This month’s spotlight features APM Canada West EHS Manager, Teri Carlson! Teri began her career in EHS under ALSTOM Power Services in 2005 and first learned about APM through the acquisition of the Alstom Boiler group into the APM family. She worked on many APM Project sites (Steam and Gas) as a Site Safety Professional. In 2021, she took the role of EHS Manager - Canada West. Outside of work, she is a proud wife to an active member of the Canadian Military, which comes with its own set of challenges that require a lot of patience and flexibility. We are so excited to spotlight Teri! Read more to get to know her interesting perspectives, personal motto, and history.

What energizes you at work?

The number one thing that energizes me at work is the people I work with, and I work to support.

What do you find the most challenging in your role?

One of the biggest challenges I find is with many people working remotely, you have to work harder at making connections with people to understand their unique needs and facilitate collaboration.

What do you like most about working with APM?
We have great teams of diverse individuals with common goals working to achieve incredible things.

How has APM helped you in your career development?

Since moving to my current role as EHS Manager - Canada West in October 2021 from a Field Safety Position, I have been given this incredible opportunity within APM to learn and grow within the organization. I still have a lot to learn, but I am so thankful for the support along the way.

What courses, certifications, or programs did you complete?

Continuous learning has always been important to me. Throughout my career I have obtained many certifications. I have held COR auditor certification for both Alberta and British Columbia since 2006. I completed my NCSO (National Construction Safety Officer in 2012, and a Certificate in Environmental, and Occupational Health from the University of Victoria in 2017. In 2019, I achieved a long-time goal of obtaining my CRSP designation (Canadian Registered Safety Professional) with the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals.

What is your proudest moment with APM?

There have been a lot of proud moments working for APM. We have executed many complex projects with high-risk activities, where we have achieved the goal of zero incidents. Successful completion of a project is a always proud moment, knowing you played a part in it.

Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?

The experience and the drive of the Canadian leadership team as a whole has been one of the most influencing factors for me. Their motivation and continued support allow me to operate with transparency and candor in my current position, which I appreciate.

How do you prefer to spend your days off?
In the short summer season we have in Canada, on days off you will find me outdoors, fishing and camping with my husband, or just out in the yard digging around in my garden. When I am at home there is usually a true crime podcast playing in the background. I am not a fan of the winter and will take every opportunity to go somewhere warm every year when the snow comes, anywhere there is a beach and sunshine.

How do you balance your career at APM and family?

Work - Life balance doesn’t come easy. I don’t think there is a secret recipe for it. It takes developing habits that work for you and your family situation.

Teri's Perspective on Success:

Success can be defined in many ways. It starts with a goal. Even if our best efforts don’t lead to a perfect result, if you've done your best and had the opportunity to learn from what did not go right, then you should feel proud of your efforts.

Teri's Personal Motto:

True learning is about understanding an issue from multiple perspectives. The two most important human traits that will help you learn is self-awareness and empathy.