Meet the Cactus Moving Team

Before Cactus

Sam came to Canada from Odesa, Ukraine, in 2013, and moving was the first industry he worked in here. He spent five years as a mover, then moved into sales and became general manager of a moving company. When that job ended, he started Cactus Moving in Calgary from scratch, often with just his father beside him in the truck.

At Cactus

Cactus has grown from one location to six and from a family operation to more than 100 movers. Sam now spends his time on strategy, expansion and the systems that let the company grow without losing the standard it started with. He has no university degree. Most of what he knows about business he learned on the job, by making mistakes and looking for better ways to run things.

Off the clock

Sam is married with one son. He played semi-professional soccer in Odesa, later became an amateur North American kickboxing champion, and has trained in combat sports for more than 11 years. He believes the same things win in business and in the ring: consistent improvement, discipline and a strong team.

At Cactus

As Operations Manager she brings her knowledge and her problem solving to every move that comes through the company, and works to make every appointment a great one.

Off the clock

Marina loves travelling, fibre arts, training in aerials and trying new restaurants. She likes exploring the outdoors but absolutely hates camping.

Before Cactus

Oksana's finance career began at an equipment manufacturer. It ran through companies warehousing metals and railway components and a pharmacy chain, where she was an accountant, and then a company selling solar panels, gates and roller shutters, where she became Finance Manager.

At Cactus

Cactus is her first job in the service industry. Working in manufacturing, retail and warehousing taught her to look at a business as a whole and to see how each financial decision shows up in how the company performs. She brings that to Cactus and enjoys growing along with it.

Off the clock

Oksana goes to the gym and takes long walks to switch off from work. She is also taking two courses at the same time.

Before Cactus

Mariya studied maritime logistics and trained at a Black Sea port, where she first saw logistics at work. After moving to Canada she became a Patient Coordinator in radiology, which taught her empathy, clear communication and how to put people at ease. She joined Cactus as a Logistics Coordinator and grew into Lead Coordinator.

Why Cactus

She calls it a job she could never get bored of, with new people and new challenges every day. Her goal is to keep growing as a leader, share what she has learned with her team, and help build a company where people enjoy working together and customers feel they are in good hands.

Off the clock

Mariya spent years dancing, went to art school and later took up boxing, and she is always up for the next adventure. She loves travelling, being near the water and time with the people she loves.

At Cactus

Mariya has worked in the moving industry for more than three years. As a Lead Coordinator she schedules crews, trucks and jobs, and makes sure everything runs smoothly through the day.

Why Cactus

She likes the fast pace and that no two days are the same. Her goal is to keep growing with the company, take on new challenges and keep widening her skills.

Off the clock

Mariya is a big fan of the gym, travel, new cafés and restaurants, and a good book. She is into self-care and believes looking after yourself matters as much as working hard.

Before Cactus

Ishika spent four years in the moving industry before joining Cactus, working closely with customers and picking up experience in sales, lead generation and day-to-day operations.

Why Cactus

She joined to keep growing in an industry she already knew and enjoyed, and the people are what she likes most about it. Her goal is to take on more responsibility, keep building her skills and, in her words, build a life she can be proud of.

Off the clock

Ishika loves time with her family and her cat, who keeps her entertained most of the time. She cooks and bakes, trying new recipes even when they don't turn out as planned. She is also a big anime fan and loves exploring new places.

At Cactus

He now uses that sales and operations background to help customers plan and carry out their moves. That means building the inventory, choosing the right trucks and crew, coordinating the logistics and keeping customers and vendors informed.

Off the clock

James likes reading, cooking, gardening and camping, and he has a competitive streak at the chessboard and in video games. Music is a big part of his life, and he will listen to almost anything, hip-hop and country included. Sport and stand-up comedy are big for him too, but his favourite moments are the simple ones: walking his dog and time with the people closest to him.

At Cactus

Maksym has worked in the moving industry for about three years. He likes working with people and making the move a little easier and less stressful for them.

Why Cactus

He chose Cactus because it is a fast growing company with a great team. His goal is to keep learning, grow professionally and grow along with the company.

Off the clock

Outside work Maksym stays active, travels when he can and spends time with friends and family.