Lisa McAleenan
Lisa’s legacy: 36 years, eight positions and two offices
Lisa McAleenan, Account Officer, Head Office
When she arrived at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Lisa McAleenan thought she was starting nothing more than a six-week contract. Little did she know that she was embarking on an adventure that would last over 35 years…
In May 1988, Lisa began her government career in ACOA’s Central Records, where she provided assistance to employees. “I loved it!” she says. Her contract was continuously renewed, and she ended up holding that position for a few months before becoming an indeterminate employee.
She explains that “the Agency had only just been created, so employees were hired rapidly.”
Lisa later joined the Business Programs unit in the Fredericton office, where she cut her teeth as an assistant accountant. She spent a few years there before taking up the same position in Moncton, where she now lives.
During those years, Lisa gained experience and acquired many skills in various roles. In 2020, she applied to a competition to become an Account Officer, and to her delight, she was offered the position.
Daryell Nowlan, Acting President of ACOA, has known Lisa for 30 years and they were even neighbours in Fredericton at one point. “She’s hard working and willing to take on any challenge. She’s achieved a lot in the last 36 years. We’ve been lucky to have her on the ACOA team.”
Great accomplishments
When she was 27, Lisa went on French immersion language training for nine months. She found the French language quite challenging to learn, but she is very proud to be bilingual today. “I’m now exempt from the oral exam,” she says.
“I didn’t have a university degree when I started working at ACOA, I was only 18.” Lisa McAleenan, Account Officer |
The language courses greatly helped Lisa move up the ranks and made her eligible to be an Account Officer. According to her, “ACOA is great because it always promotes the training and courses you want to take.”
A few words of advice
Lisa suggests joining different committees and not being afraid to share one’s opinion, as well as taking part in social activities. “More recently, I served on the committee for our new CAPRI system, where all the regions were represented, so I was able to meet employees from the other regions.” This is a simple and easy way to learn while expanding one’s network. She finds her job very rewarding. She gets great satisfaction from being out in the field, seeing businesses evolve and getting to know clients.
Daryell believes that the good management and efficient operation of accounts are largely due to Lisa. “I’d like to congratulate her on her career! She is a big part of ACOA’s history,” he says.
Lastly, Lisa believes that it is important to like one’s job. ACOA employees work hard but have a lot of fun in the process!
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