truly appreciated

Jason Preston – LCT, Interior BC, UG

Jason consistently goes above and beyond in his role, always looking for ways to elevate the customer experience. He made himself available over the holiday period, demonstrating reliability and dedication to the team. Jason takes pride in his work, from staying proactive in his LCT role to maintaining meticulous paperwork and keeping his vehicle in excellent condition. His commitment and positive attitude make him a valued member of the team.

Nate

As our only lead at this time, Nate is driving the ship and ensuring daily production success. With increased administrative demands over the past few weeks, he has stepped up to juggle priorities, shift as needed, and adjust on the fly to meet the day’s demands. His leadership and adaptability continue to make a strong impact on the team.

Max Armstrong – Order Manager, BL

Max has been instrumental in the initiative to amalgamate our inside sales team with our order managers, helping improve client service and streamline our production workflow. Throughout this process, he has demonstrated strong adaptability, teamwork, and dedication. Max approaches change with a positive attitude, collaborates effectively across departments, and remains focused on delivering better outcomes for both our customers and our internal teams.

Robert (Bobby) Ellwood - Traffic Control Supervisor, D&H Flagging

Bobby has been with D & H Flagging for nearly seven years. As a Traffic Control Supervisor, he consistently sets a high standard through his strong work ethic and natural leadership. Bobby has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to plan and execute complex projects in challenging conditions. Most recently, he led a superload move across Oregon, successfully managing the plan and adapting quickly to changes. We’re grateful to have Bobby on our team.

COMPANY NEWS

MEET OUR MARKETING TEAM

I’m pleased to introduce the Universal Group’s Marketing Shared Services team, which supports every brand across our portfolio. We collaborate cross-functionally with leaders and teams throughout the organization to enable growth strategies and deliver measurable results. Collectively, we lead the development and execution of marketing initiatives to strengthen brand equity, accelerate revenue growth, and ensure a consistent, high-quality brand experience across North America.

Carig Moriyama Director of Marketing

Marketing Team

Dustin Kliss – Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Based in Edmonton, Dustin brings experience from Barricades and Signs and Finning Canada, and now leads growth strategy, strategic partnerships, and multi-region sales performance across Western and Central Canada and the Pacific Northwest.

Craig Moriyama –Director of Marketing

Craig leads marketing strategy and execution across the portfolio of brands. Based in Edmonton, he brings extensive marketing leadership experience, building high-performing teams and delivering integrated, data-driven programs that drive strategic growth.

Jackson Rinne – National Marketing Manager

Jackson joined the Universal Group in October 2025 as Marketing Manager, Eastern Canada, supporting Beacon Lite Traffic and Groupe Signalisation. Now National Marketing Manager, he supports all brands, bringing strong B2B experience and leading strategic growth initiatives across the organization.

Melody Langelier – Graphic Designer

Mélody joined Groupe Signalisation in 2022 as a marketing intern and became Marketing Coordinator in 2023. In January 2026, she transitioned to Graphic Designer on The Universal Group’s marketing team. Based in Sherbrooke, she supports multi- brand design initiatives to strengthen brand consistency and visual identity.

Rodrigo Tertuliano – Graphic Designer

Rodrigo joined The Universal Group in 2019 and is a Langley-based Graphic Designer. With 14+ years’ experience in marketing, design, and branding, he has supported acquisitions, mergers, and integrations, strengthening brand consistency and delivering high-impact marketing design across business units.

Taravat Sahebnasagh – Content Creator

Tara joined UHS in 2024, supporting brand development and cross-functional initiatives to strengthen UG University. Based in Burnaby, she joined The Universal Group’s Marketing team in December as a Content Creator, developing multichannel content that ensures a consistent, unified voice across the customer Communications.

Currently Recruiting – Digital Marketing Specialist

Our Digital Marketing Specialist will support our websites and PPC campaigns, using SEO/AEO, analytics, optimization to improve results over time. This role partners cross-functionally to deliver integrated digital campaigns and strengthen measurable performance across digital channels.

PROMOTIONS

At Universal Group, we are continuously evolving. The following promotions and role expansions from December through February reflect our commitment to developing our teams, strengthening leadership, and supporting growth across all regions and departments.