Promotion shows OMNI believes in its people, says Charlebois
Wednesday October 31, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
In her 10 years with the OMNI family, Chris Charlebois has been moved up the corporate ladder on more than one occasion.

After starting as an activity aide at Pleasant Meadow Manor in Norwood, Charlebois began a restorative care course at Loyalist College. She worked as a restorative care specialist upon graduating.

Charlebois then began an activation and gerontology course at Sir Sandford Fleming College. After completing her studies, she became life enrichment supervisor at Pleasant Meadow before moving to Brighton to become life enrichment co-ordinator at Maplewood in 2006.

What made her promotions possible, she says, is the support OMNI provides its employees.

For example, OMNI offers its employees a bursary program where the company reimburses staff members up to $500 per year for courses they take to further their education, regardless of whether or not the program is related to their current job.

Charlebois is looking forward to completing her human resources professional’s diploma, a nine-course, online program. She is three courses away from completing the program.

“I would like to work at a higher level in human resources — I’m not exactly sure what aspect yet — I’m really intrigued by the training and development portion of it, because I’ve always believed that there’s never such a thing as too much education,” she says.

Like Charlebois, Linda O’Hara has also been promoted from within.

O’Hara started at Maplewood 16 years ago as a registered practical nurse. In January, she began her role as clinical care co-ordinator. Like Charlebois, O’Hara applauds OMNI’s efforts to promote its employees.

“I think it’s the best thing they could do,” she says.

Charlebois credits her growth within the company to the faith OMNI puts in its staff members, adding that OMNI’s promotion of employees from within the company sends a good message to those entering a career in nursing.

“It sends out a good message that OMNI does believe in its people and that there’s always room for advancement, and for them to start internally to look to those advancements — rather than going outside — gives a lot of new people coming in a lot more hope," she says.

“As long as you’re willing to invest in yourself, the corporation is also willing to invest in you, too,” she says.