Orietta Danyluk’s career path from mentee to mentor

In high school, Orietta Danyluk pictured herself becoming an interior designer. But as happens to many of us, her career path took a different route and today she’s GFL’s office manager in Coquitlam, BC, where she recently celebrated 25 years in the waste industry.

Danyluk was treated to a catered lunch in the office and to her delighted surprise, her mom was also invited to attend. The celebration wrapped up with a special team dinner at a local restaurant.

Danyluk has embraced a strong work ethic all her life. A conversation with a family friend 25 years ago led to an interview at Smithrite Disposal, where Danyluk was hired on the spot. It marked the beginning of a rewarding career in the waste industry that saw her grow with the company, from a small 12-truck operation to its eventual acquisition by GFL in 2018.

Danyluk was eager to learn and take on more responsibilities — from accounts receivable to customer service where she took orders for portable toilets and roll-off bins.

“I had the luxury of learning all sorts of positions,” Danyluk said. “The business grew very quickly, and I just learned everything and soaked it all in to try to be as indispensable as I could.”

Danyluk eventually advanced to office manager, a role in which she oversees the billing for the Coquitlam business unit, manages large accounts and leads a team consisting of billing analysts, key account coordinators and office administrators.

Danyluk cares about GFL’s customers and will go above and beyond to make sure their needs are met, calling on the appropriate coworkers to help her.

“If a customer calls me on a Saturday, I’ll answer my phone and find a way to make something happen for them,” she said.

Danyluk likes to organize events that bring all employees together in a family atmosphere, such as a lunch, a picnic or a town hall meeting where employees receive awards for years of service, being a role model and/or safety.

She also enjoys spearheading projects with GFL’s Full Circle Project, helping to support local charities like the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation and Ronald McDonald House.

As she looks back on 25 years in the industry, Danyluk appreciates the mentorship she received early in her career and is now happy to be in a position to pay that mentorship forward, guiding junior staff along their career paths at GFL.

“There’s lots of opportunity to grow at GFL,” Danyluk said. “I’m always proud when someone comes to me to seek advice and I can help them develop a career plan.”

Outside of work, Danyluk is a dedicated mom to her nine-year-old son, whom she enjoys cheering on at baseball games and playing frisbee with in the park.

Congratulations, Orietta!

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