CTM Career Pathways: Marci Hills

Tech savvy skills that “traveled” across industries

In the fast-moving world of the travel industry, numerous departments, people, and skills come together to keep everything running smoothly. Among these essential skills that transcend industries, the expertise of IT professionals shines brightly. Meet Marci Hills, a dedicated employee at CTM, whose passion lies in unraveling complex challenges with a methodical mindset, bringing her a sense of fulfillment each time a problem is successfully resolved. If you are a passionate IT superstar who is ready for an industry change, corporate travel might be the career pathway you have dreamed of.

Marci’s CTM Career Pathway – Snapshot

• 2015 – Management Information Systems (MIS)/IT Support
• 2019 – Telecom Support
• 2020 – IT Helpdesk Manager
• 2023 – Director IT Helpdesk Operations

How did you find yourself working in the travel industry and CTM?

I found my way to the travel industry via personal circumstances with the need to join a company that provided the right culture and flexibility I needed as a mother of a young family, rather than the common story of a love of travel. I am so pleased CTM is where I have landed.

My work history was in the finance industry and when my children were little, I left my role at a bank to commence my first role in IT however working with banking software. This role required longer hours than I could accommodate with four young children, so I needed to find an opportunity that had a supportive culture and provided the flexibility for me to pick up my children from childcare and school. A good friend of mine was working for CTM and mentioned they were looking for someone to fill an IT/MIS support role. I applied for the role and knew this was the company for me. Not only was it a role that complemented my skill set, but also a company that could provide the flexibility I needed. I could not believe my luck and the rest is history.

You have worked in a variety of roles that all involve being analytical, dealing with data, and solving problems. What is it about these types of roles that you love so much?

There is something about identifying a problem, thinking through possible resolutions, and systematically working through the beginning, middle, and end.  I love the feeling of accomplishment I get when the team wraps up a seemingly insurmountable project. Looking back on it and saying “Yeah, we did that and we nailed it!” feels so good!

How do the CTM values assist you in your role?

It is a match made in heaven when a company’s values align with your own. Life is all about relationships, whether it be personal or work, and ensuring they are healthy and positive will see you kicking goals in all areas. If you have great working relationships with colleagues and leaders, then the chances are you are going to have a positive career path.

CTM certainly supports a positive company culture; they recognize great work, and they want to support and empower you to achieve. I love getting up and going to work because of the people I work with and fortunately for me, I get to liaise with a variety of departments and people across CTM North America in my daily dealings and love being able to help solve their problems. That gives me a lot of satisfaction in my job.

Laughing with my team and having fun is such a great environment and company culture to be immersed in.

You are a CTM All Star Awards winner. What does being an All Star mean to you and what was the best part of your All Star experience?

The wonderful thing about CTM All Stars is that it is peer-nominated, so to be recognized for your working efforts and great achievements by your colleagues is something I think anyone would appreciate, so I truly value this award and am thrilled for my fellow All Stars.

The location for CTM All Stars for 2023 was Dubai and admittedly it is not a destination I would have considered visiting, but luckily for me, it was. Dubai exceeded all my expectations and was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I enjoyed every moment of Dubai and getting to know all the CTM All Stars from around the globe.

What would you say to anyone considering a career in travel?

I am not a creature of habit, so I don’t like doing the same thing every day which is why I love working at CTM. The travel industry moves fast, so you can guarantee there will be something new for you to tackle each day. You never know what you will come against, what problems you may have to solve, and what obstacles to overcome; that is what makes life interesting and that’s what I enjoy about the travel industry and CTM. I guess what I am trying to say is, do it! You will never look back and be thankful you took the plunge.

Have you been given any advice, guidance, or opportunities that significantly impacted your career progression at CTM? If so, what was it?

I grew up on a farm. There was a lot of hard work to be done (and I didn’t like a lot of it).  My mom and dad were very good at encouraging us to face the unsavory tasks head-on and to feel good about what we’d done.  Take the time to smell the roses if you will. That attitude has shaped my life in general and my work ethic. I think that attitude is recognized and rewarded at CTM, but certainly by those I’ve had the privilege of working alongside in my career here. I’m grateful for the opportunities and support I’ve been given by so many colleagues here along the way.

What has been your most valuable learning experience at CTM and why?

I’ve had a lot of valuable learning experiences since my first travel industry role. If I had to pick one, it would be to get to know everyone you can. Remember to communicate and build relationships with your colleagues. After all, it’s fun and much easier to work with friends!

In no more than 5 words, how would you describe your CTM employee experience?

Nothing can hold me back!