Stephanie Patten-Kibyuk

Human Resources Coordinator – A. Harvey Group of Companies

Stephanie Patten-Kibyuk is a 31 year old, born and raised Newfoundlander. She is proud to be the 5^th generation working with her families business. She resides within the field of Human Resources. After working in the retail sector, Stephanie developed a passion for working with and helping others. This led her to pursue a further education and to complete the Business Management – Human Resources diploma with the College of the North Atlantic. Her position within the A. Harvey Group of companies allows her to excel in fostering a positive Health and Safety environment as well as to promote gender equity and employee growth through promotion from within the organization. It also provides her with an opportunity to recruit top talent to work with the family business.

In 2015, A. Harvey & Company Limited is celebrating its 150^th year in business. The company’s successes arise from its employees and the community. In recognition of this, they are celebrating this milestone with a renewed commitment to community.

Stephanie is passionate about helping the youth within our province, and also animal welfare. She has sat on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. John’s, and is on the planning committee for the annual Black Tie Bingo Gala. She has also been a part of the planning committees for the Volunteer Hall of Fame, Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador Gala – just to name a few. In light of her strong love for animals, Stephanie is a proud supporter of the SPCA and Heavenly Creatures.

Stephanie is playing a major role as part of the 150^th celebrations committee for the A. Harvey Group of Companies as well as its commitment to the giving back to the community. She enjoys travelling, but is proud to call Newfoundland home with her husband, Mark, son, Charlie, and their dog, Vince.

We asked Stephanie:

The OGM:  What does sustainability mean to you? 

Stephanie:  Sustainability is about building a strong foundation for now to enable a future by ensuring you have the proper building blocks — management, employees, customers, clients and the required capital — in place to support and grow your business. For example, the A. Harvey Group of Companies is committed to the sustainability of the oil and gas industry and its growth in this province. To support this, the development of our Pier 12 location is underway which is funded through the Group of Companies with some ACOA financing.

The OGM: Have you had a mentor? 

Stephanie:  Yes, certainly! I have been very lucky to have a lot of positive and supportive people in my life, but I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today without my parents, Robert and Nancy Patten. They have always encouraged me to pursue whatever avenue makes me happy but have held me accountable for my work and responsibilities.

The OGM: What does success mean to you? 

Stephanie:  What success means to me is knowing I am a part of a bigger picture and helping an organization that has thrived from hard work and dedication to grow further and be around for another 150 years in our community. 

The OGM: If you were to describe your career in three words what would they be? 

Stephanie:  Rewarding, Challenging and Evolving

The OGM: What advice would you give to someone looking for a career in the Energy Industry? 

Stephanie:  The Energy Industry is very exciting with a lot of diverse opportunities available. Make connections, work hard and follow your gut. You will carve out the right place for you in this great industry. Also, look for a career that mirrors your own personal goals in the short and for the longer term.

The OGM: Describe a milestone in your career? 

Stephanie:  Finding the right person for a job, especially if it has taken longer than usual. The satisfaction of getting a great candidate for the company and supervisor is very rewarding.

The OGM: Describe a challenge you faced in your career? 

Stephanie:  Every day presents some form of challenge — between schedules, needs of different divisions, and different deadlines. All of these daily challenges have helped me develop my time management skills, look at things from a new perspective and prepare me for future challenges. As well, the goals and ideas of the new generation of employee and the world in which they work have changed significantly. My career and the field in which I work is dynamic and that, in itself, provides me challenges with opportunities to succeed.

The OGM: What impact does Technology have on your career? 

Stephanie:  Technology has a huge impact on my career. Whether it be using online job banks or social media to find new employees, being able to use Skype or webchat to interview candidates and being connected by phone/email at any time has made a huge impact on my day-to-day work life and the productivity and efficiency with which I can do my job.

The OGM: What do the next 5 years look like in your career? 

Stephanie:  Over the course of the next 5 years I hope to continue to develop in my role and take on all new challenges and possibilities presented to me. Helping to recruit and retain the right people to help grow our business is my top priority now and will continue to be.

The OGM: Were you always interested in a career in Energy? 

Stephanie:  From a young age I knew I wanted to be a part of our family business in some capacity. I am happy my role gives me the opportunity to work in the Energy industry and experience the many different facets it has to offer.

The OGM: What interests you to sustain a career in the Energy industry? 

Stephanie:  The evolving world and the many opportunities and changes that the Energy industry offers keeps me interested in this field. We have already discovered so much but there is so much more for us to do and learn. My family – myself included, believe that Energy has a big role to play for the province of Newfoundland Labrador. It continues to grow and to remain a part of this exciting opportunity; A. Harvey & Company Limited must grow with it.

The OGM: Do you have a role model you look up to? 

Stephanie:  My grandmother, Susan Patten, has also been extremely influential to the person I am and would like to become. She became chairman of the A. Harvey Group of Companies at a young age and at a time when women weren’t typically running companies. She used wisdom, determination and consideration to help sustain and grow the company. She has shown me how determination and intuition help you grow as a person and in the business world, but also as important; she recognizes the importance of giving back to the community. If I can accomplish a quarter of the things she has in her life I would be honored.   

The OGM: What does Energy mean to you? 

Stephanie:  Energy means change, growth, opportunities.

The OGM: What is your favourite APP on your phone? 

Stephanie:  I use many different apps on my phone daily but my favorite APP is called TinyBeans. We use it to share photos and videos of our son with friends and family.

The OGM: What impact will the Millennial Generation have on the Energy industry? 

Stephanie:  Millennials aren’t afraid to take chances and try different options. They have a varied life/work goal balance and will work to achieve this. Sometimes it is not all about the money. I think this will have a positive impact on the growth and development of the Energy Industry.

The OGM: What’s your take on Social Media and our ever changing digital world? 

Stephanie:  Social media allows for information now with the click of a button. It connects us all whether we are in the same building or half way around the world from someone. This can present challenges but it also helps create great opportunities for growth and knowledge. People must be cognizant of what they place on social media and that at all times somebody could be watching. Once information is out there on social media, it is there for good.

The OGM: What Social Medium do you use on a daily basis? 

Stephanie:  I use many social mediums daily, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter

The OGM: Do you use Social Media for work? 

Stephanie:  Yes definitely, I have a personal LinkedIn page and we also have various Facebook pages for different divisions within the company. It is a great asset for the employee recruitment process.

The OGM:  What do you think of Social Recruiting? 

Stephanie:  With anything there are pros and cons, but overall I think Social Recruiting is fantastic. It opens up another area of candidates and, in this digital age, using every type of medium for recruiting is great.

The OGM: Why do you love what you do?

Stephanie:  I love what I do because every day presents new challenges and changes. This position allows me to connect with so many wonderful and interesting people. Also, the feeling of finding the right person for the right job is very satisfying. Being a part of my family’s business, seeing it thrive, grow and succeed is a great reward for me and is close to my heart.