Celebrating Women: Jeannine Smith
Jeannine has been with AIRCARE for almost a year as an Operations Coordinator. Prior to working at AIRCARE, her roles at other companies had primarily been in administration or coordination.
Since starting at AIRCARE, Jeannine says she has been afforded opportunities for professional development and encouraged to contribute to overall company improvement as well as set personal and professional goals. Her favourite part of the job is the positive atmosphere with other women that share the same work interest. She said it makes the day flow better when you work with people that have like minds and that the team at AIRCARE is amazing, and they have a great working relationship.
While the HVAC industry is male-dominated, Jeannine says in her department there are three females working in the office while all the techs are males, and they handle all of the calls. She said working with mostly males makes you build a tough skin which is good in her industry. She says at other companies where she worked the male comradery aspect had an impact in how others saw or treated her and she noticed that could lead to her being overlooked and undervalued.
Jeannine feels her greatest asset at AIRCARE is her positivity, communication and empathy. She also says the most important thing in this life is family as they will be your biggest support system whether you lose or if you win and they will always be there for you no matter what.
Jeannine was born in Bermuda and attended Cedarbridge and Seneca College in Toronto, Canada to study Building Systems Engineering Technology. Outside of work Jeannine enjoys travelling, being in nature, walking and dancing and said she likes to sing but it isn’t her gift!
As far as mentors that have helped in her careeer, Jeannine says she has come across some fierce women in the industry and they have exhibited similar characteristics that make them great leaders including dominance, not to control but to command what was required and with dominance came the respect that was deserved. Perseverance, to encounter and to overcome any challenge all while maintaining integrity and handling the day-to-day functions thrown their way. Also knowledge, gained through doing the work and understanding the task at hand and being able to insert knowledge where it is most useful and beneficial.
As far as advice for other women Jeannine says it’s important to simply be yourself and push through the circumstances, the obstacles and the grey areas. One of her favourite sayings is pressure produces diamonds.
While Jeannine says she is still growing and learning her surroundings at AIRCARE, each day is filled with new opportunities, and she strives to learn something new and be greater than she was the day before. She looks forward to growing professionally at AIRCARE and also to travel and experience the world.
