Employee Spotlight

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about what your role at Canadian Retail Solutions and what your typical day looks like?

A: I am part of the Professional Services Team. My primary role with CRS is to assist our clients with their day–to–day operations, should there be a need for it. The exciting part about this is, of course, meeting good people who have a vision of either giving back to their communities or just trying to fulfill a need from them to go into their store to purchase an item. I facilitate that barrier when things don’t go smoothly for them. My day begins by checking what’s on my plate and what I have left undone the previous day, following up on tasks and getting those open tickets resolved though the customers. Once this is complete, I put on a different hat and try to look at projects that are assigned to me and see how they are moving along. I usually reach out to my colleagues to get help or answers to questions that need to be addressed for these projects to move on. It’s true that I do not know everything there is to know about the software we support. But I have yet to meet the person who responds negatively to that limitation. I learned to understand that most of them are also thankful and caring to just have somebody on the other line for them in their time of need – that they are not alone, and we are here for them. Having a great team of colleagues by my side also helps my confidence to take on these challenges that may arise. I do know that the answer just lies within this group of professionals that I call family.

Q: Outside of your work life, what kind of things are you interested in? Do you have any hobbies or side projects that you’re passionate about?

A: Out of work, I am known to be involved heavily in religious community service. Don’t worry – I’m not the type who will shove ideologies on anyone. I have always believed that it is through example where true conversion occurs. With that, this basically gives away my personality. Most of the things I do is because of this. “Walking the talk” is as important as charity and generosity of heart.

My wife and I are also fond of traveling, we like to go to places that are at one point in time have a spiritual significance. Places like Rome – the Holy Land, Europe, and of course, our place of birth and roots, the Philippines. With all the destinations we’ve been to, Canada is one of the most beautiful countries we like to see. Although not so outdoorsy, my wife enjoys shopping centers, and the city life, while I enjoy the open space and scenic scenery. So, with that I take pleasure in taking photographs and play with the camera settings (The Nerd in me).

Q: What inspired you to pursue your career path and what kind of advice would you give to someone aspiring to be in your field? 

A: My career path was selected for me. I have always been involved with the Point of Sale industry. There was only a short period of time when I graduated from university where I was hired as a programmer and loved it. It was a time when structured programming was taking off, the 4^th GL like DBase, Clipper, and Foxpro where the dominant PC business database languages around. Then I got into Point of Sale when I worked for a major retail store in the Philippines. 

Working with programs gave me a sense of importance (as you are the sole responsible individual for a specific job). But getting involved in the POS not only provides these senses, but you enter a group of special individuals. POS is not for everyone. There is a sense of urgency like no other. There is a set of deep pride in being part of something that is working and incorporated in direct sales. The main artery of every store is the POS. Most things in a store can be worked without. Take away a working POS, and the store cannot open. We, in the POS field, are the line that keeps the store operational, and everybody knows it. This comes with great responsibility. I have always been amazed with commercial airline pilots to be in charge of so many lives, a million-dollar aircraft and the respect they are given as “Captain” of the ship.  Being in this field is similar. People / stores will depend on you for your technical knowledge, calm composure and presence of mind over a panicking manager of the store.

I remember, coming to Canada as a permanent resident, I had to start from nothing. I got a job in one of America’s good Doughnut Store. I was hired as a sanitation specialist (go figure, what that is). One day, the store went down. They were using Micros POS. Everybody was running around trying to figure out how to fix it. I was there sweeping the floor. I remember that night, telling my wife, “Everybody just passed me by. No one even wanted to hear my opinion.”  She said, “Honey, it’s different now, you’re not in POS anymore…”  That hit home real fast.  Basically, being with POS, management relies on us to know when to press the panic button or not.  With so many opportunities to deliver and contribute, a person who wants to be of most help belongs here.

Q: Tell us a surprising fact about you that your coworkers don’t already know.

A: I am a good speaker…or so I have been told. I have been known to deliver talks effectively, although I don’t know this as well. LOL. I have just been told I could have been a good teacher. Can you imagine?