Alan Macnab's entire career has been spent with earth retention construction companies involved in both design-build and hard bid construction. His roles in construction have included work in operations, supervision, estimating, marketing, and claims, including executive positions in both Canada and the United States. He has held positions in a number of industry associations, including the Presidency of the ADSC--The International Association of Foundation Drilling (1990-1991) where he continues to chair the Standards and Specifications Committee. He is currently Vice President, President-Elect of the Geo-Insitute of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Macnab received his B.E. Sc. from the University of Western Ontario and continued there with graduate studies. He is licensed as a professional engineer in Canada.

Macnab has been involved in the construction of earth retention and deep foundation projects since 1973. These projects have been implemented throughout North America, including eastern and western Canada, the northeastern states, Rocky Mountain states, and the West Coast. He has traveled extensively, reviewing construction techniques in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. He is a frequent speaker on issues involved in these specialties to engineering, academic, and supervisory personnel and has written extensively on these topics.