Faces of the Fast 50 |
What’s it like to work at a high-growth company? Just ask some of the people who make the Fast 50 hum and hop. Introducing the workforce of Alberta’s future
Interviews by Natasha Mekhail, Lindsey Norris and Jesse Semko
Photography by John Gaucher and Curtis Trent
Christina Blinn, 28
New Product Introduction Buyer/Planner
Hemisphere GPS, Calgary
What does your title mean?
As they roll out new products I support engineering in Calgary and our Arizona location by sourcing the electroniccomponents they require. I end up in Scottsdale every five weeks, which,obviously, is fantastic in winter.
What does Hemisphere do?
We offer professional GPS for many different markets: ground, air, marine. A lot of people confuse that with car GPS but we actually support people who use GPS as part of what they do for a
living.
What are your hours?
Set hours are eight to five but I like to come in early, about 7:15. Outside my NPI role, I buy finished goods from our manufacturing partner in China. Their day is ending as mine begins so I have a bit of a gap with them.
How did you get this job?
It’s a funny story because Lisa Smith, who is the VP of operations at Hemisphere, was my first boss. I was lucky enough to be mentored and hired by her at three different companies over the past 10 years.
So if she ever leaves, should Hemisphere worry?
(Laughing) Actually, that’s been a long-standing joke: “They’re a package.”
How has Hemisphere’s growth affected you?
With a company growing like this, you get to stretch your goals beyond what you set out for yourself.
It’s scary but also amazing to look back and say, “That was my goal and this is where I am.” In a fast-paced company you have to step out of the defined, comfortable, set role and explore other aspects of the business.
What’s the best part of your job?
The excitement I get from cost negotiating. That, to me, gives adrenaline like working out gives adrenaline. It sets me on fire. I love it.
How long have you been at Hemisphere?
When it was CSI Wireless, I was with the company for four years. Then I left for a year when it divested the wireless side. I came back in March.
Lisa, too?
(Laughing) No, I spread my wings on my own. It was a great year but I’m so happy to be back. Not a lot of people get to have their dream role but, for me, this is it.
Damian Zapisocky, 30
Finance Partner
Studon Electric & Controls Inc., Red Deer
How long have you been on the job?
Just over one year.
How’d you end up here?
I was working in Fort McMurray. Studon used a headhunter because they wanted someone with a
lot of different experience.
What does Studon do?
Studon installs and maintains electrical and instrumentation systems for the energy, industrial and commercial sectors in Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan.
What’s a typical day?
There is no typical day. Every day brings a whole lot of new challenges.
What’s a bad day?
We don’t have a lot of resistance to change in our organization, but when we do have to overcome some resistance to change, that’s tough.
How has your office changed?
There’s a lot more people at the Christmas party. But we have the same coffee pot. One of the
nice things about the company is we try to hire people before we need them.
How does this differ from other jobs?
Our growth has meant more opportunities. We’ve been renegotiating a line of credit and are in the process of changing banks. It’s the first time in our history that banks are trying to solicit our business.
That must be nice.
Absolutely.
What’s hard?
I wanted to find a company exactly like Studon where I had the opportunity to grow with the company and take more of a leadership role. But it was hard to leave Fort McMurray. My wife cried going up to Fort McMurray and she cried when we left. It was a big change, but we wanted to be closer to family, which is in Edmonton.
How are you paid?
Base salary and bonuses.
Jen Prosser, 26
Quality Assurance Analyst
Replicon Inc., Calgary
What does your company do?
We design productivity software and our flagship product is a timesheet system. It allows managers
to track the time people are spending on projects. They can break it down by tasks if they want to.
Please don’t tell my boss about it, OK?
(Laughs politely, noting the sales lead.)
How long have you been there?
Three and a half years. How did you get the job? I used to manage a photo lab. One of my customers was Replicon’s development manager. She gave me her business card one day and asked if I was looking for a new career.
That was a good call. Why did she think to ask?
She said she really liked my customer service and that I seemed to have a lot of integrity.
How has the company’s growth affected you?
When I first joined there were probably 35 people. We only occupied half a floor. Now in the Calgary office we occupy two floors and have about 90 people. In total, about 140. The teams are getting
bigger. People are able to move around in the company based on their interests and skills.
Was that the case with you?
Yes, I started in sales and, from some of the extra tasks that I was taking on, some people noticed
that I would be a good fit for the QA position.
How are you paid?
Salary and, about two years ago, they implemented a profit-share program. We’ve seen that really grow. What’s great is they give us little printout cheques after each quarter and let us know what we can expect. It’s really nice.
What has your job taught you that you didn’t realize?
When you buy a software product off the shelf you think “Here’s a packaged solution that’s ready to go.” But there are so many man-hours and so much effort that’s gone into it, so much thought.
Jason Armstrong, 38
Installations Suprvisor
Platinum Communications Corporation, Calgary
How long have you been on the job?
Three months.
What does Platinum do?
We provide small and rural communities of southern Alberta with Internet access.
What’s your typical workday like?
Right now I’m out doing installs because we need staff. Typically I’m in the office co-ordinating installers as well as making sure there is sufficient inventory. I’m almost always on a rooftop, or elevated in some shape or form, because if I’m not doing installation work I’m in a tower. I spend a
lot of time looking down on people – in a good way.
How does this job compare to other jobs?
This is about double the workload of anything else I’ve ever done.
How are you paid?
Salary, bonuses.
What’s the best part of your job?
Every situation is different. Just when you think you’ve mastered something, you go out to a house you’ve never been to, and the situation changes. You have to use your head and I like that.
What gives you the most satisfaction?
Putting in a long day.
Be serious. Really?
If there’s work to be done, and I have the time to do it and get something accomplished, that’s satisfying.
Describe your most frustrating day?
I don’t get rattled. There are challenges around every corner, but to sit and blow on them, I’m not doing anyone any good. I find it frustrating when I have to tell a customer that we’re not able to provide service for one reason or another.
What has your work taught you?
That everyone who talks about a shortage of employees is right. It’s our one major challenge. Our installers are the ones who meet the customer. We have to send people out who make us look good, make us look smart. We can’t send people who don’t care, who don’t put our values and strengths on the table.
Susie Sykes, 25
Marketing Manager
Incite Solutions Inc., Edmonton
How has your job changed?
Over the past year and a half I’ve been given a lot more responsibility.
How has your office changed?
We got a second foosball table and doubled the size of our office space.
What does Incite do?
We build and execute fully integrated marketing plans, encompassing everything from branding to market research to event management, for clients across a variety of industries.
Your boss says you’re a superstar. Why?
I try to go the extra mile for the clients. I look at myself as a member of all my clients’ teams and I go to their meetings. When a client isn’t happy, that may mean going down to their office on a Saturday morning to smooth things over.
How does this job compare to other jobs?
Before this I worked in politics, so when I first started I worried if I would be creative enough. But at Incite creativity isn’t a forced process; sometimes it just takes going for a walk to Tim Hortons to help us brainstorm.
Best part of your job?
The amazing team I get to work with.
What gives you the most satisfaction?
Our graphic designers are incredibly talented, so I look forward to presenting clients with a new logo, because they are bowled over with the work we do.
Describe your most frustrating day?
That’s a no-brainer. When I have to present logo options to a board of directors, you can guarantee a third of people will not like it, a third will be neutral and a third will love it. Once you open the creative process up to a lot of parties it gets very complicated, but if there’s eight levels to go
through, we do it.
What has your work taught you?
If you surround yourself with great people, you’ll get great results.
How are you paid?
We’re all on salary. We don’t have a structured bonus scale, but they definitely notice when we’re working hard. Once, after a really busy two weeks, I got a gift certificate.
Marlea Sleeman, 34
General Manager of Yellowhead Aggregates and SIL Industrial Minerals
Sureway Construction Management Ltd., Edmonton
What does Sureway do?
We started as a water and sewer contracting company back in 1973 and eventually we’ve grown to do
earthworks and grading. Things like road building, highway construction, subdivisions and other types of development – we do the servicing for that.
What’s a big project you’ve done?
You’re probably familiar with the southeast portion of the Anthony Henday Drive that opened up on Calgary Trail. We were one of the partners on that entire section.
How long have you been with the company?
Over 16 years. I was 17 when I started, right out of high school.
How did you come to be there?
I started as a summer assistant in accounting. I actually planned to go back to school but, at that time, it was a fairly small office and I found that there was opportunity to explore different functions. So my employment didn’t end when our season wrapped up.
How has Sureway’s growth affected you?
With commitment and a great work ethic, the opportunity to take on more responsibility presents itself as the company grows. Sureway has allowed me to manage different business units. We run pretty lean for the amount of work that we accomplish. That makes everyone feel like what they do in a day is extremely important and critical. It’s very empowering.
What has working there taught you?
I certainly never pictured myself being in the construction industry but it’s been incredible. I’ve really come to appreciate the importance of its role, in infrastructure and in our economy. I find it rewarding knowing that what we do as a company makes a difference in Alberta.
So when you cruise the Anthony Henday, how do you feel?
Oh, it’s absolutely… that’s where all the reward is: knowing everything
we do makes other people’s life better.
DeAnna Schaap, 40
Operations Manager
Geeks on the Way, Calgary
How has the company’s growth affected you?
More responsibilities, definitely. I was first hired to answer the phones and book the calls [for computer service technicians]. That’s no longer the main component of my job.
What do you do?
I’m the first line of defence for customer complaints. Sounds tricky. It’s challenging. You get to know the technicians and become friends with them, but you want to make the customer happy. You have to walk a fine line.
What’s a bad day?
It sounds cliché, but when there’s a full moon all the crazy people come out. There are lots of strange, weird and irrational calls. A few of those can be enough to ruin a day.
What’s a good day?
I’ve been working on a tough problem and come up with a solution. That’s very satisfying.
What has your work taught you?
Be diplomatic, keep a lid on your temper and be patient.
If your office were a jungle, what animal would you be?
I’m thinking the Lion King. He takes care of everything, makes sure things get handled. That’s me.
