OUR TALENTED STAFF
“Regardless of how bad some situations may be, we always pulled together as a department and community and come out the other end a little stronger.”
What are some of your responsibilities at the university?
As a supervisor in the Security department, I provide leadership to security agents and ensure that the level of service provided meets the expectation of the department and the university community.
What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?
In security we face so many unexpected and challenging situations it’s hard to pick just one. The one thing I can say is that regardless of how bad some situations may be, we always pulled together as a department and community and come out the other end a little stronger.
What is the most rewarding part of the job?
The most rewarding part of my job is the opportunity to work and respond to challenging situations and achieve great results as a team. That “mission accomplished” feeling is something that I greatly enjoy sharing with my colleagues on a regular basis.
Has your job changed you?
I believe that because my job involves interacting with and helping people on a regular basis, it has influenced my overall sense of community. Working at Concordia has driven me to be involved in my community and several non-profit organizations that help others.
What is one of your favourite memories from Concordia?
After 30 years I have lots of great memories but right now, I would have to say that it is receiving this recognition.
“It is vital to me that visitors coming into our office are welcomed with a friendly smile and hospitable environment. Being helpful, pleasant and providing people with the information that they are seeking is rewarding."
What are some of your responsibilities at the university?
My responsibilities include frontline services for the Office of the Vice-President, Services (VPS). I prepare documentation and meeting folders for Concordia’s Vice- President of Services, Roger Côté and manage the agenda of the Executive Director of Budget Planning and Business Development, Sabrina Lavoie.
What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?
The university is a huge place, my biggest challenge was familiarizing myself first with the Vice-President, Services (VPS) sector, its mission and the University as a whole.
What is the most rewarding part of the job?
It is vital to me that visitors coming into our office are welcomed with a friendly smile in a hospitable environment. Being helpful, pleasant and providing people with the information that they are seeking is rewarding because I know that I was able to help them with what they needed.
Has your job changed you?
Of course, through the years, my experience in my job has allowed me to gain more confidence and be comfortable in the responsibilities and tasks in which I undertake on a day-to-day basis.
What is one of your favourite memories from Concordia?
For me, my first Shuffle was a wonderful experience. It was a chance to see a good number of staff members and enjoy the day outdoors.
“The best part of my job, without a doubt, are the people I work with as a team. Everyone is always ready to help and encourage one another.”
What are some of your responsibilities at the university?
As the commissioning coordinator in Facilities Management, I represent the University and work on building renovations projects. I make sure that all drawings and mechanical equipment systems are done according to Concordia design standards and ensure that all equipment and systems are properly installed, are safe and easy to operate and maintain, and are as sustainable as possible. I participate on start-ups and in running tests, record deficiencies and work with different groups to correct deficiencies when they are found. Furthermore, I ensure that Facilities Management Operation’s personnel receive proper training sessions for all new installations and assist project managers with project delivery to ensure a smooth transition to the users and to our maintenance operation team.
What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?
Convincing people we need commissioning on construction projects and planning at the beginning stages of project. I believe that the sooner we have people on-board for project deliverables; chances are that issues will be resolved timely and effectively. In the last few years I have witnessed a major shift towards more projects being commissioned.
What is the most rewarding part of the job?
The best part of my job, without a doubt, are the people I work with as a team. Everyone is always ready to help and encourage one another. I love receiving feedback from the stakeholders who have been effective by the work that we put out and it is always in those moments that I feel great.
Has your job changed you?
I’ve come to realize that my job affects lots of users and for many years to come. In my work there truly is a sense of caring for one another.
What is one of your favorite memories from Concordia?
I was hired at Concordia 25 years ago. At the time the LB Webster Library had just finished being built. The last couple of years, working on the Webster Library transformation project, I felt that I’ve a been part of the old and the new generation library.
“Working in this environment has made me more aware of sustainability and how I can be more sustainable in my everyday life.”
What are some of your responsibilities at the university?
I’m responsible for frontline services at Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and work closely with the Industrial Hygiene, Chemical Safety, Sustainability and Occupational Health teams. I also maintain departmental databases, manage the J.W. McConnell (LB) Building bike parking facility and am the secretary on four safety committees.
What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?
The J.W. McConnell (LB) Building bike parking facility requires a lot of tracking and attention to detail to ensure that the service operates smoothly. However, despite the time and coordination required to maintain this services, aiding in sustainable transportation is an important university priority.
What is the most rewarding part of the job?
Knowing that something I did was able to help someone. I’m always so happy when I receive a simple “thank you”. Additionally, feeling a sense of accomplishment in learning about and completing a task. It’s always rewarding to finish something that I know I knew nothing about when I first started.
Has your job changed you?
Concordia’s sustainability services are part of EHS and working in this environment has made me more aware of sustainability and how I can be more sustainable in my everyday life. Being in this position has also taught me to look at things as one task at a time and one day at a time.
What is one of your favourite memories from Concordia?
I work with a really great group of people and my colleagues bringing cupcakes to the office on my birthday during a staff meeting, and singing happy birthday to me, is one of my favourite moments.
“My teammates and I have a blast almost every single day. Sure, the work volume is high and it never seems to slow down but our leaders truly value people, which makes the hardest days just as great.”
What are some of your responsibilities at the university?
I provide support to the Employee Relations Unit, manage the daily agenda of the Executive Director, organize internal meetings and other related logistics, plan and coordinate events hosted by our unit, prepare recurrent reports, administer the grievance information database, respond to and handle general internal and external inquiries pertaining to labour relations and collective agreement and coordinate the update of the Employee Relations website. At times, will serve as back-up support for the Office of the Associate Vice-President, Human Resources.
What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?
My biggest challenge is the volume of work. I’ve been in Employee Labour Relations at Concordia University close to 4 years and there was always lack of either one or two teammates due to people leaving the job or others being on leave. Therefore, not only I have a lot of responsibilities of my own job, I take part of the vacant position’s responsibilities. It just adds up overtime when you want to provide high productivity and high-quality of work. I can overcome this by my ability to prioritize the tasks, having helpful and patient colleagues and most importantly, caring, understanding and encouraging supervisors that totally trust me and give me support and guidance at all times.
What is the most rewarding part of the job?
I find, the most rewarding part of my job is the sense of family around our workplace. My teammates and I have a blast almost every single day. Sure, the work volume is high and it never seems to slow down and we have lots of deadlines to meet but our leaders truly value people, which makes the hardest days just as great.
Has your job changed you?
I feel challenged and engaged working within the HR team. I truly feel blessed to work for the Executive director of Employee and Labour Relations and the Associate Vice-President of HR. They are the two of the most inspirational, hardworking, smart and genuine people I’ve met in my life. My work ethic before coming to Concordia University was already good but working for these two leaders brought me to the next level! I can learn from them day in, day out the real meaning of the words integrity, professionalism, dedication, determination, quality of work, honesty, to name a few.
What is one of your favourite memories from Concordia?
I feel honoured to be part of the team that manage the Long Service and Retirement Luncheon. The most enjoyable moment of this event is to meet the staff, which are my colleagues, who have dedicated more than 20 years of their professional lives into the success of the University and its students. Part of my responsibilities is to hand out the certificate and the gifts to the recognized individuals. It is always nice to put a name to a face of a person that you have long heard of or long talked/dealt with during your career.
“The work we do has a large impact on so many students, staff and faculty; it is rewarding to be a part of something that gave me so much. I have such gratitude to work at the university where I studied.”
What are some of your responsibilities at the university?
As the IITS Services Centre Manger, I am responsible for overseeing the management and operations of all IITS Service Centres across campus and deploying IT projects for classroom and lab technology.The Service Centres provides support and consultations to staff, faculty and students throughout the University. This includes working with key internal partners and departments such as Facilities Management, Hospitality, Continuing Education and the Office of the Dean of Students to ensure client satisfaction.
What has been your biggest challenge during your time here?
When I first arrived, my biggest challenge was to gain an understanding of the overall picture, the inner workings of different departments. Today it seems to be balancing daily operations with minimal interruptions to users while continuing to move forward with innovation and change.
What is the most rewarding part of the job?
As an alumna of Concordia, I feel very connected to this institution, and love the idea that I am ‘giving back’. The work we do has a large impact on so many students, staff and faculty; it is rewarding to be a part of something that gave me so much. I have such gratitude to work at the university where I studied.
The second aspect of my job that is rewarding is the overall sense of pride and collaboration that my team and I feel upon the completion of a project. It’s wonderful to see a client’s satisfaction when you meet and/or exceed their expectations.
Has your job changed you?
This position has given me the opportunity to work with many different people and personalities in many different capacities. It has opened my mind and helps me every day to discover who I am and how much can be accomplished with the support from my colleagues, my team and Upper Management.
What is one of your favourite memories from Concordia?
Once I was hired and before I began my new role, my daughter, who was a student at the time, wanted to show me around. She walked me through the tunnels and showed me the new buildings. I was really amazed at how much Concordia has grown changed through the years!
