Name: Ms. Shabnam Aziznejad, P.Eng.
Role: Geotechnical Project Manager
Location: Toronto, Ontario
What are your responsibilities as a Geotechnical Project Manager?
I provide geotechnical engineering services such as site investigation, design, and construction inspection on a variety of projects including residential, commercial, and industrial sites across Ontario.
My responsibilities include preparation of technical proposals and reports, liaising with clients, coordination of geotechnical investigations, and management of construction inspection and material testing services. I aim to ensure that at all times, I provide high quality service to clients in a cost-effective and timely manner.
Career Development:
I joined Terrapex in 2016 as Junior Field Inspector and was promoted to Senior Inspector in less than two years. In 2019, I became a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) and was promoted to the role of Project Manager. Terrapex has always given me the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone, take on new challenges in my career, and grow rapidly and professionally.
What do you enjoy most in your role?
I love how I am challenged every day in either developing a practical approach to solve problems or finding ways to improve efficiency and financial aspects of projects. I like the sense of accomplishment when I am up against a deadline. The interaction with project team, clients, and our sub-contractors is another enjoyable aspect of my role.
I also enjoy working on multi-disciplinary projects that involve Geotechnical, Hydrogeological, and Environmental disciplines, as they require skill sharing and collaboration with the team members from different divisions.
All of these make my job more than just a list of duties and paychecks. I truly enjoy going to work every morning.
What other aspects of Terrapex make it a great place to work?
Terrapex has a flexible work environment which helps us maintain a positive work-life balance. This flexibility also reduces the workplace stress and encourages productivity. For example, we can work from home, have alternative work schedules, and bank our overtime hours for future use.
Terrapex also has a very friendly work environment. We have a social committee organizing fun activities and social/ charitable events regularly. I love the culture of wellness in Terrapex. They truly care about the well-being of the staff and treat us as people; not as employees.
Name: Craig Beaton
Role: Senior Project Manager, Client Contact for a major petroleum company, Eastern/Northern Ontario
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
What are your responsibilities as the Client Contact for a major Client in Eastern/Northern Ontario?
I manage the projects in Eastern and Northern Ontario for a major petroleum company and act as one of the primary points of contact between the Client and Terrapex. My principal responsibilities are to evaluate site conditions on the Client’s sites, determine what work is needed to meet the Client’s objectives and then ensure that the work is completed in an efficient and cost-effective manner. My responsibilities also include acting as a liaison between the Client and regulators, municipalities and property owners.
Why is a client specific contact important?
Providing a primary point of contact in different regions across the province ensures a consistent product that meets the Client’s requirements. It also allows the Client to rely on myself and Terrapex’s other regional points of contact to make appropriate decisions for their sites that reflect the Client’s values and objectives, based on working relationships we have with local municipalities and regional regulatory offices.
Career Development:
I began my career as a field technician and have grown professionally since then. In 2011 I became a Project Manager and was recently promoted to the role of Senior Project Manager. Through Terrapex I have been able to work on a wide variety of projects across Ontario for various clients including commercial and industrial clients, and federal, provincial and municipal government clients.
What do you enjoy most in your role?
I enjoy both the problem solving and service-driven aspects of consulting. I also like the challenge of evaluating site conditions to understand contaminant migration pathways, in order to develop practical and cost-effective options to remediate/mitigate the contamination.
What other aspects of Terrapex make it a great place to work?
There is a concerted effort to provide employees the ability to pursue different opportunities and grow as professionals/individuals. The flexibility afforded – I can bank my overtime hours to be used later. Finally the relationships with co-workers: the Ottawa office is a fun group and is a relaxed environment to work in.
Finally, what keeps you busy besides work?
Primarily sports (I play on recreational hockey and softball teams and play golf and tennis whenever I can); spending time with my wife and both of our amazing families; and, playing with our dog.
Name: Ms. Sara Legros
Role: Environmental Scientist / Quality Management System (QMS) Manager
Location: Burlington, Ontario
What is Terrapex’s Quality Management System?
The overall goal of the quality management system (QMS) is to provide a quality product with all deliverables – both external and internal. All tasks completed by Terrapex staff such as a client report delivered or a field sampling log follow Terrapex’s standard operating procedures. A key component of the QMS is continuous improvement. Terrapex staff are encouraged to make suggestions if they have any ideas / observations they believe will improve a process / procedure based on their experience working with it.
What are your responsibilities as the QMS manager?
I am the main contact for the company and our staff. My principal responsibilities are to receive suggestions or observations, audit completed work programs, identify areas of improvement, develop follow up actions based on the feedback received and follow up on the implementation of recommended actions.
Why is a QMS important?
Delivering the best quality work product possible is important to all our staff and reflected in our core value of “Technical Excellence”. Our staff take great pride in the work they deliver to our clients and having their name associated with it. Having a QMS in place allows us to improve the way we do things based on staff observations / feedback. Our staff know that their feedback is valued and that there is a system / process in place to act upon it.
Anything more to add on QMS?
Our QMS and continuous improvement process allows us to identify solutions to improve the way we do something and implement follow up actions to address it. That does not mean we are constantly changing what we do. Rather, we will make small revisions or “tweaks” based on staff feedback that results in a better product or improved project efficiencies.
What do you enjoy most in your role?
Anytime I get to go outside when it is not sub-zero or raining. When you have the perfect number of samples to fill out all the lines in a chain of custody form. Technician dance parties in the car on the way to/from the job site.
What other aspects of Terrapex make it a great place to work?
You are not pigeon-holed into one task and if you enjoy learning you can pursue different opportunities. The flexibility afforded – I can bank my overtime hours and sometimes people bring their dogs to the office. Finally the fall paintball session – it’s the most important team building day of the year!
Finally, what keeps you busy besides work?
Watching shows and eating snacks keeps me the busiest… but I sprinkle in a few productive activities like volunteering at the RBG, reading a good book, or hot yoga.
TORONTO OFFICE
