Lynden is recognizing employees who make a difference every day on the job and demonstrate our core values, Lynden's very own everyday heroes! Employees are nominated by managers and supervisors from all roles within the Lynden family of companies.
Introducing Gary Newton, Warehouse Associate, Shipper/Receiver at Lynden International Logistics in Delta, British Columbia.
Name: Gary Newton
Company: Lynden International Logistics, Delta, B.C.
Title: Warehouse Associate, Shipper/Receiver
On the Job Since: 1984
Superpower: Attention to detail
Hometown: Vancouver, B.C.
Favorite Movie: A Christmas Carol (1953 version)
Bucket List Destination: Hawaii
For Fun: Local day trips to farmers markets, restaurants and local sightseeing with family and friends
How and when did you start working for Lynden?
There were other companies I worked for before and I also spent one year of college before starting with Johnson & Johnson in September of 1984. First, Livingston Pharmaceutical acquired Johnson & Johnson in 1992, then Lynden acquired Livingston in 2000. I started as a truck driver, moved to detail receiver and am now a shipper/receiver.
What is a typical day like for you?
It`s a 9 to 5ish workday, scheduling inbound and outbound freight and also unloading and loading trucks and trailers. I also monitor the Warehouse Management System (WMS) to print orders and prioritize them as necessary and help with staging hospital orders in the afternoon for shipping.
What has been most challenging in your career?
Moving up to the shipper position has been challenging and dealing with everyday changes and getting shipments in and out when COVID hit. It’s also challenging to deal with highway closures due to floods and avalanches.
What are you most proud of in your career?
My reliability and being conscientious. I try to adapt to changes in workflow and personnel changes.
Can you tell us about your family and growing up years?
I was born in Vancouver, B.C. and have lived in the suburbs ever since. From the age of 16, it was after school and weekend part-time work. Marriage and kids came in my early 20s. I played baseball and soccer until I was 16 and then played soccer again from age 42 to 57 for an over-40s team with and against some former players from premier and international teams. That was a challenge. I had to quit when the body said the aches and pains were too much.
What was your first job?
It was at Sur–Del Carpets, cutting rugs and linoleum to size for customers. This was my after-school and weekend job in high school.
What would surprise most people about you?
Not much. I think I`m pretty much an open book. Although some of my coworkers are trying to teach me the Punjabi language. So now I know some words in four languages: French, Spanish, Punjabi and English.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
Seeing our kids, grandkids and friends. Our two grandkids are involved in high school theatre, so that is fun to watch. One is also in the school jazz and concert band. Their jazz band took first place out of approximately 40 high schools. They then had the honor of opening for the Vancouver Symphony. Their talent doesn`t come from me. We also have an off-the-grid cabin which my dad and friends built in the late 1940`s in the local mountains above Vancouver. I try to get there as much as possible.
It is 1 out of 100 left out of around 300 built. The cabins now have a heritage designation, so that is cool.
We also visit my Mom who lives in the Gulf Islands, where we can sit on the deck and watch the seals, whales, and when we’re lucky, eagles, herons and cruise ships go by.
What do you like best about your job?
The people in the workplace. I also enjoy conversing with clients, drivers, trucking and courier companies and, of course, Lynden people across Canada and the U.S. via email and phone.
While I sincerely appreciate the recognition of this award, I simply consider myself part of the family tree here in Delta, where we strive to do our best to live up to our customers’ expectations, as I`m sure everyone else in the Lynden chain does. Depending on who you talk to, it`s either a bad thing or a good thing that I`m retiring in June! I would like to recognize Alfred Blum and Brady Nimeck, two of my coworkers, who I have worked with for almost 40 years. They have really had to step up to the plate in this last year to take on extra workloads.
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