When did you join CMiC and why?

I joined CMiC in June of 2007. I was working at Accenture at the time and was looking for a change of pace. I already lived in the York area because I attended York University. I saw the job posting for CMiC and thought the role was interesting (and being close to home would be a bonus). I applied and got the job.

What is your role at CMiC?

I am the Director of Engineering, Project Management. My daily responsibilities include assigning tasks, directing members of the team in terms of how to accomplish their tasks, and providing support to solve technical problems. I also spend a lot of time researching what’s new and how to improve what we do to.

Where is the best lunch spot?

Thai Bamboo on Steeles and Keele. They have a pickled pork dish with coconut fried rice and fried peanuts (Nam Khao). I order it all the time.

What do you listen to on your morning commute?

If I take the bus, I listen to Spotify. Drake is apparently my top artist this decade. Otherwise, I listen to a wide mix of genres: soca, jazz, reggae, dance hall, classical, EDM, and progressive house.

I have a pretty short commute compared to most employees. If I drive, it takes 7 minutes; walking is 35 minutes; and the bus is 30-40 minutes (including the average wait).

What are your favourite aspects of mobile development versus web?

I don’t necessarily have a preference of one over, but I would say that mobile is more challenging because of the different devices involved, which means different architecture and platforms. This can be frustrating, especially when working with Apple because their products are technically closed and must be in their ecosystem to function. It’s more of a challenge, but I wouldn’t say I prefer it over web. There are always different restrictions, but at its core, the process is the same.

But what I can comment on is what I enjoy most about development. I get intrigued when I have a problem to solve. This isn’t limited to only development, but I also apply this to renovation projects at home. The commonality between the two is the challenge of figuring out how to do something and determining the steps to accomplish it. It gets my brain ticking.

What do you put in your protein shake?

I don’t drink protein shakes—actually, I’ve never taken any workout supplements in my life. My mom is a dietician and her advice to me was to fuel my body through food. I studied kinesiology at York after computer science but stopped after two years. Even though I didn’t finish that degree, I still gained a good understanding of health and physiology. Unless you’re a professional athlete, you’re more than fine with the nutrients you’re getting through what you eat (as long as it’s a balanced meal).

Remember, there are no unhealthy foods, only unhealthy diets. Fun fact: you need carbs after a workout, not protein. Protein takes a couple hours to digest, when what you need is quick energy after a workout.

Go-to CMiC office snack?

I bring my own bag of fruit with me every day. For a lot of people who sit around me, they mention my area smells like citrus in the winter. I like clementines, oranges and mandarins when they’re in season. In the summer, I bring grapes, berries, and bunch of tropical fruits. I like rambutans and jackfruit too.

What is your favourite part of the day?

Going to the gym after work. I go to Lifetime Athletic on Hwy 7 and Weston Rd.

What are your favourite mobile apps?

*Swipes through phone* Spotify, WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, NBA Live Mobile. Realtor (I like to see what houses are available).

Best basketball team?

The Raptors, come on.

What is your exercise routine?

Right now it’s not as regimented as it used to be. When I was training for basketball, it was very regimented because I was training specific muscle groups, etc… Now it’s a mix of everything. My typical workout includes a 30-minute warmup, working out—whether it’s weights, swimming or any activity for at least an hour—followed by stretching for half an hour. In total, I’m usually at the gym for 2 hours.

It’s rare for Shirin to repeat an outfit and even rarer for her to repeat how she executes an event. She comes to CMiC with a wealth of experience running some of the largest international conferences, which shows in the flair she adds to the CONNECT Annual User Conference. It was hard to grab a time with Shirin, especially with the conference just around the corner, but she is never one to turn down a moment for a fresh cup of office chai.

When did you join CMiC and why?

I joined CMiC in February of 2018. What cemented my decision to come on board was my conversation with Jeff Weiss, CMiC’s chief revenue officer. My criteria for joining any organization is to see that there is a clear vision for growth. The fact that the CRO, who is responsible for revenue growth, could confidently speak to that impressed me because it’s not something you normally discuss during interviews.

I was initially nervous because I never worked in the construction industry before, however, because my background was in IT and technology, I saw many opportunities for growth at CMiC. I gained a lot of industry knowledge within 6 months and found myself enjoying the new challenge.

What is your role at CMiC?

I am the Director for Field Marketing and Events. I am responsible for all client-facing events, including conferences & tradeshows, online events like webinars, executive board meetings, member of the CMUG steering committee, and, of course, CONNECT.

Organizing events has always played a big role in my career. At my previous organization, I was the head of marketing for MENA (Middle East and North Africa), with a specialty in client success, advocacy marketing and audience acquisition through events. I believe events and tradeshows are one of the most effective business tactics—an insight I gained from having worked on both sides as an organizer and exhibitor. I’ve organized the GITEX tech tradeshow in the Middle East, which gave me a lot of great ideas on how to grow CONNECT and events at CMiC more generally.

What is your favourite CONNECT memory?

It was seeing a full house on day one of the 2018 conference before the start of the opening remarks. Watching everything come together and feeling the energy of the room brought me a lot of satisfaction and relief!

Fun fact about the 2018 conference: It was the first time I ever organized a large-scale event with a core team of 3 people! It’s easy to underestimate all the moving parts and logistics of CONNECT but running it with only 3 people and at over 500 attendees was a first in my book. But we made it happen!

Where is the best lunch spot?

Lately it has been Souk because it reminds me of the ka’ak sandwiches back home in Dubai. I recommend the haloumi cheese and pesto spread.

In the office I usually eat in the lunchroom on the 3^rd floor. It is a positive space for employees, customers and even family. I have brought my daughter, who enjoys the space if she has to wait for me to finish up at the office.

Share with me one secret about this year’s CONNECT

The content at this year’s CONNECT will be equivalent to a full training session from our Services and Product teams. That’s because the agenda has been developed a bit differently this year; we took the entire Enterprise suite of CMiC and created sessions around each functionality, catering to specific job roles. Many of these sessions are brand new and were created from the feedback we received at last year’s CONNECT. We also took the opportunity to create sessions that cater to the ways our clients work, such as with third-party partners and APIs.

We have something for everyone this year, no matter where in the corporate structure you fall or your job function. I promise that you will be busy and will always have a session to attend!

How has CONNECT changed since you began organizing the event?

We introduced Learning Labs in 2018, which were completely sold out in their first year. It helped us understand that there’s a demand from our users for workshops and hands-on instruction, and we plan to deliver that again this year.

As with any event that grows larger in scale, it becomes more difficult to maintain the personal touch. Last year alone, we grew the event by 37% and doubled our exhibitor showcase (the largest growth in CONNECT history). To help maintain the close-knit community feel CONNECT is known for, we introduced a one-on-one attendee meeting tool in our conference app. This allows attendees to look up other attendees and schedule time with them. We’re happy to be bringing it back again this year.

How do you envision CONNECT to change in the future?

My goal is to make CONNECT a 1000+ attendee event in the next 5 years. As we continue to expand internationally as a company, I hope to also grow CONNECT into an international event. I dream of Barcelona one day!

Short-term goals include recognizing client achievements at CONNECT during an awards night and expanding Learning Labs into a full day. Because we’re always looking for the latest and greatest content, we never shy away from trying new things. So, stay tuned!

What makes CONNECT unique compared to other large-scale events you’ve organized?

At other user conferences I’ve been to, it’s unheard of to have more than a fraction of the host organization in attendance. Each year we send about 50% of CMiC employees to CONNECT. That’s because we want to ensure that every client touch point (i.e. account executives, solutions consultants, account managers, etc.) are all available for our clients to talk to. We also send members of our support and programming teams to CONNECT, which are often roles that don’t travel at other organizations.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s CONNECT?

I love Halloween, so the CONNECT Halloween Spooktacular evening event. Expect plenty of surprises!

Otherwise, it’s always exciting to see the fruits of your labor and see it all come to life. I look forward to seeing happy smiles, and I hope to hear from all attendees that they will come back next year!

Any tips for clients?

I urge all organizations to attend the conference as a team. In order to maximize your learning at CONNECT, we suggest ‘dividing and conquering’ through 35+ sessions. You’re going to learn a lot this year and having others to share the ‘work’ will ensure that you don’t miss anything.

Also, don’t forget to rate your sessions and provide feedback in the CONNECT mobile app. We’re always looking for client feedback to ensure we improve CONNECT each year!

If you ask anybody in the office about Maria, the response you’re going to get is, “I love Maria!!!” And how can you not when her laugh is as infectious as her personality. Always the first on the dance floor and to answer your tools-related questions, she’ll quickly make her passion for both known.

When did you join CMiC and why?

I joined sometime in December in 2003 after moving to Toronto from Colombia in 2001. I studied engineering back in Colombia and worked in software development using Oracle tools. I took a course at the University of Toronto and was placed in a co-op position at CMiC right after my studies. I got a contract a couple of months later, and I’ve been here ever since!

What is your role at CMiC?

I am a Database Architect for CMiC Tools. As one of the first members on this team, I designed and wrote most of the database that supports the tools in CMiC, like the Console, Lite Editor, Program Builder and UIRuntime engine. Because of this knowledge, I also provided training to application developers, support, consulting and even to some of our customers. Today, I no longer do training but rather my focus is on the database design, performance and development.

I’ve moved a lot within the company during my long tenure—14 years now! In the past, I was the team lead for the Assets programming group and the CRM programming group team lead at another point. But when the opportunity to write our Development Tools appeared, I took it, as that would allow me to go full time into programming. Programming is my true passion (I think of it like a puzzle—and I love puzzles!), and it was also a great opportunity to write a product from scratch.

Regardless of my position, I get to talk to a lot of people across different departments. Many people come to me for support about our Tools product.

What was the most interesting program you’ve made so far in CMiC?

I would say the entire Tools set because I know how much work has gone into it, having been involved since the beginning. We encountered our fair share of issues and missing features but having the mindset of a developer means that we can help to devise practical solutions. My long tenure at CMiC was helpful because I understand how things should run and what the developers’ needs are.

Share with me your best CMiC memory.

The holiday party each year because I can connect with the colleagues I don’t see on a day-to-day basis. But I have to be honest: I used to like the holiday parties better when there were less people because I would always win the door prize! Especially in the last two years we’ve really grown—so now I don’t win! I’m joking, I love the fact that the CMiC family is welcoming new members, haha.

*Some of the prizes Maria has won: voucher for $250 hotel stay in Niagara Falls, various gift cards, an iPod Mini.

Where is the best lunch spot?

Genji Sushi close by or Sofra Mediterranean, where I typically order the lentil soup. It’s very good. I always make sure to go with someone else, so I have someone to split the kafta kabab with.

What do you listen to on your morning commute?

I take the subway into work because I live downtown. The subway station is only two minutes from my house. During my commute, I listen to music or read. I’m currently reading Becoming by Michelle Obama.

Go-to CMiC office snack?

I always reach for the fruit, especially the bananas. I love mangos but we don’t have those in the office… yet (crossing my fingers!).

What’s your favourite programming language.

PL/SQL. I think it is a simple and powerful language, and it is one of the pillars of our system. I use it every day and I like that it doesn’t require a special editor.

What is your favourite part of the day?

Lunch! It’s when I get to talk to other people. And yoga because it’s super relaxing for me. I manage to really disconnect for the 60 minutes of class—that’s assuming I make it. I always tell myself that “I’m going!” to yoga at 11 o’clock, which then turns into a “I think I’m going?” at 11:30… then an “okay, I’ll keep working” at 11:50. Oops!

Any tips for someone looking to join the CMiC team?

Come with an open mind to learn about what we do. As a developer, it’s important to come ready to absorb everything because—despite the programming languages being the same—how we do things and the processes may be different from what you’re used to.

I’m an example of the opportunities to move around and join different departments at CMiC. It also helps that everyone is cool, welcoming and helpful. Lots of learning and fun to be had—I wouldn’t have stuck around for 14 years if there wasn’t!

What do you do for fun?

I play recreational ultimate once a week. I also love dancing. Any opportunity to dance, I will take it. I also love reading and, above all else, my dog. He is a Labradoodle named Winter, who I bring to my office sometimes (so stop by and say ‘hi!’).

What is a common misconception about programmers?

That they are boring geeks who don’t like to do fun things. I don’t understand where that comes from because most of the programmers I know are fun. My team has a fun dynamic and we’re a cool team overall. We often go out for lunch together and sometimes beers after work. I’m the unofficial social committee for my team (fun fact: I was a part of the CMiC Social Committee back in the day, but I’ve since passed the torch along!).

As CMiC’s longest tenured employee, Jim is a true jack of all trades at the organization. From mowing the company lawn to being involved in almost every aspect of CMiC’s design, he is the friendly keeper of CMiC legend and lore. His office door is open for your programming questions or for a quick company history lesson!

When did you join CMiC and why?

I joined on June 1, 1980, back when the company was known as ‘Computer Methods.’ I was a student looking for my first real summer job. I didn’t want a job lifting heavy objects all day, so I leaned on the fact I had been programming my high school’s Commodore PET computers for two years. I saw ‘Computer’ in CMiC’s company name and arranged a meeting directly with the owner, Allen Berg. I was lucky that he took a chance on me, even though I was still in Grade 11. To test my commitment, he had me mow the office lawn on Friday mornings.

After proving myself, the programming manager got me to rewrite the Accounts Receivable module on the IBM 5110. I think it was a throwaway project that he never expected anything from, but after 5 weeks, Allen asked me to stop mowing on Fridays to strictly focus on programming. By the end of the summer, I was invited to work part-time while finishing up my Grade 12 year.

I’ve been working 40-hours a week since graduating.

What is your role at CMiC?

I work on projects with clients regarding application design or reporting for internal research and development. I’m often called in to help with urgent issues or to verify CMiC myths because I’m the longest tenured employee.

If we are getting technical, over the years, I have also been involved in database design, Oracle reports, Oracle forms, job billing, data conversion, imaging, workflow, Jaspersoft iReports conversion, customer upgrades, custom client work, business intelligence…and the list goes on.

How has your role and the company evolved during your time here?

I was hired as a junior programmer and worked my way up to managing groups and projects today.

The biggest change I’ve seen at CMiC is how much we’ve grown. We started as a small company where we knew everyone by name. Today, we are growing so rapidly, it’s impossible to keep track of every new employee—and that’s just in the programming department! In that department alone, I joined when it was only 35 programmers… today it’s over 100!

Share with me your best CMiC memory.

This starts off as a sad story, but it becomes uplifting, so bear with me:

On September 11, 2001, we hosted our American clients in Toronto for our annual CONNECT User Conference. After the news about the attacks in New York City was known, CONNECT was cancelled. Many of our American clients were unable to return home, as all flights to the United States were grounded. CMiC employees jumped in to help attendees get in contact with their friends and family, find accommodations and transportation, and in some cases, drive them to the Buffalo border to get them home.

Although the event was tragic, we saw the strength of the community our clients and CMiC have created that day.

Where is the best lunch spot?

In the beginning, there were a dearth of places to eat.

But over time, many great spots have come and gone. My favorite (a long time ago) was an Italian lunch spot called “Amici” that was just across the street from the office. They had the best salads and veal sandwiches—it’s too bad they closed.

What do you listen to on your morning commute?

I like to listen to CBC 99.1 for my update on what is happening here and around the world.

Go-to CMiC office snack?

Coffee. It is the perfect conduit of cream and sugar.

What is your favourite part of the day?

First thing in the morning. I normally get more done without distraction then.

What is your favourite programming language?

I like SQL for its elegance at retrieving data logically. I also like PL/SQL for its formal definition (based on ADA) and its seamless integration with SQL.

What do you do to destress?

Enjoy life. Between my hobbies and my family, I let the stresses melt away for another day.

Any tips for someone looking to join the CMiC team?

My role has changed so much since 1980—so much so that it seems like I’m starting a new job every 2 to 4 years. With that being said, if you are interested in a career here long term, be willing to learn. Read up on new technologies that CMiC is using (or should consider) and learn about the myriad of CMiC applications. The more you learn, the more you can expand your footprint and earn more responsibility.

It sometimes feels like Steve is everywhere, but it’s really because he is. As the Director of Product Management, he is with clients, developers, the CEO, marketing… and somehow still has time to lead a webinar on CMiC Mobile Field. Recognized for his strong work ethic, Steve is an example of the unique career paths available at CMiC for those willing to forge their own.    

When did you join CMiC and why? 

I joined in July 2013 shortly after graduating from business school. When I was first searching for a job, I was considering opportunities in Sales. I found a posting online for CMiC and was brought in for a group interview with Gord, the President & CEO. I went in convinced that I was best suited for Sales, but Gord thought I would be a better fit for the Solutions team. At the time, I didn’t even know that ‘Solutions’ was a career. I think when you’re a student, you’re not fully aware of all the career options out there.  

What is your role at CMiC? 

I am the Director of Product Management. I began as a Solutions Consultant, where I was showing the product to customers. Part of the job was making sure that the customer sees the product in its best light and wants to use it. I quickly realized that it was difficult to ‘demo’ our mobile application. I began to share the bugs with the development manager, which then snowballed into testing the latest version of the product and suggesting new features. Again, I didn’t know product management was a job, but I was essentially doing both Solutions and Product at the same time. Eventually Gord gave me the opportunity to own the Product Manager role full-time, which grew into more responsibilities, managing more product and bringing a team on board. 

Today I manage communications internally and externally for the product, brainstorm new features, act as a liaison between the customer and our engineering team, along with many other collaborative tasks. I work with a fantastic team of people across the company to make this all happen. 

What does a typical day for Steve look like? 

My day starts as soon as I get into my car. I try to make use of my 45-minute commute from the city by scheduling calls with our developers in India (the time difference works perfectly!). If it’s not a phone call, then I’ll be listening to a podcast. 

My day is always different; that’s the beauty of working with product. I might have a meeting with a customer one day and an internal meeting about design the next—it really differs each day. Good product managers are the quarterbacks for their product and will easily adapt according to the play.  

What is your favourite CMiC product, and why? 

Mobile Field. Not only was it the first product I worked on, but I have a soft spot for it because it was a product that initially wasn’t successful. The product took longer than anybody anticipated, but it was ultimately our persistence that got it to the great product we know today. Five years ago, we were up against other products on the market with development teams much larger than ours. When you’re building new products (or features) it’s difficult to get hit a “home-run” in your first round of development. That’s why it’s so important to for the whole team to remain persistent and work through the problems that come up in the 1.0 builds. 

Share with me your best CMiC memory. 

We were in a meeting with ECAB (Executive CMiC Advisory Board), when the CIO of JE Dunn announced that they will ‘go-live’ with Mobile Field and Drawing Management. It was a huge win for the entire mobile development team because, only 3 years earlier, were we trying to decide whether to continue developing the product.  

Being selected by an ENR Top 100 company was the most satisfying experience because their decision was our validation and proof that the years of hard work paid off.  

Where is the best lunch spot? 

I often eat at my desk but, if I decide to go out for a bite, I like Sandra’s for their chicken parmigiana sandwich with a homemade cookie. If it’s sunny, then the Earls patio nearby. 

What do you listen to on your morning commute? 

Podcasts. I enjoy content from Tim Ferriss or Jordan Harbinger. I also listen to a couple of geeky podcasts like Exponent. It’s very applicable to our industry and my work. 

I’m obsessed with making my drive productive.

Go-to CMiC office snack? 

The Vector cereal. I’ll occasionally go for the oatmeal, but it’s a treat because of the sugar. 

What does managing a product at CMiC look like? What skills does it require? 

Persistence and patience. The two lessons I’ve learned in the short time I’ve been doing this are:  

1. This stuff takes so much longer than I and others realize. 

2. Communication is key. You need to be able to communicate with Developers, QA, Support, etc., and act as the intermediary between them all. 

What is your favourite part of the day? 

It’s not a time of day but rather when a developer asks me to test a new feature and it works exactly as we imagined it. Seeing what we want in theory come out in practice on the first try doesn’t happen often…but it’s a great feeling when it does! 

Any tips for someone looking to join the CMiC team? 

Come in with an open mind. Sometimes people are hired for one job but realize they’re better suited for other roles (like me!). The kinds of people who thrive at CMiC are those who create their own opportunities. The company is open to those who say they “want to try something different.” If your path is bettering the company, you will be supported by those around you. 

Now tell me, Steve, clients recognize you from webinars and demos, but what is a fun fact they won’t know about you? 

When my girlfriend (now fiancé) moved in with me, I inherited a little white chihuahua named Spencer. Now I’m the owner of a wonderfully annoying 7-pound dog. When I take the dog out every morning at 6 AM for a walk, I try and look as cool as possible while doing it… needless to say, it’s sometimes difficult.  

When Peter isn’t pacing the floor on a call, he is the friendly face peppering advice and support to his colleagues. With over 18 years of experience in the software industry, Peter is a wealth of knowledge at CMiC. He never hesitates to lend a helping hand to both the new and familiar faces at the company.

When did you join CMiC and why?

I joined CMiC in March 2017. My background is in software sales, but I have been in the construction technology space for the past 18 years. Over the years, I mentally took note of the industry leaders who earned business with integrity, and I made it a priority to join a team with those values. CMiC was that opportunity to join a winning team with a winning product.

What is your role at CMiC?

I am a Senior Account Executive. I act as the direct link between CMiC and a potential client. In addition to closing business, I conduct my own discoveries, determine the scope for new business, build rapport with new and existing customers, and schedule meetings with clients when I’m on the road. My approach to sales is consultative because I take my findings and share them with the rest of the sales, marketing and executive teams to make sure we’re directing our efforts in the right places.

In my day-to-day, I dedicate my time to identifying new customers. My approaches range from cold calling and emailing, to diving into local chapters to learn more about the industry. My role isn’t just ‘sales’ but relationship building.

Sell me this pen.

*Laughs* Did you get this from Wolf of Wallstreet? This pen writes. People think they have to try hard, but I learned to keep it simple: IT WRITES.

Share with me your best CMiC memory.

I won the annual pool tournament at Dave and Buster’s last year. I played 4-5 rounds and won every single game. You could say I played a few times in my younger days… (Editor’s note: Peter was my pool partner, and I can confirm that he is the best player I’ve ever seen. Technically ‘we’ won, but it was really all Peter.)

Where is the best lunch spot?

The newly renovated lunch room is nice. The open concept is warm and inviting.

Outside of the office, I usually get a wrap from a place like Osmow’s. The chicken wrap is good value.

What do you listen to on your morning commute?

For the first 20 minutes of my drive, I listen to the screaming kids in my car. Once I drop them off at their school, I can finally hear the rest of the talk show on the radio. I enjoy talk shows because they help me relax before I have to do the talking.

Go-to CMiC office snack?

The oranges because I like the citrus smell. The oranges go quick, but I can pop 3-4 of them and be full for the next few hours.

What is your favourite part of the day?

I look forward to meeting with team members over lunch. It’s not only a great time to catch up but a great opportunity to learn more about the different personalities at CMiC. I’m always fascinated by what motivates people to get up each day and come to work. I think this interest in human psychology is the key to being a good account executive.

Any tips for someone looking to join the CMiC team?

Come in with an open mind. Observe first to find out what makes a person successful and a true leader within an organization. Also, always structure your day to achieve one goal. This will not only help with increasing motivation but happiness.

What about sales do you enjoy?

It’s the thrill of the hunt and establishing new rapport. I’m driven by the idea of going out there and finding something new—whether that be a new customer or ways to better the construction industry.

You’ll usually find Bilal—not to confuse him with his brother, Talal, who also works at CMiC—laughing and cracking jokes while he works through the daily riddle on his whiteboard. As a natural problem solver, he is all about creative solutions at both work and play. However, there’s one matter Bilal will never joke about—and that’s the quality of his shawarma.

When did you join CMiC and why?

I joined CMiC in November 2017. You could consider my CMiC journey unconventional because I studied International Development in school, which focuses on the politics and economics of developing countries. Most of the roles in this field are in the non-profit sector—and don’t get me wrong, I support the work many great non-profits do—but I didn’t like the reality that a project is dependent on funding.

Technology, on the other hand, allows me to continue ‘doing good’ in an innovative way. The ‘tech boom’ right now definitely helps too. I’ve always been tech savvy, so this job checked off most of my boxes!

What is your role at CMiC?

I’m an Account Manager – Team Lead. I currently manage 10 clients, for whom I make sure the software runs smoothly, deliver on any changes they want to make in a timely manner, and function as their primary point of contact at CMiC. If anything goes wrong, it’s up to me to pinpoint the solution.

A typical day starts for me with a client call. Actually, scratch that, several client calls. It’s during these calls when the clients identify their critical items. I then spend the bulk of the rest of my day identifying the resources needed to solve the problem, which includes meeting with the appropriate department to allocate tasks.

If I had to summarize what I do in one sentence: I spend the whole day talking to people.

How do you unwind after a day of talking to people?

I do most of my unwinding on my 40-minute drive home. I turn my music on to full blast from the moment I start my car until I’m home. I’m guilty of startling myself in the mornings when I start my car if I forgot to turn my music down the evening before!

Share with me your best CMiC memory.

The after party at Savannah Smiles Dueling Piano Bar during our 20th annual CONNECT user conference in Savannah, Georgia. It was fun to sing at the top of my lungs with both our clients and the people I work with every day.

Where is the best lunch spot?

* Gets excited with a big gasp. Claps hands. ‘Oh man.’ Proceeds to breathe heavily.*
Earls on a Wednesday because they have the best specials that day. Earls right now is pretty much my go-to, especially for their chicken tacos.

(I transition to asking Bilal for the best shawarma joint—a question he is known to be passionate about around the office.)
*Gasps and ponders the question for a while with his hands clasped around his mouth* Shawarma Empire. You can google this. Google agrees with me.

Otherwise, I eat in my office. I pull up a PDF that says ‘LUNCH TIME’ in all caps on my computer and tilt my monitor so that people can see it. I set a timer for 30 minutes and the people around me know that they can’t disturb me until it’s up.

What do you listen to on your morning commute?

I have over 100 podcasts that I’m subscribed to. Some of my favorites include: FiveThirtyEight, Dark Net Diaries and ‘Behind the Bastards,’ which discusses irrelevant stuff about the worst people in history.

*Proceeds to show me a picture of Steven Seagal* Like this guy, who claims to be an Aikido master and blues musician—but he’s not. The more you know.

Go-to CMiC office snack?

Bananas. They come in nature’s wrapper… what more do you want? The most convenient fruit of all time.

What is your favourite part of the day?

I really enjoy my drive to the office because it’s my time to wake up and listen to podcasts. I also use this time to plan my day mentally so that I have a sense of direction once I get to my desk.

Any tips for someone looking to join the CMiC team?

The ideal CMiC employee is willing to ask questions. There’s a wealth of knowledge here, and the people are great resources who can help you. It’s also important to understand what resources these people can provide you; you’ll be in a hard spot if you don’t know where to go to get the answers you need. For new CMiC employees, understand the different departments and their functions!

What do you do to destress?

Being an Account Manager can be a very stressful role, so it’s important to be able to leave the stress in the office. I like to solve riddles—so be sure to visit me in my office if you do too!

If it’s your first day at CMiC, Lorena is the friendly face you’ll meet during onboarding. She’s sweet and soft-spoken—but don’t underestimate this powerhouse! Lorena has her perfectly polished fingers in all things HR, from recruitment to employee benefits, so you’ll want to be in her good books. She knows talent when she sees it (because it takes one to know one ).

When did you join CMiC and why?

I joined in November 2017. Before CMiC, I was a technical recruiter for a recruiting firm. I saw the CMiC job posting on Indeed and felt the role would be a good fit for my skillset and career goals. The hiring process was quick, and I appreciated that I knew exactly where I stood during the entire process.

What is your role at CMiC?

I am the HR Manager at CMiC. Because we are a lean team, you can find me working on all functions of HR like recruitment, employee relations, attendance and vacation, employee inquiries, and benefits. If you work at CMiC, then you have most definitely worked with me one-on-one during training and onboarding! A big part of my role includes spearheading training initiatives to make sure new and existing employees are on the same page.

I’m also on the Social Committee, which is a group of CMiC employees responsible for planning events for the company. We organize fun activities to help with team building and getting to know your peers.

Do you read cover letters?

We don’t require cover letters in an application, but we do read them if they’re included. They’re useful if I can’t gather enough details from the resume, and I’ll look to the cover letter to (hopefully) answer my question. For most of our technical roles, having enough detail on your resume is sufficient; however, for any writing or creative roles, I would say the cover letter is very important!

Share with me your best CMiC memory.

Any of the social events. It always makes me happy to see the new faces at our company come out and mingle. I also like seeing how quickly our social events are growing—it means that I’m doing a good job!

Where is the best lunch spot?

Banh Mi Boys. My go-to order is the ‘5 Spice Pork Belly’ sandwich.

In the office, I’m guilty of eating at my desk. It’s not that I don’t enjoy socializing, but I can’t ‘just eat’ because I have to always be doing something. My desk is in a central area, so I find a lot of people drop by to say ‘hello’ anyway.

What do you listen to on your morning commute?

I listen to the radio because I need music on my drive in to the office. I know millennials love their podcasts, but I can’t listen to talking when I’m driving! Plus, my commute is only 15 minutes (on a good day with no traffic), so it doesn’t give me enough time to get through an entire podcast.

Go-to CMiC office snack?

Clementines! I usually bring my own fruit from home anyway, but Clementines are a nice supplement to my daily apple and banana.

What is your favourite part of the day?

Office yoga on Wednesdays. It not only provides a nice break in the day but gives me a reason to get up and stretch. You don’t realize how taxing sitting all day is on the body until you start doing warrior pose! Our company yoga instructor is the best. She shows no mercy with those lunges.

Any tips for someone looking to join the CMiC team?

I would say the ideal candidate will have a willingness to learn and grow. Having a good attitude and good communication skills are also key skills to have because you will be working with so many different teams, no matter which department you’re a part of.

If you’re prepping for an interview with us, I would advise looking into the company. Be sure to ask questions during the interview because it tells me that you’re interested in the role and CMiC. Pssst, bringing a pen and paper to jot notes will earn you extra brownie points!

What does the perfect resume look like to you?

Having those details in there, especially if you’re in a technical role. This means making sure you list the technology that you’ve used clearly on your resume. Another tip is to be detailed and be clear—this includes adding any relevant dates! But, be sure not to clutter your resume with information I won’t need (you would be surprised by how many birthdays and even SIN numbers I’ve seen). I’m going to say it one more time: list your tech!!!