Page 6 - Viterra Vibe_September 2024 (Final)

Five questions with Megan Dempsey

Execution team. My team of ten has three mention my team. They are well respected
main focuses: contract administration for their knowledge and efficiency on all
for all sales contracts and commercial aspects of the business. I receive many
purchases, export container execution, compliments about them from within
and the bulk vessel execution program. our Viterra network as well from others
Our team works to ensure all the various throughout our industry. Being from
export cargos are loaded, documented Saskatchewan, I’m always proud when I
and paid for according to the contract get to explain what my team does, all from
terms. the middle of the country.
When asked what we do, the simple What do you like best about working at
answer would be that we turn grain into Viterra?
What is your role with Viterra and how paperwork, and the paperwork is what My favorite thing is the diversity of my
long have you been part of the team? gets us paid. We are a very diverse group day. After 13 years my days still fly by
I am the Trade Execution Manager that works in collaboration with many and I am never bored. I love working and
based in Regina and have been with different aspects of the business and collaborating with all my colleagues here
Viterra for 13 years. Growing up in rural throughout Viterra’s network to ensure in Regina, across Canada and around the
Saskatchewan, agriculture has been our contracts are successfully executed. globe to solve each execution puzzle.
part of my entire life. After high school, I What work accomplishment are you Each shipment and vessel are unique and
studied Agriculture Business in Alberta. most proud of? challenging in their own way. It is oddly
After I graduated, I worked in a number of I was very proud to be asked to speak in satisfying and slightly addicting!
positions in the ag industry including in Brussels, Belgium this spring on behalf What do you like to do in your spare time,
a feed mill, as a livestock feed inspector of Canadian exporters at the Canadian and what is a fun fact about you?
with the CFIA and as a field adjuster/ Embassy to lobby on the importance of
auditor with the Saskatchewan Crop gene editing (NGTs) in Canadian seed I am a total book nerd, I read every day. I
Insurance Corporation (SCIC). From SCIC, varieties and the policies that the EU am always looking for my next book.
I joined the execution team with Alliance is looking to implement regarding this A fun fact, in college I snuck a runt piglet
Grain Traders (AGT) where I focused on technology. I was honoured to be part into my apartment for a few weeks and
container exports of red and green lentils, of an all woman lead group representing bottle fed her until we found a permanent
which got me hooked into exporting and the Canadian grain export business home for her.
trade execution. After AGT I joined the and seed breeding industry, which is an
Viterra team. opportunity that is not common enough
What are some of your responsibilities? in our industry!
I am responsible for overseeing the Trade Secondly, I would be remiss if I did not
Hiring Co-op Students

For the past several years, Viterra has • Tour of the Belle Plaine facility with professionals has significantly expanded
hired co-op students for 4 or 8 month Breanne Pakula my knowledge of Human Resources
terms each semester through the • Operations presentation with Ian and the agriculture industry. The strong
University of Regina and Saskatchewan Armer sense of community within our team has
Polytechnic co-operative education • Soft skills training sessions with HR made this experience truly enriching. I
programs. • Volunteering at the Regina Food Bank am deeply grateful for the opportunity to
In 2024, we hired 12 co-op students • Lessons with Leaders event with grow both personally and professionally in
with two of those starting with us Kyle Jeworski and members of the such a supportive setting,” said Olivia.
this September. In 2024 our students executive team where they share
worked in the areas of data analytics, their unique career paths and provide
merchandising, accounting, accounts advice to the students to inspire them
payable, IT and HR. The matches are often on their future career journeys.
so successful that many of our students Olivia Boehm is an HR student at the
stay on casually after their work terms. U of R and finished her second work
Our HR team provides our co-op students term with Viterra at the end of August.
with an immersive experience, facilitating “My co-op experience at Viterra has
numerous activities for them including: been incredibly rewarding, thanks to
the inclusive and collaborative work
• Tour of the Quality Control Lab with environment. Working alongside industry Co-op student, Olivia Boehm
Jeff Danielson

6 | VITERRA VIBE F ALL 2024