Natalie Withers’ title at Saint John Airport is accounting and administrative clerk. But spend a day with her and you quickly discover that the numbers are only part of the job.
One moment, she may be working in the administrative office. The next, she could be installing signs, helping clean up the terminal or responding to a request from Air Canada, Maintair or one of YSJ’s many partners.
“I kind of dabble in other things – just helping with whatever else needs to be done,” she says.
That variety suits Natalie just fine.
“Every day is different,” she says. “I just never know when I come to work what it could be. You expect the unexpected. I love it.”
Natalie joined YSJ 11 years ago following a career in Saint John’s tourism industry. After completing a work term at the Fundy Trail, she spent 12 years helping to organize shore excursions for cruise ship passengers with the Aquila Tours team – an experience she describes as “amazing” and one that introduced her to some of her lifelong friends.
She wasn’t looking for a new job when the opportunity at YSJ appeared. But the airport was closer to home, worked well for her growing family and, above all, “just felt right.”
More than a decade later, it still does.
For Natalie, the best part of YSJ is the people – not only her colleagues in the office and garage, but the security staff, airline agents, restaurant, and others who keep the airport moving.
“They become like family,” she says. “It’s just like a group of friends you hang out with all the time at work. It doesn’t feel like work.”
That warmth, energy and readiness to tackle whatever the day brings make Natalie an ideal fit for YSJ – although she does have one firm preference: she would much rather be helping behind the scenes than posing for a photograph.
She is far less hesitant when it comes to championing the airport. Natalie knows that every passenger who chooses YSJ helps strengthen the case for maintaining and growing local air service.
Her pitch to the community is characteristically simple: “Come use YSJ.”