We want to use this month’s employee highlight to touch on Evelyne’s career, the industry insights she’s gained over the years, how she has helped shape EVLO internally, and more information about how her HR work translates to success on the project development side. We want the resulting piece to help explain how integral a strong HR lead is to the success of the other departments. This piece will be more focused on the human side of EVLO rather than the tech, though we don’t want to present the two as being mutually exclusive.
You’ve been with EVLO for nearly three years. How have you seen the organization evolve during that time?
When I began at EVLO in 2022, we were just approaching 60 employees – still considered a small- to mid-sized company. Today, we have 188 employees and are expanding our reach across North America. My team and I have worked to rapidly evolve our HR structure to best support the needs of our growing workforce. In less than three years, we have integrated HR information systems, better defined our policies, and strengthened our professional development programs to serve as the foundation of an exceptional employee experience. I’m very proud to see how much progress we’ve made in such a short time, and I know this is just the beginning.
What is your approach to recruiting?
As the market expands and evolves, so does the competition to attract and retain the industry’s best and brightest. What sets EVLO apart is its emphasis on technical excellence and unparalleled customer partnership, and it’s crucial that we approach our recruiting efforts through that lens. We look for candidates with strong engineering experience – whether they specialize in electrical, mechanical, software, or automation – as well as team members who have a track record of meticulous project development and a customer-first mindset.
EVLO takes its responsibility to provide equal, equitable employment opportunities seriously. We are proud to have several women on our leadership team, including our incredible CEO, Sonia St-Arnaud. We also aim to sustain an inclusive work environment where everyone is empowered to share their unique experiences and perspectives while contributing to our common goals.
As a company at the heart of the energy transition, it’s also important for us to build a workforce that shares our passion for developing innovative technology to address the global climate crisis. We are committed to creating opportunities for the next generation of energy professionals through our internship programs with local universities. We are invigorated by the fresh perspectives and genuine enthusiasm we see from our junior teammates and look forward to watching the new heights they will reach throughout their careers.
Can you shed more light on EVLO’s commitment to professional development?
Absolutely. Countless studies have shown that professional development is a critical component of the employee experience. Our team is the lifeblood of this organization, and as HR leaders, we must provide ample opportunities for their continual education and growth.
At EVLO, we work to equip our employees with both the technical skills and managerial training they need to thrive throughout their careers. In 2023, we worked closely with our managerial team to uncover the knowledge and skills gaps across our teams and develop a comprehensive training program tailored to those needs. We also partnered with an organizational psychology group to develop what we call ‘potential tests.’ The results give us a better sense of our team members’ strengths and areas of opportunity, which can then be nurtured through more personalized training and development. We have received great feedback on our efforts so far and are excited to refine and further strengthen these programs over time.
Seeing our team members grow and reach their full potential is one of the most rewarding aspects of this role. I’m proud to work with an organization that upholds its responsibility to the long-term satisfaction and success of its employees.
Can you talk about EVLO’s company culture?
EVLO is intentional with its efforts to create and sustain a supportive and engaging company culture. This starts with EvloVie, a working group dedicated to enhancing the employee experience. EvloVie provides everyone on our team with a space to connect, share new ideas, and develop collaborative solutions to make our workplace even stronger.
This strong cultural foundation was perhaps never more important than when we returned to the office following the COVID pandemic. As our team adjusted to working with their colleagues in person – some for the first time – we needed to find new ways to keep employees feeling engaged and appreciated while continuing to promote a safe and healthy work experience. To ensure everyone had a platform to share their insights, we conducted biweekly surveys to capture employee net promoter scores and develop a better understanding of our collective values. The responses we received were incredibly informative and helped to shape EVLO as a champion for respect, innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial spirit.
To keep these values front and center, we developed a recognition program to shoutout the exceptional work of our team members. This initiative went a long way toward boosting morale and keeping everyone connected during a difficult time, and we’re proud to continue that effort today.
As EVLO expands into the U.S. market, how are you evolving the team?
We have a huge opportunity to build upon our rich history and success in Canada to support the energy transition in the United States. We are seeing a lot of interest in our solutions in key markets across the country.
Of course, each region comes with its own complexity, and we need to be responsive to market dynamics and the unique needs of each customer. However, we are more than up to the challenge, and we’ve already connected with a host of talented people who are eager to contribute to EVLO’s forward-looking vision and vibrant culture.
We are excited about the future and look forward to building upon our already phenomenal team. As EVLO helps to reshape the North American energy landscape, we are always seeking new team members who possess the expertise and shared values needed to help us achieve our ambitious goals. Please visit the EVLO Careers page for more information about our vision, culture, and benefits, and to browse our current opportunities.