Our Facilitators
The facilitators who are contracted by STEC to deliver the Ready to Work - Tourism Careers (RTW) program live and breathe passion and commitment every day. They are passionate about the tourism sector and are committed to the participants.
We currently have eight facilitators working with us. Read their comments below.
Kristen Dahlem joined the RTW team 10 months ago. She is certified as both a Bartender and Food and Beverage Server. She is also a Food and Beverage Person Journeyperson.
“Working with the RTW team has been nothing less than an amazing experience for me. I’ve felt so fortunate to have met all the wonderful people who participated in the program and to actually have the resources to follow through with their needs. The visible growth of the participants throughout the course of the program is unbelievably evident and every time I feel as though I’ve grown with them and learned more about life and humanity.”
Vivyan Immelman also joined the RTW team 10 months ago and is certified as both a Bartender and Food and Beverage Server.
“My gratitude goes out to the entire team at STEC for enabling me to have this unique experience. I am forever appreciative for having this opportunity to enrich my life as well as those of all the participants.”
Aaron Postlethwaite joined the team this year. He is certified as a Line Cook.
“If I could project my thoughts to you, you would see these visions that show how the RTW program changes everyone it touches for the better.”
Benjamin Williamson has been with the team for two years. He is a Food and Beverage Person Journeyperson.
“The transformation from a shy, single mom to a woman taking charge of her own life with confidence and pride is a story that typifies what RTW means to me.”
Darcy Neufeld started with the RTW program three years ago. He is certified as a Line Cook.
“Ready to Work is a continuing evolution of collaborative efforts among facilitators and participants to help improve quality of life, to reach employment goals, and to exceed the standards as set out by the tourism/hospitality sector.”
Bryan Hendricks joined the RTW team two years ago. He is a Red Seal Chef.
“RTW is not only about training people for the workplace, but about building people up so that they can face the world with confidence and ability. It is about bringing together cultures and ideas, talking about the issues that plague all of us, and working together to discover solutions. On a larger scale, it is also about networking with employers and teaching them that all people have a skill set that is valuable in the workplace.”
Rob Campbell has been with the RTW program for five years. He is a Food and Beverage Person Journeyperson.
“The most important learning outcomes are not found in workbooks, nor are they measurable by multiple choice examinations. They are in the smiles, the openness, the trust, the genuine desire to succeed, the diligence, the engagement, and the flourishing self-confidence as the weeks pass. They are in the decisions to fulfill the commitments made to self and others. They are in the newfound understandings of one’s desires, abilities, goals, and opportunities. They are in the eagerness as we come to the workplace skills experience portion of the program, finishing each work day tired, proud, and appreciated. They are in the days following week twelve as decisions are followed through and people actually go to work or return to formal education or overcome a particularly difficult personal struggle. The learning outcomes are in the eyes of the people that have somehow changed their own lives in twelve weeks.”
Tauno Lindner has been a part of the team for eight years. He is a Red Seal Chef and also certified as both a Bartender and Freshwater Angling Guide. Click here to read Tauno’s poem.
“I would like to thank [the staff at] STEC for their undying commitment to this program. It has enhanced the lives of participants and facilitators alike in so many ways. Without the effort of a huge team of staff and contractors, Ready to Work would not exist. The creativity and drive of the team continues the evolution of the program - if you build it well and train people well, they continue to come time and time again. In all the years that I have been involved in the tourism [sector], this is by far the most important and rewarding work that I have been involved in. Thank you STEC for all these years! And a special thanks to Lynne Kennedy for her no-nonsense approach and drive to constantly move forward, looking for new avenues of training all while putting up with a variety of personalities. Her hard work has put Ready to Work and Saskatchewan on the map. Thanks Lynne, for being a great boss!”
