ROUTES Colas Group Magazine L Special Issue 2007 - 2008
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colas.com www. ROUTES Colas Group magazine l Special issue 2007 - 2008 The people of Colas ROUTES ROUTES Special issue 20 Special issue 07 - 2008 - 07 Hervé GARNIER HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER 002 // Special issue Starting POINTS Colas, a Group where diversity and integration are cornerstones These 250 or so portraits of men and women are Routes’ stems from a decentralisation policy that gives people special tribute to the day-to-day work and dynamic spirit responsibilities; a diversity which opens up a myriad of the Group’s 65,000-strong workforce; men and of methods and makes it possible to build efficient women who are totally committed to their company networks and varied ways of working with each other. and realize that success at the highest level represents Diversity does not, however, mean disparity. It is the a full-time undertaking. Men and women who have vital keystone to Group integration, for there is an understood that desire is the springboard to such success assimilating tradition at Colas when welcoming new – desire to learn, desire to progress, desire to share. firms and new employees. By reconciling, like few others, unity with diversity, the Group adapts more Viewed through their own eyes, each person gives than it standardizes. Cultures are enhanced by mixing an account of their individual career path, mission, and exchanging, which also foster new forms of organ- approach and way of working in confidence with isation. Backed by the Group’s bonding values and its Colas. These natural portraits depict entrepreneurial, business and management principles, the resulting successful personalities who exchange ideas and coherence ensures that dialogue, questioning and experiences, make decisions, learn and forge forward; efficiency truly do go hand in hand. personalities living in worlds which, at first glance, seem to have little in common and can go from one There is nothing to be gained by working alone, extreme to the other, from bush-clearing to digital. on the contrary… This special issue of Routes also sets out to be a show- It is common knowledge that organisations will only case for a magnificent profession without frontiers, flourish, grow and become more attractive where where all jobs are driven by passion, against the initiative, competition, incentive and sharing of best incredibly rich array of people’s initial training, the practices prevail. Corporate efficiency goes way reality of social advancement, the enhanced role of beyond the sum of individual expertise. It is the power women, the notion of enjoyment and freedom in of interaction, a sense of responsibility, a future- one’s work and the strong feeling of being a key player focused outlook, impetus, respect and collective in the company. intelligence which not only constitute the cornerstones of any major Group’s performance and relevance, but One cannot help being fascinated by the wealth of its real range of influence and capacity to attract. such diversity within the Group, a diversity which Special issue // 003 GEOGRAPHIC ZONES BY COLOR FRANCE (MAINLAND) NORTH AMERICA (CANADA/USA) EUROPE (EXCLUDING FRANCE) ASIA AFRICA AND FRENCH OVERSEAS DEPARTMENTS AND TERRITORIES 004 // Special issue Special issue // 005 Dominique Duval FLATBED DRIVER COLAS ILE-DE-FRANCE NORMANDIE FRANCE “I’ve always loved to drive big trucks” Dominique Duval obtained all his driving permits for tractor-trailers and transport while in the army. Once back in civilian life, he joined a specialized trucking and transport company. “I worked all over France.” In 1988, he was hired by Colas Ile-de-France – Normandie to transport heavy equipment to sites. He likes his job: “I’ve always loved to drive big trucks, the really heavy vehicles”, he confides. In 1997, he received the Losange d’Or award for his professionalism. Today, he is Vice-President of the Compagnons Skilled Workers Guild at Colas IDF/N: “Once a year we meet the Chairman of the Group, Alain Dupont. We serve as spokespeople for our co-workers in our region.” Dominique has two other passions in his life: his daughters and sports. A big fan of racing motorcycles and bicycles, he is a fervent supporter of his daughters, who play on the women’s basketball team of Ouistreham, where he is also a trainer. And this year has been a triumph: the team won the French Championship! 006 // Special issue Special issue // 007 Tiphaine Michon PROJECT ENGINEER COLAS ILE-DE-FRANCE NORMANDIE FRANCE “It’s a job in which contacts with people are straightforward and direct” In November 2006, Tiphaine Michon, a graduate of the Lille Ecole Centrale engineering school, joined the Seine- et-Marne profit center of Colas Ile-de-France/Normandie in Chaumes-en-Brie as an engineer. “During my second year of studies I had an internship on the Paris tramway project. I enjoyed being there, and quite naturally I re-contacted Colas when my studies were over,” she recounts. “The work is very demanding, but you are independent and your contacts with people are straightforward and direct. Whenever there’s a problem, you have to find a solution fast!” The sector may be predominantly masculine, but being a woman is not a drawback. “People actually treat me very well. Although most women who come into this business decide to work in an engineering office after a few years, I intend to do my best to stay on the operational side, because what I like best is site work,” she declares. 008 // Special issue Ken Diver CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER COLASKA UNITED STATES “You can have an international career, it’s a recognized fact” “As chief financial of- an hour without leaving ficer, my work essentially the city whereas in Georgia consists in managing the fi- you’re out in the country in nances of the six companies no time.” On the other hand, in the Colaska group.” This in professional terms, Ken apparently mundane task is Diver is happy at Colas. “It’s actually pretty challenging. a Group that allows employ- Ken Diver is based in Wash- ees to evolve. When I hire a ington and the companies new employee, I am quick to involved are in Alaska, three point out that you can have hours away by plane. “In or- an international career, it’s a der to coordinate everybody, recognized fact. For my part, I travel to Alaska about ten I see myself staying with times a year,” he explains. Colaska as it’s a company Thomas Tock Previously, Ken worked in that is undergoing significant FOREMAN Georgia, with Reeves, which expansion and I want to be was taken over by Colas in involved in it.” COLAS EST 1998. “I then left the south- FRANCE ern United States to come to the Northwest. A big change! In Washington, you can drive “Being out in the field, that’s what I love” In August 2006, Thomas Tock had the opportunity to join Colas, in Belfort, as foreman. At 28, he is happy to be part of a “big company”, with all the plusses that it represents: team professionalism, level of compensation, quality of the work atmosphere, etc. “It’s also very interesting for my career possibilities, on the na- tional scale – I have a lot of family around Aix-en- Provence – and why not consider international”, Thomas affirms. After graduating with a technical degree and sending a few cover letters to the local construction companies, in July 2001, he landed his first job as a drainage project foreman in a family-owned business. Over the next five years he earned his stripes overseeing a 10-person team per project. Enthusiastic about the business, he is even becoming “Construction Ambassador”, evangelizing young people to enter the field, a torch-bearer with the colors of Colas. Special issue // 009 Lorraine Harvey PAYROLL MANAGER COLAS LTD UNITED KINGDOM “I’m constantly having to update my skills in this job” “I try not to get stressed and I don’t let events get on top of me”, says Lorraine Harvey, Payroll Manager in the Fi- nance department at Colas Ltd. Based in Rowfant, in South- ern England, the young woman manages the weekly and monthly pay of 1,200 employees. She supervises a team of three people who work together meeting the tight deadlines that are the day-to-day reality in payroll. “I love my work”, she says. “I’m constantly having to update my skills. Colas Ltd is a company where life is good and my colleagues are friendly.” The young woman is glad to have been promoted from the post of pay supervisor to her current role, which gives her greater autonomy. She also enjoys working within a flexible structure: this allows her to free up time to look after her 9-year old son. On the agenda with him: cycling, ice-skating… and, when she has a little time for herself, Lorraine spends it in her vegetable garden. 010 // Special issue Didier Paul PRODUCTION SupERVISOR SCREG NORD-PICARDIE/CCM FRANCE “There is greater transparency since we joined the Group” Didier hadn’t yet turned 18 when he joined CCM at Wallers-Trélon, in northern France. “I couldn’t find work with my lathe-operator’s qualification so I applied for a job at the CCM quarry.” Fortunately, the foreman was looking for an equipment operator and was willing to hire Didier, even though he didn’t even have a driver’s license. “I began as a driller,” he says. “My bosses were impressed with my work, so I went further and became a blaster.” A good, careful worker he was made blasting supervisor and then production supervisor. Didier talks enthusiastically about his job and says how delighted he is with the changes since CCM became part of the Group.