Category Winners

For the second year in a row, PCL Constructors Inc. has dominated in workplace training and development, and it could be due to the PCL family’s commitment to continuous learning and ongoing improvement. PCL wants its employees to learn throughout the span of their careers, whether it’s their first year on the job or their last month before retirement.

“People who come to PCL… are coming to a company where we want them to build their career with us,” says Karen White, PCL’s director of human resources and professional development.

In an industry not usually considered brainy, PCL is committed to its employees’ professional growth. The in-house College of Construction offers countless training programs to advance leadership and interpersonal skills for just that reason. It’s not strictly about training; a part of growing with the company is learning its culture, which is why employees are taught the PCL Way. “Our culture has evolved as we’ve existed,” says White. And with over 100 years in the business of construction, the PCL family continually strives to get it right. – Stephanie Sparks

Karo Group prefers the term “tribe” over “staff” because employees look out for and care about each other like family. One might say that the surrounding city of Calgary is an honorary member of the tight-knit tribe and, as such, Karo tribe members, united or apart, are entwined in community activities.

Volunteering at the Mustard Seed or preparing meals for Ronald McDonald House strengthens Karo’s teamwork. “It’s evident when you see people pulling together,” says Michael Dangelmaier, creative director. “It gives context outside daily activities to communicate with each other.”

The Karo Kaus initiative offers $50,000 of pro bono promotional services to a local organization (such as last year’s Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary), using the Karo tribe’s skills in marketing, public relations, communications and design. Over the years Karo has taken on a great amount of other pro bono work too (nearly half a million dollars worth of time in 2008) but Karo Kaus is a formalized process, and staff members get to vote on the applicants.

One of Karo’s many goals is to retain happy employees and allow them to give back to the community. Dangelmaier says, “We are all involved in the community as individuals and families with interests beyond the workplace.”
– Stephanie Sparks

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