Antonio Samayoa is retiring from his position as executive director at Saamis Immigration Services Association and longtime employee Marijana Agicic is taking over the role as of June 30.--SUBMITTTED PHOTO
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Saamis Immigration Services Association is under new leadership today as former executive director Antonio Samayoa is retiring and a familiar face is taking over his role.
Marijana Agicic, former senior program manager, is stepping into the executive director position after spending 26-plus years with Saamis – as an employee, volunteer and client.
“Saamis is kind of like a second home to me,” she said. “When I first came to Medicine Hat, I was a client of Saamis. I came as a newcomer to Canada myself and because I spoke English when I came, I started volunteering shortly after I came.”
“It’s a full cycle for me and if somebody wants to write a book on how to climb up the ladder, I would be a good example for that I guess,” she added with a laugh.
Agicic says the focus of the organization will remain on welcoming more newcomers and continuing to help them join the Hat community and prepare them for a life in Canada. Agicic has been a client, volunteer, manager and now will lead Saamis into the future and says she plans to bring her vast knowledge to the position to help the company continue to succeed.
She says she can share her own personal experience with newcomers and show them adjusting to life in Canada is possible, even if it seems hard at first.
“I was very excited that the board picked me and trusted me with this role and also very humbled and honoured by this offer,” she said. “I am thrilled that I will be in the position to continue leading this organization.”
However, Agicic says she has some big shoes to fill with Samayoa retiring after working 29 years with the organization. She says under Samayoa’s leadership, Saamis has doubled its capacity.
“It was a huge pleasure to work with him and everybody has huge respect for him. He was very approachable and always ready to give people advice as a friend, as a father, as an older brother – that’s how we perceived him,” she said.
Agicic says Samayoa taught her everything and has been her mentor from the beginning of her career at Saamis. She says she hopes to continue the work he has done.
