Troy ThomasAge: 45Role: Training officer for Sigma Corporate Services (subsidiary of The Ascendant Group)What is your job? My main role is managing the industrial trades apprenticeship programme for Belco, This includes recruiting and tracking workplace and overseas technical training until certification is achieved.Other responsibilities include - track each employee's skills competency progression through our assessment for advancement programme, develop and maintain the database for this tracking process, liaise with schools (private and public) to discuss career paths, help manage our work placement programme that allows students to experience the work environment in the Ascendant Group, remain current with overseas training institutions to help Belco train its people, and seek training programmes for personal development to remain effective in my role.What is your favourite part of the job? Meeting and talking to young people who are yet to lose that spark in their eye that says: “They're going to take over the world!”What is your least favourite part of the job? Explaining to a very committed grandmother why we're not hiring her grandson who, to her, is the best thing since sliced bread.What is your most interesting experience at work? Being nominated by colleagues for the 2010 Ascendant Impact Award. It was very humbling to know that my work buddies appreciated what I do and that a company, in the midst of these economic times would spend a major amount of funds to acknowledge it's performers. I was also plastered with 30 gallons of water as an initiation prank on my birthday by an employee whose name I'd love to mention now.What would you be doing otherwise? Fabricating choppers and riding across a winding coastline with the wind blowing over my bald head and my wife holding on for dear life. I also love to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the young, old and in between. Without him none of this would be worthwhile or as fulfilling as it is.