Renwick – The Career Driven Enterprise
The spirit of any organisation lies almost entirely in the possibilities of its employees being able build careers out of what might previously be merely a “job”. Opportunities like these exist at Renwick and Company.
This Empire, created five decades ago, continues to attract some of the best and most outstanding Saint Lucians to its employ and somehow manages to do what most companies across the island have difficulty with – and that is keeping these great people.
Business Focus, in our exploration of Renwick’s hallways, has fittingly identified five (5) such landmarks at Renwick – an organisation that boasts more than 107 fulltime team members, all adding personal and professional value to the operation.
These five individuals are each outstanding in their own right and represent the real possibilities of personal and professional growth that come from commitment and dedication to an organisation.
Shanelle Mc. Vane-Fulgence – Divisional Marketing Manager at Renwick was the first to eclipse our radar, having built a 14-year career with the company – a career that was previously not within her foresight. Architecture, really, was her initial career choice.
She entered Renwick’s doors on the ground floor as a Receptionist and held that office with distinction for almost two years before rising in ranks to the office of Administrative Assistant and steadily continued this succession through to Marketing Assistant.
With her professional trajectory now clearly changed, Shanelle found herself on a path that would not only she sought to embrace, but one that Renwick had already caught on to and committed to helping her build.
With time Shanelle elected to owning that trajectory and advancing upon it, substituting her dreams as an architect for one as an outstanding Business and Marketing executive. And what better way to cement that course than by undertaking a Master in Business Administration (MBA), becoming a Certified Project Manager, and, to top it all off, earning an Advanced Diploma in Digital Marketing – all with the support and guidance of Renwick.
“I’ve done all my studies at Renwick. I’ve never had to move away. The company has always supported me. They are very accommodating with study time. When I finally had to do my MBA the directors embraced me fully with their knowledge and assisting me with my project, “Mc. Vane- Fulgence said.
As she advanced academically, Renwick rewarded her professionally. Shanelle has over the past 14 years, held the offices of Product Manager, Marketing Director, Brand Manager and, as of three years ago she took the mantle of Divisional Marketing Manager – commanding a team of professionals who emulate her passion.
Now, one success story is no good on its own. So, Business Focus expanded its scope to discover another gem in the heap of Renwick jewels and landed perfectly on the likes of Julie Bonnett, the company’sHuman Resource Director.
Julie doubles Shanelle’s years of service with 28-years under her belt. For most people, this would equate to their entire adult working lives, so to keep things interesting, she has managed to find an almost unusual level of attachment for what she does, embracing it as more than a “job”.
With Renwick, it is more of a personal commitment to the grown of an organisation for Julie and she has literally invested her life into it, receiving the same in return.
And as expected, Julie has had a hand in the shaping of almost every department in the Renwick Empire – from reception to direction – before embracing her true calling for human relations and now HR Director of the more than 100 personalities under the Renwick employ. To conquer this, she has secured a Masters Degree in the field of Human Resource Management.
Unlike most in her profession, Julie’s personal connection with the company brings a different dynamic to her approach in leading its human capital, and according to her, each individual’s value is recognised, developed and utilised by the company in a manner that assures balanced growth between both individual and organisation.
“For me the most rewarding part of my job is seeing the team develop and grow into the people that they want to be, even outside of Renwick,” Bonnett said.
Among the individuals she refers would be our next highlight in the likes of young Mr Dominique Rivers – Construction Associate.
His journey is an eye-opening one that underlines the true meaning of trajectory, professional foresight and the value of follow through in the professional arena.
This young Business Management student at Monroe College began his career at Renwick from the age of 12-years old. And while this might seem a tad bit alarming, Dominique was actually a part of the company’s summer program where he earned and learned the value of hard work and development.
Dominique is now a full-time team member having graduated through the ranks of warehouse attendant, inventory, marketing, accounts and now the construction division.
He has gathered and grown so much with Renwick that he has brought his brother, Rhian Rivers – Warehouse Supervisor, to the organisation.
Like Dominique, Rhian began working right out of high school on a part time basis and has spent rewarding time in various departments including the warehouse, accounts, inventory, sales and merchandising, before finding his place in the warehouse as its warehouse supervisor.
“I like doing my own thing. My priority is to get the goods out on time and ensure that the customer is happy. I also keep the guys together so we work for the good of the company,” Rhian expressed.
Chronicles such as these are in no short supply at Renwick but we could not help ourselves but to sit down with at least one more outstanding “Renwick-ian” who has invested decades of his life and reaped equal rewards from the Renwick Empire.
This where we find Lynton Mason – Fore Clift Operator, whose modest job title does not necessarily reflect the significance of his function, but marries well with his humility and personality.
Armed with 21 years under his belt, Lynton boasts a level of admiration for his job that is almost impossible to find in today’s measurable and ego-driven societies.
He, like the Rivers brothers, began his career with Renwick in the warehouse, packing and sorting goods. Today he almost owns this aspect of the Renwick operation, standing as the go-to person for both junior and senior officials.
“The people here are amazing– Mr Renwick, Cheryl, even Julie, everyone here is always so helpful. I almost can’t imagine not being a part of this team. So much of my life achievements have occurred while here, including my family and the construction of our beautiful home. For me that’s a huge achievement,” added Mason.