Fortune and fate have steered Aleks Bortkiewicz into her job as Coordinator, Passenger Services, at the Vancouver Harbour Heliport.
It’s a cool, grey and blustery winter day and Helijet’s downtown facility seems warmer and more inviting than usual when I walk up to the check-in. The woman behind the counter warmly greets me and I see her name is Aleks - by chance, the very woman I’ve been asked to interview for this employee column.
Aleks Bortkiewicz is Helijet’s Coordinator, Passenger Services, at the Vancouver Harbour Heliport. At once friendly and approachable, she accommodates an interview and photo shoot in the middle of her working day - a day that also just happens to be her 30th birthday.
Serendipity seems to follow Aleks: she was driving along Airport Road at the South Terminal in Richmond after a job interview with another airline when she noticed Helijet’s blue and white sign. For whatever reason, it spoke to her so she pulled into the parking lot and put in an application on the spot. Liking their “one-of-a-kind product”, Aleks accepted a position with Helijet as a Passenger Services Agent. She excelled in this role and soon afterward became a flight attendant. About three years ago she was promoted to the position of Coordinator, Passenger Services, at the Vancouver Harbour Heliport.
Aleks says she was drawn to aviation for as long as she can remember. She opted for electives in tourism study during high school, and prior to joining Helijet she learned about the airline industry through her work with Tourism BC and the Peace Arch Information Centre. Now, as her 10-year anniversary with Helijet approaches, Aleks says she enjoys the daily environment of the airline where she works directly with customers and staff, striving to make everything operate as smoothly as possible.
When asked about those things that are truly meaningful in her work, Aleks provides a few pearls of wisdom: “We can be proud of the highest level of customer service we provide; it is always changing - something new happens every day; and we have the ability to problem-solve and make a person’s day better.” What’s more, she recognizes the team at Helijet goes the extra distance in getting to know their customers, particularly regular passengers - some of whom have been flying on Helijet longer than most employees.
“We know about their work and their families... it’s like we become a part of their family.”
In addition to the day-to-day operations, Aleks says she enjoys learning about the many facets of change in the industry from customer service standards to changes in technology. She also enjoys collaborating with Carla Kovacs, Helijet’s Director of Passenger Services, in finding ways to make the airline operate better and more efficiently.
After nearly a decade of working with Helijet, Aleks recognizes the company is unique for how it rewards hard work and dedication. When asked about what the future holds, she smiles and says, “I’m really happy where I’m at; I’m comfortable in my own shoes.”
Story and photo by Jennifer Gray. This article is reprinted with the permission from Helijet and Archipelago Media Ltd.
