The B.C. Human Resources Management Association has named Sabrina Mowbray of Prince George as the Rising Star of the Year.
Mowbray is the human resources advisor at Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. She started on the job last April 16. One week later, one of the mills owned by the company exploded and burned, killing two and wounding a large number of others.
"Sabrina's efforts in the wake of the tragic event at Lakeland, and to this day, have been exemplary," said Greg Stewart, president of Sinclar Group. "She made herself available 24/7, working tirelessly with our injured employees, providing both practical and emotional support to our staff and their families. Given that Sabrina had only been in her position for a week before this tragedy occurred, her response is especially remarkable."
Mowbray was pleased with the award, especially since it was peer recognition.
It is hard to celebrate, however, she confessed, when so many of her fellow Sinclar Group employees have been so negatively affected by the mill incident. She considered it her immediate mission to help as much as she could, and that job isn't complete to this day, she said.
"I don't think there was anyone in this whole Prince George area that the incident didn't touch. The support - from the community right through to our international customers - has been unbelievable," she said. "Professionally, it is not something anyone can prepare themselves for. There is one thing about having processes in place, but the emotional side is something else."
Impossible for Mowbray to forget, while many in the community were focused on Lakeland, were all the other facets of the Sinclar Group world. The company owns several business entities and she had to provide the same quality service to each one.
She helped set up blood donation programs and a Canadian Cancer Society wellness program, advised management and workers alike on employment standards, recruitment and selection, introduced a company-wide corporate vision for human resources and found new ways to track HR success.
Mowbray also gives back to her profession, by doing volunteer work for the regional activities of the human resources management association, like helping organize a northern HR symposium, mentoring, being a post-secondary liaison to CNC and UNBC, and more.
"It is a value-adding, strategic role for a company," she said. "Your people are your best asset, and HR professionals can really help you give the best and get the best as a team with your people."
It is the second time in three years that a Prince George HR professional has won the B.C. association's Rising Star award. Kara Biles won the trophy in 2011, and was also employed by Sinclar Group. Prior to that, she worked for the BC Public Service Agency and is now with Canfor.
