Job Description
I am a Human Resources Consultant for businesses in many industries such as trucking, manufacturing, and construction. I work with my clients to make sure that their HR policies are functional and up to date with employment legislation. I also help them to develop tools and resources for employees that help them do their jobs, such as procedures, training courses, and instruction manuals.
I am also a partner and course designer with Mohawk College Enterprise, and our courses help truck drivers further develop valuable professional skills such as time management, communication, and customer service. Lastly, I work with several industry advocacy organizations, compiling data and research for different government departments to improve working conditions for everyone.
Relevant School Subjects
- Arts
- Business
- Canadian and World Studies
- English
- Guidance and Career Education
- Social Sciences and Humanities
Areas of Expertise
- Admin/Business
- Education/Training
- Government
- Legal
- Manufacturing/Production
- PR/Communications
- Transportation/Logistics
Career Story
In Grade 9 I started working part-time and worked in hospitality and retail, while also working for my father's trucking company in the summertime - mainly in the billing department sending out invoices and collecting payments. When I finished highschool, I went to McMaster University and obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics (the study of antiquities, specifically ancient Greece and Rome) with a minor in Art History, followed by a Masters of Arts degree in Classical Archaeology.
During university, I continued to work part-time in hospitality and retail, and also for my dad when my schedule permitted. I was also worked as a Teaching Assistant when I was completing my Master's program, delivering lectures, running tutorials, and marking assignments/exams. After I finished my own course requirements and waiting to defend my Master's thesis, I worked as a bartender full time. Suddenly, the bar I was working at cut our hours in half (I was also in the process of moving out with my boyfriend - now fiance) and I panicked.
My Dad then offered me to come and work at his company full-time while I finished up my thesis and figured out what I wanted to do career-wise. The company was defined as a 'transportation solutions provider' and transported a variety of goods between Canada and the USA on all different types of vehicles (trucks, trains, boats, airplanes - you name it, we used it). I started in a Safety & Compliance Assistant role, helping to ensure files were in order, certifications were up to date, and maintaining equipment safety. Despite the fact that this job was supposed to be temporary, I ended up staying for seven years!
Not long after I started, I was given the opportunity to obtain my professional designation in Human Resources (CHRP), as the company had grown and required a full-time HR professional. After I finished that, I became the Human Resources Manager and built the HR program from the ground up - this involved writing and implementing a significant number of HR policies and training employees. I was also in charge of recruitment, so finding, hiring, and training new employees. I was also heavily involved with Safety & Compliance, ensuring the overall health and wellbeing of all employees. Over the years, I got very involved with the wider trucking industry and business community, joining committees, working with advocacy groups, and even becoming a member of the Board of Directors of the Milton Chamber of Commerce.
When COVID 19 hit, I did whatever I could to help the business run smoothly, which also included filling in for our dispatch, customs, brokerage, and customer service departments. Once everything started to go back to normal, I transitioned to a Research & Development role, working to improve the overall operations by auditing business processes and documenting procedures.
Through this time, I was also formulating a plan for a business of my own - in 2021 I officially left my father's company and started Minds For Matter Inc.. Using the skills, knowledge, and experiences that I had developed throughout my career, I am now working to help build up other companies in the same way.