ASPER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Building Bridges E

Centre. He then pitched the initiative to Bombers President Wade Miller. “I was nervous, but I kept thinking how this was the right thing to do, and what a difference it would make to the Indigenous community.”

The idea obviously scored a touch-down with Miller. The acknowledge-ment statement now plays at every home game before O Canada is sung. Harper, with family roots in Peguis First Nation, hopes teams across the CFL and beyond will follow the Bombers’ lead. “It respects the land our Elders fought so hard to care for, and is movement forward in terms of truth and reconciliation.”

Harper received an Emerging Leader Award from the U of M in March 2016.

Building Bridges

While he admits his career goals “are all over the map,” Harper says each of his options is

driven by the need to create a “huge positive impact” on the lives of those around him – in his community, his country, and around the world.

He’s already made a good start. While working for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as an Asper Co-op student over the summer, he helped the team become the first in the CFL to acknowledge that the land they play on is traditional Indigenous territory.

Tasked with strengthening relation-ships between the Winnipeg Football Club and Indigenous communities in Winnipeg and surrounding areas, Harper developed the idea for the acknowledgment with representatives from the U of M’s Indigenous Student

Brayden Harper can be forgiven for not knowing what he wants

to do after he graduates from the Asper School of Business later this

year. His accomplishments as a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours)

student are enough to qualify him for just about anything – a law

degree, an MBA, or a career in community development.

(continued) UPD

ATE

A S P E R S C H O O L O F B U S I N E S S

2016 EXEC ED’S BOLD NEW VISION

LEADING BY SERVING OTHERS

TRAVEL IS TRENDING

WARREN WORDS

TEACHING INNOVATION

9

7

19

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12

Right: Edward Acuna, Michael Benarroch

(dean and CPA Manitoba Chair in

Business Leadership, Asper School of

Business), Aaron Martyniw

Edward Acuna [BComm(Hons)/12] is a Relationship Manager

for RBC Commercial Financial Services and a part-time

sessional instructor for the Department of Marketing.

He received $1,000 from an RBC Regional President Community

Leadership Award in 2015 in recognition of his compassion, energy

and outstanding volunteerism in the community. RBC gave

Acuna the opportunity to present the $1,000 to an organization

of his choice – and he chose the Asper School of Business.

“I knew immediately that I would allocate the donation to the

Asper School of Business because of the foundation I gained

during my Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) program and the

lessons I learned in activities outside the classroom. The overall

student experience during my undergraduate degree inspired my

commitment to volunteering and making a positive impact

in Manitoba.”

Joining him at the cheque presentation was Aaron Martyniw

[BComm(Hons)/06], RBC’s Vice President, Commercial Financial

Services, Winnipeg. Martyniw, a fellow Asper alumni and an ABEP

graduate, says “Edward has made a consistent and active

contribution to our community while excelling in his role at RBC.”

He says building bridges between people and cultures is one of his guiding ambitions, and his business degree has been a huge help in achieving his goals. He credits his three co-op work terms for giving him the confidence that comes from “moving beyond my com-fort zone, trying a variety of different things, and figuring out what I’m actu-ally interested in.” In addition, Asper’s International Exchange Program led him to take business courses at Leeds University and Hong Kong Polytechnic. “My international experiences taught me a lot about tolerance,” he says. “Tolerating uncomfortable situations, such as not understanding the language, or being lost in a new place. Tolerating cultural differences, and recognizing that once you move past the discom-fort of the unfamiliar, we’re not all that different after all. We all want to love and learn.”

He also credits much of his success to ABEP (Aboriginal Business Education Partners), a community of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students pursuing their business degrees at the Asper School. “ABEP was my support system away from home, and helped me with academic assistance and sharpening my career goals. We’re a close group bound by a strong sense of togetherness.”

Harper says his entire Asper experience has been a bridge to realizing his full potential in whatever career he pursues. “I’ll be graduating with more opportunities than I ever thought possible.”

Donating from the Heart

Brayden Harper has visited 28 other countries and says

travel has given him a richer perspective on building cultural

bridges

A S P E R S C H O O L O F B U S I N E S S2

POP QUIZ2017 and will prepare students to write the CFA exams. Continuing to strengthen our connections with the Associates and the Manitoba business community. The success of our fund-raising efforts, which will allow us to create chairs in ethics, leadership, and finance, and build those areas of expertise – and the success of our capital campaign, which will transform the Drake Centre to meet the needs of a global business school.

Farther ahead, I’m really excited about developing new business courses that put our students at the forefront of big data and business analytics. These are two areas that are having an enormous global impact on planning and decision-making in business. Finally, I’m excited about having the Asper School take the lead in providing leadership and entrepreneurial educa-tion across the University of Manitoba.

WHAT’S NEW IN THE DRAKE CENTRE?One of our goals was to renovate as much of the Drake Centre as possible. We’ve renovated the general public spaces. Now we’re going to completely overhaul the Albert D. Cohen Management Library. We’re turning

Over three years we have brought in 21 students. That’s an enormous accomplishment.

Last year, we were re-accredited by AACSB International [the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business]. This places us in an elite group of schools who’ve met the academic standards of the most important international accreditation body in business education. The re-accreditation process forced us to take a really hard look at our programs and implement changes to improve outcomes for students.

Finally, I’m proud the Canadian Association of Business Students named our very own Commerce Students’ Association the Council of the Year in 2015 for their tremendous student leadership.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?The new Masters of Finance, which I hope will come on board in September

YOU OFTEN DESCRIBE THE ASPER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AS A COMMUNITY. WHY IS COMMUNITY SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?We develop a lifelong association with all the people who cross our paths in the Asper School: our faculty and alumni, members of the Associates and Young Associates, anyone who takes an interest in business education in this province. We’re all united by a desire to enrich the business community in Manitoba, and we can do that only if we work together as a community.

WHAT HAS THE ASPER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ACHIEVED IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS THAT YOU’RE MOST PROUD OF?To begin with, I’m proud of the fact that we’re ahead of schedule in achieving many of the goals we outlined in our strategic plan.

At the MBA level, we’re focusing on leadership and experiential learning opportunities. Our students are gaining a broader national and global perspective. At business competitions, they’re going up against the best MBA programs in Canada and the world and coming out on top. Locally, our students are connected to the business community through mentorship opportunities, networking events and consulting projects. This year we extended ABEP [Aboriginal Business Education Partners] to MBA students. I’m extremely proud to see our program ranked among the top 10 MBA programs in Canada. It was a complete community effort.

At the undergraduate level, the Aboriginal Ancestry Admissions Category opened up 10 new spaces per year for Indigenous students.

Michael Benarroch, dean and CPA Manitoba Chair in Business Leader-ship, Asper School of Business (centre) with Michael Torres [BComm(Hons)/07] and Cecilia Lowe [BComm(Hons)/08] at Homecoming 2015

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR MICHAEL BENARROCH

U P D A T E / 2 0 1 6 3

NAME THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY YOU HOPE STUDENTS DEVELOP AT THE ASPER SCHOOL.Critical thinking. Which is hard to teach in a traditional classroom setting, but we’ve adapted our curriculum where possible to nurture critical thinking in our students. For students who take advantage of opportunities outside the classroom – leadership roles, the co-op program, international study trips and exchanges, business competitions – we do a great job sharpening critical thinking abilities. What I find really positive is that more and more students are embracing these options. Not just because it’s good for their future career, but because the opportunities themselves are so exciting.

floor into a graduate business student centre, featuring a new theatre with high-grade finishes and flexible workspaces for students, classrooms designed for interactive learning, breakout rooms for group work, and a classroom specifically designed for electronic learning. We also have plans to renovate the Scotiabank Technology Centre and to continue upgrading classrooms in the basement.

it into an interactive, state-of-the-art space where students can access electronic resources and collaborate on projects. The library reno involves moving the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship from the fifth floor to where the library entrance is now located, so the Stu Clark Centre will be the first thing you see when you come in through the main doors.

After that, we’ll transform the fifth

ROCK STARAsper students are known for distinguishing themselves as leaders in athletics.

Selena Kaatz is no exception. Playing third on Team Einarson, which competes on the

World Curling Tour, she helped propel the team as far as the Scotties Tournament of

Hearts in February 2016.

Many of the skills she gained in business classes have served her on the ice, she says,

“especially the team-working and communication skills we use in group projects.”

As well, for the past year she had to balance her athletic pursuits with two co-op work

terms as staff accountant for Deloitte. The company not only cheered her on, but

sponsored her by paying for part of her travel and training expenses.

“As in any sport, competing at a high level requires a lot of dedicated time and effort,”

she says. “Juggling training, practices, meetings and schoolwork can be difficult.

Business school requires a lot of time outside of class for studying, so I’ve had to beef up

my time management skills. You can usually find me in my hotel room between games,

reading my textbook, or hauling my backpack onto the plane and doing homework

instead of watching movies. I do whatever it takes to stay at the top of my game.”

GOING GREEN, GOING DIGITALAfter this issue, Update will be published annually in a digital format, making our footprint on the planet a little lighter. Don’t miss out! Send your current email address via the Update Your Contact Information link at umanitoba.ca/alumni

Prefer paper? No problem. Email us at [email protected] or call 204-474-6482

MORE ASPER, MORE OFTEN The monthly UM Today alumni e-newsletter will now feature more Asper stories and event info. Not sure you are subscribed? Email [email protected]

Check out the Asper Blog at news.umanitoba.ca/network/asper

Twitter and Instagram – @asperschool

Facebook – facebook.com/AsperAlumni


Asset Management, committed support to the conference, part of a new series of world-class academic conferences to be held biennially at the Asper School over the next 10 years.

New Conference Explores Financial Decision-Making

Chi Liao, an assistant professor in the Department of Finance, launched the inaugural Quadrant

Asset Management Investment Conference in October. The confer-ence’s theme was behavioural finance. Speakers addressed a range of topics related to financial decision-making and risk. The subject of investor behaviour has become increasingly important, says Liao, “in light of the 2008 financial crisis, and, more recently, the drama in global financial markets this past summer.” Her own research aims to understand investor behaviour and the consequences of decision-making on investment performance and corporate finance.

Asper alumni Michael Susser [BComm(Hons)/83, CPA, CMA, CIM, TEP, FICB] and Murray Palay [BComm(Hons)/78, L.LB, TEP], managing directors of Quadrant

Chi Liao, assistant professor, Department of Finance

Michael Susser (left) and Murray Palay (right), managing directors of Quadrant Asset Management

NEW RESEARCH CHAIR CREATED BY FINANCIAL PIONEERAt a University of Manitoba alumni reception held in Toronto in November, Bryce Douglas, former deputy chairman and managing director of RBC Dominion Securities, Inc., announced he and his wife Nicki made a $2 million gift to the university’s Front and Centre capital campaign. Their investment will transform the existing Bryce Douglas Professorship in Finance into an endowed research chair in finance, increasing the depth and breadth of the program at the Asper School of Business.

The Douglases established the professorship, a position currently held by finance professor and associate dean Gady Jacoby, in 2002. Bryce Douglas is a past member of the Associates and has been a staunch supporter of research in finance, one of the largest majors at the Asper School.

“I saw this as an opportunity to invest in tomorrow’s business leaders,” he said at the announcement. “It is my hope that this chair will attract the best researchers to join the University of Manitoba’s community of innovators, which will enhance the scope and quality of teaching in the Asper School’s finance program, and provide students with more opportunities to excel in the corporate world.”

The new chair in finance will attract internationally renowned finance experts to engage with students, work closely with industry leaders, collaborate on research projects to increase students’ employment prospects, and ensure programs remain practical and relevant to industry needs.

U P D A T E / 2 0 1 6 5

EMPLOYER OF THE YEARShelter Canadian Properties Limited received the 2015 Co-op Employer of the Year award. Michael Teichrieb, who nominated the company for the award, identified several key qualities that made his co-op experience an exceptional one: “The amount of knowledge I have gained has impacted my career and academic development immensely. My employer gave me the chance and the trust to re-develop an entire department and create lasting change in the company. This experience will remain with me as I progress through my studies and into my professional career.”

CO-OP PROGRAM umanitoba.ca/asper/co-op

edge companies across Canada consis-tently report that co-op students add tremendous value to their workplace.

As an Asper Co-op employer, you may qualify for the Co-op Students Hiring Incentive (COS-HI) which provides a 15% of salary tax credit, up to a maximum of $5,000 per student.

STUDENT OF THE YEARIndigo Adam-Grant received the 2015 Co-op Student of the Year award for

her outstanding work as an account development manager at PepsiCo.

Her employer praised her for her outstanding sales skills and ini-tiative, and her ability to hit the ground running in a fast-paced environment. “[She] has shown us what is possible and how

much can be accomplished in a four-month term. Truly a new standard has been set for hiring.”

The Asper School of Business Co-operative Education Program continues to grow thanks to

strong partnerships with leading businesses in Manitoba and across the country. This year, enrolment in Asper Co-op increased by 30 per cent, and our co-op graduate employment rate rose to 98 per cent – the highest ever.

“Now we’re gearing up for our largest summer co-op recruitment to date,” says Kelly Mahoney, the program’s director. “To make sure each and every one of our co-op students receives the placement he or she deserves, we urgently need to expand our network of co-op employers.”

Hiring an Asper Co-op student is a fantastic long-term recruitment strategy that allows companies to tap into Asper’s top talent. Asper Co-op is accredited by CAFCE (the Canadian Association for Cooperative Education). Our program accepts only the strongest students, and emphasizes leadership and professional development to prepare students to excel in the workplace –

from day one. Co-op employers at

leading-

Asper Co-op alumnus Phillip Bshouty

[BComm(Hons)/11] (right) accepted the

Co-op Employer of the Year award on

behalf of Shelter Canadian Properties

Limited from nominating student

Michael Teichrieb (left) and Kelly

Mahoney, director of Asper’s Career

Development Centre (middle)

Indigo Adam-Grant demonstrated

the high calibre of Asper Co-op

students during her work term

at PepsiCo

STUDENT OF THE YEAR

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

The Co-op Advantage

CO-OP BY THE NUMBERSAsper Co-op has placed over 2,000 students to date.

80% of our co-op graduates return to work with one of their co-op employers upon graduation.

99% of co-op employers tell us they would recommend the program to their peers.

96% of employers indicate they would rehire their students if given the opportunity. RECRUIT TOP TALENT:

HIRE AN ASPER CO-OP STUDENT

Visit umanitoba.ca/asper/co-op or email [email protected] today.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE umanitoba.ca/asper/cdc


“Between the U of M, the Asper School and our partners, there’s all this incredible talent,

knowledge and capability we can unleash to serve the needs

of the business community.”

Exec Ed’s Bold New Vision

learned to your business right away. And they know how to keep busy, experienced senior executives deeply engaged in the collaborative learning process. They’re amazing.”

Jonasson-Young says Executive Education plans to unveil more programs in the next six months. “We’re planning a partnership with the University of Victoria to offer an Indigenous management training program. We’re looking at building on our partnership with the Rotman School of Business and the Institute of Corporate Directors, who team up with us to deliver the incredible Directors Education Program and the Not-for-Profit Governance Essentials Program. We want to collaborate with the Humphrey Group to develop a communications course for senior leadership, tailor-made for the CEO and vice-president level.”

“Watch us,” she says. “We’re really going to put this education centre on the map.”

development, innovation, and crafting a vision for their company’s future. “This course is really the jewel in our crown,” says Jonasson-Young. “It’s an ongoing conversation that allows participants to share their knowledge. You emerge a stronger leader and a member of a tight network of peers who will support you for the rest of your career.”

One of the program’s strengths is its instructors. “These people are truly experts. They can answer your specific questions so you can apply what you’ve

“Ifundamentally believe that business powers communities, and if education can strengthen businesses, then our

communities as a whole grow even stronger,” she says.

Prior to joining the Asper School, Jonasson-Young occupied senior leadership roles at People First HR Services, Dufresne Furniture & Appliances, Shoppers Optical, Videon CableSystems and Eaton’s. “I’ve run all facets of a business with organizations of all sizes,” she says. “Now I get to take everything I’ve done before and do something powerful with it.”

That “something powerful” is helping middle managers and senior executives “level up” their knowledge and skills in critical areas where gaps currently exist.

She adds, “What makes our program unique is how responsive it is to the needs of specific businesses and organizations.” In addition to offering a growing suite of short open enrolment courses that target specific needs, the Advanced Program in Management, Leadership and Strategy has proved enormously popular with corporations such as Manitoba Hydro and the RCMP. This year, for the first time, Exec Ed now offers the program on an open enrolment basis. The standard 10-day course, which can be custom-ized for any organization, immerses managers in modules that cover every-thing from strategic management and conflict resolution to leadership

Since taking the helm as director of Executive Education in August 2015, Debra Jonasson-Young [MBA/99] has been putting her business experience and passion for education to work in realizing a bold new vision for the program’s future.

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U P D A T E / 2 0 1 6 7

Asper MBA experience. “What Dubai did within a matter of days was instil within each of us a belief that anything is possible.”

In April 2016, the international study trip took 18 MBA students to Kuala Lumpur. Over the winter, the students worked on consulting projects for four Malaysian companies: CAE, Smart Reader, Royal Selangor and Sepang F1 International Circuit.

NEW FINANCIAL ANALYST CONCENTRATION The Asper MBA has launched a specialized Financial Analyst concen-tration for students seeking accredited, ethics-based academic training in finance. The concentration will open to students beginning Fall 2016.

“Our new concentration builds on already established strengths within the Asper School, including award-winning faculty and a strong finance program,” says Michael Benarroch, dean and CPA Manitoba Chair in Business Leadership, Asper School of Business. “It will provide our MBA graduates with skills and knowledge that are in high demand throughout the world.”

Marci Elliott, executive director of the Asper MBA, says the concentration responds to urgent industry needs.

“The past two decades have marked a dramatic increase in global financial market volatility, and a surge in the demand for ethical financial services professionals equipped to face heightened financial market risks and operational complexities.”

The only program of its kind between British Columbia and Ontario, the Financial Analyst concentration will prepare students to write all three levels of exams needed to obtain a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, with a focus on the Level 1 exam. The CFA designation is one of the most respected and globally recognized credentials in the financial services industry.

says, “Judging by the extraordinary accolades we received from the clients, and after witnessing their interactions with our students in the presentations, our MBAs hit the mark and represented Asper extremely well.”

According to Chopra, meeting their clients in person gave the students a chance to expand their professional networks and connect with potential employers and business partners in a city teeming with opportunities.

“Positioned at the crossroads between Asia, Africa and Europe, Dubai is inhabited by some of the world’s best talent. It feels as if everything and everyone is there with a purpose and part of something big.”

Chopra says the trip was ultimately much more than an international learning opportunity: it was a trans-formative personal and professional

GOING GLOBALAfter months of research, presentation rehearsals, and a growing sense of adventure, 24 Asper MBA students traveled to Dubai in April 2015 for a week-long international study trip. The journey was the culmination of a course exploring culture, economic development, and business management in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“At the beginning of the course, we split into four consulting teams, each working with a real business client,” explains MBA student Geeta Chopra. “Each client faced a unique business challenge, which our teams worked to solve.” The clients were the Dubai International Finance Centre, the Dubai Autodrome, Aldar Properties, and the CAE Flight Training Centre.

Stuart Henrickson, who led the course and coordinated the trip,

Enrolment in the Asper MBA has increased by more than 33 per cent over the past two years – thanks to an innovative program structure, new specialized concentrations, and applied-learning opportunities that immerse students in the realities of international business.

The Asper MBA international

study trip to Dubai included visits to cultural heritage sites such as the stunning Sheikh

Zayed Mosque

“What Dubai did within a matter of days was instil within each of us a

belief that anything is possible.”


professors, the guest speakers, and all those who help us succeed. When speakers who are CEOs come in and share their stories, I’m always amazed at how busy their schedules are, yet they’re so giving with their time to answer our questions and inspire us.”

The spirit of servant leadership has also helped her overcome her own leadership challenges.

“Walking into the program, I was very introverted and I struggled with participation because I felt everyone else was coming in from managerial positions or high-status occupations, and I was a high school teacher. But as time went on, I realized we were all working toward the same goal, regard-less of our different backgrounds. We all wanted to do more, be more, and make a difference for others.”

She adds, “If peers like mine are going to be the leaders of tomorrow, then we have a lot to look forward to.”

umanitoba.ca/asper/mba

National Post ad, and attended the Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year™ Award Gala Dinner at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.

A math and chemistry teacher currently on maternity leave from St. Mary’s Academy in Winnipeg, Catherine says she was inspired to pursue her MBA – and a career in leadership – after hearing the life story of a former director of the Academy, Sister Susan Wikeem.

“What really impressed me was that, through all the years I’d known her, I’d had no idea she had a law degree. I realized that what kept her at the Academy was her passion for education, her love for others, and her commitment to creating young, responsible, spiritual women. I thought this is what I should be using an MBA towards – this is why I’m here.”

Catherine says the Asper MBA program “is filled with servant leaders. I’m inspired by the

When Asper MBA student Catherine David applied for the prestigious Futures Fund

Scholarship last year, she knew her application essay would speak to her devotion to servant leadership. Servant leaders share their power, put the needs of others ahead of them-selves, and help employees develop and perform as highly as possible.

“When I hear the word ‘leadership’, I automatically think of service,” the Asper MBA student explains. “Perhaps it’s because, growing up, I always had great mentors and educators. My parents instilled in me the importance of hard work, faith, and serving others.”

These values clearly impressed the Futures Fund selection committee, who awarded Catherine one of the scholarships in February.

Each year, Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year™ bestows the scholar-ships on 10 exceptional students across the country. Catherine received $7,500 in scholarship funds, was featured in a

REG LITZ LUMINARY TEACHING AWARDThe Asper MBA Student Association (aMBAsa) presented the 2015 Reg Litz Luminary Teaching Award to Stuart Henrickson, I.H. Asper Executive Director of Entrepreneurship at the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship (left). “Stuart is able to see the potential in each student and coax it out of them,” says Sam Fay [MBA/15] (right), who presented the award. “He’ll never tell you how to do anything, but he will give you the tools and support you need to succeed, and he will not let you fail.”

LEADING BY SERVING OTHERS

“ Servant leaders share their power, put the needs of others ahead of themselves, and help employees develop and perform as highly as possible.”

U P D A T E / 2 0 1 6 9

Emerging Entrepreneur

and structures to keep bugs out of homes and pools. His second business, Passages.life, went online in February 2016. “What’s lacking today in the online memorial space is a way to really capture someone’s legacy,” he explains. “Passages.life encourages people to share stories and honour that individual to the fullest.”

Dreger says his business degree has been instrumental in helping him get his businesses off the ground. “It’s an investment in learning I might not have made otherwise,” he says. “I came away with an understanding of accounting and corporate finance, and I met people with different experiences who widened my perspective on how business works in the real world.”

He’s also gained confidence pitching his business ideas at competitions such as Pitch’Day, Ramp Up Weekend, and the Manitoba New Venture Champion-ships. “Competing helped me articulate my ideas to potential investors and to myself,” he says. “Entrepreneurship takes resilience and perseverance. You have to put yourself in those uncomfortable situations.”

“Travis did exceptionally well in our 2015 competition. His passion and entrepreneurial spirit make him a force to be reckoned with,” says Amy Briscoe, program coordinator at the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship, which hosts the MNVC.

Dreger sees his current businesses as stepping-stones to a life that gives him the freedom to invest in technology he’s passionate about, including aerospace and green tech. To get there, he plans to continue following the same advice that got him this far: “Every single day, take at least one step toward realizing your business idea. One step may not seem like much, but when you reach your goal and look back, you’ll see just how far it brought you.”

umanitoba.ca/entrepreneur

I turned 16,” he says. But his older sister convinced him to invest in real estate, which opened his eyes to the value of appreciating assets. “So I thought I’d come to business school and get into real estate development.”

Instead, he started hanging out with Asper’s young entrepreneur crowd. In his second year, he joined CEO (Colle-giate Entrepreneurs’ Organization) Manitoba, an Asper student group at the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepre-neurship, and took a tour of Winnipeg’s growing startup community at an annu-al bus tour called the Start-Up Crawl.

“I knew right then and there I wanted to start a business. I didn’t know what it was going to be. But I knew I wanted to graduate without needing to get a job and going to work for somebody else.”

He launched Quality Concepts in 2014 with his dad and uncle. The company provides screened-in areas

When Travis Dreger graduated from high school he faced a tough choice: go surfing in

Hawaii, or head to business school. He chose the latter option. Now on the cusp of graduating with a BComm (Hons) in entrepreneurship and international business, the 23-year-old has already launched two businesses, and is well on his way to a future in venture capitalism. Over the past year, he received an Emerging Leader Award from the U of M and an Emerging Entrepreneur Award from the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneur-ship, and was recognized by CBC Manitoba on their Future40 list of young professionals to watch out for.

Dreger caught the business bug early while working on the family farm in Morris, Manitoba. “My friends were out having fun and I was working, saving money to buy a nice car when

Student entre-preneur Travis

Dreger honed his business ideas

by pitching them to investors at

new venture competitions

“Entrepreneurship takes resilience and perseverance.

You have to put yourself in those uncomfortable situations.”


GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERSRay Lavoie and Sepideh Yeganegi are recipients of the 2015-16 G. Clarence Elliott Fellowship, a prestigious award valued at $3,500. Lavoie is pursuing a PhD in marketing, and Yeganegi is pursuing a PhD in business administration. They were chosen for their pursuit of academic excellence, dedication to hard work, perseverance, and commitment to giving back to the community. This is the first year since the fellowship was launched two decades ago that all winners are from the Asper School. Lavoie also received the $10,000 Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba (LGA) Gradu-ate Scholarship (Doctoral Award) for demonstrating how his research into the psychological state of flow, or being “in the zone,” applies to gambling.

the Homeless fundraising campaign. She also volunteers for Siloam Mission and other charities. Small wonder the U of M honoured her with a 2016 Emerging Leader Award. “I’m aware of the valuable opportunities that I’ve been provided with, and I feel very proud and fortunate to be a member of the Asper School and the U of M community. I want to put all my know-ledge and skills to work towards the well-being of the community. I believe I can actually make a difference.”

“I believe that if there are two roads to get to the same place, one should take the road that helps more people

along the way,” says fifth-year Asper student Nancy Barajas. She’s certainly putting that belief into action, having won $2,000 at the cross-Canada Social Innovation Challenge to kick-start UMangoes, a company that dehydrates mangoes using low-cost technology and exports them to Manitoba as a fair trade product. Later this year, she travels to El Salvador to continue developing the project.

The idea for UMangoes came to her in her final year as a major in supply chain management and international business. “I saw how all the things I was learning in different classes were coming together. In business, we focus on creating value, maximizing resources, minimizing costs, and so on.

“I’m convinced that business has the potential to create great things for society, and that if we embrace a culture of sustainability, then community and businesses will benefit from each other and ensure availability of resources for generations to come.”

In March, Barajas slept outdoors for five nights as part of Asper’s 5 Days for

Sepideh Yeganegi (left) and Ray Lavoie (right), recipients of the G. Clarence Elliott Fellowship

Emerging Leader Award recipient Nancy Barajas (far right) joined five other U of M students in this year’s 5 Days for the Homeless campaign. The students slept outdoors on campus to raise awareness about youth homelessness. They also raised over $31,000 in support of RaY (Resource Assistance for Youth), a local charity.

THE HELPING ROAD

U P D A T E / 2 0 1 6 11

Travel is TrendingThe Asper International Exchange Program broke records this year thanks to a 30 per cent increase in enrolment, and partnerships with 11 new schools around the world. Our program sends more students abroad than all other U of M exchange programs combined. Roughly 15 per cent of Asper students will go on exchange before they graduate. They return from their global adventures with greater confidence, international business networks, wider perspectives, new friends, and a lifetime of memories.

GEORGE SEMCHUK

Majors: Finance/ International Business

Exchange: KEDGE Business School, France

RYAN LEECH

Majors: Marketing/ International Business

Exchange: University of Bradford, England

WHITNEY BOITEAU

Majors: Finance/ International Business

Exchange: Pusan National University, South Korea

SARA BULLOCHMajors: Marketing/International Business

Exchange: Akita International University, Japan


ARNI THORSTEINSON STUDY EXCHANGE PROGRAM TO ISRAELFunded by the Schwartz-Reisman Foundation, this annual program is a month-long academic and cultural exchange between the Asper School and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Students explore international business in Winnipeg, Toronto and Israel, share cultural activities, and build relationships with peers from across the globe.

STEPHANIE JOHNSTON

Majors: Marketing/Finance

Exchange: Zagreb School of Economics and Management, Croatia

umanitoba.ca/asper/exchange

U P D A T E / 2 0 1 6 13

Since 1995, Aboriginal Business Education Partners (ABEP) has provided a community for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree at the Asper School. Today, our community continues to create pathways for students to succeed on their business education journey.

MBA/ABEP PARTNERSHIPThe Asper MBA program and ABEP have formally partnered to offer a welcoming community for First Nations, Métis and Inuit MBA students. The partnership builds on ABEP’s 20-year history of providing students with academic services to facilitate their educational journey, and on the Asper MBA program’s nearly 50-year tradition of high-quality instruction and mentor-ship in business leadership. Together, they provide access to networking events with prospective employers, including the Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Awards, academic resources for courses such as accounting and corporate finance, and mentoring and career development opportunities.

INDIGENOUS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTFour ABEP students were honoured with Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Awards in November:

LAURA KIEFER – Linda Park Award for Business/Entrepreneurship

MICHAEL TEICHRIEB – Academic Award (Senior)

CARTER WILSON – Personal Achievement Award (Senior)

JESSE YARECHEWSKI – Community Volunteerism Award (Junior)

The annual awards recognize accomplishments in culture, employment, traditional lifestyle, business, and academic excellence.

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New Scholarship for Indigenous MBA Students

such as Great-West Life and the Government of Manitoba. He credits much of his success to the MBA he received from the Asper School of Business. Both have come to realize the need for well-educated Indigenous leaders with strong business back-grounds in Manitoba.

“Having that MBA provided a real boost to my career, and I’m hoping it will do the same for deserving Indigenous students,” Robertson says. “We both want to do whatever we can to encourage Indigenous people to succeed in upper-level positions. In turn, they will inspire others within their community to achieve success.”

Lisa Lewis [BComm/77] and Ian Robertson [MBA/84] have created the Lisa Lewis and Ian Robertson

Indigenous MBA Scholarship to support Indigenous students in the Asper MBA program. Lewis, a woman of Ojibway heritage and an active member of Winnipeg’s Indigenous community, specializes in providing consulting services to Indigenous organizations. Robertson has held high-level positions at major institutions


Two stars of the CBC television program Dragons’ Den swooped into the Asper School of Business

to share insights about business, entrepreneurship, and TV stardom.

Manjit Minhas, co-founder and CEO of Minhas Breweries and Distillery, joined the show in 2015. Her aggressive marketing and advertising techniques and pricing strategies, along with her youthful energy, made her an outstanding keynote speaker at the 49th Annual Commerce Business Banquet in November.

Entrepreneur and venture capitalist Arlene Dickinson, who left the show in 2015, visited the Asper School in January as part of the UMSU Speaker Series. Fifth-year marketing and entrepreneurship student Kayla Lagos skipped an entrepreneurship class to hear her speak. She says students benefited from the opportunity to ask Arlene “tough questions” about business and “get answers we might not hear in class. What I took away from Arlene is that you can’t be afraid as an entrepreneur, because the worst that may happen is you may lose a bit of money – which changed my perspective on fear and risk!”

Here Be Dragons!

Asper students Madison Karlson, Johanna Seier and Kayla Lagos with Arlene Dickinson (second from left)

Dragons’ Den star Manjit Minhas’ advice to Asper students: “Being an entrepreneur is not a 9 to 5 job, and success doesn’t happen overnight, so you better enjoy what you’re doing, and you better know something about what you’re getting into.”

WAHKOTOWINWinnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman was the special guest speaker at Wahkotowin, a new speaker series launched in 2015 by the Association of Aboriginal Commerce Students (AACS), an Asper student group. Bowman discussed the future of commerce in Winnipeg and the importance of Indigenous inclusion and partnership.

Wahkotowin means “relationships” in Cree. The series “aims to strengthen Indigenous and non-Indigenous relationships in the world of commerce,” says Ashley Richard, president of AACS. Previous speakers include Gregg Hanson, former president and CEO of Wawanesa Mutual; Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, acting head of the University of Manitoba’s native studies department; and James Wilson, former treaty commissioner for Manitoba.

HONOURING ABORIGINAL BUSINESS LEADERSHIPAt the 12th annual Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Awards (EABLA) gala in October, Chief Peguis Investment Corporation, an investment arm of Peguis First Nation, received the Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Award. Connie’s Corner Café, a community-oriented restaurant on Main Street in Winnipeg, received the Excellence in Aboriginal Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Award.

Above left: Chief Cindy Spence, Chief Peguis Investment Corporation, and Michael Benarroch, dean and CPA Manitoba Chair in Business Leadership, Asper School of Business

Above right: Kevin Chief, MLA, Point Douglas (centre) with Bob and Connie Chartrand, owners, Connie’s Corner Café

umanitoba.ca/asper/abep

U P D A T E / 2 0 1 6 15

Warren Words AG RISKLysa Porth, Guy Carpenter Chair in Agricultural Risk Management and Insurance, spoke at the International Association of Agricultural Production Insurers 33rd Congress in Kansas City, where she stressed the need for broadening the role of the actuary. Porth stated that few actuaries are involved and specialized in agricultural risk management and insurance, but that the role has started to expand in recent years.

FIRST PLACE AT MUNICH RE CUPThe University of Manitoba Actuarial Club (UMAC) team placed first in the inaugural Munich Re Cup in March 2015. Asper students Bradley Abells, Jordan Gerry and Taylor Mitchell, and Faculty of Science student Kelly Ramsay, each came home from Toronto with $5,000 in prize money. Hosted by reinsurance company Munich Re, the

new actuarial case competition was open to all Society of Actuaries (SOA) Centres of Excellence across Canada. The Warren Centre for Actuarial Studies and Research at the Asper School of Business has been a Centre of Excellence since 2009.

umanitoba.ca/asper/actuary

BEQUEST HONOURS ACTUARIAL MENTORRobert Nix [BComm(Hons)/48] walked into the U of M with the help of an Isbister Entrance Scholarship, and walked out with a degree from the newly formed Department of Actuarial Science. It was the beginning of a long and successful career in actuarial science, and an experience he never forgot.

Although he credits his career achieve-ments to the education he received from the University of Manitoba, it was the guidance of Lloyd A. H. Warren, the university’s first professor of actuarial science, and the support he received from student awards, that inspired Nix to give back.

“Dr. Warren had me apply for schol-arships each year, which, fortunately, came my way. He also made sure that I wrote a thank-you note each time,” explains Nix. “This support was a tremendous help.”

To show his appreciation, and to encourage a new generation of scholars, Nix has included a bequest in his will toward the L.A.H. Warren Chair in Actuarial Science, named in honour of his mentor. (Reprinted from UM Today.)

FISH DINNERThe Fish Dinner is a long-standing (swimming?) tradition that celebrates actuarial student achievement in the Asper School’s Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) program, the U of M’s Bachelor of Science (Honours) Actuarial Mathematics program, and the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics joint program.

Over 100 students attended this year’s dinner, along with 15 faculty members and 55 guests from industry partners and supporters, including Allianz, Aon Hewitt, Eckler Ltd., The Great-West Life Assurance Company, Manulife Financial, Mercer, New York Life Insurance Company, Sun Life Financial, Towers Watson, and Wawanesa.

The Warren Centre for Actuarial Studies and Research at the Asper School of Business continues to build on a tradition of excellence that has distinguished the University of Manitoba’s actuarial program since it began in 1912. Ours is the only actuarial program in Canada to offer students the full breadth of advantages that come with earning a business degree – including co-op placements, career development support, student groups and networking opportunities – giving them a powerful career advantage.

Kelly Ramsay, Taylor Mitchell, Jordan Gerry, Bradley Abells


Cool IdeasGunter was instrumental in develop-

ing partnerships and environmental initiatives that earned him and the company awards for leadership and ecotourism. He takes an innovative approach to creating experiences that connect people with some of Canada’s most stunning and iconic landscapes. In March 2016, he collaborated with Parks Canada and the creators of Winnipeg’s RAW:almond pop-up restaurant to offer RAW:churchill, “a culinary adventure beneath the northern lights, on the exact same spot that the women and men of the Hudson’s Bay Company would have sat more than 250 years ago.”

Life’s been an adventure for John Gunter since he graduated from the Asper School with a BComm

(Hons) in 2001. Gunter worked in the IT sector before stepping into the family business – Frontiers North Adventures. The company specializes in offering expert-guided travel adventures that introduce people from around the world to Canada’s breathtaking natural landscapes and wildlife, from whales in the Arctic to up-close encounters with polar bears under the aurora-drenched skies of Churchill, Manitoba.

“The guiding foundation of our company is our unwavering passion for Canada’s North,” he says. Gunter worked in all areas of the company before becoming president and CEO in 2014. He’s especially proud of FNA’s achievements in eco-tourism and sustainability. The company is committed to protecting the wilder-ness, reducing the environmental footprint of its operations, working closely with local communities, and educating people about the issues facing Canada’s North. “As stewards, we have a responsibility to ensure our activities positively contribute to these destinations.”

CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCHThe U of M has honoured Adolf K.Y. Ng, professor of supply chain manage-ment, with an Rh Award to support his groundbreaking research into the impact of climate change on seaports. The $12,000 award goes to academic researchers in the early stages of their careers who display exceptional innovation, leadership and promise.

“Seaports are increasingly affected by climate change. Because they are vital nodes for shipping and global trade, this situation has significant implications for the global economy and human welfare more broadly,” says Ng. He will use the award to “kick-start a new focus on how seaports in northern Canada (for instance Churchill) could adapt to climate change impacts, and boost the development of shipping along the Northwest Passage in the Arctic.”

According to Asper Dean Michael Benarroch, one of Ng’s greatest strengths is his ability to “bring together scholars from enormously diverse disciplines and cultures to solve practical problems.” In December, Ng once again put this strength into action by co-organizing the 3rd Young Scholars’ Conference on China Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University. Ng represented the Asper School at the conference and organized special sessions on business, management, transport and logistics development in China.

RH AWARD WINNER

John Gunter, CEO of Frontiers North Adventures, with his mother, Lynda Gunter, who co-founded the family company with husband Merv in the 1980s

The heated, transparent “pop-up” restaurant erected at Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site for the RAW:churchill event co-hosted by Frontiers North Adventures

Our People FACULTY AND STAFF APPOINTMENTSRaj Appadoo, Associate Professor, appointed Head, Department of Supply Chain Management

Kelley Main, Associate Professor and F. Ross Johnson Professor in Marketing, appointed Chair of the Psychology/ Sociology Research Ethics Board

Adolf Ng, Professor, appointed Director, Transport Institute

Barry Prentice, Professor, appointed Senior Fellow for Transportation, Northern Policy Institute

David Stangeland, Professor, appointed Head, Accounting and Finance Department

MILESTONESSarath Abeysekera, Professor, Accounting and Finance, retired July 1, 2015

Ed Bruning, Professor, Marketing, retired December 31, 2015

Ganga Dakshinamurti, Librarian, Albert D. Cohen Management Library, retired December 31, 2015

Larry Gould, Professor, Accounting and Finance, retired December 31, 2015

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTThe Punjab Commerce and Manage-ment Association conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award upon C.R. Bector, professor emeritus in business administration. Bector earned his PhD at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur and was at the Asper School from 1970 to 2005.

Sean Buchanan[BComm(Hons)/08] Assistant Professor, Business Administration

Judy MathiesonExecutive in Residence (External Projects), Asper MBA

Matthew Penner [BComm(Hons)/13]Program Coordinator, U of M Business School Foundation

Ruodan ShaoAssociate Professor, Business Administration

AnnaMaria ToppazziniCEO, U of M Business School Foundation

Wenlong YuanAssociate Professor, Business Administration and Stu Clark Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Arran CazaAssociate Professor, Business Administration

Brianna CazaAssociate Professor, Business Administration

Sara HajmohammadAssistant Professor, Supply Chain Management

Debra Jonasson- Young (MBA/99)Director, Executive Education

MK MarsdenEntrepreneur in Residence, Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship

Fang Wan, Professor of Marketing and F. Ross Johnson Fellow, was awarded the inaugural University of Manitoba Excellence in Graduate Mentoring Award.

Ying Zhang, Assistant Professor of Finance, achieved charterholder status from the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Institute.

FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS

NEW FACES




TEACHING INNOVATION

solutions to water quality issues at FortWhyte Alive. They then boarded an electric bus provided by New Flyer Industries. During the ride, industry leaders from New Flyer and Manitoba Hydro spoke about the technical, business and marketing aspects of electric bus technology. At the Assiniboine Park Zoo, students learned about the impact of climate change and biodiversity loss on ecosys-tems and the economy. Greidanus and Asper marketing prof Raj Manchanda were able to develop the field seminar thanks to sponsorship from Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries.

“I thought it was important to give our future business leaders a first-hand look at a number of environmental and social issues facing Manitobans and the world today,” says Greidanus. “I wanted to get them thinking about the role of the business community in contributing to the solutions.”

Managing for Sustainable Devel-opment, which includes a day-long, hands-on field seminar. Students in this year’s class explored local, sustainable

For Nathan Greidanus, a good teacher insists that his students learn by doing. “I frequently

require my students to take the centre stage,” says the assistant professor in business administration. “By leading a class, they will forever remember the lesson.”

His inspired approach to teaching has earned him a trifecta of awards this year: the Olive Beatrice Stanton Award, a University of Manitoba Faculty Association Merit Award, and an Associates Achievement Award.

Greidanus played a key role in redesigning the undergraduate entrepreneurship major and the Asper MBA program, which has drastically increased its applicants and is now garnering international attention for its innovative structure.

His focus on experiential learning is on full display in his MBA course,

Nathan Greidanus (left) receives the Olive Beatrice Stanton Award for Teaching from David Barnard, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manitoba

caption??

Asper MBA students get a unique insider perspective on the importance of sustainability at the Assiniboine Park Zoo’s Journey to Churchill exhibit

New Flyer Industries provided an electric bus to shuttle Asper MBA

students on a day-long sustainability field seminar, sponsored by

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries

U P D A T E / 2 0 1 6 19

Molson is the oldest and largest case competition in the world, involving 36 teams from five continents, 150 outstanding MBA students from well-known business schools, and 270 judges from the Montreal business community. Competitors included high-ranking business schools from Germany, Lebanon, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Chile, Sweden and the USA.

MAKING WAVESAsper MBA student Jesse Perry won big at Innovate Manitoba Pitch’Day in November 2015, bringing home the People’s Choice and Best Student Pitch awards, and placing second overall. Pitch’Day invites anyone with a business idea to deliver a two-minute pitch before an expert panel of judges and an audience from Winnipeg’s entrepreneur-ship and innovation community. Perry’s business idea was a plan to commer-cialize ComfortWave, a microwave technology developed at the U of M and designed to perform quick, inexpensive and safe pre-screening for breast cancer.

In February 2016, ComfortWave placed third at the Georgia Bowl, North America’s oldest MBA business plan competition, where Perry was joined by teammates Rawle Bachoo, Tom Epp, Matt Schaubroeck, Aayush Katkar, Mandeep Rai and Megha Kedia. Theirs was the only Canadian team to make it to the finals, beating out exceptional teams from Texas, Ivey, Georgia Tech and Tennessee. The team also placed fourth at the Stu Clark Investment Competi-tion, hosted by the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship in March 2016.

Presentation after pitching their mar-keting plan to industry professionals. And they both landed exciting jobs in marketing through the competition – Lisi with MacLaren McCann, a major Toronto advertising agency, and Dewar with Canadian Tire.

MOLSON CASE COMPETITIONThe Asper MBA case competition team scored the Asper School’s high-est-ever finish at the prestigious John Molson MBA International Case Com-petition in January 2016. Teammates Amanda Macdonald, Jesse Perry, Eric Postma and Tom Epp won the divisional championship and placed second in the final competition. “While this is the second time Asper MBAs have won a divisional championship at Molson, it’s the very first time we made it to the final round,” says team coach Judith Jayasuriya. The Asper team had three hours to analyze and evaluate an unpublished business case using the skills, knowledge and experience gained in their MBA program. They had no access to the internet. Their

final product was a PowerPoint presentation demonstrating their

insights into the business case and their detailed proposal

for a solution.

CANADA’S NEXT TOP AD EXECSTwo teams from the Asper School placed in the Top 25 semi-final round of Canada’s Next Top Ad Exec, a national advertising and marketing case competition. The team of Asper MBA students Amanda Macdonald and Geeta Chopra, and the team of BComm students Hilary Lisi and Ashton Dewar, competed against more than 3,000 students from 38 schools across the country to devise a marketing solution to a real-life business problem facing the Chevrolet brand. Lisi and Dewar advanced to the Top 10 final round in March 2015, where they received the $5,000 Canadian Tire Award for Innovative

COM

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Above: Molson teammates

Judith Jayasuriya (coach), Tom Epp,

Jesse Perry, Amanda Macdonald, Eric

Postma, Meenakshi (alternate)

Hilary Lisi and Ashton Dewar

Tom Epp, Rawle Bachoo, Aayush Katkar and Matthew Schaubroeck at Georgia Bowl


A Solid Foundation for the Future

IDEAIDEA honours business executives who have achieved outstanding entrepreneurial success and have made an exemplary contribution to economic life. Recipients are honoured at a gala dinner that has become Manitoba’s premier business event.

Prem Watsa, founder, chairman and CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, will receive the 2016 IDEA on June 7, 2016 at the RBC Convention Centre. Watsa moved to Canada from India in 1972 with only $8 in his pocket. He is now one of Canada’s most acclaimed business leaders. Fairfax is Canada’s largest property and casualty insurer.

Members take a hands-on approach to giving back to the Asper School. They participate in events throughout the year and offer valuable mentorship opportunities to students at all levels. They coach teams and judge competitions. They present to classes and provide co-op placements for a significant number of students.

“The Associates and Young Associates serve as an essential connection between the Asper School and the Manitoba business community,” says Associates chair Rick MacKay. “By contributing to the success of the school, its graduates are in turn strengthening the community.”

Throughout the year, the Associates and Young Associates offer a series of events for members, including a distinguished speaker series, development opportunities, a state of the economy speaker series, CEO perspectives, and the prestigious IDEA dinner.

For the past 34 years, the Asper School has enjoyed a direct link to CEOs and business leaders through

the Associates and Young Associates, two of Manitoba’s premier business networks. Both organizations operate as programs within the University of Manitoba Business School Foundation. The International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) program also operates as part of the foundation.

AnnaMaria Toppazzini, CEO of the foundation, says its goal is to “increase the capacity of already valuable and meaningful organizations.” The two organizations boast a combined membership of over 365 business leaders. Toppazzini says “the time, expertise, and charitable contributions they devote to the Asper School elevate its prestige as a leading Canadian business school.”

The Associates were founded by a prominent group of local business leaders and former dean Roland Grandpre in 1982 to help alumni and the local business community enhance the Asper School. The Young Associates were founded in 1993 to help young professionals support the school.

Michael Benarroch, dean and CPA Manitoba Chair in Business Leadership, Asper School of Business (right) with Rick MacKay, FCPA, FCA, Chair of the U of M Business School Foundation and of the Associates

2015-16 ASSOCIATES ACHIEVEMENT AWARDSEach year, the Associates honour outstanding teaching, research or service that advances business education in Manitoba and enhances the Asper School’s reputation:

RESEARCH: Changmin Jiang, Assistant Professor, Supply Chain Management

Luke Zhu, Assistant Professor, Business Administration

TEACHING: Nathan Greidanus, Assistant Professor, Business Administration

SERVICE: Kelley Main, Associate Professor, Marketing

INNOVATION: Hari Bapuji, Associate Professor, Business Administration

For more information about the U of M Business School Foundation and its programs, or to find out how to become a member of the Associates or Young Associates, visit the Foundation office on the fifth floor of Drake Centre, visit associatesmb.ca or youngassociates.org, email [email protected], or phone 204.474.6201.

Invest in Asper research chairs and professorships in key areas of business, including leadership, innovation, business ethics and workplace health. We will be internationally renowned leaders in these key areas and produce research that has practical applications for the business community.

OUTSTANDING STUDENT EXPERIENCEWe will offer students hands-on learning opportunities through international business competitions, executive mentorships, international study programs, co-op work terms, real-world consulting projects, and enhanced career services. We will provide students with innovative, immersive and interactive study opportunities that prepare them for current and future work environments.

PLACES AND SPACESWe will provide a world-class business education facility through enhanced classrooms, an e-library commons, and a dedicated graduate student centre. Our physical learning space will provide opportunities to connect ideas with innovators, learners with leaders, and workplace advances with classroom improvements.

To make a gift in support of any of the Asper School of Business’s strategic priorities, please contact:

Michael BenarrochDean, Asper School of Business [email protected]

Tansey BuikeDonor [email protected]

Vanessa ShaffDonor [email protected]

programming. We will develop the next generation of Indigenous commu-nity and business leaders, and build the capacity of Indigenous communities through increased business knowledge and access to resources.

GRADUATE STUDENT SUPPORTWe will better attract top-quality graduate students from across Canada and beyond, and keep more Manitobans studying and working in Manitoba. We will increase the enrolment of MBA, MSc and PhD students, who will power our knowl-edge economy and benefit industry.

RESEARCH EXCELLENCEWe will enhance our international research reputation by establishing

The I.H. Asper School of Business is trailblazing a new approach to business education. By integrating

hands-on learning opportunities in real-world business environments, we’re positioning our graduates as the drivers of economic change in Canada and beyond.

Alumni, donor and community support is vital to our success. Invest in the Asper School of Business – and help us provide a transformative, world-class education to the next generation of business leaders.

INDIGENOUS ACHIEVEMENTWe will provide increased scholar-ship and bursary opportunities for Indigenous students pursuing business studies, and offer innovative leadership


Alumni Spotlight

NICK LOGAN: PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTNick Logan [BComm(Hons)/73] received a 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award from the U of M in recog-nition of professional achievement. During his 40 years as president and CEO of National Leasing, Logan helped build a corporate environment that brought out the best in his employees at the company’s Winnipeg headquarters.

Logan was keynote speaker at this year’s Bachelor of Commerce Luncheon, an annual event that welcomes first-year Asper students to Winnipeg’s business community. He encouraged students to “plan to make a difference in people’s lives.”

DOUG HARVEY: OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPISTThe Association of Fundraising Professionals of Manitoba named Doug Harvey [BComm(Hons)/75], president and CEO of Maxim Truck & Trailer, their Outstanding Philanthropist for 2015. The Association praised Harvey’s support of the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, the Canadian

Museum for Human Rights, and the Assiniboine Park Conservancy.

SUSAN GLASS & ERNEST RADY: HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTSTwo remarkable Asper alumni received honorary degrees from the U of M at the 2015 Spring Convocation. Honorary degrees are bestowed upon individuals who have achieved excellence in the advancement of culture, communications, education, administration, scholarship, leadership, philanthropy, mentorship and business.

Susan Glass [BComm/67] is a champion of Canadian performing and visual arts, dedicated to enhancing the cultural vitality of our nation by nurturing and supporting artists in galleries and theatres across Canada. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2009.

Ernest Rady [BComm/58] has spent a lifetime using his energy to create opportunities for others. An entrepreneur at heart, his skillful leadership has steered his companies to tremendous success in financial services, investment management, real estate, and other industries.

PRITI MEHTA-SHAH: COMMUNITY LEADERThe Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce welcomed Priti Mehta-Shah [BComm (Hons)/83, CA, CBV, CF] as the new chair of its board of directors in October. Mehta-Shah is co-founder and manag-ing partner at 49-97 Capital Partners, a boutique financial services firm. She has sat on the Chamber board since 2012. “The Chamber has energy,” she said, which is what inspired her to take on the role and pursue a new strategic direction that focuses on bringing venture capital into the city to support emerging companies.

umanitoba.ca/asper/alumni

This year we celebrate five Asper alumni for exceptional achievements in business, leadership, philanthropy and community service.

GOING GREEN, GOING DIGITAL After this issue, Update will be published annually in a digital

format, making our footprint on the planet a little lighter.

Don’t miss out! Send your current email address via the Update

Your Contact Information link at umanitoba.ca/alumni

U P D A T E / 2 0 1 6 23

CLASS OF ’65 REUNION In October 2015, members of the Class of ’65 celebrated their milestone 50th reunion. They took a tour of the Drake Centre with CSA president Noah Yagi, then attended a special “classroom lecture” of memories delivered by Asper Dean Emeritus John Mundie. They also visited the U of M’s new Active Living Centre and enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of Investors Group Field, home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Bison football team. Brian Dobie, Bison football head coach, conducted the tour.

MBA CELEBRATIONMarci Elliott [MBA/12], executive director of the Asper MBA (centre), with Bill Eamer [BComm(Hons)/72, MBA/73] and Audrey Gordon [MBA/12] at the Asper MBA Program Celebration and Alumni Reception. The event took place in the James W. Burns Executive Education Centre in October 2015.

WINNIPEGAt the Winnipeg Distinguished Alumni Speaker event in March 2015, Trudy Schroeder [MBA/04], executive director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, treated guests to a private dress rehearsal by the orchestra and a talk by WSO creative director Alexander Mickelthwaite.

TORONTORandy Ambrosie [BComm(Hons)/87], CEO and president of MacDougall, MacDougall & MacTier, was guest speaker at the Toronto Distinguished Alumni Speaker event, which took place at the National Club in May 2015.

umanitoba.ca/asper

news.umanitoba.ca/network/asper

@asperschool

[email protected]

For more information about the Asper School of Business, contact: Judy Wilson, Director Marketing & Communications 204.474.8960

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S GOING GREEN, GOING DIGITALAfter this issue, Update will be published annually in a digital format, making our footprint on the planet a little lighter. Don’t miss out! Send your current email address via the Update Your Contact Information link at umanitoba.ca/alumni

Prefer paper? No problem. Email us at [email protected] or call 204-474-6482



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Documents

ASPER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Building Bridges E