Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers (2025) - Flipbook - Page 34
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CANADA'S TOP SMALL & MEDIUM EMPLOYERS (2025)
Genoa Design’s people share a passion for ships
F
or years, Alain Tientcheu
dreamed about exploring
Newfoundland’s beautiful
coasts and soaking in
the province’s rich shipbuilding
history, so when the opportunity came to join Genoa Design
International Ltd., he flew across
the ocean to seize it.
With a background in naval
architecture and a master’s degree
in engineering, Tientcheu was
working in shipbuilding in Europe
when he discovered Genoa while
researching Newfoundland. Born
in Cameroon, in central Africa, he
was drawn to the remote island.
“I was looking for a company
that innovates and is always
looking to be among the top.
Genoa is the one,” says Tientcheu,
a designer.
Based in Mount Pearl, just
outside St. John’s, Genoa provides
innovative 3D modelling and
production design services to
shipbuilding and ocean industries.
Founded in 1995, the company now has offices in British
Columbia and Louisiana and
developed extensive experience
working on navy and coast guard
programs across North America.
When Tientcheu joined Genoa
two years ago, he worked on
computer software that structures
modelling, piping, electrics and
outfitting of large ship motors. He
is focused now on a new, 160-metre-long polar icebreaker that will
navigate the Arctic.
“Genoa is a company where
I can develop and grow in my
career,” he says.
Laurie Balan continues to learn
five years after joining Genoa, and
she fosters opportunities for the
company’s close to 250 employees
to do the same. A mechanical engineer with 20 years of experience
in shipbuilding, Balan became
the company’s first chief technical
officer and then broadened her
scope to chief operating officer.
“It is a female-led, growing company, and after returning home to
Newfoundland, I wanted to continue my leadership journey in the
marine industry; to do that under
a female CEO was icing on the
cake,” she says, referring to Gina
Pecore, who started her career as
a sailor with the Royal Canadian
Navy and now leads Genoa.
Balan recently undertook an
external executive leadership program and fosters the development
of Genoa employees’ technical
and leadership skills through the
company’s in-house academy as
well as through partnerships with
outside organizations.
“‘Never stand still’ is one of our
core values that drove the development of the academy,” she says.
The company’s values of putting
people first, living well, creating
lasting relationships, making a
difference, owning it, and never
standing still are incorporated
into everything, says Balan. “We’re
all about using a collaborative
approach. We always try to bring
people together. We’re about open
and honest communication.”
Frequent townhall-style meetings are held with executives, who
solicit feedback from employees.
Leaders also engage employee
through other initiatives, including mental health moments and
knowledge cafes. “The cafes are
about grab your coffee, join in and
let’s learn about something we
have a mutual interest in,” Balan
says.
“I WAS LOOKING FOR A COMPANY THAT INNOVATES AND
IS ALWAYS LOOKING TO BE AMONG THE TOP. GENOA IS
THE ONE.”
— Alain Tientcheu, Designer
Employees at Genoa Design International collaborate and share ideas on a cutting-edge project.
