| Congrats Sharma! |
Sankara N Sharma, Senior Instrumentation Engineer for Kentz in Saudi Arabia, has earned the most recognised and respected global credential attainable from the Project Management Institute (PMI), Pennsylvania, USA. He recently achieved the prestigious Project Management Professional (PMP®) credential.
To obtain a PMP credential an individual must complete 35 educational hours, have no less than 4,500 hours of hands-on experience, agree to adhere to a professional code of conduct and pass the PMP examination. |
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| Sharma is delighted with his new credentials |
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The PMP certification programme supports the global community of project management practitioners and is designed to objectively assess and measure professional knowledge. The PMP designation following a professional’s name demonstrates to employers and others that the credential holder possesses a solid foundation of experience and education in project management. The PMI certification programme is the first professional certification programme of its kind to receive the ISO: 9001 certification, a globally recognised mark of a quality management system.
Sharma is a member of the Arabian Gulf Chapter of PMI and has been employed as Lead Project Engineer with Kentz since 2000. He is currently working on the Royal Commission Industrial Infrastructure Development Projects in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. He is also presently pursuing his dissertation work towards a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Hull in the UK. |
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| Qatar Watches “The Masters” |
Qatar was alive with excitement from the 27th to 31st January when it hosted the Qatar Masters at the Doha Golf Club and Kentz was sure not to miss it either. Clients from Shell, ExxonMobil, QatarGas, Linde and KBR to name a few, joined Kentz at the corporate hospitality on the 18th green. They were in prime position to view the fast-paced putting on the final hole!
Guests spent most of the day following their favourite golf stars on the course, returning to the clubhouse only to refuel before heading out again for the afternoon. Who could blame them with golfing stars such as Lee Westwood, Retief Goosen and Alvaro Quiros strutting their stuff. Many of the Irish employees were also hot on the heels of Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell and were lucky enough to get to host them in their hospitality suite after their rounds.
Getting to speak to the golfers was not the only bit of excitement; with two holes to go both Lee Westwood and Robert Karlsson were leading. For those supporting Lee Westwood they were to be disappointed as he dropped one shot on the 17th and another on 18th to end up third. Robert Karlsson picked up 2 shots over the final 2 holes, which resulted in him to becoming the winner of the Qatar Masters 2010.
All in all it was a fantastic few days with great hospitality, great company and great golf. All the Kentz employees in attendance enjoyed the Masters and are eagerly looking forward to the competition in 2011. |
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L-R: Pat Leahy, Group Construction Proposals Manager; Donna Gray, Marketing and Public Relations Executive, Middle East; Shane Lowry, pro-golfer; Alan McFadden, Business Development Manager, Qatar; and Dermot Byrne, Shane Lowry’s caddy |
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L-R: Graeme McDowell,
pro-golfer, Martin Walsh, Qatar Country Manager, Country Director, Qatar; and Shane Lowry, pro-golfer |
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| Ongoing Redevelopment of Haiti |
John Skelly from Longford in Ireland re-joined Kentz in April to help with the redevelopment initiative in Haiti. John previously worked for Kentz in Saudi Arabia for two years (2007-09). He was hired as Construction Manager and went to Port-au-Prince to join the Kentz/Digicel team in the post-earthquake reconstruction effort. He is working closely with Mark Ford, Project Manager on St Gerrard's School.
Here John gives us a little insight into his time there so far: |
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| John Skelly surveying the damaged retaining wall at St. Gerrard's School |
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My colleague Mark Ford has been leading the ongoing transitional schools' programme, aiming to complete a minimum of 50 schools before the academic year begins. A prefabrication site has been secured and modular classroom units will be finished here before final assembly at school sites. It's planned that the prefabs will be handed over to a local partner after the schools' construction project is finished in order to provide employment in the area. |
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| Peter Kerrigan and Mark Ford and site of collapsed wall |
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In early May we completed a 3,200m2 temporary office space facility at the headquarters of the Ministry of Education. Most of the Ministry's headquarters was destroyed in the earthquake.
At St. Gerrard's School, where the first classroom unit was installed, a 15m-high retaining wall collapsed onto the school yard. There remains a steep bank of unsupported material, with the remains of destroyed houses on top. No reconstruction can take place at the school until the whole site is made safe. We are now preparing to reconstruct this retaining wall with funding from the Irish charity Tócaire. |
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Since my arrival, Haven* have approached Noel Kelly requesting that Kentz provide technical support in their programme of constructing community centres at 15 Internally Displaced People's (IDP) camps in and around Port-au-Prince. As well as assisting the Haven Partnership with these, we are also working with Haven in implementing their Transitional Shelter Programme, providing shelters to hundreds of families currently living in makeshift tents. The focus is on providing shelter to as many families as possible with the rainy season beginning soon.
We extend our sincere gratitude to all in Kentz for their continued support in making this work possible.
Thank you to Mark and John for all the hard work and long hours they are putting in for such a worthwhile cause. Keep up the good work!
*Haven is an Irish Non Government Organisation working solely in Haiti since February 2009. Originally launched as a house and community building charity working in rural areas, Haven has been providing emergency relief to those displaced by the earthquake. |
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| Destroyed houses on hilltop and schoolyard below |
| Graduates Complete SMDP |
The Supervisory Management Development Programme (SMDP) was developed in 2007 to enhance Kentz's graduates' development through a structured 24-month programme. This programme comprises of formal training, mentoring and learning on the job, for which all graduates received a user guide.
SMDP courses include:
- The Rotation, Exposure, Experience Programme (REEP) for engineering disciplines,
- The Quantity Surveyor, Exposure, Experience Programme (QEEP), The Finance, Exposure,
- Experience Programme (FEEP) and
- The Business Development, Exposure, Experience Programme (BEEP).
The first group of graduates/Junior Supervisors has now completed the programme and this was celebrated in Doha on 2nd March for the Qatar-based graduates.
The proceedings kicked off with reference to the importance of graduates to Kentz, the opportunities now open to them and to wish them the best in their careers with Kentz. Martin Walsh, Qatar Country Manager, was delighted to be involved and thanked Hugh O'Donnell, Chief Executive Officer, for his continued support of these programmes. He also acknowledged the importance of continued education and development especially in a fast-paced environment like Kentz.
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| L-R: Mike Pyers, Middle East Regional HR Manager; Donal O'Neill; Katie Plummer, Junior HSE Officer; Claire Barry, Project Engineer; Kieran Leahy, Superintendent; Hugh Gough, Electrical Engineer; Jimmy Galvin, Superintendent; Graham O'Driscoll, Electrical Engineer; Jamal Vettuparemmal, Qatar HR Manager; and Martin Walsh |
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| On Course for a Great Day |
Kentz's Technical Support Services Business Unit in South Africa recently hosted a golf day at the Pinnacle Point Golf Course in Mossel Bay. Along with players from Kentz, there was senior management from Petro SA, including Dan Morakane, Chief Executive Officer, and Wiekus Pretorius, Vice President.
The course is perched on the edge of cliffs south of Mossel Bay, so losing balls is the norm! Collectively 56 balls were lost that day. It is stated that this golf club sells more golf balls than glasses of beer! Incredibly Wiekus played with the same ball for the full 18 holes and completed the course with a fantastic total of 84 shots.
A great day was had by all in attendance and thank you to the organisers for a great day out. |
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Golfers ready to take on the Pinnacle Golf Course |
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Donna and Shem
Congratulations to Donna Webb and her partner Shem who got engaged on 28th February.
Donna is a Senior Document Controller working on the Gorgon Project, based at Kentz's Henderson office in Perth, Australia. The happy couple have been together for the past three and a half years and now plan to start saving towards their dream honeymoon in Europe. Best of luck with your big day and your life together afterwards as husband and wife! |
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Luca Marengo
Carlo Marengo, Technical Support Services Business Unit Manager, South Africa, and his wife Justine welcomed their second child into the world on 12th December 2009. Little Luca was born in the Ethekwini Hospital in Durban to the delight of his parents and big sister Isabella. Congratulations to you all and wishing you the best with your new addition to the family. |
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Ebony Hendrichsen
Congratulations to Kentz's Kelly Burge and Terry Hendrichsen on the birth of their baby girl Ebony Rose. Kelly is a Cleaner and Terry is an Electrician, both based on the Pluto B Project in Karratha, Western Australia. Ebony arrived a few weeks earlier than expected on 12th February and weighed 5lbs 5oz. |
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Madhav Subbarayappa
The management and staff of Kentz in Qatar would like to congratulate Dhanajay Subbarayappa, Technical Supervisor, and his wife Shobha on the birth of their daughter Madhav. Madhav was born on Monday 7th December 2009 weighing 3.2kg. Wishing you both the best as you begin your lives with your new addition! |
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We need you!
If you have a story, announcement or experience to share with your
fellow Kentz people, please send an email along with any relevant picture to
NEWSLETTER@KENTZ.COM | | |
