merside! m u S st In te Con Second Quarter 2015 Retailer in Profile A Family Affair H Proud owners/operators of Shell Super Splash Auto Cleaning in Steinbach, Manitoba are (left to right) Ev and Verna Martens, Stella and Wes Unrau ere’s a question for the amateur geographers among our readers. What do Paraguay, Niverville, New Bothwell, Steinbach, Capetown, Barcelona and Paris have in common? All are diverse locations! One is a village, another a town, four are cities and one a country located almost 2,000 kilometres south of the equator. They are scattered across continents and hemispheres, but they all share a common thread. Meet Verna Martens and Stella Unrau, two sisters whose family history, business acumen and unwavering work ethic have not only taken them to each of the place names above, but also to the pinnacle of success as independent Shell retailers and valued customers of Wallace & Carey. Theirs is a story you have to read to believe. The siblings began their journey into the world in Paraguay, a landlocked South American country surrounded by Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina. It was there that Verna and Stella were born into the Hildebrand family. At the tender ages of 5 and 6, their parents relocated to Canada; more specifically, to the Keystone Province*, Manitoba, where their mother’s sister lived. Their Manitoba journey took the family to the town of Niverville, their first stop in a Prairie province that hugs the western shore of Hudson’s Bay. From Niverville the family moved to New Bothwell, the cheese capital of Manitoba. It was there, while the girls were teenagers, that their parents made the decision to move to Bolivia for their father to pursue a business opportunity. The sisters were in high school and chose to remain in Canada and live together in an apartment they rented in Steinbach, Manitoba, the city where Steinbach Christian High School was located. It was during this time that Stella, the elder of the two, began working part time at the local Shell gas station to earn some extra money. Verna, meanwhile, was working at a local Sobeys and also part-time at the same Shell gas station. The two independent sisters completed high school and continued their education: Stella at Red River Community College where >> • LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS • DISTRIBUTION EXCELLENCE • 1 >>CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 she earned a Certificate in Business Administration, and Verna pursing studies in human resources, accounting and marketing. While both had proven their independence, it was their work ethic and self-sufficiency that led to the opportunity to own their own business. “The gentleman who owned the Shell station was at a point in his life where he wanted to retire and move on to something else,” Verna recalls. “He asked Stella if she would be interested in buying the business from him, with the promise of training her, teaching her how to do the books and showing her the ropes,” Verna says. Stella agreed and the owner worked with her and her husband, Wes, to the point where the husbandwife team was fully up and running, confident in owning and operating the business they had purchased. During this time, Verna had gotten married and started a family, leaving the workforce for a new role as mother to two sons, who are now 10 and 12 years old. “Family is a big priority for us,” Verna says. “I did some part-time work for Stella and Wes during my pregnancies and maternity leaves, but after my boys arrived I did more back-office work than front-counter sales to help out.” In 2008, the tables turned when Stella started her family and Verna’s sons were in school. “We sort of switched roles,” Stella says. “Verna became more involved in the day-to-day marketing and sales, spending time with staff and customers, while I spent time doing the books and managing the administrative side.” Despite the sisters’ shift in roles, Stella’s husband, Wes, maintained his key position in the business, managing the maintenance and upkeep of the thriving facility known as Super Splash Auto Cleaning, located at #53, Highway 12 North in Steinbach. “Wes has always been such a big part of the business,” Stella says. “It truly is a family affair.” So, the setting (Steinbach) was established and the characters (Stella, Verna, Wes) were active on stage, when 2 THE CONVEYOR a plot twist suddenly emerged. In early 2011, as Stella found her time and priorities being occupied by her new family, she asked Verna if she would like to become a partner in the business. Verna accepted the offer and the two sisters, now partners, embarked on what has become a world-beating journey. Every year, Shell Retail recognizes and rewards its top retailers globally for outstanding performance with a fourday stay in one of the world’s great cities. Winning retailers are measured on a number of different metrics including year-over-year increases in retail sales. The award is also based on reports filed by mystery shoppers who come in four times a year and grade a business on everything from how customers are greeted to store cleanliness, the state of the washroom facilities, product presentation and a myriad of other details that separate the good from the excellent. The event brings together retailers from different cultures, backgrounds and interests, and features a business conference, diverse leisure activities and celebratory social gatherings where retailers have the opportunity to network with their peers from around the world. Even before they became business partners in 2012, Stella and Verna had brought to bear the full weight of their tireless work ethic, sunny dispositions and belief that anything can be accomplished. In 2011 they had been recognized as being among Shell’s top retailers in Canada and presented with a trip to South Africa in May 2012 to celebrate. As Verna and her husband had only recently become a partner in the business, they quickly decided that Stella and Wes should take the trip to Capetown. That accomplishment alone would have satisfied most retailers, but the sisters were only getting started. The following year, Super Splash Auto Cleaning was recognized not only as the number one independent Shell retail site in Canada, but also as the top site in the Americas, and one of the 4 top sites in the world! “That was incredible,” Verna recalls with characteristic modesty. Courtesy of Shell, the two sisters and business partners made the journey to Barcelona, Spain in the spring of 2013 for a fourday conference/celebration where they were presented with their awards and applauded for their efforts that ranked them among the world’s best. Extensive renovations in the fall of 2013 excluded Super Splash Auto Cleaning from awards contention, but the dynamic duo were right back doing what they do best for all of 2014. Their efforts paid off February 25 – 26 at Shell Canada’s National Channel Partner Conference & Expo 2015 held in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Their site was awarded a Gold Retailer Did you know? Award, which qualified them to attend Shell’s People Make The Difference Real (PMTDR) event in Paris. According to Shell, PMTDR is the name of its Retail Business program that’s been rolled out worldwide to enable and empower retailers and Shell’s sales force to deliver consistent operational excellence and smiling customers at every site, every visit, every day. That feather in the cap of Super Splash Auto Cleaning earned the owners/operators a trip to Paris from May 13 – 21, 2015, an adventure that Verna shared with her husband Ev. “Paris was incredible,” Verna says fondly. Highlights included a dinner cruise on the Seine through Paris, and watching the Eiffel Tower’s 20,000 lights flash on and off in a sparkling display that is a must-see event for every visitor to the City of Light. Karen Sorenson, Branch 6 sales & implementation advisor, has been responsible for the Super Splash account since joining Wallace & Carey six years ago. She has seen firsthand the evolution of their business and is hardly surprised at the success achieved by Verna, Stella and Wes. “Verna and Stella are two of a kind, and Super Splash is one of my favourite stores,” Sorenson says. “They’re wonderful to deal with, they’re incredibly hard working, they are constantly buying and we have such a great relationship.” Upon speaking to the sisters, The Conveyor discovered the feeling was mutual. “We have an awesome relationship with Karen,” Verna says. “She faithfully stops in at the site to check in with us, and if she doesn’t have time she calls,” she says. “Karen’s easy to get a hold of and to communicate with. We’re very pleased with our relationship.” While on-the-ground servicing of accounts is something Wallace & Carey prides itself on, Stella extended the praise to Branch 6 driver Richard Pelletier, and administrative assistant James Pinilo. “Richard is very reliable and consistent, which we really like, she says. “We order on Monday and it’s delivered on Wednesday like clockwork.” “And James is always available to us, even though he’s an hour away in Winnipeg,” Verna adds. “He’s always accessible and we really appreciate that.” When they’re not garnering domestic and international awards from Shell, the sisters and their husbands turn their attention to Steinbach and the local area. Their commitment to the community and to giving back ranges from raising money for cancer research to hosting BBQ fundraiser’s for Habitat for Humanity or helping local missionaries get from Manitoba to Zimbabwe, Africa, to help the less fortunate. So what does the future hold for the busy owners/operators of Super Splash Auto Cleaning? “We’ve talked about other business possibilities, but we’ll have to wait and see,” Verna admits. “Right now we love what we do, we have great staff and the best customers in the world to serve,” she says, pausing for a moment. The interview with The Conveyor has taken precious time away from the business at hand, but Verna, youngest of the two sisters, offers parting words from her heart. “Stella and I have such a great relationship,” she says, the admiration for her older sibling clear in her voice. “She’s the absolute best sister and I’m very blessed to have her.” Photo courtesy of Adeline Loewen Doing what they do best, Stella Unrau (left) and her sister Verna Martens serve customers at their award-winning Shell Super Splash Auto Cleaning car wash and service station • Steinbach is the third largest city in Manitoba with a population measured in the last federal census of 13,524. • The name of “Steinbach” is translated from German as “Stony Brook” and was first settled by Mennonites in the 1870s. • Hildebrand, the maiden name of sisters Verna Martens and Stella Unrau, means “battle sword”, derived from the Germanic element hild “battle” combined with brand “sword”. Now you know. • LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS • Winners of the top Shell site in the Americas and one of the top 4 sites in the world, Verna (left) and Stella show their colours on their way to Barcelona *Manitoba is called The Keystone Province because in 1877 the Governor General, Lord Dufferin, described the province as “the keystone of that mighty arch of sister provinces which spans the continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific.” • DISTRIBUTION EXCELLENCE • SECOND QUARTER 2015 3 Safety First CRSP SUCCESS 20 Questions INSIDE WALLACE & CAREY 20 Questions shines a spotlight on the personalities and responsibilities of Wallace & Carey teammates from all areas of the organization. This issue we’re pleased to feature Viv Hanley who reflects on the challenges, rewards and red-faced moments that come with her role as central support and customer care services manager in Wallace & Carey’s central office in Calgary, Alberta. INITIALISMS! THE WORLD IS FULL OF THEM AND CANADIANS ARE INUNDATED WITH THEM EVERY DAY. Central support and customer care services manager, Central Office How long have you worked for Wallace & Carey? Thirty-five years, starting February 18, 1980. How did you come to work for Wallace & Carey? I was working a late shift at a gas bar for Gulf Canada when a friend, who was working at Wallace & Carey, called and asked if I wanted a day job. I was 18 and started as an order assembler in the building on 12th avenue and 11th street in Calgary. Tell us about your role and responsibilities. I manage the central support services and the customer care services departments in Calgary and Vancouver. Collectively we take customer calls, enter customer orders, investigate and process all the claims for our branches, investigate inventory and receiving discrepancies, approve all inventory adjustments, locate missing products, enter distributions, invoice debit memos, process all manual picks (vendor orders outside normal pick processes), create Branch performance reports and resolve customer concerns, just to name a few of our responsibilities. We have a lot of long term, dedicated individuals on our team; I am so proud of all of them! What is the first thing you do when you arrive at work? I always review my action list from the day before. I do this because there is always something that I could not complete due to new items arising with a higher priority. I then reset my priorities, add new ones and start the day. What is the last thing you do at the end of the day? I try to make sure that everything on my priority list was taken care of. My goal is to follow the “sundown rule” which is to get back to people the same day they contacted you. What is the trait you most admire in yourself? I’m trustworthy and have a high personal standard of accuracy. What is the trait you least admire in yourself? I tend to be shy at times. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? Fulfilling my responsibilities to Wallace & Carey, to customers and teammates. Every day is challenging and working as a team toward common goals is rewarding. What is the least favourite part of your job? Waiting for people to respond to a question or issue, particularly when it is customer related. 4 THE CONVEYOR What is the most embarrassing moment you’ve had at Wallace & Carey? I was at a 10-year awards dinner. John Delaney was the Emcee and had asked everyone to take their seats. I had gone visiting and when I got back to the table someone had taken my seat! I stumbled around looking for an empty chair and couldn’t find one. John saw me and said jokingly “For crying out loud, Viv, can you just sit down!” I was really embarrassed. Rene Ramos stood up and gave me his chair, for which I am forever grateful. Do you have any hobbies or personal pursuits away from work? I love to paint, garden and spend time with my many rescued cats and my three dogs. What are your work goals for 2015? I want to update the documentation on written procedures within the department, and look for additional ways to automate reports. What are you most looking forward to in 2015? A great summer vacation, then a good winter without much snow! How do you measure success in life? Health, happiness and laughter. What is the biggest misconception about your role? That our job is easy, because it’s not. What motto do you live by? The golden rule: Do unto others as you would have done unto you. What would readers of The Conveyor be most surprised to learn about Viv Hanley? That I’m a decorative artist and love to paint. I’ve painted rocks, tables, jackets, mailboxes. If it’s not nailed down, I’ll paint it. What is one trait or characteristic that defines you? Compassion. I care about others and their feelings. What do you like most about living near Calgary? I like the people and the seasons, but I hate driving in snow. Three-letter initialisms (TLIs) and four-letter initialisms (FLIs) are so common they’ve become instantly recognizable: CBC, NDP, RCMP, GST, BTO, CRTC, RBC, CCTV…the list goes on. They extend into the workplace as well, as any Wallace & Carey teammate can readily attest: CDC, ERP, VDF, RFP, AED. Well, despite their prevalence, initialisms help reduce verbal clutter and cut to the chase with their immediate recognition factor and meaning. For example, every Canadian taxpayer fully understands what CRA stands for, especially in April! In the world of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), there are many initialisms like PPE (personal protective equipment), OFA (occupational first aid), and acronyms like WHMIS (workplace hazardous materials information system). OHS practitioners are individuals who apply themselves to a regimented program of study and who meet the academic, experience and examination requirements of a national registration authority. One of their highest designations is known as CRSP. According to the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals, the CRSP (Canadian Registered Safety Professional) designation has become widely recognized as the national standard of certification for OHS professionals in Canada. It also explains why Branch 2 warehouse and distribution manager, Wayne Boudreau, is so pleased to announce the certification of the company’s first CRSP, Gordon Yee.” While currently employed as Branch 2’s CDC Manager, Yee’s journey to CRSP certification involved a four-year commitment, outside of his regular working hours, that demanded a heavy combination of theory, practical study and continuous professional development. It all led to Yee writing the difficult CRSP exam on February 26 of this year, and an agonizing wait of an additional six weeks to learn the results. His long road to CRSP certification began in 2006 when he accepted a new role and responsibilities as safety officer for Branch 2. He quickly recognized that formal OHS training would assist him in the performance of his duties and responsibilities, so he enrolled in an Accident Causation and Analysis course at the British Columbia Institute of Technolog y with the assistance of Wallace & Carey’s Employee Tuition Assistance Program. “When I accepted the role of safety officer, one of my personal goals was to attain the CRSP designation and reach the highest level you can in Canada as a safety professional,” Yee says. What do you think about this interview? I was stressed at first, but it was fun. You made it easy. • LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS • • DISTRIBUTION EXCELLENCE • Thus began a multi-stage challenge for Yee that demanded many years of study, coupled with real-world industry experience, writing countless examinations and enduring frequent competency testing. “Wallace & Carey recognizes, values and has placed the highest priority on workplace safety as an integral component of its business,” Yee summarizes. “The things we do every day to deliver exceptional customer service parallel the lessons I’ve learned in becoming a CRSP.” “The CRSP designation is the mark of an OHS professional and a nationally recognized level of achievement within the OHS field.” says Boudreau. “Gordon has demonstrated integrity, knowledge and commitment to safety principles and leadership at all levels through this process. It’s a huge accomplishment and we’re proud to recognize his welldeserved professional accreditation. latio ns, C o ngratuGordon! Did you know? An initialism is an abbreviation consisting of the initial letters of each word in a phrase and pronounced by the letters separately. Everyday examples include CPU, GST, IBM and HTTP. The lead story in this issue of The Conveyor contains a five-letter initialism: PMTDR! An acronym is a word formed from the initial letter or letters of each one of the words in a phrase and pronounced as a word: ASCII, NASA, NATO, WORCS, RADAR, LASER, WYSIWYG. The following are well-known workplace and everyday acronyms that have interesting origins. • SKU: Stock Keeping Unit • WORCS: Warehouse Operations Real-Time Control System • HACCP: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points • Laser: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation • Radar: Radio Detection and Ranging • Scuba: Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus • Taser: Thomas A. Swift’s electric rifle • LASIK: laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis (ouch)! Now you know. SECOND QUARTER 2015 5 Crestcom Grads OSSE Safety Recognition C NEGOTIATE, COMMUNICATE, INNOVATE, LEAD: key words that define the target outcomes of Crestcom, a leading international provider of leadership development programs designed to help individuals and, in turn, the businesses that employ them, achieve bottom line profit and growth beyond what is currently possible. “We’ve embraced the Crestcom philosophy because it goes further than teaching simple business concepts and ideas,” says Jackie Bellerose, vice president, people services. “They share knowledge and insights that help enrich company culture, and we fully endorse that instructional approach.” Designed to assist supervisors, managers and high-potential teammates grow and enhance their leadership skills, the positive results experienced across the Wallace & Carey distribution network have led other members in the Carey Management group of companies (CMI) to also send their teammates for Crestcom training. In conventional form it is a one-year program designed to accommodate busy schedules and heavy workloads among professionals, with the option to meet the course requirement over two years if extra time is required. According to event and administrative coordinator Allison Nichol, Wallace and Carey first began sending teammates through the Crestcom program in 2005. Qualified individuals from across the Carey Management group are selected for Crestcom training based on their leadership qualities and potential, along with their approach to workplace culture. As Bellerose emphasizes, ongoing training is important in any job, regardless of previous experience or qualifications. “We want to give our people the tools they need to succeed,” Bellerose says. “Crestcom helps us provide that through their unique training approach, and we want our graduates to be recognized for their efforts.” Congratulations to the following teammates who successfully completed their 12-month training regime last year to become members of the Crestcom class of 2014. CALGARY Jeremy Benson, CMI accounting supervisor Bob Gravonic, CDC supervisor Todd Kizinkewich, receiving manager Lorraine Walsh, auxiliary supervisor Greg Roch, category buyer ongratulations to Wallace & Carey’s Vancouver Branch on successfully completing its Certificate of Recognition (COR) recertification. COR status recognizes and rewards employers who develop and implement health and safety programs that not only meet, but often exceed provincial standards. The COR recertification was the latest safety success for Branch 2 in a journey that began back in 2010 when Wallace & Carey partnered with the BC Food Processors Health and Safety Council (now FIOSA-MIOSA*) to work towards COR certification, which Vancouver teammates successfully attained in November 2011. That certification, since rebranded from COR to the Occupational Safety Standards of Excellence (OSSE) certification under the auspices of FIOSA-MIOSA, gave Wallace & Carey’s Branch 2 instant and highly respected safety credentials. Once a company has attained certification it must conduct internal audits every year to maintain compliance. In addition, it must undergo a mandatory external audit every three years where an outside auditor comes in to inspect and verify the company’s safety programs and processes, ensuring they comply with the high standards of the program. Because Wallace & Carey attained its initial COR certification in British Columbia in 2011, Branch 2 underwent its external audit in 2014, which it passed. In recognition of the achievement, the company was presented with the Occupational Safety Standard of Excellence award at the OSSE Awards Gala 2015 held at The Burnaby Delta Hotel and Conference Centre on April 29. Attending the awards on behalf of Wallace & Carey and Carey Management were Gordon Yee, Branch 2 CDC manager, who led the drive to attain COR certification in 2010, and Steve Gladney, national safety advisor for Carey Management, who was instrumental in leading the Calgary and Edmonton branches to COR certification in 2004. “It was a great evening and an honour to be there,” Yee says. “Not only do the awards recognize companies that have challenged and passed the OSSE COR audit, they bring together like-minded safety practitioners and business leaders from various industries who recognize the benefits of a safe workplace.” “Achieving the Occupational Health and Safety Standard of Excellence or OSSE certification is no easy feat,” says FIOSA-MIOSA CEO Lisa McGuire. “It takes commitment from all employee levels to achieve success. The OSSE program has great value beyond exceeding regulatory compliance and monetary rewards. Implementing effective health and safety systems fosters the development of a positive safety culture. The results of this achievement lead to sustainable organizations with reduced injury rates and many other benefits.” For Gladney, who led Wallace & Carey’s Alberta branches into COR certification 11 years ago, the evening was an affirmation of hard work and commitment from teammates. “Positive safety culture begins from the top and funnels through the entire organization,” says Gladney. “This award validates our efforts.” EDMONTON Steve Ferguson, CDC supervisor VANCOUVER Mark Baylon, order assembly supervisor Richard Crewsdon, CDC supervisor OAKVILLE Steve Mannar, CDS Manager Steve Bagshaw, shipping supervisor Sandy Switzer, sales and implementation advisor MUIRFIELD LAKES GOLF CLUB – LYALTA, AB Julian Klatzel, golf operations manager Nate Watts, culinary team manager/corporate events Gordon Yee (left) and Steve Gladney with Lisa McGuire, chief executive officer of FIOSA-MIOSA who presented the award *FIOSA: Food Industry Occupational Safety Association of BC. MIOSA: Manufacturing Industry Occupational Safety Alliance. 6 THE CONVEYOR • LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS • • DISTRIBUTION EXCELLENCE • SECOND QUARTER 2015 7 Phoning It In Barking Up the Right Tree IT’S A SCENE BROUGHT TO LIFE in countless movies and television dramas: A police canine unit is brought in to chase down a thief, sniff out a drug cache or help provide security at largescale events. Exciting stuff! Yet lost in the action, suspense and thrill of seeing a canine unit at work are the hours of drills, practice and training that go into the development of the four-legged officers. Which begs the question – where, exactly, are these animals trained? “That’s something no one ever really thinks about,” says Jackie Bellerose, vice president, people services. “Speaking for myself, I know that I didn’t until recently.” It’s a fact right across Canada: as the economy slides, jobs are lost and employment prospects dim for many, it is not uncommon to see criminal activity on the rise. Some are crimes of opportunity, others of desperation, all of them harmful. It is the responsibility of police forces across the country to respond to such crimes in order to keep Canadians and their property safe from harm or loss. Yet amidst the real or imagined drama of a canine unit tracking and apprehending suspects, the fact remains 8 THE CONVEYOR that extensive training is critical to the success of the furry officers. Cue Wallace & Carey. “Our branches are located in major urban centres across Canada, and their size and complexity makes them ideal training grounds for dogs that are members of canine units,” says Bellerose. Considering the size, activity and complexity of the company’s distribution centres, their suitability becomes perfectly obvious: vast warehouse complexes with multi levels, cavernous spaces, echoing sound effects, the hum of machinery and equipment, the whirr of battery powered forklifts, trucks coming and going with warning beeps and flashing lights…. It all adds up to a blurring distraction of sounds, sights, smells and a kaleidoscope of packages, people and possibilities, occasionally interrupted by the whip-whip-whip of a cellophane wrapper. What better place to train police dogs? The idea of using Wallace & Carey’s facilities was brought to the attention of the company’s senior management by IRISS Corporation, a consortium of investigation, risk management and training professionals with decades of combined, specialized experience in public, private, government and military sectors. IRISS is committed to ensuring corporate safety, security, and business continuity...services its principals have provided to Wallace & Carey for over 25 years. According to Shannon Glover, CEO and managing director of IRISS, police agencies across Canada are constantly looking for facilities that are suitable for training canine units. With the many contacts that Glover and her partner, Lance Saunders, have established over the years with police agencies across the country, the idea emerged to ask Wallace & Carey if the company would be willing to work with police agencies to provide a realworld environment that would prove invaluable to canine training. “We thought it was a super idea,” Bellerose says. To date IRISS Corporation has actively communicated with the police agencies located in the cities where Wallace & Carey has its distribution centres, and K9 contacts with sergeants and constables in each jurisdiction have been established from Vancouver to Oakville. “We can happily report a very positive response across the board from these law enforcement agencies,” says Glover. Each K9 police unit has been provided with contact information to reach the warehouse and distribution manager in the city in which they are located. As the needs for training arise, relationships that have already been established mean a phone call can set in motion the scheduling requirements for training as required by each police force’s K9 unit. Elements of the training would include tracking and finding hidden items in the warehouse – a considerable space to cover! Glover acknowledges there are a few, “very reasonable conditions” that have been placed on the arrangements by Wallace & Carey. Any requests for training must be scheduled to take place during night hours when the warehouses are least busy, and officers must be present and on site for all facets of the training with the animals. Branch managers have already been contacted by their local police forces, and the police in each Branch jurisdiction have now been added to the list of keyholders at Wallace & Carey’s facilities. “We were flattered when Lance and Shannon brought the idea to us, and we’re more than happy to offer our warehouses as a training ground for K9 law enforcement,” Bellerose says. “If nothing else, we see this as a huge opportunity to help protect the communities our teammates call home.” • LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS • This is a story of four events, one cause, a whole lot of big hearts and an outcome that makes you want to smile. Every year, Wallace & Carey holds numerous fundraisers throughout its branch network to raise money for Kids Help Phone (KHP), Canada’s leading youth counselling service that moves kids from distress and isolation to confidence and competence. KHP offers free, anonymous professional counselling to support the mental and emotional health and well-being of Canada’s 6.5 million kids ages five to 20. Whether their problems are big or small, with KHP, kids know they have a safe, non-judgemental place to turn where they can work through their feelings and get help finding answers, 24/7 and 365 days a year. Available any time of the day or night, in English and French, by phone and by web, KHP is the go-to resource for kids when they need help or trustworthy information on issues that are difficult to discuss with anyone else. Providing a service that is free, anonymous and confidential, KHP is a respected charity, vitally dependent on individual donations and corporate support to remain available to kids looking for help; sometimes looking for a lifeline. To keep that lifeline open, Wallace & Carey and Carey Management continually develop new and innovative ideas to keep their KHP fundraising fresh, relevant and fun. This past spring was no different with a number of different initiatives in place to raise money for their charity of choice. SERVING UP ASSISTANCE Our coverage begins in Vancouver where, throughout the month of April, a committed crew of teammates spent their breaks at Branch 2 raising money and awareness for KHP. Each week, the dedicated squad prepared and served $5 lunch and break options to their fellow teammates, everything from fresh-pressed juices (with produce donated by HY Louie) to hamburgers (donated by Maple Leaf Foods), to pizzas from Fresh Slice and samosas on the final day. In addition to the primary goal of raising money and awareness for Kids Help Phone, Branch 2 teammates made it all happen without detracting from their other office commitments. As mentioned in a thank-you email A sample of the fresh food and helpful information to all teammates involved, they delivered to teammates throughout the month of April “overachieved on all fronts.” by the dedicated team of volunteers at Branch 2, and with the generous assistance of local customers The final tally for Vancouver teammates was $1,245.00 For the kids they’re helping…priceless! • DISTRIBUTION EXCELLENCE • SECOND QUARTER 2015 9 THE POWER OF TEAMWORK One province over, Branch 1 was putting on a spectacle that, without verging on overstatement, you could say was a hard-core gamer’s dream come true. Imagine a four-day eliminationstyle video game tournament with competitors battling for dominance in three popular and challenging video games – contests demanding the best in hand-eye coordination, reflexes – and some serious mojo at the controls! Now consider three titles that top the popularity list among gaming enthusiasts: NHL15, Mario Kart Wii, and Super Smash Brother’s Brawl. One could be forgiven for thinking of The International, the largest e-sports tournament in the world where gamers have the opportunity to win more than $5 million in prize money. “Our prizes were more modest and we held it in the Wagon Wheel,” laughs vice president of people services Jackie Bellerose. She’s referring, of course, to Wallace & Carey’s 1st Video Game Tournament named POWER UP, an almost week-long venture created by Kent DIPPING FOR CHARITY Fong, senior accountant, and Gerald Tan, accounts receivable clerk. The two pooled their ideas and enthusiasm to devise a tournament that would provide hours of fun while raising money for KHP. According to event and administrative coordinator Allison Nichol, part of the thinking behind the tournament was to create an event that all teammates could participate in, particularly those in the warehouse whose shift schedules make it difficult to participate in the actual walk, which was scheduled for Sunday, May 3. POWER UP was held from Monday, April 27 to Thursday, April 30, offering teammates a pay-to-play format at $5 per game. Teammates were invited to test their skills against each other and the event brought out everyone from the mildly curious to the white-knuckle CAUSE TO Every year an annual fundraiser occurs in communities across Canada that Wallace & Carey’s Alberta branches take a keen interest in joining. It’s the Kids Help Phone Walk So Kids Can Talk event where kids, adults, families, schools, community organizations and corporations take part in a fun 5K walk to help ensure KHP will always be there to listen when kids need to talk. This year’s events were held at Calgary’s Eau Claire Market and at Edmonton’s Hawrelak Park. In addition to having teammates, family and friends join in the fundraising effort, Wallace & Carey also signed on as the food sponsor for both events. Between the two 5K walking events more than $8,560 was raised for KHP…another year when teammates, vendors, families and friends went the distance. WALK Who knew raising money was this much fun? diehards. In all, 34 teammates from seven different departments (operation, CDC, people services, procurement, IT, accounting, and claims) took part as tournament contestants. The tournament winners received wireless headphones and commemorative “Power UP” tournament champion T-shirts. Runner-ups received Cineplex gift cards and commemorative “Power UP” tournament T-shirts. The final tally after four days closed in on $300.00, but the fundraising wasn’t over. Branch 1 was saving a powerful attraction for the end of the week. Friday, May 1…the last day in an intense week of fundraising. POWER UP is over, but the outdoor fun is really about to start with the first ever Wallace & Carey Fundraising Carnival for KHP. Calgary teammates, family members and friends gather in Eau Claire Market, ready to Walk So Kids Can Talk Now you see him… The attractions? What one might expect at a Carnival: several games of skill and chance, a bean-bag-toss game, tasty snacks and beverages… And a full-on water dunk tank. The candidates to go into the tank? Pat Carey, Nikki Contenti, John Delaney, Tom Patterson, Jeff Appave, Allan Moggey and Alex Earl. Enthusiasm for the opportunity to drop the volunteers into a barrel of water was so high that the Edmonton and Vancouver branches donated sums of $200 and $100 respectively to have their chance by proxy to drop the hapless victims into the briny blue. Organized by central office administrative assistants Victoria Buckley and Bobbi Coyne, along with Allison Nichol, the event was a splashing success, raising just over $2,000, which was pooled with the funds raised by the final event in May (please walk your eyes over to page 11). …now you don’t. President Pat Carey takes the plunge for a good cause as CMI national safety advisor Steve Gladney looks on Carey the Beaver makes a new friend at the Carnival 10 THE CONVEYOR • LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS • Thank you to everyone for making Kids matter! • DISTRIBUTION EXCELLENCE • Let the Games Begin I f there was anything Wallace & Carey learned during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, it’s that you can never be too prepared. As Toronto gets ready for this summer’s crush of athletes, spectators, dignitaries and sporting enthusiasts for the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am games, Branch 7 has been equally busy planning how to manage the traffic barriers, security corridors, and restricted areas that will be in place during the games. Already, teammates have been dealing with seven busy construction zones in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) where facilities and infrastructure are being readied to welcome and host 41 countries with over 6,000 athletes, not to mention more than 5,000 security personnel – all of them being spread across venues that span southern Ontario. The games will run from July 7 to 26, 2015, and cover all 36 Pan Am Games sports. The Parapan Am Games, which run from August 7 to 15, 2015, will cover all 15 Parasports with the two events jointly covering a span of almost six weeks. “Our sales team has already notified customers, explaining how we plan to make their deliveries either late at night or very early in the morning,” explains warehouse and distribution manager Wayne Joseph. Scheduling changes will affect shipping, receiving, customer deliveries and the sales team as they strive to ensure business continuity for all customers during what is expected to be a hectic 40 days with plenty of road closures. “Staging an event of this size puts a number of demands on local authorities, along with many restrictions imposed for reasons of safety and security, which we understand,” Joseph says. “While we do our best to manage our schedules and deliveries, we’re still expecting commuter snarls, unexpected delays and traffic obstacles that are sometimes difficult to plan for.” Thankfully, Branch 7’s planning and preparation should minimize, if not outright eliminate, the distribution challenges brought on by the games as teammates make their deliveries from Toronto to Hamilton. “We’re going to succeed the way these athletes do,” Joseph emphasizes. “Only as a team.” SECOND QUARTER 2015 11 People Services Update Fond Farewell As any experienced fisherman will tell you, it’s never easy to let a good one get away. That sentiment permeated the gathering held April 17 at the Ridge Meadows Event Centre in northwest Calgary as Wallace & Carey shipping manager, Allan Moggey, celebrated his retirement the way he wanted after 22 years with the company: a small, intimate and close-knit gathering that was modest, understated and, in the end, easygoing like the man himself. Known for his dogged determination and follow-through on every task he threw himself into, Moggey led his shipping team in managing all of Wallace & Carey’s in-town trucks delivering from the southern Alberta border to Rocky Mountain House. As he told The Conveyor in an interview in 2014, just one of his many responsibilities was to “make sure that trailers get out to Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton and Winnipeg with their proper orders. If there are any miscounts we check that off and track it through WORCS to the trailer and make sure the customers get their correct orders.” Meticulous, assured and radiating leadership, Moggey projected a business-like, tough exterior that shielded what the man himself has admitted is “an emotional guy” who can get easily teary-eyed. Never one to disappoint, Moggey’s heart was on his sleeve during his retirement celebration as numerous teammates spoke about his contributions, achievements and friendship in speeches that were both heartfelt and humourous. With Rita, his wife of more than 40 years, at his side, Moggey wiped the mist from his eyes and gruffly rebuffed the offer of a tissue before thanking those in attendance for such a memorable send-off. His retirement plans? Moggey is the proud owner of a small cabin in Sundre, Alberta where he loves to go quadding on his ATV. He’s been working on the rustic getaway, known as the 12 THE CONVEYOR MAMA MIA! SUCCESS IN THE WORLD of distribution and logistics is hard-earned, and can only be achieved through teamwork, capabilities, skills and the embracing of corporate culture. “Our people have made us Canada’s leading independent distributor,” acknowledges Jackie Bellerose, vice president, people services. “We recently made some changes within our department to ensure that teammates have everything they need to succeed at work.” Those changes include the creation of two new positions within Branches 1 and 2. Stepping into their new roles as people services coordinators are Adam Gallan in Calgary and Nick Wheeler in Vancouver. According to Bellerose, Gallan and Wheeler will assist in conducting teammate surveys and interviews, and identifying potential gaps in knowledge, skills and workplace orientation that can be supplemented and enhanced through training. They will also be responsible for implementing and administering occupational health and safety training programs, and serving as coordinators for occupational safety programs within one or more divisions and/or departments. As Gallan and Wheeler undertake their respective roles, Bellerose anticipates the other Prairie branches will be managed out of Calgary with a third coordinator anticipated in Oakville before year-end. Welcome, Adam and Nick. People services coordinators Adam Gallan (left) and Nick Wheeler Allan Moggey celebrates the culmination of a career at Wallace & Carey with his Rustic Cabin cake EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail can deter Wallace & Carey from making a delivery…not even the Victoria Day Parade captured in Victoria, British Columbia on May 18, 2015. Branch 1 manager Tom Patterson helps deliver laughs, stories and memories for the guests of honour, Allan and Rita Moggey Owl’s Nest, for years, and plans on spending most of his retirement there with Rita and plenty of visits from his three grandchildren, courtesy of his daughters Alyssa and Kari. for the camera! On behalf of all teammates at Wallace & Carey, The Conveyor extends best wishes to Allan and Rita for a long, healthy and prosperous retirement. Congratulations, Al. • LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS • There’s great pizza, there’s great service, there’s greatness by association and then there’s great news when you learn that you’re serving two of the top three pizza establishments in the lower mainland of British Columbia. The verdict was delivered by The Georgia Straight, Canada’s largest urban weekly newspaper that has covered the lifestyle and entertainment beats in Vancouver for more than 40 years, and bills itself as an integral part of the active urban West Coast lifestyle. Regular weekly coverage includes News, Arts, Music, Fashion, Travel, Business, High Tech, Food and Restaurants, plus Vancouver’s most comprehensive listings of entertainment activities and special events. Throughout the year the “Straight” also produces a series of reader polls covering a variety of interests that are entering and informative.* One of those annual polls is The Golden Plate Awards, which is released in March. This year’s Readers Choice survey of where to eat the Best Pizza by the Slice had two of Wallace & Carey’s customers in the top three: Flying Wedge Pizza and Freshslice Pizza. “Readers who took part in the poll have hundreds of choices when it comes to pizza establishments in the Lower Mainland,” remarks national food service manager John Kielpinski. “That’s a lot of competition, and we’re delighted for our friends at Flying Wedge and Freshslice,” he says. It’s an honour to service them.” A great story, any way you slice it! *www.straight.com • DISTRIBUTION EXCELLENCE • SECOND QUARTER 2015 13 Vancouver Sun Run “No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch.” Inspiring words that eight teammates took to heart on April 19th as they competed in the Vancouver Sun Run, Canada’s largest 10km road race. Approximately 40,000 people run the Vancouver Sun Run each year as the race winds its way through the downtown core, over the Burrard Street Bridge, through Granville Island then back over to BC Place. Founded by former Canadian Olympians Dr. Doug Clement, his wife Diane, and Dr. Jack Taunton, the Vancouver Sun Run has been Canada’s largest 10K road race since its inception in 1985. Its purpose was to promote the benefits of running to improve health and fitness as well as to support amateur athletics. The first run attracted 3,200 participants; through the years, the run captured the imagination and hearts of individuals wanting to improve their health and wellbeing. The event morphed into the phenomenon it is today with thousands upon thousands descending upon the streets of Vancouver each year in celebration of Sun Run Sunday! The run is supported by a loyal host committee and an army of more than 3,000 volunteers. Thirty years after it was founded, the Vancouver Sun Run is still Canada’s largest 10K road race and is now the third-largest timed 10K run in the world. The 2015 edition saw an incredible 45,183 registrants signed up for the event with participants taking in the gorgeous weather and beautiful Vancouver scenery. “It was a super day and everyone was in great spirits after the race as we met at a local watering hole for brunch,” says Shawn McNaughton, manager, business development, western Canada. “We look forward to having even more Wallace & Carey teammates out to join us in 2016!” Teammates taking part in Canada’s largest 10 kilometre road race are (left to right): Shawn McNaughton; Ryan Reed, inventory control; Mark Chiccarelli, inventory process manager; Patricia Larios-Lacayo, order assembly supervisor; Mark Kielpinski, business development food service; Juanita LacayoVanegas, customer service assistance; Gordon Yee, CDC Manager; Missing from photo: Wayne Boudreau, warehouse and distribution manager 14 THE CONVEYOR REACHING FOR SAFETY Branch 7 is pleased to report that it completed recertification for all teammates using reach trucks, tail riders and powered pallet movers prior to the 100 Days of Summer. “Recertification in both theory and practical operation of equipment is mandatory,” notes CDS manager Steve Mannar. “Not only does it keep safety practices top of mind, it also helps identify potentially risky work practices and correct them before they become habits.” The recertification was accomplished with four-hour in-class sessions provided by experts in the operation of reach trucks and powered material-handling equipment. It was supplemented with third-party trainers observing and grading teammates on how safely they performed their daily tasks using powered equipment. “Our reach truck operators perform hundreds of lifts a day,” Mannar says. “Focus and concentration are needed at all times. Whether it’s placing skids in racking spots with other skids in very close proximity, or navigating the winding pathways of the warehouse while minding pedestrian traffic and teammates who are also operating powered and manual pallet-moving equipment, there’s a lot to be aware of.” With the training behind them, teammates are reaching forward to a safe and successful 100 Days of Summer. • LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS • Safe Driving 1921 MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, any given issue of The Conveyor will feature one or more teammates being recognized for their safe-driving accomplishments. Those awards take on new meaning when you consider how difficult it is to navigate Canada’s highways and byways for five years or more without incurring a single accident. According to Transport Canada and its formal report on Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics for 2013, automobile accidents that year resulted in 165,306 injuries ranging from minimal to serious, and 1,741 deaths. That works out to more than 450 injuries per day, and almost 5 deaths per day – sobering statistics that give added significance to the safe-driving achievements of Wallace & Carey drivers who ply their trade through four diverse seasons, urban congestion, rutted roads and plenty of people behind the wheel who should probably audition for Canada’s Worst Driver. This issue we’re pleased to congratulate Branch 7 CDS driver Xiru Jiang, and Branch 2 driver Mario Pavan for recording five years of driving and delivery without accident or injury. Jiang navigates Canada’s most densely populated province, largest city and worst traffic congestion from his base in Oakville, Ontario, while Pavan, operating out of Nanaimo, is challenged by bridges, mountains, isolated narrow roads and switchbacks on Vancouver Island where it statistically rains for 42% of the year. CDS manager Steve Mannar (left) congratulates Xiru Jiang for attaining his five-year safe-driving award 2015 Service Recognition 2nd Quarter 2015 --------------- 5 YEARS --------------Kurt Bakowski Calgary Harpreet Basran Vancouver Erika Rivera Vancouver Krista Townson Calgary --------------- 10 YEARS --------------Jonathan Blackburn Vancouver Scott Bondy Calgary Mark Chiccarelli Vancouver Richard Crewdson Vancouver Michael Grenda Calgary Jack Kwasiborski Oakville Leo Lafreniere Oakville Joshua Vestrocy Oakville --------------- 15 YEARS --------------Brian Hastings Vancouver ---------------- 20 YEARS ---------------Calvin Chan Vancouver Sheban Khan Vancouver Eric Tse Mario Pavan (left) accepts his plaque commemorating five years of safe driving from shipping manager Len Ford Calgary Brenda Wilson Oakville Robert Wilson Calgary --------------- ABOVE 25 --------------Tim Kendall Regina (27) Paul Soron Saskatoon (27) Gordie Yee Regina (27) Morna Johnson Calgary (35) CONGRATULATIONS, XIRU AND MARIO. WELCOME ABOARD The department of people services is pleased to welcome the following new members to the Wallace & Carey team in Alberta. • Victoria Buckley – Central office administrative assistant, people services • Bobbi Coyne – Central office administrative assistant • Jason Falcon – Branch 3 warehouse and distribution manager • Pat Kernaghan - Branch 3 receiving manager • Reg Walsh - Branch 3 order assembly manager Welcome Victoria, Bobbi, Jason, Pat and Reg! • DISTRIBUTION EXCELLENCE • SECOND QUARTER 2015 15 The Perfect Delivery The Conveyor The Conveyor is Wallace & Carey’s primary method of communicating with its key audiences including customers, suppliers, consultants, contractors and, most importantly, our teammates and their families. The next deadline for submissions is August 7, 2015. Please have your article, with any accompanying photographs or reference material, submitted on or before that date using the following options: Email: [email protected] or Regular/Inter-Office Mail: The Conveyor 5445 - 8 Street NE Calgary, Alberta T2K 5R9 5445 - 8 Street NE Calgary, Alberta T2K 5R9 The Conveyor can be viewed online at www.wacl.com WALLACE & CAREY IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE CAREY MANAGEMENT GROUP OF COMPANIES 16 THE CONVEYOR www.wacl.com Please let us know if you no longer wish to receive The Conveyor by sending an email to [email protected]
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