Steeve Ruimy
Passionate about aviation and continuous improvement
Steeve joined Agropur two years ago, overseeing warehousing and shipping at the Pierre de Coubertin warehouse, in Montreal, Québec. With a background in operations management, Steeve now manages a team of 32 employees and is in charge of inventory and stock management.
All day long, Steeve is in direct contact with our suppliers. His obsession? He has several: delivering product on time to our customers, ensuring product quality, warehouse cleanliness and equipment maintenance.
As a supervisor, Steeve is guided by exemplarity: "You have to ask the maximum from everyone, but to do that, you have to show that you're capable of giving the maximum too."
The human aspect is just as important for Steeve: "You have to know how to take the time for a coffee with your team. Behind the professional, there's the human".
It's only a short step from aviation to milk
As an aviation enthusiast, Steeve worked at Air Canada for seven years as a ground operations manager and team leader. "I've always loved aviation, so I got my pilot's license," he confides.
When COVID hit and aviation slowed down, he found himself looking for a new job. The opportunity to join Agropur presented itself.
Although milk was a new field for him, Steeve recounts that his father was one of the precursors of condensed milk in Morocco. "I liked the idea of reconnecting with my family heritage, it seemed like a sign of destiny."
Pierre de Coubertin's warehouse at a glance
- 32 employees.
- First OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) Agropur site in Canada in distribution and logistics.
- High-performance site in terms of liters of milk discharged per hour (950 L).
Steeve’s first position at Agropur was working nights. "I learned everything from my mentor, Serge Roy, who had been with Agropur for 30 years. He taught me the very basics of warehouse management." At the same time, Steeve became a father for the second time. His daughter was just two weeks old when he started at Agropur. "I was working nights and taking care of my baby during the day. I slept very little but tried to align with my daughter's naps! "
Steeve tells us that his manager was very flexible and understood he had a lot going on outside of work: "My boss was very accommodating, she took care of everything."
Eventually a daytime opportunity became available at the warehouse. Today, Steeve is back to a more "classic" rhythm but is always on the lookout for new challenges!
A constant quest for improvement
What motivates Steeve is the fact that no two days are alike. "I like adrenaline, I like when things are moving. Even though I have an office in the warehouse, most of the time I'm out in the field where everything happens."
Steeve is grateful for the support he receives from his management. "We're supported and appreciated for the work we do. My two bosses, Maryse Castonguay and Marianne Lessard, give me all the tools I need to succeed, and that's invaluable."
The next step for him would be to continue to grow in his field and evolve within Agropur. “I love this work environment. I feel I can make a difference.”
Steeve likes to push himself, try things out, test and try again. This year, he is leading several improvement projects linking quality and operational efficiency. Steeve likes to share with his colleagues in other warehouses what is being implemented at Pierre de Coubertin to help standardize practices. "If I can contribute at my level, I do!”
Aviation, still a passion
For the moment, work and family life leave Steeve little time to renew his passion for flying. “One day, I'll take my children flying to let them discover the joy of being in control of one's freedom." he promises himself.
