Waikato Business News March/April 2017

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22 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS March/April 2017 REMARKABLE WOMEN IN BUSINESS Nicole Carson - LawFit Carson Law was launched in April 2012 by award-winning lawyer Nicole Carson, who serves predominantly private clients and SME business owners. Nicole returned to Waikato to set up the Hamilton firm after impressing colleagues and counterparts in Bay of Plenty where she was named the 2010 Young Professional of the Year. A strategist and entrepreneur at heart, Nicole founded Carson Law at just 26 years of age. She enjoys legal practice and primarily likes to work with like-minded commercial property and business clients, particularly all aspects of business structuring, contracts, and finance work. She comes from a general practice background and finds having broad experience is an asset to clients. It allows Nicole to have continuity across clients’ legal needs while efficiently providing a collaborative approach to legal services. Outside of the law, Nicole is also a director at CrossFit Alpha Brave, which is conveniently within sight and walking distance of the Carson Law office. Alpha Brave opened in July 2016 and offers CrossFit, BattleFit©, Weightlifting, Olympic Lifting, Women’s Only Classes, and Yoga. It’s the perfect CBD location for professionals to train before and after work. Nicole and her business partner, head coach Rose McAuslin, wanted to open a CrossFit centred gym that delivered more value and add-on services. “We have three core operating principles. Always doing more than is expected – adding value - that’s first. Creating a community that makes people feel supported, encouraged, and celebrated – that’s second. Our membership is diverse! Beginners, corporate warriors, sportsmen and women, mums and dads, retirees, teachers, doctors, the common thread is the Alpha Brave community. Thirdly, we have a deep commitment to coaching safe form and proper technique. It is a principle we commit to with no exceptions and it makes us so proud to watch members progress with movement and confidence.” Leading stormwater expert in high demand Bronwyn Rhynd - CKL Bronwyn Rhynd is one of New Zealand’s leading experts on stormwater treatment, disposal and management. Bronwyn joined land development consultancy CKL as a director in 2015, 11 years after establishing her own business Stormwater Solutions which merged with CKL. The merger added the specialist area of stormwater and environmental engineering to CKL’s services. It provided end-to-end project management across all planning, surveying, and engineering disciplines. “We have continued to provide stormwater expertise, also adding further expertise in fresh water ecology and environmental planning,” Bronwyn, an environmental engineer, said. Bronwyn, and the CKL team, fully harness the potential of water to create urban environments sympathetic to the natural environment. Environmental solutions called rain-gardens and swales capture water runoff from houses and streets and daylight the water, filtering and slowing it down, as it heads towards natural catchment areas. There’s no such thing as a typical client. “We get involved with all sorts of projects in the land development spectrum and our clients are from a broad range,“ Bronwyn said. “These projects could be a two lot subdivision through to something significantly larger, for example an 800 lot subdivision.” CKL was responsible for major residential and commercial developments in Hamilton like Huntington, Rototuna Village, Rotokauri Rise, Teafields, and Eton Estate. Bronwyn’s qualifications include a NZ Certificate in Engineering (Civil), a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and a Masters in Environmental Engineering Science. Bronwyn regularly contributes to local and international conferences. Her qualifications and career have given Bronwyn a specialist knowledge and expertise. She has been called upon by the Environment Court for expert witness testimony. While women in such industry roles are not common, it’s also not unheard of. “I’m an engineer and scientist,” Bronwyn said. “There are not that many women, so we are leading that charge, and I am able to encourage other women by being in the position I am in.” “At the end of last year I could put my hand on my heart and say we have increased women in our company CKL by 200 percent from the previous years. It’s an opportunity to show people we are a company of diversity, it’s something that can be a point of difference to be proud of.” Bronwyn’s experience includes environmental and civil engineering projects in both the private and public sector. 443 Anglesea Street, Hamilton FREE TRIAL www.alphabravecrossfit.nz 07 838 0617 www.carsonlaw.co.nz linkedin.com/nicole-carson 07 849 9921 | hamilton@ckl.co.nz Church Road, PO Box 171, Hamilton 3240 www.ckl.co.nz Expansion provides new opportunities Linda-Maree Drake – Fegan & Co Ltd 2017 is shaping as challenging year for Linda-Maree Drake who since February has taken on a new role as managing director of rural recruiters Fegan & Co Ltd. The acquisition of the well established Cambridge company at the start of the year comes at a good time for Linda-Maree who last year completed a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at Waikato University. “The qualification has certainly given me a lot of confidence in terms of running another business,” says Linda-Maree who alongside her husband set up Russell Drake Consulting in 2010. The former critical care nurse at Waikato Hospital’s ICU left the health care profession in 2011 to work full-time in the business to assist with its development, putting in place systems and processes to enable greater efficiency and room for future growth. Over the next two years the business continued to grow at a rate of 20 percent year-on-year, through new client acquisition and profitability, establishing itself as a recognisable company within the Waikato business community providing practical, legally compliant employment solutions and advice to employers. In 2015, Russell Drake Consulting marked a milestone reaching 850 active clients in its business. Linda-Maree specialises in providing business management and strategic development services to clients including leadership mentoring for individual managers. She also describes herself as an Intrapreneur, utilising her entrepreneurial skills and business management and strategic development knowledge to grow businesses. Linda-Maree has worked hard at her own development in recent years. Looking for organisational experience outside of Russell Drake Consulting, she accepted two positions within client companies over 18 months to increase her knowledge and experience while commencing her MBA. Having completed her MBA last year, Linda-Maree returned to the business full-time to help take it to the next level as well as developing her own career in business and management consulting. The acquisition of Fegan & Co Ltd provides just the challenge she was looking forward to. “It’s worked out really well. We discussed it over the Christmas break and decided to proceed with it. We’ve known John a long time and you’ve got to take opportunities when they present themselves,” she says. Despite selling the business he has led for 20 years, John intends to continue to play a role in it over coming months and possibly longer, and Linda-Maree welcomes his continued involvement. “Taking on the business is definitely a new challenge but I’m relishing it,” says Linda-Maree. “ I think women should just be confident in themselves and they should take on new challenges. Yes it can be scary but you have to run with it.” “One of the things I’ve noticed with some women is they sometimes want all the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed. But instead we need to go with it a little and work in that growth space. For a while you have to be in a place where you aren’t comfortable. We need to trust ourselves more.” “Fegan & Co has been running a long time but I also need to find my own space and make it work on my terms and use my own skill base to add value, along with bringing on board skilled and qualified staff with a different set of skills to what I have.” Linda-Maree is well accustomed to putting in long hours into her business and brings the same energy, drive and confidence to her role as Fegan & Co’s managing director. “It’s about being confident and trusting yourself. And you have to put in the hours to get the rewards.” Russell Drake Consulting Ph: 07 838 0018 www.russelldrakeconsulting.co.nz
REMARKABLE WOMEN IN BUSINESS Property Management with Vision “Vision without action is merely a dream, Vision with action can change the world” This statement has been the basis of our Finda Home NZ business and is supported by our exceptional proven business model, aided by our loyal Landlords and Tenants both in Cambridge and now Hamilton. Finda Home NZ has expanded this business model into Hamilton through Rae, our experienced Corporate Property Manager. Rae is currently growing the Hamilton Portfolio and specializing in the North Hamilton area. Kate, our Finda Home Office Manager, is continuing to grow and manage our Cambridge Branch. Kate and our team’s customers service, professionalism and Property Management knowledge helps make Finda Home NZ the successful company it is today. Trish, our very experienced office administrator covers all administration and financial aspects of Finda Home NZ including CAROL MCELDOWNEY AREINZ carol@findahomenz.co.nz 027 4771 668 KATE LAURIE kate@findahomenz.co.nz 027 9720 130 our Real Estate arm of Finda Home’s business... Trish is a very busy person. Carol, our Principle is concentrating on supporting both Kate and Rae with our Finda Home NZ Property Management Portfolios, complimented by being able to offer a Real Estate sales service to our Landlords. The majority of our Real Estate sales have enabled the Tenant to stay on. Through our proven business model we have enabled rental property owners to become relaxed Investors by bringing Landlords the best possible mix of tenant security, efficient maintenance and financial reward....... all tax deductable. Finda Home NZ offer numerous other Property Management services - Casual Tenancy Services, Property Management Consultations, Property Management Law, Casual Inspections - just to name a few. So call our team at Finda Home NZ for more information phone 07 827 9282. RAE GUARD rae@findahomenz.co.nz 027 286 3876 TRISH GRANTHAM office@findahomenz.co.nz 07 827 9282 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS March/April 2017 23 The People Person Brigitta Warren, Lawson Williams Brigitta Warren is a ‘people’ person. As Waikato Branch Manager of Lawson Williams’ specialist recruitment and HR solutions business, she is well-known for bringing together the right people, the right skills and the right roles. According to her many long-term clients, Brigitta and her team have also built a strong local presence for the company through their comprehensive knowledge and understanding of what local industry really needs and wants. Her thoroughly professional yet personable style has further enhanced Lawson Williams’ reputation as a people-focused company, prepared to go the extra mile to meet the scope and demands of Waikato industry in all its guises. Brigitta started at Lawson Williams’ Auckland office ten years ago. At that time she particularly liked the Lawson Williams ethos of focusing on recruitment in six specialised areas, which today remains the company’s modus operandi. Sometime later she moved to the Waikato for personal reasons and with John Lawson’s support and encouragement developed this regional branch of the Lawson Williams Group. Today Brigitta continues to build the company’s stature in the region, through long-term repeat business and growth through referral. Like any successful business, Brigitta has also seen considerable scope to expand services to provide further assistance to Waikato business. As a complement to the company’s full recruitment services, Lawson Williams now also offers other flexible recruitment options designed for those smaller businesses who do not have HR and recruitment services in-house. The final word belongs to Brigitta. “Recruitment is all about people. We listen to people, understand their needs, then attract and evaluate the right applicants with the appropriate, relevant skills and match them to the right roles and company cultures. We work hard to become a reliable adjunct to our clients’ own teams, available as needed. The long term, repeat business we enjoy today is testament to our desire to assist local businesses and the community, to achieve growth and prosperity”. Finda a Home NZ 22B Duke Street, Cambridge 3450 www.findahomenz.co.nz 30007 brigitta@lawsonwilliams.co.nz +64 7 974 4755 +64 21 335 341 Childcare’s success enables community focus Patricia Radich - Sunshine Childcare Patricia Radich’s extensive career in education and her experience as a working parent was the perfect grounding for providing an inspirational learning environment at Hamilton’s Sunshine Childcare centres. Sunshine Childcare is one of the largest private childcare providers in the Waikato, licensed for 176 children across Sunshine Ave and Vickery St centres. The former school principal is proud of the way the childcare centre serves the Te Rapa community and is able to give back by providing flexibility for parents in the way it operates. And with the two centres well managed on her behalf, it has provided Patricia the opportunity to do other things in the community. Central to that has been her voluntary work since 2014 as part of the Rototuna Junior and Senior High Establishment Board. The board had a massive job working alongside construction company Arrow International and architects as the two schools together represent the largest new school build in New Zealand in over 30 years. Design work was significant as were staff appointments, particularly the selection of two principals. Patricia pays tribute to other board members; Wiremu Puke, Simon Grafhuis, Ken Williamson, Megan Campbell and Cheryl Christini. Patricia’s educational expertise was drawn upon heavily throughout and particularly as the school’s ethos was developed. “It’s about providing an innovative learning environment that takes its root from the turangawaewae - the Waikato - and then goes on to embrace many cultures,” she says. Patricia says it was key that the school was part of the wider Waikato community. As such the school and Hamilton City Council have developed an innovative agreement which allows the school to serve as a hub for the fast growing suburb of Rototuna. The Indoor Recreation Centre which will be available for community use is a start of that partnership. “We’ve been very pleased with the way we’ve been able to make decisions for the benefit of the school and the community,” says Patricia. Education has been a huge part of Patricia’s life. After several Englishrelated teaching positions, Patricia capped her career with seven years as Assistant Principal at Waikato Diocesan School for Girls and a busy eight years as Principal of Baradene College in Remuera, Auckland. Patricia says at the end of that she was ready for a change and was looking for her own business. “I wanted to steer my own course rather than someone else’s.” She and her husband purchased Sunshine Childcare in 2011. “I had a really good career teaching. I enjoy young people - they invigorate, so it’s sort of a natural cycle. With child care I was able to continue to combine my interest in education.” She has good memories of the natural environment provided at Waikato University Creche where she left her children when teaching at Hillcrest High School. “I liked what happened there. It was a creative place and had a nice rural feel. There were a lot of trees and there were animals such as chickens and guinea pigs for the children to care for.” It inspired her to ensure their two Sunshine Childcare centres at Sunshine Avenue and Vickery St had similar natural environments including playgrounds with plenty of trees and shade. “Sunshine Childcare is a place where your child can learn by exploring the natural world around them. Where chickens are there to be cared for, and trees are there to be climbed. We really believe there’s enough wonder in nature to inspire any child. We just need to open their eyes to it.” www.sunshinechildcare.co.nz
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Waikato Business News March/April 2017

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