Boss man of the year

Latoya Grindley, Staff Reporter
When your staff nominates you for the Jamaica Association of Administrative Professional's (JAAP) Boss of the Year award, you can pat yourself on the back knowing that you are held in very high regard by your team. And it should be an even greater feeling when after going through the selection process, you are declared the winner!
Dr Fritz Pinnock, executive director of the Caribbean Maritime Institute of Jamaica, is the boss whose vision and leadership style have resulted in a team-oriented work environment, working towards a common goal.
Serving as executive director for six years, Pinnock told Flair that getting his staff to believe in his vision was very important to him. It came with challenges, but with his ability to lead by example, he won over their full support.
"I am very purpose-driven and goal-oriented. When I came here initially, my challenge was to have the staff buy into the vision that I had. But I am not daunted by challenges." Assuming the responsibility of managing a team, especially in such a capacity, Pinnock notes that it very important to remain professional.
"I don't even like the word boss or leader. I prefer chief servant as I subscribe to the principles of the Bible. Often, there is a conflict between rights and responsibilities in leadership and I believe the higher you move up on the leadership ladder, responsibilities increase and rights decrease. As a leader, you are the face of the organisation; it is your responsibility to always represent it in the best way."
No stranger to top managerial positions, Pinnock revealed that he landed his first managerial position at the age of 21, when he served as group manager for research and development at Lannaman and Morris (Shipping Limited).
Having progressed and moved on to serve in other management positions over the years, Pinnock explains that to lead effectively, one has to have the ability to influence and maintain a good rapport with staff.
"Influence should not come from position but with the relationships with staff members. You have to build a special relationship with staff members. People work well with those they trust."
With an undergraduate degree in economics and accounting, Pinnock told Flair that his working in shipping and logistics was by chance.
"I knew for sure that I did not want to work in a caged environment. How I got into shipping is a funny story. While in my final year at university, I met a woman who was in the industry and I was very impressed with her professional outlook and poise."
He was so impressed that he decided to call his first employer at Lannaman and Morris, and spoke directly to the owner, requesting a meeting.
"I told him that I would like to meet with him to discuss how I could add value to his company."
He got that one chance to create an impression and that he did! Having left quite an impression, a post was created for him in the capacity of group manager for research and development."
study logistics
With stints at GraceKennedy where he served in its transportation division, Pinnock went on to pursue a master's degree in shipping and logistics.
"Back in 1989 when I decided to study logistics, people thought I was crazy because it was not popular then."
Coming out of the private sector, Pinnock ventured into unfamiliar territory when he took up his current post at the Caribbean Maritime Institute.
This journey, he claims, has been nothing but fulfilling.
"Coming out of the private sector to see youngsters, especially from the inner cities, breaking barriers is very exciting. We have many success stories here and I can say to you that employment rate is very high for our graduates."
With a strong family connection and the support of a strong and supportive father, Pinnock said that the love he received as a child, he demonstrates to his students.
According to him, a third of the school's population is at-risk youths. Reaching out to them is one of his ways of contributing to the nation's development by giving these youngsters hope.
"It is really one of my out-of-the-box strategies. I want to see them earning real money. That is what keeps me going. If you want to kill a nation, remove hope."
With a doctorate degree under his educational belt, Pinnock is also an author, with his most recent work titled Caribbean Cruise Tourism: Power Relations Among Stakeholders.
Having been declared Boss of the Year by JAAP, Pinnock took home the award for the Kingston chapter. The organisation has five chapters- St James, St Ann, Portland and Manchester.
"It is a humbling experience and I see this as a great responsibility. It is a platform through which I can give back and help with national development. I will also work on the rebranding of the association," he told Flair.
A father of two girls and a husband to his wife Lois, this boss enjoys reading (which he does every day for two hours), tennis and powerboating.
latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com