Since we regularly ask you very personal questions, I thought you might like to know something about us. Also, in tune with the Facebook era, we have finally had photographs taken, the first of which you see at the top of this letter.
First, the individuals in the photo:
- Top Row: Ulrik Jensen
- Back row, left to right: Audra Fediurek, Barbara Faulhaber, Cindy Piccolo, Donna Radey
- Front row, left to right: Lee Ann McGillivray, Elaine Ng, Helen Ziegler, Dominika Kaleta
Ulrik Jensen
When I think of Ulrik, I think: calm, non-judgmental, unflappable. But beneath the composed exterior lies a complex person with widely varied interests: In addition to his part-time work with us, Ulrik also works with autistic children.; for many years, he taught scuba diving (in the Turks & Caicos, Egypt, Thailand); he has a special interest in military history (to the extent that he paints figurines of historical armies, which he takes to compete in war games). At our cottage parties, he treats us to divine crepes, and even makes homemade ice cream. Sorry, ladies, Ulrik is already married.
Audra Fediurek
I would describe Audra, one of our recruiters, as the enigma in our office. She is 23 years old, but she tells people that she is 30. She is very attractive, but her university grade in physics was 98%. She has the confidence and gumption of someone much older. Definitely, Audra is in a hurry to pack in life experiences: She writes stories for our website; she volunteers at the Art Gallery of Ontario; she has volunteered with a children’s organization; she is taking a business course at the University of Toronto; and she gladly offers to go on interview trips (especially ones that allow for beach time).
Barbara Faulhaber
Barbara has the best overall view of what is happening in our office. She tracks the vacancies, manages our advertising, knows all the salaries/benefits for positions, and in general keeps tabs on how we are doing. She is superbly organized, and she always looks calm, cool, and under control. She also has that enviable quality of being able to make tough comments to people without offending them. Personally, she is tall and blond, and a very fashionable dresser. If you have doubts about your outfit, she promptly makes one or two adjustments, and voilà! You look great!
Cindy Piccolo
Cindy, with her PhD in Drama from the University of Toronto, has read absolutely everything and remembers it. Depending on the discussion, she will toss out quotes from sources as varied as The Simpsons, Greek mythology, the Old Testament, or The Colbert Report. She types at about 110 words per minute (seriously) and can do so while simultaneously talking on the telephone or while eavesdropping on office conversations and throwing out caustic remarks about them. On the serious side, Cindy seems to have a bottomless capacity for work. Her eyes may be bloodshot from staring at the computer, but she never complains. Do I take advantage of her? Yes, probably.
Donna Radey
Having worked as a nurse at the King Faisal in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Donna is our in-house authority on nursing in the Middle East. She is also the one all of us turn to if we develop an ache somewhere. In keeping with the nurturing aspect of her personality, Donna is a romantic: She reads poetry for pleasure, takes courses in poetry, and quotes poetry whenever she spots an opportunity. Finally, for those of you who are film buffs, Donna has a strong resemblance to the actress Janet Leigh.
Lee Ann McGillivray
And then we have Lee. She worked for HZA for years before enrolling in nursing at the University of Toronto. She now works with us part-time. Lee lives intensely. She walks fast. Her big laugh is infectious. Her description of events is effusive and colourful. Her side of the story is always convincing. When she travels, she goes to politically unstable countries or on physically punishing trips. She reads everything, and has an opinion on most things: politics, cooking, movies, her professors, careers. Speaking of careers, she is flat-out career-oriented, and has jumped just as passionately into her nursing courses as she has into the other parts of her life.
Elaine Ng
If Elaine is your recruiter, you will receive the royal treatment. She will have all the latest facts at her fingertips. She will search out new information, and she is religious about following up. She is just as disciplined in her personal life. She takes ballet lessons (yes, she has the body of a dancer), she plays competitive Ultimate Frisbee, and is a serious table tennis player. But she balances her competitive side with a personality that is extroverted, warm, and generous.
Dominika Kaleta
Dominika, as many of you know, or will know, is responsible for our logistics (visa and travel) section. And since mathematics has always been her best subject (she declined an offer to study at the University of Waterloo, which is Canada’s answer to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), she also does the company accounting. Unlike the rest of the people in our office, Dominika is quiet and modest about her abilities. We basically forced her to take the logistics position, and she is now the Queen of Logistics. And at her wedding, we found that, outside of our office, she is an extrovert and always going somewhere with her many friends. True to her Polish heritage (she speaks Polish and French), she enjoys the good life.
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As for me, well, I’m incredibly smart, gorgeous, cosmopolitan – you name it. My BMI is 21 (which is true), I’m 50 (and have been for several years), and I’m not taking any medications (at least not regularly) …
And for more about the staff at Helen Ziegler & Associates, see the Our Staff page.
