Heavy lifting’s heavy hitters: Meet Stephanie Hnatuk

Ed. note: Each week, we’re highlighting one of the winners from Crane & Hoist Canada‘s 2021 Top 10 Under 40 contest. 

Our penultimate Top 10 Under 40 winner is Stephanie Hnatuk, operations manager at Prairie Crane Group in Saskatoon, Sask.

At 30 years old, Hnatuk is already making a splash in the industry. She’s spoken at events, including our own Women in Construction event in spring 2021, and knows what it takes to work your way up — even in your own family’s business.

Upon completing high school, Hnatuk joined her parents and brother at Prairie Crane Group, first in office administration and then in the back shop, where she cleaned and delivered rigging.

After earning a degree in environmental engineering at the University of Regina, Hnatuk returned to the company to work full time. She started to learn more about Prairie Crane’s fleet, and the day-to-day operations of the business, eventually becoming operations manager.

“Stephanie stepped into the role fresh out of university, coming into a position in a very male-dominated industry,” says coworker and brother Matthew Hnatuk. “She grabbed the bull by the horns and has worked to look after the company and its many clients,” says Matthew. “She works long days and goes out of her way to make sure projects we are working on are well organized.

“She also keeps the 15 male operators in order to make sure our customers receive the best service.”

Our final winner is next week: Steven Willier at ABCO Crane Services Ltd.

Want to recognize a future leader? Nominations for the 2022 contest are now open. Winners receive a framed certificate recognizing their achievement and are featured in an issue of Crane & Hoist Canada.