manager planning, mobile equipment maintenance

"I had lots of offers when I came to Fort McMurray, but I chose Suncor because I really admired the leadership."

Keith Bergey has worked on the front lines of oil sands mining. As the supervisor in charge of some 30 tradespeople working together to maintain and repair the heavy haul truck fleet, he’s used to gritty, inclement conditions that can be hard on equipment. But even when equipment breaks down, Keith has felt supported at Suncor Energy.

"Management is very sympathetic," explains Keith, who was so impressed with Suncor’s senior management that, in May of 2005, he decided to put himself in the Suncor picture.

"I had lots of offers when I came to Fort McMurray, but I chose Suncor because I really admired the leadership," he says. "It really seemed to me they were talking the right talk and doing everything they possibly could to walk the walk."

Walking the walk means making good on a promise to develop his career. Already, Keith has been promoted to a higher supervisory position and he continues to see the company invest in his career focus.

"I felt right from day one that I was important to Suncor," he says.

The proof can be seen in many of the Suncor employee initiatives such as subsidized training opportunities, a scholarship program for the children of staff, as well as a summer student program.

According to Keith, the company also makes a substantial commitment to the families living in Fort McMurray, who feel the positive effects of the investments made by the Suncor Energy Foundation.

But it’s the personal touch that has the biggest impact.

"Last Christmas, my son got two movie passes personally addressed to him. It was such a small thing but I was overwhelmed that they knew I had a son and what his name was."

It’s things like that which this employee values most about his job.

"It’s quite overwhelming how committed they are to their people," he says. "I feel more valued at Suncor, which has close to 6,500 people, than I’ve felt at companies where there were only 10."