ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
With her unswerving dedication to her job, her incredible capacity for work and her human warmth, Maria Chee helps make Roots a better place to be every day.
January 2006

If there was an award for the most radiant, contagious smile at Roots, Maria Chee would be a top contender. When she smiles, which is often, her face lights up and shines. Along with her soft-spoken, friendly nature and sense of modesty, Maria has a winning personality. But that’s only a small part of her MVP story.

As Sourcing Manager in the Women’s Clothing and Accessories Department, Maria has long demonstrated an impressive work ethic. Her commitment to her job and her sense of loyalty to Roots are exemplary. Although she arrives for work every day around 9 a.m., she’s often still on the case until 8 p.m. and beyond. She’s regularly one of the last people to leave the office at night. Her capacity for work is nothing short of remarkable.

This month marks exactly five years since Maria joined Roots. She started in the Men’s Technical Department, working on designing, fitting, delivering, and technical aspects of men’s clothing. Less than a year later, Maria became the chief assistant to one of the senior designers. In 2003, she left to work at another clothing company but returned to Roots a half year later as Product Developer for US department stores.

Last May, Maria moved to her current position as a Sourcing Manager. She’s responsible for finding and contacting suitable factories abroad and then helps negotiate contracts, prices, delivery and overall terms with the suppliers. To be fully effective, her position entails staying up to date on all technical aspects of fabrics and clothing manufacturing. Maria also works closely with Quality Control and Compliance at Roots to ensure that vendors meet Roots standards and adhere to specifications.

Her deep involvement in her work reflects the satisfaction she derives from her job. "I love working at Roots because of the atmosphere and friendly people," says Maria. "I enjoy the team-working environment, especially in the Women’s and Accessories Dept. and in Product Development. It makes it a joy to come to work day after day. I feel proud to work for Roots. It’s a Canadian company that, in a way, represents Canada."

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Maria moved to Canada in 1985. She later attended Ryerson University where she received a BA in Fashion Design in 1996. Before coming to Roots, Maria worked at Reebok Canada, where she was a production coordinator in product development.

"I feel a strong sense of responsibility in my work," says Maria, who lives in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough. "I take ownership of what I do. When someone entrusts me with a job, I feel it’s my responsibility to fulfill it and to do my very best to complete the work. I always want to give more than is expected of me. I appreciate the confidence that Roots shows in me and I don’t want to disappoint the people working with me. I just consider it my duty. I just consider it doing my job."

When told that she was selected MVP for January, Maria responded in her typical modest way. "I’m embarrassed to be chosen MVP," says Maria. "I really don’t think I deserve it. I don’t like to be in the spotlight."

We convinced her she should make an exception this one time about being in the spotlight as she is so deserving of this honour. "I can’t remember one time that I’ve left the office, even well into the evening, that I haven’t seen Maria still working at her desk," says Roots Co-founder Michael Budman. "Her devotion to her job is really something. Her presence at Roots has a tremendously positive influence and reflects the strong, multi-tasking work ethic that’s needed at Roots to compete in the world marketplace today."

Next time you see Maria, make sure you get her to smile. You’ll see what we mean.  - R.S.

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