Personnel changes at Powell River and District United Way are making way for some creative job sharing.
The non-profit organization has hired two employees, Elise Statham and Lisa Rowbotham, to take over after Christine Parsons, the coordinator of Success By 6 and the ORCA (On the Road with Children’s Activities) Bus program, decided to move on.
“Success By 6 is a great stepping-stone job for people who want to work in community development,” said Dale Lawson, executive director at Powell River and District United Way.
Lawson said the charity had originally blended the two roles to make the job a full-time position which it thought would make it more attractive.
Both Statham and Rowbotham were looking for a job with flexible hours.
Talking to the Peak last week, Statham said she and Rowbotham were just finishing up a week of training and were excited to take on the roles and to work together.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for both of us because we’ll be able to dabble in both roles,” said Statham.
This is not the first time the women have worked together.
“Going back many years, we both worked together at the tourism office,” said Statham. “Our lives keep crossing. It’s wonderful. We both bring a lot of education and experience to the table but I think it has lent itself to a great relationship.”
Her background is in marketing and community relations having worked for the Powell River Kings hockey club.
Statham, who has an infant daughter, said the job offered a lot of flexibility and creativity that would allow her to stay engaged with her career but also take care of her daughter.
Rowbotham, who was born and raised in Powell River, said she’s excited to be back and heading up the United Way projects.
They will work out of their offices at Westview Elementary School and at United Way, above Rona Building Centre.
Despite the personnel changes, Success By 6 and the ORCA Bus will operate the same.
Statham said she has appreciated the effort made by Parsons in the position to put the ORCA Bus back on the road again and laid a strong foundation for the program. “Now Lisa and I really have the opportunity to take it and run with it,” she said.
The ORCA Bus will be at the Family Literacy Day event Books Before Bed Pajama Party from 4 to 7 pm on Friday, January 24 at Powell River Recreation Complex.
