A crowd of producers from the Central and Lower Fraser Valley (and a couple of Islanders) gathered with WestGen staff to recognize Camilo Ruiz on the occasion of his retirement from his role as a Genetic Advisor. WestGen hosted the celebration evening on October 25 at the Phoenix Ballroom in Abbotsford. Attendees enjoyed visiting with neighbours and friends over wine and cheese. Midway through the evening it was time to toast and roast the guest of honour. A number of Camilo’s WestGen colleagues and producer directors took their turns sharing humorous stories, special memories and kind words about Camilo with the group, a small assortment of which I’ve included here:
“If you look up customer service in the dictionary, you’ll find Camilo is the definition.” – Chris Parry.
“Camilo has done his job to an extremely high level and a high standard and we’re so proud, Camilo, that your customers are here to share this evening with you.” – Paul Meyer.
“How has Camilo achieved his success? Service, Respect, Determination, Values (family).” – Bob Massie.
“It didn’t matter what day of the week it was, it didn’t matter how long it was, it didn’t matter what the weather was, Camilo came through for the customer. If he manages to pass on a bit of his work ethic and willingness to work to his family, either through genetics or example, they’re going to do very well.” – Brian Shaw.
“From a board of director standpoint, Camilo is kind of like the cow in the herd that gets a longtime production record and hardly anybody knows who she is; because she just comes and goes without any problems.” – Tony DeGroot.
Anyone that knows him agrees that Camilo leaves a lasting impression on most people he meets. Ever the gentleman, in the 16 years he spent at WestGen, he established himself as an unbeatable customer service representative. Camilo, a veterinarian by trade, brought his family (wife Soledad, son Mauricio, and daughters Maria and Camila) to Canada from Colombia in 1999 for a safer life. After a couple of years working on dairy farms, he was hired as a technician at WestGen. He quickly moved up the ranks as management recognized his incredible work ethic, and soon became the one to beat in internal sales competitions. While Camilo adjusts to retirement this winter, I know he won’t miss driving through Sumas Prairie on cold, blustery days; but I imagine shifting gears to a slower pace will be a challenge for this go-getter. He assured the crowd he won’t be a stranger, saying, “The best thing in these 16+ years has been to establish these amazing relationships with my customers/friends. I’ll be back – I won’t stop bothering you guys.” We’ll be sure to have the strong coffee on. All the best
Camilo, and enjoy the extra time you have to spend with your beloved grandkids!
by Kristin Dahl, BC Holstein News, December 2017
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