Ashley Amaral - Female Employee Spotlight of June
Employee name: Ashley Amaral, Oakville / Burlington / Mississauga West
Role at company: Operations Supervisor
Direct quote from the employee: "When looking to the future it's not about WHERE you want to be, the important question to ask yourself is WHO you want to be."
What motivates you to wake up and go to work?
Personally I am motivated to be better each day for myself and my family. I want my daughter to see me willing and capable each day in hopes she will do the same for herself.
I'm also motivated by the fact that I work with great people who all support each other in our day-to-day challenges. It makes me feel like I can accomplish anything.
What do you do at our company?
At Clintar Oakville / Burlington / Mississauga West, I am an operations supervisor. I schedule our crews and provide supervision in field so that our staff can be successful each day. My job is to maintain quality control and most importantly make sure our clients are being heard and serviced appropriately. A big part of doing this job is paying attention not only to our sites, but to our valued field staff who are doing the work. I touch base with them to make sure they are feeling supported and capable to do their best work personally and professionally.
What has been your favorite project so far?
One of my favorite projects so far has been the maintenance of a green space at one of our retirement homes. We were able to create a garden space that these individuals could enjoy each day and find peace in. This to me was very rewarding and I enjoy hearing the feedback from this property.
What's something most people don't know about you?
Most people don't know that I am a HUGE Bruce Springsteen fan.
How do you balance your career and your family/personal life?
I'm very fortunate to work for a franchise that is so supportive of me as a mother. Their support and flexibility really have allowed me to be my best both at home and at work.
I do take the time to disconnect after work at a certain time so that I can be really present with my family. This means turning my phone off. This really allows me to separate work from family time.
What advice would you give to other woman in the industry?
My advice is to always show up with your best effort, chances are to everyone around you it reflects as a job well done. As women, we bring so much to the table. We are the true multi-tasking professionals and it's very important that we support each other.
What does a typical day of work look like for you?
A typical day of work for me begins with checking in with my crews before they leave the shop to make sure they are prepared for the day. I pass on any relevant notes and pictures I have of specific things I want done that day. I then assess what was done the previous day and make notes of what was not completed. Then it's time to check in with crews on site. I often roll up my sleeves and get in the garden beds with the crews. I then report back to the office to go ahead and schedule the remaining work and communicate with management staff about upcoming projects/tasks for the week.
What are three words you would use to describe Clintar?
Inclusive. Credible. Dynamic.
What do you find most rewarding/challenging about your role?
Most rewarding about my role is the flexibility of it. I am able to balance both office and field work. This allows me to switch it up and do something different each day.
The most challenging about my role is time management. There are many deadlines to meet and as an operations supervisor, I have to keep people motivated and on task so that we can meet these deadlines.
If given a chance, who would you be for a day?
If given the chance I would like to be Christiane Amanpour for a day. She is the chief international anchor for CNN. I have always admired her humanitarian efforts and her abilities as an investigative journalist.
If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
If given the chance I would like to interview Oprah Winfrey for a day. I think her ability to move people and bring important things to the surface is incredible. She has a mindful strength that I would love to experience in person.
What would you like to be famous for?
I would like to be famous for something related to leadership and peacemaking.
What inspires/motivates you?
Traveling is definitely something that inspires me. Experiencing different cultures and traditions is very interesting to me. I am very motivated by learning new things. I like to keep an open-minded approach to everyone I meet and in everything I do. Having this mindset motivates me to open my life to different experiences and people.