Heroes of SHHS!
In celebration of the recently opened Hero Coffee + Market in Orchard Commons, we are celebrating our very own heroes in Student Housing and Hospitality Services.
We asked leadership across SHHS to select staff from our units, and from any level of the organization, to acknowledge as heroes. To find out why each of these SHHSians is considered a hero, read on!
Of course, these are just a few of the many many staff across SHHS who deserve acknowledgement for their heroic work and commitment. Each of you makes distinct and important contributions to the University community every day. Thank you!
Heroes of SHHS!
Edwin Chan
Edwin is the baker for our Tim Hortons location in the David Lam Research Centre (where Qoola, Bento, Tim Hortons, and Triple O’s are located). He has been with SHHS for over 15 years. He was selected as a SHHS hero by Sam Wellman, Associate Director, Retail, UBC Food Services.
Sam, what makes Edwin a SHHS hero?
Edwin is one of the most reliable, trustworthy and friendliest staff members we have in retail. He is in at 5:30am every morning. He not only gets Tims operational each morning, he helps the other franchises in the building; plus, he will even head over to the other Tims location when support is needed.
He is our baker but is always happy to step up and serve our customers with a smile on his face, and his positive energy spreads to the rest of the team. A most valuable team member and we are so lucky to have him here.
What are three words Edwin’s colleagues would use to describe him?
- Friendly
- Helpful
- Dedicated
Is there anything else that you would like to share about Edwin?
Outside of work, Edwin is a very dedicated grandfather, spending much of his time with his grandchildren.
Kashmira Daver
Kashmira Daver is an assistant housekeeping supervisor with Conferences & Accommodation (C&A). She has been with C&A for just over 13 years. Kashmira was selected by Allan De Jong, General Manager, C&A, and Nance Moseley, Rooms Manager, C&A.
Allan and Nance, what makes Kashmira a SHHS hero?
Kashmira does an excellent job of coordinating the day-to-day housekeeping services for the West Coast Suites hotel operation. Her commitment, hard work, team relationships and desire to provide great guest service has helped the hotel operation achieve great success.
Her can-do attitude is exemplified in her work and by the quality of the staff she works hard to develop. Online ratings from guests clearly indicate that cleanliness is the top attribute of the West Coast suites – typically rated at 9.1 out of 10!
What are three words Kashmira’s colleagues would use to describe her?
- Hard-working
- Committed
- Helpful
Is there anything else that you would like to share about Kashmira?
Kashmira owned her own business in Mumbai, which has translated into her being a great champion for the West Coast Suites. She is well organized and is able to bring a great perspective to her job. Kashmira sometimes surprises us with warm samosas and other treats at lunch, which is very much appreciated.
Erin Harley
Erin is the assistant to the managing director and our SHHS on-call scheduler. She has been with SHHS for 13 years. She was selected by Andrew Parr, Managing Director, SHHS.
Andrew, what makes Erin a SHHS hero?
Erin is committed to enhancing the workplace for everyone and shows on a daily basis a care for all our employees. This commitment is demonstrated through her actions as a lead member of the Outstanding Workplace Committee and through the daily interactions she and I have.
As a 13-year employee with strong connections to all segments of SHHS, particularly Food Services and Facilities and Building Services, Erin knows what is “going on” throughout the department and often shares information with me in a very caring and conscientious way about an employee who perhaps is ill or experiencing a challenge in their life.
This kind of care that Erin shows about other staff is exactly the sort of culture of care we are striving for throughout the department; Erin epitomizes this culture. In summary, Erin is a SHHS employee who does so much every day to care for her SHHS colleagues.
What are three words Erin’s colleagues would use to describe her?
- Caring
- Conscientious
- Smart
Is there anything else that you would like to share about Erin?
One of Erin’s roles is one of the toughest jobs we have at SHHS: scheduling on-call employees when regular staff call in sick. Over the years this job has had many different people filling it. Most only last for a year or two.
Erin has been doing it for about six years now and does so with a smile on her face and incredible efficiency and success; at the same time, she supports the Managing Director (me!) and my schedule (no easy task to be sure!).
Alison Horwood
Alison is an assignment clerk for year round residences in UBC Student Housing. She has been with SHHS for 7 years. She was selected by Janice Robinson, Director, Residence Life and Administration.
Janice, what makes Alison a SHHS hero?
Alison consistently provides quality care and service to residents. While she is staffing the SHHS Main Office front counter, she is a welcoming and calming presence to all who arrive. If you listened to her talk with students you’d quickly learn that in all her interactions, in person or by phone, she treats each with respect, patience, and understanding – and she makes each person feel like an individual. She engages with each student as though it’s the first time she has heard their question, even when it must be at least the 500th time she has heard and answered that question.
Alison is a leader among her colleagues and a highly valued member of the SHHS residence assignments team. She is extremely knowledgeable about her work and uses her knowledge on a daily basis to assist her fellow team members in their work. She is someone that her colleagues turn to for advice and guidance.
Alison is an advocate for wellness, and she believes that being a well person outside of the office contributes to success in the workplace.
What are three words Alison’s colleagues would use to describe her?
- Dependable
- Steady
- Assertive
Is there anything else that you would like to share about Alison?
Alison is a talented artist. (Her medium is weaving.) She has her own studio in East Van and participates annually in the East Side Culture Crawl.
Shirley Mak
Shirley is a payroll and human resources clerk in Finance, Purchasing & Payroll. She has been with SHHS for over 25 years. She was selected by Brian Heathcote, Chief Financial Officer, SHHS.
Brian, what makes Shirley a SHHS hero?
In spite of what you may have been told, the most important function performed at the university continues to be ensuring employees are paid on-time and correctly for the work they perform. Payroll is one of those activities that one hopefully never notices, and usually only notices when things do not go perfectly. With her pleasant attitude, constant dedication, and unwavering reliability Shirley Mak has been helping to ensure the payroll process is run effectively twice per month, every month, for Child Care Services, Student Housing, and Conferences & Accommodation staff – making her an everyday work hero.
Is there anything else that you would like to share about Shirley?
While I have always enjoyed working with Shirley, where I truly think she shines is with her family. Shirley is happily married to Paul and the proud mother of two children. Ashley will be completing her studies in Applied Sciences at UBC and has worked in the summertime for Conferences & Accommodation. Ryan has special needs and sometimes requires extra love, patience, and guidance, which Shirley seamlessly provides. When life throws up the occasional challenge with my two children, I am reminded about the way Shirley handles her work and family responsibilities with ease, and I know that with a little extra effort and patience I can do the same.
Aaron Ng
Aaron is a Systems Administrator with UBC IT-SHHS, and he has been with SHHS for 12 years. He was selected by Chris Yong, Senior Manager, IT.
Chris, what makes Aaron a SHHS hero?
Aaron provides unbeatable and consistently high quality help desk support – an often heroic task.
What are three words Aaron’s colleagues would use to describe him?
- Reliable
- Patient
- Knowledgeable
Is there anything else that you would like to share about Aaron?
Haz unmatched skillz with printers. 😉
Sean Sexton
Sean is a dispatch driver with Scholar’s Catering who has worked for SHHS for over 20 years. He was selected by Kerensa Wotton, General Manager, Scholar’s Catering.
Kerensa, what makes Sean a SHHS hero?
Sean contributes every day to a positive work environment. He troubleshoots orders that are incomplete, forgotten items, or last minute requests. He is invariably optimistic and always goes the extra mile for his colleagues and his customers!
What are three words Sean’s colleagues would use to describe him?
- Hard-working
- Dedicated
- Team Player
Is there anything else that you would like to share about Sean?
Outside of work, Sean is a Canadian Picker!
