NON-REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE
City of Hamilton-changeroom attendant 1994-1996
- Trusted with guarding the personal belongings of patrons while they went swimming—it was soooo hot in those windowless, interior, smelly rooms. Spent much time reading and doing homework. The memories of cleaning the changeroom after the swimmers were gone… communal showers and toilet stalls in an underprivileged neighbourhood of Hamilton were not for the faint of heart. My first real experience with authority, both because I had a boss for the first time and because I had to get people out of the changeroom when the open swims were over (you’d be surprised how many people want to just hang around). This job taught me tolerance, patience, and the importance of just getting the job done.
Fortinos Supermarket-cashier 1996-1999
- Worked the cash tills in a fast-paced environment. Was promoted to count the money and balance the sheets at the end of shifts—no extra pay for this; it was the nineties! Dealt with customers of all types: rich, poor, old, young, non-English speakers, irate people, street people, rude people, kind people, creepy people… Learned to hone my communication skills and stay friendly in a fast-paced environment.
IKEA-customer service 1999-2005
- Worked in the handouts/delivery department—had to come in long before the store was open to meet the delivery drivers and ensure all products were loaded properly. Worked on the floor, dealing with hundreds of customers a day and ensuring they received the products they purchased from other departments in the store. I also worked at the returns desk—handling money and problems, including many irate customers. If you've ever shopped at IKEA, you know it's always busy and there are always issues with something! This job taught me empathy, the value of getting along with co-workers, and how working together with multiple departments to solve problems that inevitably happen in such a large ecosystem helps the entire operation run more efficiently.
Non-Real Estate Board & Volunteer Experience
Children's Aid Foundation of Halton
- Director 2011 - 2014
- Chair of the property committee
McMaster University
- Notetaker
- Sat on the "Take Back the Night" Committee once to help organize the walk.
