Alic Clarke This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Sandals Phenomenal Woman - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM

   www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazi - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/13/2006   Last Visited: 3/13/2006

   Endorsing her unanimous nomination, the general manager of the resort said that Clarke is a positive influence and energises her team to stretch their horizons to infinity.
   ...
   A lover of languages, Clarke aspired to be a linguist. After high school she applied to the Montego Bay Community College to do a course in languages, but much to her disappointment the programme was discontinued.
   
   She applied to the Jamaica Commercial Institute where she pursued a course in secretarial skills. Upon successful completion, she enrolled in Duff's Business College to further validate her secretarial and administrative competence through the acquisition of a Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) rating.
   
   Armed with these proficiencies she landed her first job at American Life Insurance Company (ALIC) where she worked for eight years as a secretary/office manager for the branch manager, the former Governor General Sir Howard Cooke. Clarke looks back at this experience as priceless.
   ...
   After leaving ALIC Clarke moved on to Workers' Bank as Secretary to the Branch Manager and then in 1993 entered Sandals Resorts International as executive secretary to the managing director, Merrick Fray.
   ...
   After five years during which Clarke decided to try her hand at business, she partnered with her husband in opening the Falmouth Auto Centre. However, after six years she realised that she longed for the dynamism of Sandals and this time tried her hand at housekeeping.
   
   Having an eye for details and a passion for cleanliness and order served her well in this supervisory role. Within six months she was awarded supervisor of the quarter, blazing a trail of accomplishment and leadership which did not go unnoticed by her superiors.
   ...
   According to Clarke, the formula for success in managing such a department with diverse personalities takes exceptional administrative skills coupled with an eye for cleanliness and basic common sense.
   
   Clarke works on average 12-hour days. The running joke at the resort is that clocks can be set by her very strict daily routine. Every morning at 8:30 she makes her entry into the executive offices. She puts down her handbag and goes out for an early morning property walk. She greets her guests, picks up glasses and beach towels from the beach, grabs a granola bar from the breakfast buffet and goes off to meet with her staff.
   
   There she is greeted with a barrage of questions and friendly taunts all in an effort to get the attention of their beloved leader. She jokingly chides them for their childlike behaviour to which they respond in a loud chorus of cheers and laughter.
   
   She motivates this 66-member team to offer service nothing short of their best efforts while encouraging them to continue to maintain the high standards for which the department has become known. From then on she was constantly on the go, ensuring the smooth and efficient delivery of service until her usual departure time of 8:30 pm.
   
   Many wonder how she juggles such a demanding job with her equally demanding familial responsibilities.
   
   "It's all about organising and prioritising," explains this no-nonsense vegetarian of nine years. It is this lifestyle change, which she attributes to her resilience and she adds, "Sleeping really helps.