Mike Boucher: Living Our Values
January 27
This afternoon I received the following email and wanted to use this blog post to recognize one of our team members who has gone above and beyond for their community.
“Mike Boucher has volunteered through his ham radio association to go and check house to house in the Tracadie and Caraquet regions due to the disaster with the recent ice storm we have experienced in NB.
This entails going house to house throughout the weekend starting tonight (Friday), checking on residents, and providing any assistance they can, as there is no power or phone service in these areas. The ham radio association uses their radios to keep in contact with emergency personnel until phone services can be restored.
Bravo Mike. I know you do not see this as a big deal and duty. I know you carry the same ethic with OI, and I personally commend you for doing this.”
Tim Trites, Field Service Supervisor, NB/PEI, Office Interiors
Keep up the awesome work, Mike. You are a great example of embodying our personal and corporate values in our everyday lives!
Cory Porteous
Marketing Manager
Office Interiors
More on Communities
March 27
We had another ‘aha’ moment this past week when we hosted hopefully a future Canadian in our showroom. His name is Avijit (Avi) Karmoker, and he is from Bangladesh.
We are proud to support the Nova Scotia Community College. One of the ways we do that is by providing several NSCC students in need of financial support with a
“Love the Way You Learn” bursary each year. The award winners are selected through the NSCC Foundation team.
We had the opportunity to meet Avi this past week, one of this year’s winners (pictured above with me and my business partner Keith Skiffington). His story is amazing; coming toCanada at the recommendation of one of his high school teachers in Bangladesh. Why Canada? “Because Canada is one the best and safest countries in the world,” says Avi.
Avi is studying Electronic Engineering, is a very positive young man, and is extremely grateful for his opportunity to be in Canada.
This is another terrific example of what giving back to our Community can do; in this case, playing a small role in helping a newcomer to Canada to get his education and then a job. I hope that one day Avi becomes a Canadian and perhaps settles in Nova Scotia, that would be really cool too!
Jim Mills
CEO
Office Interiors
Big Hearts, Small City
June 26
Here is another success story of getting involved in the community.
Big Hearts, Small City is based out of Moncton, NB. The chairman received an award at the same time my brother Andrew did through the rotary club called the Paul Harris Award for outstanding contributions to the community. During his speech, he spoke of one challenge for the organization not having the means to move fire victims, low-income families, and others they help. As he spoke about this, I remembered being in Fredericton and seeing a cube van that hadn’t moved in quite a while. I contacted Shawn Lean, our VP of Sales for NB, who told me it was Mike Freeman’s vehicle. After reaching out to Mike, our primary installer in NB, and explaining what I was looking to accomplish, Mike was on bo
The end ofthe day is that this was all a team effort that I am very proud of leading, and the van is already being used to help families here in the NB region. I remember Jim telling me once that it should be mentioned if you ever help in a positive way. I’m not very good at this, but I want to get the word out about how my team and I live and breathe the values of this fantastic company which I am very proud to be part of. I have to give a huge thank-you to everyone who helped to make this happen!
Tim Trites
Field Service Supervisor
NB/PEI
Office Interiors
The Great Cape Breton Clean Up
September 6
We would like to congratulate our friends and team members recently recognized for their role in the Great Cape Breton Clean Up on May 13. Darren Sorrey, Donald MacPherson, Connor Taylor and Carol Taylor were presented an Award of Excellence by the Sydney Waterfront District and Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce for collecting more garbage than any other group participating (44 garbage bags) and the most garbage per person (11 bags each)!
These four are great examples of employees embracing and living our Core Values at Office Interiors and looking out for our Communities and our Environment. Keep up the great work, guys!
The Great Cape Breton Clean Up was a one-day event where community members and businesses across Cape Breton took to the streets for a little spring cleaning. Thanks to everyone who participated or helped this event to get off the ground. Our streets are a little bit cleaner this year!
Cory Porteous
Marketing Manager
Office Interiors
Recognizing Excellence
November 1
Last week our Fredericton team, led by Shawn Lean, our VP Sales, was recognized for their tireless efforts in their community with a Fredericton Chamber of Commerce 2017 Business Excellence Award. The Elliott McCrea Hill, Community Involvement Business Award, recognizes outstanding achievement by a company in support of their community.
“Our Community” is a Core Value of Office Interiors, and it is near and dear to my heart. I have to say that I am very proud of what Shawn had to say in receiving this award on behalf of our team in Fredericton:
When your team members and your team leaders can articulate the relevance of giving back and making a difference, that’s when you know your Core Values mean something. Private sector companies can stand for more than profit; we proudly do!
Thanks for reading and for watching.
Jim Mills
CEO
Office Interiors