The Highmark Difference
Highmark Terra was built with a clear purpose: deliver civil work and engineered foundations properly, without confusion, shortcuts, or gaps in responsibility. Backed by deep experience in excavation, ground screw installation, helical piles, and site preparation, we support residential, commercial, and energy infrastructure projects across Nova Scotia.
What sets Highmark Terra apart is the level of control we maintain in the field. Our team handles excavation, trenching, grading, compaction, foundation installation, and site preparation in-house. By keeping core civil work under one crew, we reduce handoffs, protect timelines, and maintain clear accountability from start to finish.
That capability is supported by specialized equipment and a disciplined approach to layout, torque verification, and load requirements. We work from engineered drawings, assess site conditions carefully, and execute with accuracy so the trades that follow can move forward without rework or delay.
We understand that construction sites are rarely predictable. Soil conditions shift. Schedules tighten. Scope evolves. Our team is built to adapt while maintaining control of the fundamentals. We show up prepared, communicate clearly, and focus on delivering work that is clean, precise, and built to perform long after we leave the site.
This combination of field experience, in-house capability, and accountability defines the Highmark Terra approach. It is how we keep projects moving, protect quality from the ground up, and build foundations that everything else depends on.
Marc MacDonald
President
Marc began his electrical career in 2007 as an apprentice, eventually moving into the renewables space in 2015, as an electrician during the construction of the 102MW South Canoe Wind Farm, transitioning to lead technician for O&M and eventually project manager. In the past 7 years, he was fortunate to gain valuable experience on the largest wind farm in NS, the largest BESS project in Atlantic Canada (2018), the first EV charge network in NS and PEI, the first Tesla Supercharger in Atlantic Canada, and multiple other exciting projects from solar, storage, microgrids and EV chargers. Prior to renewables, Marc worked as an electrician and foreman on construction and Industrial sites, including Michelin Bridgewater as central maintenance electrician, PCL Construction as an electrical foreman and Halifax Shipyard as a marine electrician.
Alex Ross
Operations & Strategy
Alex began his career in international development, focusing on renewable energy access in remote communities. In Nicaragua, he coordinated the installation of 25 off-grid solar systems, gaining foundational experience in project management and community-scale energy. He later moved into the UK’s advanced energy market, where he spent several years leading utility data integrations and managing software partnerships for EV and solar hardware at companies like ev.energy and eliq. During his time abroad, Alex also developed reporting platforms for industry best practices and led solar PV teams in Ghana. He holds an MBA with distinction from Coventry University and has completed executive education in data-driven decision-making at Cambridge Judge Business School. Now back in Nova Scotia, Alex uses his global experience to drive the energy transition in Atlantic Canada. As Director of Strategy and Operations at Highmark Power, he manages clean energy projects, builds team structures, and maintains key utility and hardware partnerships to ensure the successful delivery of complex renewable initiatives.
Stephen McCulloch
Electrical Foreman
Stephen began his electrical career in 2010 as an apprentice electrician, eventually moving into the renewables space in 2018, as an electrician completing the first EV Charging network in Nova Scotia and PEI. Stephen has led many projects from O&M, service calls, and electrical and civil construction around Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland. Stephen worked as a site foreman and superintendent on projects working with sub contractors, as well as projects leading his own staff of operators, laborers and electricians. He was fortunate to gain valuable experience on the first DC Fast Charging network in Nova Scotia construction and Maintenance, the First DC Fast Charger in PEI, and the majority of the Tesla Supercharging Network in Atlantic Canada. Prior to renewables, Stephen worked as an electrician on various construction and Industrial sites, including IMP Aerospace as maintenance electrician, and Bergman Electric as a Construction Electrician.
Ian Harpell
Civil Supervisor
Ian has extensive experience in the construction and heavy machinery industries, starting with his early work on farms in rural East Hants, where he became familiar with operating various types of machinery. He began his career in the forest industry, operating porters and harvesters, and quickly developed a strong foundation in heavy equipment operations. As Ian’s expertise grew, he transitioned into commercial construction, where he focused on heavy equipment and labor, specializing in groundwork and utility installation for subdivisions and industrial areas. For over 10 years, Ian further expanded his skill set working in various lead roles in the building supply industry. During this time, he earned his Class 1 license and spent more than a decade professionally driving, hauling machinery, natural gas, building supplies, and bulk liquid goods. Currently, as Civil Supervisor at Highmark Power, Ian oversees projects and ensures the safe operation of equipment.
Our team
WHAT SETS US APART
Highmark Terra combines specialized foundation equipment, in-house civil capability, and real-world experience supporting energy infrastructure projects. We operate with the understanding that ground-level work affects everything that follows. From excavation and compaction to ground screw and helical pile installation, our team executes with control, accuracy, and attention to detail.
By keeping civil work under one crew, we eliminate unnecessary handoffs and reduce the risk that comes with split responsibility. Layout, depth, torque, grading, and site preparation are handled by a team that communicates clearly and works from the same plan. This protects schedules, maintains accountability, and ensures that the next trade can step in without delay or rework.
You are not hiring a crew that guesses or cuts corners to move faster. You are hiring a crew that measures, verifies, and documents the work properly. We approach every project with the discipline required to get it right the first time, because strong foundations are not optional.
