Member Spotlight - Josée Roy

Friday, Sep 2, 2022

CREW Calgary is pleased to introduce new member, Josée Roy. Josée is originally from New Brunswick but has lived in many different cities in Canada and internationally, including France. Josée has worked primarily in the hospitality industry, with over 15 years of experience. With her extensive knowledge of hospitality, she pivoted her skills into property management, finding a lot of similarities with her existing experience. Josée has been working in property management for the last three years as a Tenant Service Coordinator for Riverpark Properties, currently managing projects in Calgary.

What is your favourite CREW event throughout the year and why? What event are you most looking forward to?

Being brand new to CREW, I have not been able to attend many formal events yet. However, I enjoyed the new member meet and greet – it was a great opportunity to meet other people in the industry and be a part of such a welcoming environment. All the attendees were eager and enthusiastic to finally meet in person. I am looking forward to future events with guest speakers and any event where food is involved, I am a big foodie!

Were there any big moments that monumentally shifted the trajectory of your career and what helped you not only recognize but capitalize on this insight?

Absolutely, yes. To be completely candid, the monumental shift was due to mental health and going through a burn out. We often caution this, but don’t talk about it once it has happened to someone. After so many years in the hotel industry and experiencing complete mental exhaustion, I realized that as passionate as I was about hospitality, it was not great for my work-life balance. When it came time for me to choose what I wanted to do and refocus on my career, it was difficult for me to see how the skills I have gained could be applied to a different industry. Moving to property management felt like a huge shift, but it really wasn’t. I continue to value my passion for customer service and put all the skills I have learned to good use. It was also important to me to find a company with a great work-life balance, and values that align with my own. Sometimes I miss the hustle and bustle of the hospitality industry, but property management has its similarities.

After a busy day or week of work, what helps you unwind and relax, and have you picked up any new hobbies or interests over the last year?

Spin class! I am typically exhausted going to a Friday evening spin class, but it is such a great way to finish off my week and move into the weekend. Moving your body does wonders for mental health. However, if I am not feeling as motivated, I will watch RuPaul’s drag race and enjoy a bowl of pho!

A new hobby I have taught myself is how to care for plants. I’ve always envied people that naturally have a green thumb. I used to kill every single plant that I looked at. With COVID, I found that I had a lot of time on my hands and a willingness to learn about plants. I started small and I am now a proud plant mom to over 70 beautiful plants, with a huge jungle at home. I am even bringing them into the office!

Share an interesting or little-known fact about yourself?

I moved to France when I was 24 with very little concrete plans. I went in with a work visa and I knew I wanted to live by the beach. I lived in the southwest of France in Biarritz, the surf capital in France next to Spain. It was the best decision I made in my life! Biarritz is a summer town – people move there to work seasonally and then leave to work on a ski resort. I have a lot of great memories from my time there.