Les Recksiedler is the Senior Engineering Manager for the Manitoba HVDC Research Centre (MHRC), a business unit of MHI.
Following a 38-year career at Manitoba Hydro, Les joined MHI in 2010. He develops the engineering services initiatives for MHI and focuses on business development for MHRC.
What kind of projects have you worked on since joining MHI?
I had the opportunity to travel to Mozambique over 30 times to work on the Cahora Bassa project as the owner’s engineer and technical advisor for the HVDC link. I provide advice on operations and maintenance, help resolve technical issues, review the work of other consultants, and plan for future upgrades with CAPEX (capital expenditure) and OPEX (operational expenditure).
What have you gained professionally from working at MHI?
Keeping up with the latest technology developments is very important to me, and I enjoy the diversity of the work I do. I have had the opportunity to participate in exciting new opportunities, and build relationships with clients, colleagues, and other consultants.
What have you gained personally from working for MHI?
Travelling and building new friendships around the world has been a big part of my life. Working with MHI has also helped keep my mind sharp and offered me new challenges after retirement from Manitoba Hydro.
How would you describe your time at MHI to a prospective employee or contractor?
MHI gives you the potential to work on new and exciting projects and travel to different parts of the world. This career has given me the opportunity to meet new and interesting people, and build friendships and work relationships.
What has been your greatest achievement or lesson learned while working for MHI?
Before working for MHI, I wondered how my skills, knowledge, and experience would be of use to the organization. What I learned was that building business relationships and the trust of a client is just as important as my technical skills.
What is your fondest memory of working for MHI?
While I was on assignment on the Cahora Bassa project, I had several opportunities to go fishing on the Zambezi River, and caught three tiger fish.
Les with one of the tiger fish he caught on the Zambezi River in Mozambique, Africa.