Sheldon Hudson - Al-Terra

Calgary
Team member since 1996

Department
Corporate Services, Leadership Team

What does Al-Terra’s purpose, “We Create Confidence” mean to you?
"We Create Confidence" has multiple meanings for me. For our clients, we want to build long lasting relationships where our advice and expertise are valued. For our people, we want them to achieve their career goals and become exception professionals in their chosen field. For the public that uses the infrastructure we design and help build, we want them to trust that it is safe and designed to meet the needs of the people it is intended to serve. For Al-Terra, our success relies on creating confidence for all the people that interact with the work that we do.

What project are you most proud of and why?
The project that I am most proud of is the Corner Brook Building in Sundre, Alberta. It was a small site design project close to the Bearberry Creek that I completed 20 years ago. During the design, I was challenged by the client because of the elevation that I set the building. After assessing the site, I determined that the building needed to be raised substantially higher than the existing topography, which meant the client needed to pay extra to import material to raise the site. I determined that the extra height was required to avoid potential flooding of the building if the creek ever flooded. Although the client was skeptical, they agreed to the extra cost and raised the site and the building elevation to my design. The year after the building was finished, the Town of Sundre experienced a massive rainfall event that caused flooding. Although many buildings in Sundre flooded that day, the Corner Brook Building stayed dry!

As the President and CEO of Al-Terra, I am responsible for providing the overall direction and leadership for the company. Since starting with the company almost 30 years ago, I have been fortunate to participate in a variety of projects, with the majority of my experience in transportation working on projects throughout the provincial highway network. Some notable projects that I have worked on include the South Innisfail Interchange and Highway 2 Median Widening, Highway 11A twinning from west of Highway 2 to Gaetz Avenue in Red Deer, and Highway 834 High Load Corridor & Tofield Bypass. I also have experience on numerous boards and committees, where my current appointments include: Transportation and Economic Corridors Strategic Priorities Group (2023–Current) and Board of Directors – Heartland Housing Foundation (2022–Current)

My education includes a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (1996) and a Master of Business Administration (2016).

“

Leave the beaten track behind occasionally and dive into the woods. Every time you do, you will be certain to find something you have never seen before.”

Alexander Graham Bell

Associated Projects

Rural Transportation

Highway 2 - North and South Innisfail Interchanges