Manitoba's Top Employers

2020

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20 KMG and accelerate your career. Join the global industry leader PEOPLE DRIVE NFI GROUP'S SUCCESS BY JIM TIMLICK NFI Group Inc. (NFI) has undergone numerous changes since founding in Winnipeg nearly 90 years ago. From its humble beginnings as Western Auto and Truck Body Ltd. in 1930, NFI has grown to become one of the leading inde- pendent bus manufacturers in the world, of- fering innovative mobility solutions through buses and coaches, technology, and infra- structure — with a specific focus on zero- emission vehicles. It now operates 50 facili- ties in 10 different countries and its list of companies includes New Flyer, Motor Coach Industries, ARBOC, Alexander Dennis Ltd., NFI Parts, Carfair Composites and KMG. It has also developed leading-edge technol- ogy including the first LED headlights used in the industry and the first battery-electric transit bus. NFI currently employs about 9,000 peo- ple globally, including 3,000 at its Manitoba operations. Those totals have nearly doubled over the past few years thanks to a combina- tion of growing international business and a series of acquisitions to grow and diversify the company. Janice Harper, NFI's executive vice-presi- dent of human resources, says people have played a major role in the evolution of the business, and the company has identified investing in staff as one of its top priorities. So, it's hardly surprising NFI has been named one of Manitoba's Top Employers for 2020. It marks the 10th time since the competition was established in 2007 that NFI has been named to the list. "We're so proud to say our 2020 award builds on a foundation of past honours as one of Manitoba's Top Employers. Locally, this is an important recognition and valida- tion, especially with NFI headquarters locat- ed here in Winnipeg and driven by an inter- national team of incredible people," Harper says of the honour. "I think it's recognition of the decades of steady growth, and the ongoing effort, com- mitment, and strategic focus that we've un- dertaken to make NFI a great place to work and build a career. If you walk through our doors, you'll see right away that we take our work environment and commitment to peo- ple very seriously." NFI has done more than just pay lip ser- vice to the idea of investing in its employees. It provides a variety of in-house training ini- tiatives, including the NFI Learning Institute, and has delivered more than 115,000 hours of training to employees of its New Flyer di- vision in 2019 alone. NFI also offers current employees tuition subsidies for courses at external institutions and connects with future employees by providing summer employ- ment opportunities, apprenticeships and paid internships. "Without constant investment in our people we can't expect to learn, grow and innovate alongside this changing industry," Harper says. "All of those things really re- quire you to be continuously learning and developing. We really need to continue to help our people upskill." While NFI employees have worked hard to make the company successful, they do have occasion to play. An employee social committee organizes numerous fun events throughout the year including summer bar- becues, golf tournaments, children's holiday parties, retirement celebrations, and a family fishing derby. Employees are also encour- aged to participate in a number of charitable and community efforts including NFI's annual United Way fundraising campaign, which this year raised more than $470,000 and sup- ported 22 United Way agencies across the U.S. and Canada. "It's important for us to take time to cele- brate, recognize, and promote individual and team accomplishments, as well as the exten- sive diversity across our international team," Harper explains. "It's also a great way to de- velop a sense of collaboration and team spirit within our culture. We work hard to build a diverse and inclusive workplace, and believe this is one of the big reasons we've been suc- cessful over the long-term: everybody lends a unique perspective, which in turn builds stron- ger dialogue across our team." Perhaps that's why so many NFI employ- ees stay with the company for as long as they do. Of the 9,000 people currently em- ployed at its various locations, almost 1,200 of them have been with the organization for more than 20 years, including a large num- ber of Manitobans. And that employee/employer relation doesn't necessarily end even when someone's career comes to a close. NFI helps employees save for retirement through the pension plan option that best suits their needs. In some cases, employees may also have the option to take advantage of phased-in retirement work options that allow them to work part-time as they near retirement. "It's also a good way to engage their years of wisdom through some of those transitions and transfer their knowledge to the next generation," Harper says. As gratifying as it has been to be ranked among the province's Top Employers, Harper says NFI has no intention of resting on its lau- rels when it comes to providing the training and resources employees require. "We're focused on ensuring that when we're doing things, we've got the right tools and are setting the right tone for our people, rather than just thinking we have all the answers," Harper explains. "We've got a lot of work to do — we're proud of our his- tory, but excited for our future — and we're going to work hard together to enable the future of mobility." NFI GROUP INC.

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