b'CAREER PROFILEDEPARTMENTthe understanding and utilization of all kinds of machinery andcollege. I also consulted lawyers on civil cases as a nursing expert, trucksits a marvel to me. I am amazed all the time when I haveadapting my work to be there for my husband and kids. Then I a chance to listen to and observe our team at work and what theytransitioned into management, managing multiple departments can do with machines as a true extension of themselves. How theyover a period of four-and-a-half years, leading accreditation and can fix things, create things, know so much about so many prod- working in a multidisciplinary environment. All of those things ucts, requirements and specifications. In comparison, phones andprepared me for working in the industry. Government relations, computers may seem a bit mundane I suppose!reading, analyzing and understanding information and learning to have a healthy respect for others with strengths different from my Q:What do you find most challenging in your work? own have all helped. I took accounting courses and construction I find interacting with people with all kinds of different interestsmanagement courses since transitioning to this role as well, simply and needs to be hard work. I dont do small talk well, so I do soas it was a new field to me. Life education is also of valuewhich value others who can engage with all kinds of different people inyou cant summarize in a degree or certificate. Sometimes, just any circumstance. I tend to be quite intense, so knowing when toknowing when to call out the bull and name the issues is more ease off is very hardask anyone who knows me! Coming fromvaluable than any formal education. That simply comes with expe-the health-care sector, there are many things that have been a steeprience and exposure.learning curve stepping into this industry, so there are new chal- Q:Where do you see the industry going in the next few years?lenges all the time. That is why I am grateful for a team of people with all different skill sets that can work together to face differentI see the industry becoming even more bureaucratized than it is obstacles or challenges, as no one can do this thing called busi- already. There is an increasing save your own bacon mentality ness alone or in isolation. and a selfish approach in society that saddens me. I remember the genuine kinship when a handshake actually meant something. I Q:Describe your typical day on the job and how the work you dorememberwhenpeoplehadaconversationwithyoubecause contributes to your company.they genuinely wanted to know you and not just know what they could get from you or use you for. I am unsettled by how we are Typical? Well, there is the all other duties category in my job forso willing to work within the rules all the time (even if the rules sure, so typical is kind of hard to describe. I am in the office mostjust dont make sense) because we think that being compliant and days, but I do visit job sites and our quarries as the need arises. A lotgoing along with things, not making any waves, will be better in of email, phone, financial transactions and dealing with suppliers,the long run. colleagues, clients and projects. I use my mind a lot in analysis,I do sincerely hope and pray that integrity rises upgenuine reading and trying to keep abreast of the vast amount of informa- interestinourcommunitiesandwhatweredoingthisallfor tion and change going on around us, considering the impact andmatters more than titles and designations and ladder climbing. It how we need to adapt to that. Im often in the background as aisnt about the bigger and better and doing good to stick it on a support to others in a variety of ways rather than in the forefront. plaque and claim an award; its about managing and caring for our Q:How did you get interested in this work?resources wisely and well. Weve become so big in our industrythe big players do really great thingsbut in that, sometimes I grew up saturated in construction and aggregatesswearing toauthenticrelationships,wordsthatmeansomethingandhand-myself Id never work in the family business! Ive since learnedshakesthatmatterhavebeenlost.Iwouldencouragefolksto never to say never. I worked in health care for almost 20 years andreally think about why they are doing what theyre doing and how still maintain my RN designation. Five and a half years ago, mythey are leaving people and places and systems better than they dad said, You need to come back to the family business. I waswere before.the quality and risk manager at our local hospital and on a good career track, but felt intrigued. So I chatted with my siblings and,Q:What advice would you give to others looking for a career in two months later, I was wearing work boots and jeans instead ofthe aggregate industry?suits and heels, and the rest is history. A lot of it for me was aboutUseyourmindnotjustbooklearning,butcriticalthinking, family. No other team has your back like your family. The rest ofcommon sense and look around you. Look not to the flashy and the workwell, its just grown over time. The list of things to dothe seemingly easy and the guys who have it made. Look at the and the options of where to go are endless. trades as a viable career choice and consider all the amazing diver-Q:Detail your past or ongoing education and how it is relevantsity and opportunity that is out there. Make sure youre not afraid to your job.of hard work. Some of the most interesting people Ive met have been the ones with dirty hands who have paid their dues, who I went to Queens University for my Bachelor of Science in Nursinghave been in the trench, have run the machines, driven the trucks, andfinishedmydegreeatMcMasterUniversityaftergettingand not only worked hard but through the hard. Dont lose sight married and relocating. I worked as an emergency nurse for aboutof that. Remember where we came fromnot the board table, fromAthabascawhilenursingfrontlineandteachingatalocalonit.10 years, and when my four kids were young, I finished my mastersbut the tailgate. Honour that, respect that, learn from it and build WINTER 2021AVENUES 39'