Our hardworking Property Solutions team work across the whole business to ensure things run smoothly from cleaning, wardrobe, car parking and everything in between. Meet some of the Team Leaders from our Property Services team at SkyCity Hamilton - Darell, Kathie and Lisa!
Darrell Fergusson – Senior Cleaning Team Leader
At the age of 15 I got a job as a storeman at the Devonport Naval Base, where I lasted a year, then went to help a friend of my father's who owned a small car yard in Newmarket – where I started my career in the automotive industry. My parents moved back to Cambridge a year later, so I looked for a job here and saw a job advertised at Fairview Motors for a Senior salesman.
Being 17, and thinking I knew everything about the automotive industry, I made a call and booked an interview with the sales Manager, hired a suit, borrowed my father’s brand-new Holden Monaro, and drove to Hamilton for the interview.A couple of days later I got a call to say they couldn’t give me the job as the
Senior salesman but were able to offer me a job as a sales cadet, so I was now selling brand new Fords at the age of 17.
About a year later I moved back to Auckland, had no job but went knocking on some doors and got a job selling cars for a Holden franchise in Papakura where I stayed for 10 years, reaching the level of Sales Manager and Finance Manager during that time. I eventually left and ran another used car yard for 10 years until the owner sold it.
During this time, I met my wife Margaret. We ended up moving to Hamilton and about 18 months later I saw a job advertised as a Team Leader for SkyCity so I applied thinking I have been dealing with the public for a long time and that it would be similar, and I got the job. Little did I know, there was a lot more to it than just looking after a team of cleaning staff and helping in a few other areas, but 14 years later I am still here.
It’s the people that make my job enjoyable, we have a great team of staff in all departments, so this helps to make coming to work much better and, in this role, you don’t know what you are going to be faced with that day.
Lisa O’Leary - Cleaning Services, Carpark & Wardrobe Manager
Hi, I am Lisa from Property Services part of the Support Services group. I have been working for SkyCity since it opened in September 2002. I started off as the Wardrobe Supervisor and was involved in the initial setup of Wardrobe and implementing the day to day operations and procedures, fitting all the new staff and having all the uniforms ready for the day that we opened to the public.
Then, two years later, I became the Wardrobe & Cleaning Services Supervisor and now, since 2005, I have been the Cleaning Services, Carpark & Wardrobe Manager. I also look after the Courtesy Coach Service and Waste care. All these areas put together keeps me very busy, but I am lucky to have such a great team working with me to help keep things running.
Before coming to SkyCity I was in the Clothing Textile industry for 18 years, 15 years working in a Sewing factory and three years teaching sewing and design to students. I joined SkyCity as I was looking for a change and wanted to improve and develop new skills. SkyCity has definitely given me ample opportunity to do this and I have learnt a lot from customer service, problem solving, working with a large, diverse group of people, understanding the different facets of the business and how the business operates in a corporate environment.
I enjoy the challenges that my role can bring, being part of new projects, working with people that encourage and support you to preform your job well. I am lucky that my days are usually varied and different and not just routine.
Kathie - Wardrobe Team Leader
Hi, my role at SkyCity is Wardrobe Team Leader. After completing my tertiary qualification majoring in Garment Construction at Otago University and moving to Hamilton, I found my dream job at a local theatre company as Head of Wardrobe.
During my 20 years there I picked up invaluable skills along the way, the most important was how to manage large groups of people and get the expected result on a tight timeline and a very restricted budget – and still enjoy yourself! Since then, I have always worked with textiles or apparel and managing a team.
In my current position I work within the Wardrobe team, as Team Leader, helping and encouraging my team to deliver the best customer service possible, which is our primary role. Our department is usually the first to meet a new employee and we strive to make them feel welcome and supported. We have a large range of tasks that can include fitting and altering of uniforms, laundry, issuing lockers, taking ID photos, qualitycontrol of uniforms.
We can be the local post office, information desk and occasionally the complaints department. I am very proud to lead my team, they are a wonderful group of people to work with.
Thanks for sharing your stories Lisa, Kathie and Darrell! If their story inspired you to join our team at SkyCity Hamilton, then head to our Careers website!
