Trend watch: Technology has been evolving so fast that we need to upgrade ourselves as well. There are a lot of devices and machines capable of saving and providing data to make well-informed decisions.  

What do you do for fun? I have been married for 20 years and have two children. We’re a soccer family, so the majority of the time we are on the pitch practicing.  

An expert in automation, Avtar Dade brings nearly three decades of experience to his role at Gescan, collaborating with departments to find flexible and cost-effective solutions for industrial clients’ needs, including building automation and human-machine interface products. 

Avtar earned a diploma in electrical and computer engineering technology — focused on process automation and instrumentation — from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 1993, immediately followed by another in electrical power and industrial control from the same school, graduating in 1994.  

Starting out troubleshooting wireless house alarms and providing engineering support to cable TV providers across North America, Avtar then moved to automation sales, eventually joining Gescan in 2000. Today, based out of Coquitlam, B.C., he provides application support of industrial controls to Gescan’s customers and branches. 

Over the course of his career, technology has evolved from 40-pound monochrome monitors to something even more powerful that fits into the palm of your hand. As that has advanced, so too has the possible solutions Avtar can provide. 

But what hasn’t changed is his innovative, customer-focused approach that seems to offer a number of solutions to ensure the right fit. 

“You need to be engaged with technology and always trying to find multiple solutions,” he says. “It’s like being on a train.  We know that we will eventually get to our destination but in what time frame and where on the train should we position ourselves is the key.”