Juan Duarte joined the Blue Ocean team in 2006 after completing a degree in Human Resources Management at Saint Mary’s University. Initially hired as a Customer Support Specialist, Juan’s knowledge of the program and his skills in HR got him quickly promoted to a Coaching position overseeing the work on his client’s program.

Juan sees his role as a Coach as being a sort of ‘Jack of All Trades.’ He needs to be available to help the Agents on his team with any work related issues that may arise throughout the day.  He is in constant contact with clients to make sure the program is running as smooth as possible.  With his fellow Coaches, he manages all program resources throughout the day to make sure service levels are met including reporting, training, scheduling and quality control.  He also serves as the main line of communication between Agents and the Project Coordinator and Manager of his team. “At the end of the day my main concern is that the Agents on my program are happy and are doing a great job,” says Juan.

A Colombian national who was born in Hong Kong, Juan says being able to work with a very multicultural group of people is what he likes most about his job. “The company has a diverse workforce and lots of opportunities for advancement,” he says. Juan has also worked seasonally with the Blue Ocean recruiting team - an experience that he says allowed him to expand on his HR skills.

Juan was successful in getting a sponsorship proposal approved for Blue Ocean to support a soccer team made up mostly of Blue Ocean employees and alumni last year, and he personally helped the team play towards a win in their league in 2009. He appreciates that Blue Ocean is willing to support their employees both in the workplace as well as outside.

So what is the most important thing Juan has learned during his time at the company? He says, “There is a very true Spanish saying that a boss is interested in himself, a leader is interested in the group. I have found this very true with my work experience at Blue Ocean.”