This is the second instalment of People of McMaster, a new series celebrating the incredible people who help make McMaster a great place to work, learn, teach and conduct research. Click here for the first instalment and check back for more stories in the coming months.   

When Ryan Rexworthy walked through the doors of McMaster University in 2018 as a night custodian, he never imagined the path his career would take.  

From there to his current role as a business systems analyst for Facility Services’ IT team, Rexworthy’s career is a testament to his curiosity and passion for problem-solving. 

Rexworthy soon worked his way up from custodian to administrator of the Custodial, Grounds and Logistics teams, where he introduced modern solutions to old problems. That paved the way for him to join the IT team for Facility Services, where he helps keep campus running smoothly. 

Can you tell us about your role at McMaster and what a typical day looks like? 

As a business systems analyst in Facility Services, my role is quite diverse. I focus a lot on process improvement, developing Power BI reports, and creating Power Automate flows.  

I also handle hardware setups and assisting colleagues with their technical issues. Every day is different, and that’s what makes it exciting. 

What do you enjoy most about your job and working at McMaster? 

Honestly, it’s the people. McMaster has a great environment where everyone is super nice and friendly. I’ve had the chance to work with many teams, and there’s always a friendly face around.  

It’s rewarding to help different departments with process improvement ideas and see the positive impact of my work. 

Can you tell us about a project you’re particularly proud of? 

One project I’m proud of is developing a system to manage training for Facility Services. We have about 300 employees and it’s crucial to ensure they complete their training and recertifications.  

The system I developed automatically tracks their training status across all the modules and makes it easier for managers to ensure everyone is up-to-date and working safe.  

What do you like to do outside of work? 

Outside of work, I enjoy dabbling in music. I play guitar and piano, and I like to sing.  

I also spend a lot of time on self-improvement and learning new skills. McMaster offers many courses, and I plan to take something related to the path I am on soon. 

What’s your favourite quote? 

One of my colleagues in UTS, Bryan Czernada, shared this with me the other week: “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.”  

Sometimes we get stuck in our own head and overanalyze things. We are always going to try to make things better, more efficient but we also need to celebrate our progress. If we wait for perfect, it will never happen.