b'CAREER PROFILEDEPARTMENTALEX ELZBETCONTINUED FROM PAGE 24Q:What do you find most challenging inemployees. I always believe that manage- andSafetyCommitteeCertificationand your work? ment-by-walking-around is the best wayMinistry of Colleges and Universities Train I think the most challenging part of myto learn what is happening at the site. the Trainer, etc. workisalsowhatmakesitmostinter- Q: How did you get interested in this work? Q:Where do you see the industry going esting. I manage my schedule to ensure Iin the next few years?have enough time inside and outside of myDuringmylastyearofhighschool,I office to stay on top of legislative changesattendedapost-secondaryinformationIseetheindustryevolving,especially andtodealwithdifferentinspectors,session, not sure of what I wanted to study.technology-wise. We are starting to really contractors and employees.I remember reading up on a few programsunderstand the value of having an online that interested me that included health andprogram, such as online training courses. Q:Describe your typical day on the jobsafety. But it was a field trip to an under- Also, I think recycled material will become and how the work you do contributes togroundmineinNorthBaythatreallymore valuable in years to come. There is your company. piqued my interest in this field.a misconception that recycled material is In this line of work, you try to keep thecontaminated or dirty, but we take pride Q:Detail your education and how it isin ensuring that the material we produce is scheduleyousetforyourself,butonerelevant to your job. clean and reliable.phonecallhappensandyourwholeday changes. Most days I start off with admin- I graduated from Ryerson University withQ:What advice would you give to others istrative work like answering emails, input- aBachelorofAppliedScienceinenvi- looking for a career in the aggregate industry?tingsitedocuments,reviewingpoliciesronmental health, specializing in occupa-andprocedures,preparingsafetytalks,tional health and safety. I enjoyed my timeTheaggregate/constructionindustryis and answering questions. The second partatRyersonassomeoftheclasseswerenotjustaboutmuddyworkbootsand ofmydayusuallyconsistsofgoingouthands-on, which really helped me under- hand-warmers. Its a very rewarding career, to sites, conducting audits and sampling,stand the material. And as you must alsoand overseeing the health and safety of its givingsitetours,anddoingincidentstaycurrentinthislineofwork,Istillworkforce is even more so. We will always of my day, however, is catching up withnars, and conferences such as Joint Healthgates and we need people. investigations.Themostimportantpartregularlyattendtrainingcourses,webi- need to build, and to do so we need aggre-JEROME RODRIGUEZCONTINUED FROM PAGE 25businessschooltraining.Thathelpedproduct solutions that are leaner and moreresponsibility in this regard will remain a meenhancemyabilitytothinkmoremodular,withsimplerinstallation.Thishottopicforpolicymakersandindustry commerciallywhenitcametotakinghas been key in supporting a customer baseleadersinshapingthefutureofthe onnewfunctionsandresponsibilitiesthat is looking for optimization and scal- aggregate industry in the province.inareassuchasstrategicplanning,ability,whileworkingwithinthelimita-productdevelopmentandsaleschanneltions of an existing operation. At the sameQ:What advice would you give to others management,tonameafew.Havingtime,ourcustomersaremorecognizantlookingforacareerintheaggregate thetechnicalandcommercialtrainingoftheenvironmentalimpactsandcostindustry?also prepared me to be able to interfaceburdens of issues such as tailings manage- Keepyoureartothegroundandstay withcross-functionalteamsacrossourment, and work a lot closer with compa-business and speak the lingo in differentnies like Weir in developing efficient finesopen-mindedtothemanyopportunities businesssettings. recovery solutions. out there in such a dynamic industry. The sand and aggregate sector is so vast and Q:Where do you see the industry goingOnamorelocallevel,itwillbeever-changing. There is not one particular in the next few years? interestingtoseehowtheaggregateskillsetorbackgroundthatdefineshow supply chain evolves in Ontario specifically.successfulyoucouldbeintheindustry. The technology will be more efficient, theHousing and construction in the provinceAslongasyouremainadaptableand operation has to be leaner, and our envi- will no doubt continue the trajectory ofcontinuetolearnnewthings,itsquite ronmental footprint needs to be smaller.years (and decades) gone by, and a robusteasy to find yourself transitioning between That is the case in every industry, and theaggregateindustrywiththeabilitytovariousfunctionsoracrossvarioussides aggregate world is no different. As a busi- maintain a close to market approach willof the business, because at the end of the lastfewyearsbyfocusingonintegratedCost-effective solutions and environmentalsmallworld.ness, weve transformed ourselves over thebeessentialtosupportingthisgrowth.day, the aggregate industry is also a very 26 AVENUESFALL 2020'