ABOUT HILAKA CONTRACTING

OUR PEOPLE

MEET THE HILAKA LEADERSHIP TEAM

Stefan Stadler – President

Stefan Stadler is a hands-on leader who steps in wherever he is needed—whether he is representing Hilaka in a meeting, supporting field operations, or helping repair a truck. He entered the oil and gas industry in 2013 and gained frontline experience driving tank trucks and operating vacuum trucks and steamers before helping establish Hilaka.

Stefan wanted to build a company that offered greater independence while creating an excellent place to work. He is proud of Hilaka’s rapid growth, the quality of its work, and the strong team developing alongside the company. His leadership is grounded in hard work, dependable service, and building lasting relationships with employees and customers. When a job needs to get done, people know they can call Stefan.

A lifelong resident of the Fort St. John area, Stefan enjoys farming, fishing, and hunting. His vision for Hilaka is simple: do great work and continue growing together as a team.

Rudi George – Vice President

Rudi George is a hands-on leader who contributes to nearly every aspect of Hilaka’s operations. He began working in the oil and gas industry in 2011 and gained valuable frontline experience as the owner and operator of a vac truck before helping build Hilaka.

Rudi believes that honesty, safety, and listening to people are fundamental to running a successful company. He is proud of the way Hilaka takes care of its employees and customers while providing a safe workplace where everyone can return home to their families at the end of the day.

Rudi has lived in the Fort St. John area with his family since 2008.

Thomas Illenseer – Management, Dispatch & Sales

Thomas Illenseer is closely involved in Hilaka’s day-to-day management, coordinating dispatch, sales, customer relations, crews, and equipment. With approximately eight years of experience in the oil and gas and industrial-services industry, Thomas brings a practical understanding of both field operations, and the support crews need to complete their work safely and efficiently.

Known for being responsive and hands-on, Thomas works closely with customers to understand their requirements and ensure the right people and equipment are in place. He believes strong business relationships are built through honesty, clear communication, and consistently delivering on commitments. He is proud of Hilaka’s growth, the team it has developed, and the opportunities the company has earned while maintaining its focus on safety, reliability, and customer service.

Thomas is from the Fort St. John area and has strong roots in the Peace Region. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors and with his wife, children, family, and friends.

Leon Barbula – Dispatch / Supervisor

Leon Barbula coordinates truck dispatch, organizes jobs, and supervises larger projects involving multiple units to help ensure operations run safely and smoothly. He has nine years of oil and gas experience, starting as a swamper before moving into vacuum truck and hydrovac operations and, eventually, field supervision.

Leon is proud of how far Hilaka has come from its humble beginnings and credits the team’s hard work for that growth. His field experience allows him to understand what operators need while keeping jobs organized and customers informed. Easygoing and known for his good sense of humor, Leon can be counted on to find solutions and do what it takes to get the job done properly.

Leon has lived in Fort St. John with his family for five years. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children.

Kerne Kennedy – Business Development

Kerne Kennedy brings more than 30 years of oil and gas experience to Hilaka, including field operations, completions, workovers, wellsite supervision, and business ownership.

His well-rounded role combines field sales, enterprise onboarding, and online marketing, helping him understand customer needs and connect them with practical field solutions.

Kerne works closely with Hilaka’s management, dispatch, and field teams to ensure every customer receives the best possible experience. His approach is built on honesty, clear communication, and making sure both internal and external customers have exactly what they need, when they need it. His goal is for customers to trust Hilaka to deliver the right people and equipment safely, on time, and within budget—while exceeding expectations whenever possible.

Kerne has lived in Fort St. John since 1999. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling and camping with his family.