By Ryanne McIsaac
Kim Brennan says that it doesn’t feel like she’s been working at College of the North Atlantic (CNA) for more than 30 years.
“I remember when I was just hired at the college and I was filling out all the forms for Maureen Eddy in Human Resources and she was talking about pension and retiring etc. and I thou
ght ‘Wow, that’s a lifetime away,’” she reflected. “But here I am just a few years away from retiring. Thirty years flew by.”
Brennan is an Accounting Clerk at Bay St. George campus in Stephenville. She was born and raised in Kippens, but she has called Port au Port East home for the past 25 years. She says over the years she has held multiple positions at CNA.
“When I started at the college I was hired as a temp for the Human Resources Department, I also worked in the mailroom, bookstore, purchasing and the library at LA Bown,” she said.
Although retirement is only 3.5 years away for Brennan, she says there is always something interesting happening at CNA.
“The college is always changing so you really don’t get a chance to get bored with it,” she said. “New faces, new programs and several different positions kept me from becoming bored, and I have made a lot of good friends over the years.”
Brennan says in her free time she enjoys painting and gardening and offers some words of wisdom for anyone considering a position in her field.
“It’s about adaptability,” she says. “Try to be open to new ideas and processes.”
Wanda Shea – Do what you love
Wanda Shea recently retired from her role as a Clerk Typist III at Seal Cove campus after more than 36 years.
Shea says enjoying what you do is key.
“In my field or any other field, I would simply tell someone to ensure it’s something that they love because they’ll be doing it for the next 30 or 40 years,” she said.
Originally from Upper Gullies, she says she is enjoying retirement in Foxtrap and looks back fondly at her time at CNA.
“It feels great! I’v
e made so many friends who were both employees and students,” said Shea. “I loved my job.”
Over the years she has worked in many different departments at three different campuses, including Clerk IV, Clerk Stenographer II, Clerk Typist II, Clerk Typist III, Examination Co-ordinator and Invigilator, Switchboard Operator, and Word Processing Equipment Operator I.
Shea credits the many perks of her job with keeping her in one place for so long.
“Except for a three-week temporary position at a private agency, it was my first real job and it had the benefits of union, medical, dental, and pension. I really enjoyed working with the college and when I transferred to the Seal Cove Campus, I was five minutes from home.”
Shea says she plans on spending her retirement playing cards and enjoying time with her friends and family.
