Our focus for this issue of A Day in the Life falls on Cornell John, chief engineer with our engineering department here at Camana Bay. How did he make his way to Dart from the other side of the Caribbean?
“I will have been with Dart for six years at the end of July. I originally came here from Trinidad and Tobago, although I was born and raised in St. Lucia. I saw an opening for a building maintenance technician with Dart while I was in St. Lucia, wrapping up a project. I applied for the position and then got the call that I was successful the week of my wedding."
With a laugh, John continued, "It was a surprise to my wife when I told her 'We are moving to the Cayman Islands!'”
Reflecting on an important aspect of his journey while at Dart, John said, “Since I started working here, I have found that the Dart value of meritocracy has proven to be true, as I was able to progress to the position of assistant chief engineer and now chief engineer.”
CBT: What drew you to this field?
CJ: I have always been involved in engineering in some respects; I’m a tinkerer by birth. When I was young, I wanted to be a marine biologist with National Geographic. However, I did later focus on my true calling, engineering. I studied mechanical engineering and did my master’s in engineering asset management, so that kind of drew me to the field of maintenance management and building sciences. Facilities management marries the two areas.
CBT: What is your favourite part of your job?
CJ: I think it would be working on the diverse and innovative systems we have at Camana Bay and working with the team on solutions for complex problems when they arise. The collaboration and results we get from teamwork has a greater result for the department as a whole, while also fuelling my personal growth and fulfilment.
CBT: Do you have a set schedule for tasks or is every day different?
CJ: In the facility management field, every day is different. Nevertheless, there are set tasks I have each day; for example, taking part in the safety briefing every morning and the review of the work done overnight, as we are a 24/7 operation. But every day there are a myriad of challenges that crop up, so there is endless variety.
CBT: What are some examples of the variety of tasks you are presented with as chief engineer?
CJ: Our department receives tasks from internal and external customers. We may be reviewing energy consumption and related costs with a property manager and financial controller or working with IT on system upgrades that need to take place, or the expansion of our chiller plant in collaboration with DECCO. We get a lot of requests from tenants as well, so my role will involve helping with, for example, air-conditioning or life-safety (fire) systems.
CBT: Who inspires you?
CJ: I have always admired my mum’s work ethic, and her industriousness and determination. She instilled in me the value of honesty and integrity, which is one of the values DART stands on.
