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A Farewell Retirement Message
By Debbie Ciccotelli, VP of Strategic Initiatives
The moment has come for me to turn the page to a new chapter in my life, as I announce my retirement effective May 31st. Reflecting on the journey we’ve traversed together in ASP fills my heart with both pride and gratitude.
Working with ASP is my third and final career. I began my career at the young age of 19 with Transport Canada at Toronto Pearson Airport and when the airport was privatized, I transitioned to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. My last and final employer, ASP has been my all-time favorite.
I have known our CEO, Dean Lovric for over 25 years, and I think of him not only as a boss, but a friend as well. I am so thankful to have the chance to work alongside him. Dean’s enthusiasm, motivation, passion, and support has been inspirational to me. He is a caring and supportive leader, which is one of the many things I love about him.
To my incredible colleagues, working with all of you has been truly inspiring. I have learned, grown, and shared many moments with you. I owe a debt of gratitude to all of you for the experiences we’ve shared together and the unwavering support I have received. It’s not the projects or the deadlines that I’ll remember most fondly, but the everyday moments of unity and shared purpose. Together we have combined forces to hit targets, win new business, innovate like wizards, and create a vibe that’s nothing short of magical. I am proud of the excellent work we have accomplished together. You’re the best bunch of colleagues anyone could ask for and although I am moving on, I carry with me found memories of you all.
I would like to give a special shout-out to my amazing team, Jason White and more recently Sarah Miller. It has been an incredible roller coaster ride with the numerous projects, long and tiring workdays and tight deadlines, but I am so proud of what we have accomplished together. Jason, you have left an indelible mark on my heart, even when times were tough, you made me laugh a little louder, smile a little brighter and live a little better. Fate made us teammates, but time has made us friends and the memories and experiences we shared will stay with me forever.
To all the employees at ASP, I know that your work is not always easy, but always remember you are doing important work and each and every one of you makes a difference to the company, our clients and our customers.
In my time at ASP, I have had the pleasure to mentor a number of people in the company. I wanted to share a little bit about this experience. In writing this message, it got me thinking about why mentoring is one of the things I am extremely passionate about. I have been extremely fortunate to have been mentored by some amazing people throughout my life. And they all made a significant impact on me, and I recognize how fortunate I was to have them – they helped to form my character and ultimately made me the person I am today. It was important to me to “pay if forward’ and do for others what these individuals did for me. What I have come to realize after having been both a mentor and a mentee is that it doesn’t matter which side you are on, there are lessons to be learned. I have learned just as many lessons from those who I have mentored as from those who have mentored me, and I encourage you all to seek out a mentor and to pay it forward as your career progresses.
To all the employees at ASP, I know that your work is not always easy, but always remember you are doing important work and each and every one of you makes a difference to the company, our clients and our customers. It’s incredible how a group of people from such diverse backgrounds works so closely and well together. I am so proud of the excellent workforce we have at ASP.
I am writing this farewell message with deep emotions as I say goodbye to this incredible company. The memories and bonds we have formed mean the world to me. I look forward to watching the continued success of ASP from the sidelines with great admiration. I wish you all success in the future and I know you will rock the future.
Thank you and farewell!