Rowan Brooks celebrates 50 years of service with J.D. Irving, Limited

Since starting at J.D. Irving, Limited 50 years ago, Rowan Brooks has witnessed a lot of change in the field of information technology. After all, his career predates the world wide web and started just a few years after email was invented.

Rowan began his career in September 1974 with RST after answering an ad in the paper. IT wasn’t a career he’d ever planned on pursuing, but when an opportunity arose to help implement a new computer system for RST, he took it.

“That’s where I started in the IT world.”

He would go on to work in the pulp and paper division installing a new software system and later, he did the same for shipbuilding. Today, Rowan is a Senior Application Specialist who is implementing and optimizing the capital asset management function across all JDI operations. He is instrumental in providing technology support and best practices to the maintenance professionals within our operations.

Being able to move around within the company and explore different opportunities is just one aspect Rowan said he’s come to appreciate at JDI. He’s also thankful for the opportunity to a pursue a career that allowed him to remain in the Maritimes.

Over the last five decades, Rowan said coming to work for the challenge is what drives him.

“Because you work with great people, right? And a lot of ideas. It’s just how we bring them to reality.”

During his career, there have been too many changes in the field to name them all. Case in point: “The first computer I had, the mouse was just coming into fruition,” Rowan said. “Now we have handheld units that have more computing power than what put men on the moon.”

Wireless communications and more user-friendly software are other developments. And now with the proliferation of computerization, people out in the field have their own understanding of computers and databases, Rowan added – something that can at times make the job easier and at times harder.

As for reaching 50 years of service, “It’s been a goal for a while,” Rowan said. “It’s a milestone most people may not think to achieve, but it was something that was important to me.”