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My Story...
At Bender Consulting Services of Canada, Inc. our staff members have overcome
"attitudinal barriers" about people with disabilities and gained
success and respect in the workplace. Through initiative, hard work
and technical savvy, these consultants have used their abilities to
succeed and fulfill the enormous need for talent in the explosive technology
industry. Meet just a few of the Bender Consulting Services of Canada, Inc. team below, "some of whom have transitioned to become direct employees of our customer.”
Karen Millard
Karen Millard joined Bender Consulting Services, of Canada Inc. (BCSC) in November 2001 and began working on assignment at RBC Financial Group as a Associate Systems Consultant. In keeping with BCSC's lease-to-hire goal with our customers, Karen became a full-time employee of RBC Financial Group in May 2002.
Karen came to BCSC with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from York University in Toronto. After graduation from York University, Karen worked for several years as a rehabilitation counselor for Peel Halton Acquired Brain Injury Services. "Eventually, I decided I needed a change," said Karen. This is when she decided to enroll in a three-year program at George Brown University in Toronto to become a Computer Analyst. While attending school, Karen worked part-time for a small business and performed accounting duties and helped maintain the company web site.
When asked her feelings about BCSC and RBC Financial Group, Karen said that she owes a lot to them. "I think that the commitment made by BCSC and RBC Financial Group is great. The investment of time that BCSC puts into finding qualified people with disabilities is tremendous. I can honestly say that if it were not for BCSC and RBC, I would not have had the opportunity to earn a better living, at a job that I love," said Karen. Karen has epilepsy. Because of RBC's culture of inclusion of all people, Karen says that all of her supervisors treat her with respect. "When my supervisors give an assignment, they assume that it will get done without looking over my shoulder."
Away from the job, Karen serves on the Library Committee for her Quaker church, the religious Society of Friends, volunteers for the Starlight Foundation, an organization that grants wishes for children with terminal illnesses, and tutors children to improve their reading skills.
Ed Holloway
In 1991, Ed Holloway had several years of experience behind him in police work, as he was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police since the early 1980's. In 1991, as a result of a skiing accident, Ed's career was required to change because he became paralyzed. Following the accident, Ed's insurance company purchased a computer for him to use to help with writing. This sparked Ed's interest in computers. Therefore, in 1995, Ed enrolled in Alternate Computer Training in Toronto Ontario. The curriculum included training in designing and creating a Novell and Windows NT Network using various Topologies, NetWare Programs and Hardware. Also, installing applications on Networks and troubleshooting existing programs. Ed received his Novell Network CNA Certification and was hired by Bell Canada as a Computer Internetworking Consultant. In 1997, Ed went to work for the Scotia bank for 7 years as a Network Analyst and returned to Computech College in Toronto, Ontario for his MCSE certification.
Ed joined Bender Consulting Services of Canada, Inc. (BCSC) in October 2001 as an Associate Systems Consultant at RBC Financial Group. As of April 2002, he is a full-time employee of RBC as a Telecommunications Analyst. "I enjoy receiving a steady paycheck," said Ed. He is very pleased to be a part of the workforce again and this is due to the business partnership between BCSC and RBC Financial Group.
In his spare time, Ed is a member of the Board of Directors of his Housing Co-op, which is the subsidized housing facility that he lives in.
In 1982, Ed was graduated from Memorial University in Newfoundland, with a BA in History and Political Science.
Brad Allen
Brad Allen joined Bender Consulting Services of Canada, Inc. (BCSC) in October 2001, as an Associate Systems Consultant. He was placed on assignment at RBC Financial Group. He is working within the Information Security Department, as a member of the Enterprise Services Group team. Brad transitioned to become a full-time employee of RBC Financial Group in April, 2002, as a Data and Systems Administrator. Some of Brad's duties include processing client requests through Tivoli Service Desk, throughout RBC Financial Group Worldwide companies, creating e-mail identifications and adding users to existing networks, and assuring the restriction of privately accessed information.
When asked what he likes about working for both BCSC and RBC Financial Group, Brad said, "BCSC and RBC Financial Group gave me my first real opportunity to showcase my skill set in a large business setting". As a person with Cerebral Palsy, Brad understands the challenges that Canadians with disabilities have in gaining employment. "When a person starts at BCSC, they are told you become a part of the family; even though BCSC employees become full-time employees of RBC, they never leave the BCSC family. BCSC and RBC Financial Group continue to be supportive of my professional goals."
Prior to joining BCSC, Brad was a Data and Systems Administrator for Elections Ontario in Toronto, where he performed daily backups of voter list databases and updated the lists on a FoxPro database system.
In his spare time, Brad is a Committee Member of Metro Consumers for Long Term Care Reform. This committee helps ensure that as the Canadian population ages, there will be long-term health care services available to them. He has also been Vice President of Tobias House Attendant Care Incorporated, a service that provides personal care attendants to Canadians with disabilities.
Brad completed course work toward his Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) in 1998 and is a Certified NetWare (Novell) Administrator, which he received in 1997. Brad also has a General Diploma in Business Administration from Seneca College.
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