“PACE changed my life for the better in so many ways,” says Heather Barry, who earned her Management Certificate from UWinnipeg PACE in December of 2019. She completed the Project Management Fundamentals course as an elective in the Management Certificate program and says that course helped guide her down a new path.

“It was obvious to me immediately that I found my realm,” she says. Heather returned to PACE and earned her Applied Project Management Certificate in 2022. “It’s an amazing program that opens up lots of opportunities.”

“Before PACE, my personal goal was to be a Manager by the time I was 40,” says Heather. “With the knowledge that I have gained from the courses I took at PACE, I have changed my goal to be a great leader and the manager title will come.”

Heather is the Northern Division Coordinator for Matrix Lumber, a locally-owned and operated building supply center in Headingley. The department she works in manages construction projects for Northern communities.

“Both of my certifications have prepared me to manage the operational change in a project management environment,” says Heather. “I understand the needs and goals of the project managers, project coordinators, management, and support staff.   With the project knowledge that I gained at PACE, I can create processes that work for the industry.”

Heather says her advice to others pursuing studies at PACE is that study techniques matter and that they are also translatable to your work life.

“Study in small manageable chunks. For example, if you are going to be sitting in a doctor’s office waiting room, bring a text book with you and learn while you wait. I do this with work tasks now that seem to be too large to handle.”

Heather Barry
Northern Division Coordinator/Project Manager
Matix Lumber