[BLOG] One on One with Maggie Dunnett, General Manager at DriverCheck

October 7, 2016

[AYR, ON] – DriverCheck Inc. is proud to be celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer. To commemorate this achievement, we are running a four-part series that features the DriverCheck family as they each reflect on the past twenty years of business. In the second part of this series, we recently sat down with Maggie Dunnett, General Manager of DriverCheck, and daughter to Dr. Chris Page and Dr. Mary-Jean Page, the founders and owners of DriverCheck since 1996.
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Tell us about 1996 when you decided to join DriverCheck?

Maggie Dunnett (MD) – I had just finished school at McMaster University and initially the plan was to take on a one year internship, then go to medical school and become a doctor. But I fell in love with what we were doing as a new company. There were huge opportunities, and I felt like something could be made of this in what could become a fascinating long term career.

My parents have always been supportive. Consciously I know they were not trying to sway me in any direction. They were happy if I was happy.

Explain the pros and challenges of running a family business?

MD – A family run business is a unique opportunity to spend time together with people with whom you share bonds and whom you trust and respect. When you attach your family name to a business, you feel proud of your accomplishments. We’re proud of what we have created, and continually want to improve.

Our family members all share the same values. We all have a common goal. With us, each person has a different strength, and we complement each other. The different views and perspectives are a definite strength in our family, and subsequently DriverCheck. There’s never been sibling rivalry. There’s never been a need.

Of course with any organization or family, there are always challenges. Because we all share the same values and goals, it’s nothing that we can’t overcome. Some may say family run companies are filled with nepotism, resulting in poorly run operations. That couldn’t be further from the truth for us. We’ve all started at the ground level. When there is that preconceived notion, it makes me want to work harder than everyone else, and ensure that I don’t receive any special treatment.

When we hired my brother, Connor, we really put him through the ringer. Countless job interviews with all the managers in the office. He wasn’t granted any special opportunities. He’s worked for it.

What is your proudest DriverCheck achievement?

MD – To know you’ve started something from scratch is an amazing feeling. When we started, everything was new, the industry, DOT testing, processes. Change is always constant at DriverCheck. During our twenty years, never once have we become stagnant and happy with the status quo. We’ve always wanted to improve. I’m proud that this company is always striving for improvement whether it be technology, processes or software development.

To have growth, you always need to be adapting, or evolving. Just because something works now, doesn’t mean it will continue to work in the future as your business evolves.
Our headquarters is in Ayr, Ontario, which is a small town. I take great pride in knowing that we create jobs for others including those in our community and being active sponsors for such worthy organizations locally.

Why is fitness for duty testing important?

MD – Safety in the workplace is imperative for a company’s success. That includes the safety of workers, co-workers and everyone around them. It is our duty to ensure that a person is fit for duty in safety sensitive occupations. By doing so, our clients see a decrease in workplace accidents and a decrease in injuries. We provide workplace testing competently, efficiently and cost effectively, ultimately resulting in our clients saving time and money.

Tell us about the early years and fond memories from the past 20 years.

MD – To say a lot has happened over the past twenty years is an understatement. With a tight knit company like ours, when we hire, we are looking for individuals with similar values and ethics. By doing so, I have developed many close relationships with staff. From weddings, babies and group events, there are so many fond memories that I have – inside and outside of the workplace. I can’t help but laugh when I remember the early years in the barn – cramming twenty people in a 1,000 square foot space. It was cozy but we made it work!

In the beginning it was just my parents, Dianne and me. She and I did every task imaginable. We performed collections, booked appointments, ran the random selection program – and it was all brand new at the time, so we had to learn as we went along. And of course, we cleaned the toilets! The ground level exposure we gained was an amazing experience.

Dianne and I have built a very strong working relationship. We’ve worked together so long that we don’t even need complete sentences to communicate – a word, a gesture, or a look suffices. We were fortunate that we got along so well. Again, this goes back to our company ethics and values which have been instilled since day one.

What makes DriverCheck special?

MD – It’s all about our people and culture. It may sound cliché, but it is the truth. Our staff makes the company tick, ensuring that we provide a high end level of service, providing solutions, improving processes. Many of our employees have held a variety of roles here, and have been in the trenches at some point, which leads to a better understanding of what we offer and this value translates to our clients through workplace medical testing solutions. Our exemplary staff goes the extra mile for our clients. Personally I love seeing the growth of our people and subsequent promotion from within.

What are you most excited about for the future of the company?

MD – One thing that makes DriverCheck unique is that we are never static. We are constantly looking for ways to improve. As we prepare for our next phase of growth, we are focusing on improving our software that will streamline the process for our clients. By improving technology efficiencies, we will make our clients’ lives easier.
Our goal is to be viewed as the industry leader for fitness for duty services in the workplace. We want to be the first people that are contacted when workplace medical testing questions come up.
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We hope you enjoyed this article. Thank you for being a part of the DriverCheck family over the past twenty years – without you, we couldn’t have done it! Have comments or questions about this article? Let us know by emailing us at PR@DriverCheck.ca.

About DriverCheck Inc.:

Since its inception in 1996, DriverCheck Inc. (DC) has been the leading provider of medical testing and assessments in Canada. Physician-owned and operated, DC has grown to become the largest national provider of workplace medical testing, and was one of the first Third Party Administrators in Canada to offer DOT-regulated alcohol and drug testing. DC’s head office is located in the village of Ayr, the heart of Ontario’s transportation hub. DC currently serves over 5,000 employers, with access to over 1,000 testing facilities strategically located across the country, providing easy access to all medical services. Our diverse service offerings include alcohol and drug testing, fatigue management, occupational health and injury management programs (including remote medical services). DC services a wide array of industries including transportation, oil & gas, mining, forestry and medical.
As Canada’s fitness for duty leader, DC’s top priority is the safety of your staff and workplace.

To learn more about DriverCheck, visit www.DriverCheck.ca or call 1 (800) 463-4310.