smart | work Human Resources is about having employees’


backs, and projecting the company's values Kristen Jones supported Think Shift through a recent merger and helped streamline its culture By Brenlee Coates


“I


work with the most amazing, talented, funny, caring people a girl could ask for,” says Kristen Jones, director of human relations at Tink Shift


advertising agency. Having coworkers that are easy to love makes at least


one part of her job come easy: caring about the staff’s well- being. “Tat’s a huge part of it, just caring how they are,” she says. “Te wellness of your people, their life balance. “An HR professional should protect and grow people.” With a Bachelor of Arts and certificate in human re-


source management from the University of Manitoba, Jones was hired by Tink Shift originally as an account coordinator. Tink Shift’s focus on employee development helped


land her a position as the HR representative – with a little cajoling. “I basically begged my boss, because that’s what I wanted to do,” jokes Kristen. At its best, she says, HR helps empower employees in


their roles, and it helps that this is interwoven in Tink Shift’s culture. “Tis is a very unique company… It’s an organization


that’s run by the employees. “Not only do we talk a lot about empowerment, but we


are really empowered in our roles,” says Jones. “We’re employee-focused, and opportunity-based. Tose who are performing at high levels, they’re going to be getting more opportunities to continue growth.” Tink Shift staff are encouraged to lead talks in ongoing


Tink Shift University courses in the evenings throughout the year – “anyone who wants to teach something, they just kind of raise their hand,” says Jones. Every Tuesday, the agency also hosts Tuesday Talks


at work, when a member of the executive team shares a message about leadership or the company culture. (You can catch videos of some of these Tuesday Talks on Tink Shift’s website, thinkshiftinc.com.) Not to mention, each day begins with an employee


huddle to set the tone for the day. “It’s just a great way to have everyone together in the


morning,” explains Jones. “It’s fun; we always end up laughing at the end.” Recently, the company underwent a merger with


a company in Portland called LogiStyle, a corporate culture consultancy firm whose philosophies helped inform Tink Shift when it was first forming its inten- tional culture.


Kristen Jones in the Think Shift office. Te merger meant that Jones’ role grew to help fa-


cilitate the coming together of these two companies: “making sure that our culture is one,” says Jones. Tis led to a recent company retreat to Minaki, On-


tario including the Portland staff – and many trips back and forth for some of the Winnipeg team. Jones says learning how their payroll and medical


benefits work in Portland has been a bit of a learning curve, but the companies have managed to fit into one quite seamlessly. “Even during the huddles, they’re conferenced in every morning,” says Jones. Having a job that’s so focused on personal growth


means she’s always looking ahead to her own goals, as well. Jones plans to pursue her Certified Human Resources


Professional designation, and to continue finding new educational opportunities for Tink Shift’s team. What keeps her job exciting is that “it is such a range


of skills. It’s so broad,” she explains. She found that HR really became clearer from practi-


cal learning; “you never really get it until you’re doing it,” she says. “Anything that allows you to get hands-on, you need that.” And it doesn’t hurt to get on with a company that


aligns with your values as much as Tink Shift does for Jones. “You have to walk the walk,” she says. “Doing inter-


views, it comes across that I really believe in what we do. It comes across that I believe in the values. “You have to be authentic.”


JCI has a storied history of helping orchestrate


the annual Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade The 105th Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade this November carries on its community-driven tradition By Natasha Fisher


history throughout its 105 years and for the last 40 years, it has been the key community event for JCI Winnipeg. Te Santa Claus Parade started with the Eaton’s depart-


N


ment store which hosted the first parade back in 1909, and continued to do so until 1965. Due to increasing costs, Eaton’s could no longer organize the parade. However, the parade still continued thanks to a gentle-


man by the name of Captain George Smith of the East Kildonan fire department, who on behalf of the Winnipeg Firefighters Club, bought the parade from Eaton’s for $1.50. For close to ten years, the Winnipeg Firefighters worked


very closely with volunteers from schools to carry on the pa- rade tradition, and in 1975, the Winnipeg Jaycees, now JCI Winnipeg, was asked to continue the community tradition. JCI Winnipeg took over the stewardship of the Winnipeg


Santa Claus Parade exclusively until 2004. Today, the Win- nipeg Santa Claus Parade is presented by Manitoba Hydro and guided by the Winnipeg Parade Committee. JCI Winnipeg continues to have a very active role in the


Santa Claus Parade including the continued stewardship of the Santa Claus float. Yes – the float that carries the man himself, Saint Nick, along the streets of Winnipeg. It is quite special to be responsible for Santa’s ride – however, if I was to be honest, for 364 days of the year, the float can be quite a pain. First, the float is rather large so finding storage for it is


quite a challenge. For a while it was stored outside, which in turn resulted in significant weather damage, and it became the home for a stray cat or two. We eventually lucked out with indoor storage, however the rent was too high to keep up for a non-profit, membership-based organization. Cur- rently, Santa’s sleigh and reindeer have a temporary home


8 Smart Biz The JCI Winnipeg team with Santa Claus' float.


in an empty shed on our chapter president’s family farm. Second, due to the weather damage and the age of the


float (it is built with old Eaton’s billboards), repairs need to be made on a yearly basis. Last year, JCI Winnipeg teamed up with the very talented and dedicated crew from the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology who worked on the float prior to the parade. Santa himself said it was the best the float has been in years. I am sure the staff and students found a few extra presents under the tree. Despite the storage and repair pains of the float, it is what


happens throughout the day of the parade that makes it all worth it. For that one day, all the stress just melts away, and you have a permanent smile on your face. It is a day I look forward to every year and it is an opportunity for every JCI member to be involved in this timeless Winnipeg tradition. Hours before the parade even starts, JCI Winnipeg hosts


Santa’s Workshop in Riddell Hall in the University of Win- nipeg for many inner-city youth. Troughout the day, the children play video games, make crafts, write letters to


www.smartbizwpg.com


ov.15 will mark the 105th anniversary of the Santa Claus parade here in Winnipeg. Te Winnipeg San- ta Claus Parade has a wonderful, community-based


Santa, eat lunch, and have an opportunity to get a free picture with Santa. Tis is not something that every child can afford to experience, but on the day of the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade, JCI Winnipeg, a team of dedicated volunteers, and generous sponsors make it possible. Last year was the first year I volunteered to serve sand-


wiches, and my eyes were opened to the number of families that do not have enough to eat. It was not unusual to have a few families take a number of extra sandwiches and pack them up so they had meals for the next week. Following Santa’s Workshop, JCI Winnipeg, along with


other organizations, participate in the block parties along Portage Avenue. At our Host-a-Block, JCI Winnipeg mem- bers play street hockey with the children and provide hot chocolate. Finally, the parade starts and JCI members escort Santa


and his float along the parade. You have to experience it yourself to understand what it is like to be one of Santa’s peeps. Children along the parade route are chanting “Santa!


Santa! Santa!” Tey wave their arms, high-fiving you as you walk by while others are just shaking from pure excitement from seeing the one-and-only. Soon, your face is hurting from smiling and your arms


are sore from waving so much, but the joy, excitement and adrenaline you get back from the community lined up along Portage Avenue is something one cannot put into words. You are riding that high all day and night, and once the


parade is over and Santa’s sleigh is tucked away for another year, you start to experience what I call the “post-parade blues,” and already you are looking forward to the next year. For JCI members, the day of the Winnipeg Santa Claus


Parade is a full day of giving back to the community, but in reality, what you get back from participating in something that brings so much joy to others is immeasurable – and truly priceless.


November 2014


Where to study HR


in Winnipeg Human Resource Management Diploma Program (part-time/full- time, Professional, Applied and Continuing Education, University of Winnipeg)


Human Resource Management Certificate Program (1-6 years part-time, University of Mani- toba)


Human Resource Management Certificate (Red River College)


Starting/Average Wage: $42,700/$58,300 (Manitoba Prospects 2013).


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