In The Press
WOMEN TAKE KEY T&L POSITIONS http://www.logisticsmagazine.com.au/Article/Women-take-key-T-L-positions/486757.aspx
16 June 2009
Once male-dominant trades such as construction, transport and industry are seeing an increase in the numbers of women in key positions, particularly in Queensland.
Lawnton-based Jocelyn Doherty, a former primary school teacher, is one woman who left her career with Education Queensland to start her own business in the forklift industry.
Now the current Owner and Manager of FMS Training Services (FMS), Jocelyn oversees many different aspects of the day to day operations. She says she enjoys the challenges of the job and definitely feels she made the right decision to go into business.
One of only a small group of females at FMS, she believes women bring a whole different set of skills to the workplace. “Industry skills aren’t necessarily gender-specific," Doherty says. "If you have the right attitude, a proven track record, as well as the skills and qualifications necessary to do the job, I think that is what will bring you success.” Doherty has had her forklift licence for a number of years and combines this with over eight years experience in the Education and Training sector. She also holds a Bachelor of Education and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She was a small business mentor before deciding to launch FMS as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) in 2007.
With FMS originally established in 1992, Doherty is responsible for several different training programs.
FMS courses range from beginner to advanced and include forklift training and order picker training. Most courses are intensive and can be completed in a few days.
Doherty says her main focus at FMS is to help others to develop the skills and awareness necessary in the forklift industry to achieve success (such as developing a good safety record.) “My passion was, and still is, to provide an inclusive training environment which is real-world based – and one which is accepting of students from a variety of different backgrounds,” she says. "FMS provides a larger, authentic 'simulated work environment' and offers students an opportunity to experience a range of forklift machines (not just one or two, as in most other training venues)."
Jocelyn Doherty thinks it is particularly important to offer a quality service to students which deliver a variety of work-related training services. “Right now I place significant importance in helping people to ‘skill up’ during this financial crisis. I think it is necessary for people to keep developing their skills so when new opportunities come up they are in a position to make the most of them,” she says.
Another woman in the business of transport, Kallangur based Michelle Barker, co-founded Barker Transport Services with her husband Ed over fifteen years ago. Barker Transport Services are now one of the most enduring and respected specialist transport companies in the country. As one of the few companies in Australia to hold a trackable waste certificate (granted by the Environmental Protection Authority) they are positioned extremely well in the industry.
The organisation is known as a specialist transport provider and also an Industrial Site Management company which oversees all aspects of a client’s project requirements. With her primary role in Barker Transport Services a financial one- to manage cheques/balances and to oversee the finances– Michelle Barker says her role with the company was a natural progression. After an extensive career in the financial services sector, and managing a Budget Window Cleaning business with Ed prior to starting Barker Transport Services, Barker returned to the workforce after a twelve year hiatus.
“I took an office refresher course to enable me to get back into the industry," she explains. "It was a big risk starting the business with Ed but it is definitely one of the best things I have done.” Barker is also responsible for Human Resources. She looks after everyone in the office and is also in charge of quality control. Ed says Michelle manages to keep everything running smoothly and the business would never have been as successful without her input, experience and leadership. Initially borrowing money off their parents to get started, they are both happy to see Barker Transport Services develop to this stage. Barker says she has learnt a lot in her time in business and it’s great to work with her husband in a managerial capacity.
She says co-founding the business with Ed is one of the best things she has done and doesn’t have any regrets. “I have had a pretty extensive career in the financial services sector so it made sense to manage the money side of things at Barker. “Before starting Barker together we actually ran our own Budget Cleaning Service– and secured some big contracts. It definitely gave me a strong understanding of how to manage business finance,” she says. Michelle Barker is also keen to see more women taking on roles in the business. “We have also just recently employed a female Heavy Rigid licensed crane truck driver in our business,” Barker says. “This is achieving positive feedback from our customers and she has been a positive boost to our business.”
Angela Silanesu, from Inspired Constructions, Pools and Landscaping is another business woman who has co-founded a company in Queensland. She started Inspired Constructions with her husband Gio in 2006. Silanesu fulfils many roles within the company such as team leadership, strategic direction, accounts, office and financial administration, office manager, and general support. One of Silanesu’s passions is handling the marketing for the business. In her previous life as an employee she worked for Suncorp, as Communication Coordinator and Marketing Assistant.
“My time at Suncorp was filled with challenging and rewarding assignments," Silanesu says. "This time has helped me to develop my skills in this area. It has taught me to value the brand of the business and has helped me to know how to achieve the effective promotion of a brand.” “My corporate skills coupled with Gio’s extensive construction knowledge have meant that our business has benefited from a well-balanced team,' she adds.
"While I have no formal training in construction, being married to Gio for the past 15 years has meant that due to his passion for what he does, I have been consistently involved in the intimate details of the projects that he has been involved with.” Since starting their business Angela and Gio have had the great fortune to be involved with some amazing projects such as Victoria Park Golf Course Putt Putt and Pro-shop development and also recently completed Queensland World Wildlife Manager Nick Heath’s home in Kelvin Grove.
“For Gio and I, being involved in these incredible projects and wonderful people’s lives, is very personal," Silanesu enthuses. "We both focus on exceeding our clients’ expectations, both in quality and service, and take great pride in seeing the completed project and a happy client.” “All of these aspects of our business inspire me daily to continue to work the long and hard hours required to make our business a success.”
Business Woman drives traditionally male dominated industry
May 29, 2009 by Deborah Robinson
Owner of FMS (Forklift and Mechanical Services) Training Services in Brisbane, Jocelyn Doherty (pictured) is proving you don’t have to be rough around the edges to make it to the top of a traditionally male dominated industry. Looking every bit the ‘girlie’ girl, Jocelyn has held a forklift license for a number of years and helps others to develop the knowledge and the skills required to work in the forklift industry.A former school teacher, Jocelyn and her team at FMS Training Services have provided forklift driver training and licensing services for the Australian Defense Force, Woolworths and most of the major job networks in Queensland.
Jocelyn was a small business mentor before deciding to launch FMS as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) in 2007. She is responsible for several training programs and her main focus at FMS is to help others develop skills and awareness about the forklift industry.With so many workers being made redundant and recent ABS figures showing unemployment rates reaching a high of 4.9 percent, Jocelyn says now is the perfect time for Australians to gain or improve their qualifications.“As the credit crisis surges on it’s important for the unemployed and students to carefully consider alternative career paths,” said Jocelyn. “We provide beginners courses at a competitive price for those who cannot get log book experience, mainly for the unemployed or those new to the industry.”Located in Lawnton, Queensland, FMS Training Services also offer two day experienced operator courses and refresher courses for those with a licence who wish to update their skills.FMS are the only forklift training providers who have the facility to provide a ‘simulated work environment’ where students complete a log book with a Workplace Health and Safety approved Forklift Trainer and Assessor, instead of a warehouse supervisor.FMS deliver services which are often considered essential to help people get back into employment and they are heavily reducing service fees for some of their courses to make it easier for people who may be struggling.Jocelyn said, “Right now I place significant importance in helping people to ‘skill up’ during this financial crisis and this is our way of contributing.”
For more information visit the website www.fmsforklifts.com.au