Few people are as qualified as Roderick Turner to talk or teach on the subject of service.
The Head of Department of Service Industries and Programme Co-ordinator of Hospitality and KiwiHost, Tai Poutini Polytechnic in Greymouth, Roderick started his career in the international hospitality industry prior to becoming a lecturer.
Tai Poutini Polytechnic was just taking on the KiwiHost franchise when Roderick joined them in 2004, but he had already been involved with the organisation for more than six years through the Southland Institute of Technology.
“I am fortunate in that we get to work with industry and business, as well as young students only just embarking on their careers. The contrast is remarkable. The young students are more holistic in their outlook, but the more experienced students quickly start to learn off each other and that makes for interesting classes,” says Roderick.
He says the Department of Service Industries (which teaches everything from KiwiHost’s customer service, tourism, hospitality and hairdressing to nanny courses and support of the older person) is about helping people to connect with other people which, in essence, is what customer service is all about.
In 2006 Roderick won the Hospitality Training Institute’s Excellence in Training Awards: Innovative Resource of the Year.
Outside of work, Roderick enjoys amateur dramatics and is a member of both the Greymouth Operatic Society and the local amateur dramatics group.
Personal profile:
Qualifications
· Catering and Front of House City and Guilds and HSI qualifications
· National Certificate in Adult Education and Training Level 5
· National Diploma Business Experience
· Management of Hotel Staff Training
· Food and Beverage Manager, General Manager experience
· Food and Beverage Tutor, Specialist Food Safety Tutor, Southern Institute of Technology, Southland
· Established Sale of Liquor Act (SOLA) training at SIT
· Worked with HSI and Invercargill RAID Squad in the early development of the LCQ unit standards
· Judge and member of Judges Panel, New Zealand Culinary Fare (2000, 2001, 2002)
· KiwiHost West Coast
· Winner, HSI Excellence in Training Awards: Innovative Resource of the Year, 2006
· Currently, Head of Department of Service Industries and Programme Co-ordinator of Hospitality and KiwiHost, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Greymouth