< Previous16 | Friday, 18 March It was when a friend sold a tower crane to a company in the Cayman Islands that fate came knocking at Ron’s door. “He said they’d be looking for someone to operate it on the island, and said I should consider the position,” Ron said. To say there’s a difference between the Minnesota and Cayman winters would be an understatement. Ron zoomed in on the world map several times on his iPad screen until he found Grand Cayman; made his mind up quickly (apparently he’s never about wasting time in his life); sold everything at his 40-acre farm but the farm itself; and he flew south to the Caribbean in 2019 to join LG Contracting Ltd. From the start, Ron was looking to identify young Caymanians he felt he could train. “I needed someone who wasn’t cocky and really willing to learn and work hard,” Ron said. West Bayer Duran Ebanks immediately showed interest, and after a few weeks of Ron working with him, the seasoned operator felt he had the right man for the job. “The guy was spot on,” Ron said, recalling Duran’s eagerness to study the necessary paperwork and watch training videos. Obviously COVID delayed projects that were halted due to lockdowns, but once people got back to work, Duran was right back, running the crane. “That Seacrest project… Duran did that himself,” Ron, his proud teacher, said, referring to a new 10-storey condo build on Seven Mile Beach. For Duran, this is exactly where he wants to be. “I’ve been building stuff from when I was a kid,” he said, recalling the two-storey doghouse built in his childhood. “When LG got that crane, I wanted to be the first one in the seat.” He also credits Ron for being patient and a great trainer. “If it wasn’t for Ron, I’d still be holding a shovel,” Duran said. “[Being a crane operator] is a really fulfilling job. I see so many other Caymanians that have talents they don’t even realise, and they don’t feel they have the opportunities. I really want to push others to do this.” Becoming a tower crane operator is certainly not for everyone. For starters, there is no room for a fear of heights. Forget being up in the cab - you first have to climb 200 feet up the tower in 20-foot staircase sections, surrounded only by a protective cage, then cross a short platform at the top before taking your seat. Don’t even get us started on heading outside the cab along the jib on a regular basis to check its structural integrity. Which brings us to the next stipulation: being fit. Ron Ritter and Duran Ebanks on the job site. The floor of the cab is transparent, so those with vertigo should steer clear.Even Ron, who is built like rebar wrapped in concrete, likes the climb up those 200 steps but admits to being a little winded by the time he reaches his ‘office’. Having a calm and cool head about you is important, particularly if things get dicey and, as far as Ron’s concerned, tardiness is an absolute no-no. “Don’t be late - ever,” Ron said. “There’s no excuse. You’re holding up others and the day’s work.” You also have to enjoy your own company and the solitude that comes with being up there alone. Coming down for lunch, or nature’s call, isn’t really an option. Let’s just say there are lots of buckets involved. That all being said, the pros of becoming a crane operator are hard to ignore. No university degree is required, and the pay is great - only getting better over time if you excel at your job. It’s also a skill you can take with you to other countries, wherever structures are being built. Ever wonder about those tall buildings in Dubai? They all require cranes. The sense of accomplishment at the end of each day is real. “You see everything from a different perspective,” Ron said. “You witness the pile of materials diminishing and how they become a part of what you’re helping create. “Being up high like that, you’re looking at the whole picture.” And then, there are those views he spoke of. “The Cayman waters are so clear, I’ve seen barracudas and parrotfish from my vantage point up there,” Ron said. As he’s usually in his seat 30 minutes early in the morning (“Because I love my job”), you’d think he’d be eager to leave as soon as the workday is officially done, but Ron often sticks around to watch the island’s awe-inspiring daily show. “I’ll look at my watch and see that the sunset is happening soon, so I just sit back and take it in,” he said. “It never gets old.” ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS JOB? Ron is looking for more Caymanian candidates to train. Contact him via email at rdrritter@gmail.com. “IF IT WASN’T FOR RON, I’D STILL BE HOLDING A SHOVEL.” – Duran Ebanks Not many office windows offer this vista. 17Friday, 18 March | 18 | Friday, 18 March INSPIRED BY DR. SHETTY At 14 years old, Elman Elizondo met Health City Cayman Islands founder Dr. Devi Shetty in what was to be a pivotal moment in the young boy’s life. Although he was there on a school field trip and didn’t yet know much about the world-renowned cardiologist, this meeting would prove to shape young Elman’s future career choice. Elman later returned to Health City to participate in several student programmes, including Shadow a Doctor and the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF). He then obtained a job in the hospital’s pharmaceutical store, and due to his interest and acumen, he was afforded the opportunity to work on a ward. With encouragement and initial funding from Health City, Elman is now pursuing his bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University College of the Cayman Islands, with a view to returning to the East End hospital when he graduates. “I think that if it wasn’t for Health City, I wouldn’t want to pursue a career in the healthcare industry, as I didn’t completely know what I wanted to do in my life,” he says. MEETING DR. SHETTY His meeting with Dr. Shetty was at the time Health City opened in the Cayman Islands. “I didn’t know much about him, but I did know his goals and what he strives to do when it comes to making healthcare a lot cheaper, so people don’t have to worry about the bill afterwards,” he recalls. “In a way, the meeting was inspiring to me, so that I wanted to pursue a profession that helps people.” When he completes his studies at UCCI, Elman, now aged 22, will be a registered nurse and hopes to work in the recovery room at Health City. “I would say to young Caymanians that if you truly want to help people, I don’t think there’s any better place to do it than in the healthcare industry,” he says. “It may be hard, but in the end it’s really worth it.” PRAISE FOR ELMAN Dr. Shetty also has words of praise for Elman, describing the former John Gray High School student’s achievements and goals as a wonderful and inspiring journey. “I happened to be at Health City at that time (when Elman first visited) and I had the privilege of meeting this boy and his colleagues,” he says. “Elman plans to return to us as soon as he completes his education, and I’m sure he will become one of the best nurses and we will all be proud of him.” The eminent heart surgeon, who pioneered affordable healthcare in his native India, has it high on his wish list to encourage boys and girls to embrace the medical profession. “My dream is that one day the entire Health City Cayman Islands is staffed by the most skilled Caymanian doctors, Caymanian nurses, Caymanian administrators and everyone involved in healthcare,” he says. Elman Elizondo in 2014 with Dr. Devi Shetty, founder of Health City. Photo: Health City Cayman Islands. For further information about career opportunities at Health City, visit healthcitycaymanislands. com/contact/employment- opportunities. Elman with staff member Naveen Hosur Murthy. At work in Health City.+1 (345) 640-4195healthcare.explorers@healthcity.kywww.healthcareexplorers.com Whether you’re in primary school, high school, college or university, our Healthcare Explorers program will help set you on a path towards a rewarding career in medicine and healthcare. Healthcare Explorers offers a broad range of programs from educational on-demand videos, to field trips, Shadow a Doctor, internships and work experience. A world of endless opportunities. Join us. to learn more SCAN HERE Careers happen with Healthcare Explorers20 | Friday, 18 March DEQUAN SMITH: MUSIC IN HIS SOUL Students follow different paths, leading them to careers in everything from archaeology and sports medicine to theatre and music. For Dequan Smith, the latter has held great appeal ever since he was a young boy, and now, he is taking his passion of playing the cello to the next level, studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. For the Cayman Arts Festival, which has nurtured his talent from the beginning, it is positive proof that despite the small size of these islands, there are the resources available for musically-gifted children to realise their dream of playing or teaching music for a living. Executive director of CAF, Marius Gaina, has been instrumental in assisting students with scholarships and honing their performance skills with monthly recitals at various venues around the island, including St. George’s Anglican Church and the grounds of the National Gallery. Dequan is one such protégé who has accomplished remarkable things, thanks to the support of his teachers and family, and his unswerving commitment to his studies. “Dequan is a very hardworking student and I’ve known him since we started our afterschool programmes,” Gaina said. “He was always dedicated and a shining example to the other kids.” Although Dequan originally began his musical journey learning the piano, trumpet and other brass instruments, it was love at first sight when he finally turned his hand to the cello at the age of 13. Since then, he has attended summer camp in New York at the Luzerne Music Centre (through the grant of a scholarship from CAF); played with world-renowned cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason; won Butterfield Young Musician of the Year; performed for Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Corwall, when they visited Cayman; been accepted to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; and was announced as a finalist in the Young Musician of the Caribbean Award Office jobs are not for everyone… and they don’t have to be. Vicki Wheaton vwheaton@compassmedia.ky Cayman Arts Festival helps young children realise their dream of playing music.competition, being held in the Dominican Republic on 26 March. Dequan has never forgotten to thank those who have helped him in his quest to become an international professional musician and teacher. He is very grateful to his teachers Angharad Parkes, Richard May, Jameson Platte and Stephen Czarkowski, and, of course, CAF. “I wouldn’t be a cellist if not for Cayman Arts Festival,” Dequan said. “They have provided scholarships, support and instruments to use – all I had to do was practise.” Gaina hopes that others will take a leaf out of Dequan’s book, and see that a career in music is an attainable goal. “He proved that the dream is possible – it’s doable – and now all the other children will see that one of their own can reach that level,” said Gaina. “This proves that our programmes are working, and we consider Dequan to be a Cayman Arts Festival ambassador in the UK.” Dequan has inspirational words for those who may follow in his footsteps. “There are so many ways to get to what you want to achieve,” he said. “The most exciting part for me is discovering how I will get there.” “DEQUAN IS A VERY HARDWORKING STUDENT… AND A SHINING EXAMPLE TO THE OTHER KIDS.” – Marius Gaina, executive director of Cayman Arts Festival For more information on applying for CAF scholarships and the afterschool programme, or to assist with sponsoring same, call Marius Gaina on 922-5550 or email director@ caymanartsfestival.com. Dequan often plays for Cayman Arts Festival events when he is on the island. Dequan Smith and internationally renowned cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason. 21Friday, 18 March | www.ciipa.ky Where could accounting take you? If there’s one moral of the story with Michelle Morgan’s professional development, it’s that getting your CPA can take you many places. “It’s totally the jump off point to whatever you want to do,” Morgan said. “You’re not pigeon-holed into one thing.” She began her career articling for Arthur Anderson and was at KPMG for a while before being hired as a controller at a large Canadian retail furniture chain. From there, she caught the travel bug and headed to Bermuda, where she worked in fund administration before she found the next venture she got truly excited about. “Myself and another director saw a real need for technology,” she said. “The technology that was available to this entire industry was really bad.” From there, Titan Technology Group Ltd. was born and Morgan currently serves as Director. “I love it,” she said. But she’s more than just someone who runs an accounting software company. Outside of work, Morgan is an author and even wrote, filmed and starred in a local film, Tripping Through. “You end up with this confidence that you can do anything,” Morgan said of becoming a CPA. “If you look at a lot of the successful small and medium-sized business owners, if you look at the CEOs, CFOs… a lot of them are chartered accountants. There are just a ton of stories about people who have done their articles and then have gone on to completely unrelated things.” Melanie McTaggart turned a love for numbers into a growing business. “Languages were always a hard thing for me in school,” she said. “Accounting just was an elegant language through numbers. So I just fell in love with accounting.” She began her career in audit but eventually she knew she wanted to take a different path. “In audit, you were reviewing the story of a company and making sure it was written correctly,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of writing the story.” She decided to get her advanced certification in Quickbooks and started her own company. “I said, ‘well this is a perfect opportunity for me to do what I love, which is work with small businesses… and use the language of accounting to tell the story.” McTaggart said a career in accounting can be whatever you want it to be. “There’s no one cookie cutter path,” she said. “Take that language of accounting because it’s such a powerful thing, and you can go anywhere with it.” Laurie Mernett’s path to accountancy began in the unlikeliest of places. “I just ended up working at McDonald’s,” said Mernett, who started part-time as a teenager and was promoted to managerial positions while working there during university. “The role itself is basically like running a small business," she said. That experience inspired her to return to school and get her Bachelor of Commerce, where she excelled. “One of my professors just pulled me aside and said, ‘I think you’ve got an aptitude for this. Why don’t you consider doing accounting?’ So I did and I’d say the rest is history from there.” Now, Mernett serves as an audit partner with Deloitte Cayman Islands. She said her story goes to show that you not everyone needs to know exactly what they want to do by the time they graduate high school or college. “People need to take a leap and have confidence in yourself to do it. … As people start to progress through life and get that maturity and conviction, [they] realize they can achieve more than what they thought.”Cayman Islands Health Services Authority | 95 Hospital Road | 949-8600 | www.hsa.ky As one of Cayman’s largest employers, the HSA is honored to provide meaningful career opportunities to both medical and non-medical professionals. Each of our employees, from administration to clinicians, allied health professionals to support services, plays a vital role in providing quality care to the people of the Cayman Islands. “The field of molecular biology played a crucial role in our country’s successful management of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a Caymanian, I am proud to have contributed to the safety of our community by utilizing my skills in research and analysis of genomic sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.” – Tanisha Gilbert MOLECULAR BIOLOGIST “Healthcare is such a rewarding field; the lives you save, bringing comfort, healing and hope to patients and families is a long-lasting satisfaction. There are several paths to pursue in the local healthcare industry. It’s a privilege to be able to use my medical knowledge to improve the quality of lives in our community.” – Dr. Samantha Mascarenhas MEDICAL INTERN C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Career Ad Compass 2022 with bleed.pdf 7 3/1/2022 5:04:50 PMenterprisecayman.ky We are preparing the next generation of Caymanian innovators Enterprise Cayman was created to give everyone in the Cayman Islands access to high quality learning experiences and opportunities to pursue dynamic careers in the technology and innovation sectors. Learn to code, how product development works, enter professional competitions, use our high-tech resources, network with industry professionals, and much more! Brought to you by Cayman Enterprise City. Get involved, find out how by visiting enterprisecayman.ky or contacting innovate@enterprisecayman.kySoftware Programming Support Engineering Digital Marketing Blockchain & Crypto Projects Project Management Administration and more! Enterprise Cayman is committed to helping Caymanian students and resident job-seekers position themselves for new careers that are currently being created amongst hundreds of companies now set up within Cayman Enterprise City. The Internship Programme is open to Caymanians and residents of the Cayman Islands between the ages of 18-25 and lasts for one to three months. Open positions include: Visit enterprisecayman.ky/internships to apply. Connect With Innovators!Next >