Aspire Winter 2012

VOL. 4 ISSUE 2 WINTER/SPRING 2013

THE PARTNERSHIP ISSUE

A partnership between MacEwan University students and Baba’s Own revives the social enterprise

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

INNOVATION EXCHANGE

BUILDING BRIDGES

Research yields a new performance framework for business

International knowledge gained through crossborder connections

Supply Chain Management program strengthens bonds with energy and construction sectors

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CONTENTS THE PARTNERSHIP ISSUE WINTER/SPRING 2013

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RESEARCH MATTERS

No Boundaries MacEwan University hosts international students from India’s Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research

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Swinging for Success Edmonton’s new Quarry Golf Club is run by graduates from MacEwan University’s Professional Golf Management program

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PROBLEM SOLVERS

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Institute for Asia Pacific Studies Explores Chinese investment in Alberta’s oil sands

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When MacEwan University students made the case for saving Baba’s Own, the leaders of the social enterprise listened

Two researchers are building a new performance model for business, which considers social, sustainable, economic and environmental factors

PEOPLE@MACEWAN

MacEwan University’s Corporate Learning and Continuing Education department partners with Canadian Western Bank to develop a comprehensive training program

By considering the construction industry, in addition to the oil and gas sector, MacEwan University diversifies the abilities of its supply chain students

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Faculty Profiles Through extra efforts to engage students, two MacEwan University faculty are creating more responsible leaders

DEPARTMENTS

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Message From the Dean

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Mutual Benefits The successful relationship between Intact Insurance and MacEwan University’s Insurance and Risk Management program proves the importance of clear communication

Students in a market research class put their textbook learning into practice when they conducted focus group discussions and surveys at local high schools

Beyond the Numbers

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FINANCIAL WIZARDS

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Learning Together

Constructing Partnerships

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Message from the Associate Dean

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Student and Grad Profiles A MacEwan University student is building community through the campus club he founded, while an entrepreneur credits MacEwan for instilling work ethic

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Around MacEwan

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Work Term Winners

Cooperation between West Fraser Co. and MacEwan University has been a bonus to all involved

MacEwan University School of Business

Springboard Dynamic classes and course material set the stage for a vibrant career

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MESSAGE

FROM THE DEAN

ELSIE ELFORD

Partnerships provide strength – not only in numbers – but through the exchange of knowledge and experience. At MacEwan University School of Business we strive to provide as much contact by our students to the real world of business, both locally and internationally, as possible.

We work to create partnerships at many levels. We invite industry experts to sit down with us on program advisory councils to talk, without inhibition, to ensure our curriculum meets their needs.

We host and participate in events, like the Edmonton Chamber’s Small Business Week Kick Off, or our own Student Business Conference, to provide our students with direct contact and conversation with business experts. And we place our students, through short term practicums and year long co-operative education initiatives right into the workplace.

Then, we also offer an international study tour opportunity, open to all business students. So our students can expand their classroom experience into the real world.

This issue of Aspire highlights some of the partnerships, activities and events School of Business faculty and students are involved in. Partnerships like Enactus students promoting Baba’s Own; work term placements with companies like PCL, Intact Insurance, West Fraser, and more; and networking events like Avenue Edmonton’s Top 40 under 40 event – hosted by a group of our Public Relations students.

We find great strength for our students in partnerships, strength that allows them to ‘hit the ground running’ in their careers. As you read through the following pages, I’m sure you will find that our business and academic partners find strength in these relationships as well. And, I encourage you to ask yourself how partnering with the School of Business can be of benefit to your organization.

We are fortunate to work and partner with some exceptional people, businesses, and academic institutions around the world. Through these partnerships we create an environment where our students can apply skills and maximize their education.

Elsie Elford, BA, LL.B Dean, School of Business

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www.MacEwan.ca/business

MESSAGE

FROM THE ASSOCIATE DEAN Winter/Spring 2013 VOLUME 4 Issue 2 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jana Clarke ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Joyce Byrne CONSULTING EDITOR Cailynn Klingbeil ART DIRECTOR Charles Burke ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Andrea deBoer ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Colin Spence EDITORIAL ADVISORY Jana Clarke, Robert Dean, Mike Henry CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Caroline Barlott, Caleb Caswell, Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Adrienne Hill, Matt Hirji, Omar Mouallem, Michelle Lindstrom, Robin Schroffel, Kelley Stark, Doug Yearwood CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS Bluefish, Jana Clarke, Buffy Goodman, Eugene Uhuad, Constantine Tanasiuk Aspire is published by MacEwan University School of Business to celebrate student, faculty and staff successes.

Aspire is published by MacEwan University in conjunction with Venture Publishing Inc. If you would like to receive additional copies or be placed on the regular mailing list for ASPIRE, please contact: MacEwan University 10700 - 104 Avenue, Room 7-252 Edmonton, AB T5J 4S2 780.633.3785 Contents copyright 2012 by MacEwan University. No part of this publication should be reproduced without written permission.

Canada Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement # 40063489. Return undeliverable mail to MacEwan University 10700 - 104 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5J 4S2

MIKE HENRY

Alberta has always been a land of pioneers and innovators. Our entrepreneurial spirit is evidenced throughout our province, and in our classrooms here at MacEwan University School of Business.

Our faculty and students strive to create partnerships with businesses that connect classroom learning to the real world of work – locally and internationally. As our university continues to grow and internationalize, the demand to think outside our borders in formation of partnerships grows as well.

This September, I visited the China University of Petroleum in Beijing (CUPB) to discuss increased collaboration between CUPB and our School of Business.

These discussions led to a visit and lecture by Dr. Lianyong Feng, on his research on Chinese investment in Alberta’s oilsands, found in this edition of Aspire on page 37.

Students from the Prin. L.N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development in Mumbai, India visited MacEwan University (page 26). Last year, our own students visited their institution, and a more study tours are planned with education and industry partners in China, Brazil, India and Europe.

Our local partnerships are the foundation that connects our students and faculty to Alberta business. Co-op placements, internships, business consulting experience, marketing research projects for local businesses, industry speakers, career mixers and business-based applied research projects are all examples of the support and collaboration between our School and Edmonton’s business community.

This issue of Aspire highlights just a few of the partnerships formed and fostered over many years. I encourage you to visit our campus or contact us to learn more. Our contact information can be found to the left on this page, with more information available at www.MacEwan.ca/Business.

Mike Henry Associate Dean, MacEwan University School of Business

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Around MacEwan

Women Win Bronze at CCAA National Golf Championship

BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS: The 2012 MacEwan Griffins Women’s Golf Team

For the fourth time in as many years, the MacEwan Griffins Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams have competed in the Canadian College Athletics Association (CCAA) National Golf Championship. During the week of October 15 – 19, the National Tournament was hosted by the Durham College Lords at the beautiful Oshawa Golf and Country Club in Ontario.

Top teams (15 Men’s teams and 10 Women’s teams) from across Canada qualified for the event including teams from B.C. (4), Alberta (4), Ontario (6), Quebec (4) and Atlantic Canada (1).

The event included three rounds of competitive golf, a skills competition and the CCAA Awards Banquet, where the p.6

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2012 CCAA All-Canadians and 2012 CCAA Golf Coach of the Year were announced. This is the first year that the CCAA appointed AllCanadians for the sport of golf.

The Griffins teams enjoyed three days of ups and downs, with the women’s team victorious with a bronze medal. The men’s team placed 7th, but with such low scores on day one and three to solidify the team as one of the top teams in the country. “The guys played so great on day one and put themselves where they wanted to be on the leader board. Unfortunately, all it takes at the national level is one day and you get pushed out of the medals, and that’s what happened on the second day for them,” comments Coach Jodi Campbell. “On the flip side, the women really came out and showed what they can do. They launched themselves back into this competition with their scores. It was one of the best team performances of the year.”

Congratulations to Rachel Whyte, Sydney J. Parker, and Megan Vermillion (pictured in order above, flanked by coaches Jodi Campbell on the left and Alan Riley to the right). www.MacEwan.ca/business

School of Business + Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade = International Connections A Memorandum of Understanding between MacEwan University School of Business and the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade’s International Business School was signed in September 2012.

This partnership allows MacEwan University School of Business students to participate in a collaborative International Trade Simulation course.

Students play the role of simulated companies in their respective countries to trade goods mainly between China and Canada - business students in the US and Taiwan also participate. Students gain experience in negotiation, export price calculation, export contract drafting, letter of credit checking, customs clearance, shipping and documentation.

Visiting Scholar Howard Lin MacEwan University School of Business works to connect their students, not only with the business world, but to academics from across the country and around the world. Dr. Howard Lin, from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, visited MacEwan University in mid-September. MacEwan University filled every moment of his time, meeting with deans and faculty to discuss his experience with Ryerson’s transition from a college to a university, and delivering several presentations to faculty, students and the business community. His talks focused on the changing organizational landscape in China, which were very well received.

COMING TOGETHER: Delegates from MacEwan University and the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade’s International School of Business

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Around MacEwan

McLennan Ross Sun Junior Golf Tour MacEwan University School of Business has been sponsoring the Alberta Junior Golf Tour for approximately five years. The goal of the tour is to provide junior golfers in Alberta the opportunity to develop their golf games in a series of coordinated tournaments throughout Alberta in a fun, but competitive environment. As MacEwan University offers Professional Golf Management as a major of the Business Management diploma, the tour is an incredible fit – promoting the program directly to young people with a love of the sport.

NEXT GENERATION: Junior golfers from across Alberta compete in the McLennan Ross Sun Junior Golf Tour every year

Small Business Week As a sponsor of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Small Business Week initiatives, MacEwan University School of Business was pleased to host the kick off event for the week. Small Business Week is an annual national event. This year’s theme Aim High! Invest in Your Future, resonated with students, many of whom will own their own businesses – and some who do already.

This event was a great example of the networking opportunities MacEwan University provides to connect students with the real world of business.

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www.MacEwan.ca/business

CMA Accreditation – Recognizing Quality Accounting Curriculum MacEwan University School of Business recently received confirmation of accreditation with the Society of Management Accountants of Canada (CMA Canada). This Certified Management Accountants (CMA) accreditation will allow high achievers in the Bachelor of Commerce degree an exemption from the CMA Canada Entrance Exam and registration into the Strategic Leadership program.

“Receiving this accreditation is a recognition of the quality of our curriculum by CMA Canada,” says Elsie Elford, Dean of MacEwan University School of Business. “They are recognizing the unique attributes placed into this degree – the focus on connecting our students to the real world of work and the importance we place on communication skills through things like group work and case competitions.”

Launched in fall, 2010, the Accounting major was the fourth major launched in the Bachelor of Commerce degree. This major rounds out MacEwan University’s accounting offerings, which still include a diploma and applied degree.

ADVANCED ACCOUNTING: Janet Paterson-

Weir, Provost & EVP Academic; Joy Thomas, President & CEO of CMA Canada; Elsie Elford, Dean, MacEwan University School of Business

Put Accounting Employers and Students in one Room and what do you get? Success Over 120 employers and students from the accounting industry came together at MacEwan University South Campus on October 25 to meet, greet and seek employment or employees. MacEwan University offers a wide variety of accounting options, including a diploma, applied degree and four-year degree with an accounting major. Many students in attendance sought work placement to complete their applied degree or co-op diploma requirement. Others were in search of part-time, summer, or permanent employment. Whatever the reason, all employers left loaded down with student resumes and business cards.

And all agreed they had found some great prospects.

FACE TIME: Employers and students participated in a ‘speed networking’ exercise, then mixed and mingled

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Around MacEwan

Top 40 Under 40 Ten students from MacEwan University’s Public Relations program lent their talent and energy to assist with Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 event. This award celebration was held at MKT Fresh Food & Beer Market on November 1, with our soon-to-be PR graduates hosting and assisting with event logistics. This event celebrates forty award-winners, under 40 years of age, who not only have successful careers, but also work to improve the quality of life in Edmonton.

The evening was both inspiring and an excellent learning laboratory for the MacEwan University students, all of whom will be called on to plan events in their future careers.

MEET THE HOSTS: Susan Meingast and

Orville Chubb of Avenue Magazine

WELCOMING TEAM: MacEwan University

Public Relations students help host the event IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Emma Butler and Chelsey Swankhuizen interview a Top 40 winner

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www.MacEwan.ca/business

THE PARTNERSHIP ISSUE

By Omar Mouallem

PHOTOS BY BUFFY GOODMAN

PROBLEM SOLVERS

When MacEwan University students made the case for saving Baba’s Own, the leaders of the social enterprise listened PEROGY MAKERS: Cameron McCoy with project supervisor Yevheniya Vasylysyna.

The students focused on differentiating Baba’s Own from the competition

MacEwan University School of Business

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t just a hairnet over five-feet-tall, Olya Vrana is dwarfed by the walk-in freezer inside the kitchen at St. Michael’s Long Term Care Centre. She waves her hand to a scarce few boxes stacked against the wall. The bright green label reads: Baba’s Own Pyrohy. “Two weeks ago, full freezer,” Vrana says. She repeats it for emphasis: “Two weeks ago. Now? Just a little bit. This week, everything sell.” aspire

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THE PARTNERSHIP ISSUE

HIGH YIELD: Each Baba makes 1,200 perogies by hand every day, in 14 varieties, plus three kinds of cabbage rolls

Each year 1.26 million perogies and half a million cabbage rolls will be stored here before being shipped off to grocery stores as far north as Yellowknife, where customers will enjoy up to 14 varieties of perogies and three types of cabbage rolls. And every time one does, they’re contributing to the St. Michael’s Health Group. The perogies are essentially

and came here as a stepping stone to citizenship, to learn the language and earn a modest salary (though Vrana has so far stayed for 19 years).

They quietly mix, cut, stuff and pinch perogies – 1,200 per person per day. The only heavy machinery is a dough roller that is malfunctioning today. A woman tries

The perogies are essentially the 32-year-old organization’s version of the Girl Guide Cookie, helping with its $19million-a-year objective of providing long-term care to people in Edmonton with physical and mental challenges. the 32-year-old organization’s version of the Girl Guide Cookie, helping with its $19-million-a-year objective of providing long-term care to people in Edmonton with physical and mental challenges.

It sounds like a big operation, but it’s not.

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hopelessly to shove a log of dough through a slit while tampering with some buttons.

Meanwhile, her colleagues sit on stools and work over flour-strewn counters, intently ensuring each perogy is as good as the one her grandmother made.

“Oh yeah,” chimes sales consultant Cheryl Ostermayer, “it really is Baba’s own.”

But with this high quality comes high

costs. Even at double the price of a bag of perogies from one of its competitors, last year’s net profit was only about $10,000. They may have increased annual sales from $127,000 to $485,000 since 2005, when CEO Stan Fisher came in and expanded the social enterprise, but it also meant ballooning costs. As a result, the 2011 AGM saw board members suggesting they shut it down.

But they were convinced otherwise thanks to some very young attendees. MacEwan University School of Business students made the case for saving the social enterprise, based on brand recognition. “Even though we don’t have a facility in the Northwest Territories, they know Baba’s Own and St. Michael’s,” explains director of general services Paul Teterenko, who was at the meeting. “And that kind of recognition would cost thousands.”

Adds Ostermayer, “It’s a part of our identity.”

On a late September day inside MacEwan University’s Robbins Health Learning Centre, 50 students have taken over an www.MacEwan.ca/business

ROLLING IN DOUGH: Enactus’s challenge is to help Baba’s Own increase profits while maintaining a high quality and high cost, product

amphitheatre room for an orientation on Enactus (which just recently changed its name from Students in Free Enterprise, or SIFE). It’s 5:15 p.m. and the meeting was adjourned 15 minutes ago. “They could go home if they want,” says Faculty Advisor Gordon Lucyk. But they don’t. Instead, they rattle on about the partnership opportunities in the local business community and create a buzz you can hear from outside.

There are classes buzzing like this across 39 countries and 1,600 colleges and universities. For 37 years, Enactus has charged postsecondary students with an entrepreneurial spirit and plugged them into socially responsible businesses. Just a year ago, in September 2011, the MacEwan University chapter of the international non-profit organization launched with 15 members.

Assistant Professor of Marketing Leo Wong, one of seven Enactus faculty advisors including Lucyk, isn’t surprised that membership has tripled in just a year. Enactus offers students the kind of real-world experiences they’ve been working for since they MacEwan University School of Business

filled out their application to the School of Business. “They’re consulting, working with external organizations, and that gives them something to supplement their education here,” says Wong, who has also participated with Enactus on the other side, as a marketer for a Calgary nonprofit working with Mount Royal’s chapter.

“The other aspect,” he says, “is it deals with those social and environmental issues that this generation of students care about quite a lot.”

And that’s the way business schools are heading, says Co-chair of Student Services Lucyk, who likes to point out the not-so humble origins of Enactus: “Its goal initially was to beat the communists by showing what free enterprise could do. After communism died, they adopted a triple bottom line focus – people, profits and planet.”

For third-year MacEwan University student Cameron McCoy, the attraction to Enactus felt natural. “I quite enjoy leadership, working with people one on one,” he says. “I really enjoy that aspect of business.”

McCoy, 19, learned about Enactus last year in his Non-profit Management class with Wong and has since become the local chapter’s president and CEO. Wong challenged his students to gain experience by either creating a pretend non-profit and dealing with the logistics that would hypothetically entail, or getting involved with Baba’s Own, an opportunity made possible through his long-standing friendship with St. Michael’s CEO. “I thought it would be much more interesting to help real people,” McCoy says.

“It was not hard to get involved.”

The problems challenging Baba’s then and now are many. It makes a great product, but compared to its machine-made competitors, the cost per unit is high. Wong posed a question to McCoy and fellow project members – “Is there any way they can differentiate themselves?” – and one of their answers was to conduct a taste test.

St. Michael’s sent its best Babas to MacEwan University and City Centre mall, where between 500 and 750 people sampled aspire

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THE PARTNERSHIP ISSUE four perogies, each from a different brand. It turns out people highly prefer Baba’s, which was second only to a niche brand more likely to be found in health food markets than any of Baba’s dozens of suppliers. But it was a test of the students, too. It showed that they could successfully organize an event,

people were willing to pay for perogies …

The students were able to communicate these issues to St. Michael’s so that the company could understand them better.”

Communication and presentation skills are hallmarks of Enactus, and the students were able to execute both at the board meet-

St. Michael’s sent its best Baba’s to MacEwan University and City Centre mall, where between 500 and 750 people sampled perogies. It was a test of the students, too, and showed that they could successfully organize an event, demonstrate leadership and delegate among themselves. demonstrate leadership, delegate among themselves and coordinate a focus group.

“What I really learned was how to market a product and get it out into the public,” McCoy says. “I enjoyed learning how to design market research.”

“That set the stage for other things to consider, like repackaging and re-branding,” says Wong. “We wanted to know how much

ing where Baba’s was put on the chopping block. “The future is bright with [Enactus] and the number of things they’re planning,” says St. Michael’s Teterenko. “It’s exciting for us because it will allow us to grow a little bit more and to increase our sales and maybe diversify our revenue streams.”

But were St. Michael’s staff ever concerned that inviting a bunch of amateurs

to the table might actually cause damage?

“No,” says Ostermayer, “they’ve got a lot of fresh, bright ideas.” In fact, they’re already collaborating on improving Baba’s visibility in the aisles. Enactus members went out to local suppliers, took photos and documented where their product was shelved and reported back to Ostermayer and his team.

If there are ever concerns with the student activities, faculty advisors are there to help.

But although they help maintain good relationships, their jobs aren’t to convince the business owners – quite the contrary. It’s to teach students how to make a case for their ideas so not only can they sustain partnerships, but grow them. “The whole idea of [Enactus] is students can come in first year and it adds value throughout, until fourth year,” Lucyk says.

McCoy has one more year in the School of Business and he plans on making the best of it with Enactus. Some days it costs him two to three hours, other times it means early Monday morning meetings, but for him it’s worth it. “In the long run, I really hope to make my degree worth more.”

DEEP FREEZE: This walk-in will store 1.26 million perogies and half a million cabbage rolls bound for stores as far north as Yellowknife, each year

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PHOTOS BY GENESIS STUDIO

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LEARNING TOGETHER

MacEwan University School of Business Corporate Learning and Continuing Education partners with Canadian Western Bank Group to develop a comprehensive training program

By Caleb Caswell

C

ommunication is one of the most foundational skills an individual can possess, and is a key characteristic in building a successful business.

Canadian Western Bank Group (CWB) is one company that puts communication at the forefront of its business practice, whether it is with clients, staff, or partnering organizations.

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Ratka Janjic, Senior Manager of Corporate Learning and Continuing Education

When CWB decided to implement a training course to help their staff acquire the skill-set to lead and communicate effectively, they came to MacEwan University’s School of Business Corporate Learning and Continuing Education team to assist in developing the program. Their work together has resulted in a lasting partnership greatly benefiting both organizations.

Clear and effective communication is a skill that’s beneficial in all areas of life; however, in business it is vital for success. “Often employees are promoted to supervisory or management positions because of their job related skills. However, they may not yet have developed key skills and competencies such as communication, performance management and how to effectively lead a team,” says Ratka Janjic, Senior Manager of Corporate Learning and Continuing Education at MacEwan University School of Business. And considering the p.16

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internally,” says Heather Sanregret, Assistant Vice-President of Training and Development at CWB, “so we searched for something a little more structured.”

The search prompted CWB Group to get in contact with MacEwan University’s then-Director of Corporate Learning and Continuing Education, Sheila LeBlanc. After a thorough needs assessment, a classroom and online “Essentials in Management” program was created to equip new supervisors and managers with a series of management and communication skills.

In the beginning, however, the program was smaller in scope. “We were looking for a one-day session,” says Sanregret. “I already had in my head what the program would look like, so I started by asking how much it would cost.

But during the needs assessment important questions were asked such as, ‘What do you need? What do you want to accomplish? What competencies do you want your people to have?’ The needs assessment process was very personal and passionate. The resulting “Essentials in Management Program” is a comprehensive program that surpasses the typical training program consisting of a classroom, some projector slides and a manual that inevitably ends up on a shelf.

The modules are designed to give participants the skills to motivate employees, manage time and delegate responsibility. Communication skills, such as conflict management, effective writing, supervision skills and problem solving are also included. Four additional factors, customized for the program, make it particularly effective: the practical application of the material to real situations; the smaller classroom size of 25 people; the close networking of participants who share similar “It’s important to be aware of our experiences, histories, and strengths, and our strength is our people. goals; and a coaching guide provided to upper-manThey care about our clients and students agement post-graduation and want to provide a positive learning explaining how to help participants transfer newly environment and the best service acquired skills back to the possible,” says Ratka Janjic, Senior workplace.

Manager of Business Corporate Learning Upon successful completion of the program, and Continuing Education. participants are awarded a Professional Development expansion of CWB – a growth that’s ballooned certificate from MacEwan University, followed by a graduation ceremony. So far approxifrom 120 employees in 1991 to over 1,800 in mately140 members of CWB and their subrecent years through hires and acquisitions – sidiaries have completed the program since its management training was necessary. In fact inception in 2009, and the program continues the company created an entire department to be held annually, rotating between Edmondevoted to providing training and developton, Calgary, and Vancouver. ment opportunities for their employees.

The Essentials in Management program is “We knew we were missing the mark www.MacEwan.ca/business

TRAINING RELATIONSHIP: Ratka Janjic, Senior Manager of Corporate Learning and Continuing Education with Kerry Seto, CWB, Help Desk manager

consistently praised by its participants “The content of the program and its comprehensiveness is much more robust than what I thought it would be,” says Sanregret. “And it didn’t come at a cost I was uncomfortable with. The price was absolutely fair.”

The effectiveness of the courses comes from the unique pairing of MacEwan University’s expertise in program development and CWB’s corporate philosophy of equipping their employees with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions. MacEwan University and the CWB Group are currently in discussions to develop a follow-up program that will use the Essentials of Management program as a jumping off point. This new program would focus on key leadership skills and competencies.

The two organizations continue to partner on other initiatives as well.

MacEwan Business Continuing Education develops a co-branded Professional Development guide for CWB employees that offers opportunities for employees to enroll in courses as part of their ongoing professional MacEwan University School of Business

development. CWB also engages their professional staff to speak to MacEwan University School of Business students or participate in various business events held by the University.

“It’s a small community,” says Janjic. “We’re in the heart of downtown and we search for ways to collaborate that are beneficial to both organizations.”

Janjic continues to develop methods to answer the question of how her Corporate Learning and Continuing Education department can strive to meet the needs of the business community, while aligning with the department’s strengths. “It’s an ongoing question of what does the business community need.” says Janjic. “We’re not going to be all things to all businesses, and when you promise something you can’t deliver, you lose credibility. It’s important to be aware of our strengths, and our strengths are our people.

They care about our clients and students and want to provide a positive learning environment and the best service possible.”

Janjic’s answer on how to provide the best

service: “It’s about open dialogue and asking the right questions.

Every organization is unique; therefore, it is our job as training professionals to assess, design and create training that meets their needs.”

Both the Business Corporate Learning and Continuing Education department and CWB attribute the success of the program and their continued relationship to the importance both sides place on communication. Whether selling a coffee to a customer, learning to motivate an employee, or courting a conglomerate to provide their staff training, communication is the most important tool an individual or business can develop. Good communication leads to continuing relationships, and Sanregret’s endorsement of MacEwan School of Business, Corporate Learning and Continuing Education says it all: “We value the relationship with MacEwan University and we see them as a partner of ours. We’ve had other needs for management training, and MacEwan University is our first contact.” aspire

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PHOTO: CURTIS TRENT

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By Michelle Lindstrom

Creating diversity in MacEwan University Supply Chain Co-op placements means considering the construction industry in addition to oil and gas

WORK TERMS: Craig Gordon-Fulk (left), a fourth year student in the Supply Chain Management major, with Scott Sharun, Assistant Manager, Procurement of PCL Industrial Management

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CONSTRUCTING PARTNERSHIPS

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upply chains are everywhere in Alberta, from the local corner store to the biggest oil and gas companies in Fort McMurray. Companies are finding now, more than ever, that strong partnerships within their supply chains can be what makes or breaks them, even more so than their product’s price. Quality and delivery times are directly dependant on suppliers, so finding the right links in the chain can start with a well-informed and connected MacEwan University Supply Chain Co-op student.

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Enrico de Borja, MacEwan University’s Co-op Education Advisor for the Supply Chain Management major, hears firsthand what companies are looking for in terms of labour and it’s his job to connect them with qualified Supply Chain Co-op students and graduates. The students don’t get the short end of the stick either, considering they get paid for three blocks of four month work placements during their third and fourth year of studies.

“We’re one of the fastest growing majors in BCom,” de Borja says. As of September 2012, approximately 120 students were enrolled in the Supply Chain Management Co-op program, a nearly 40 per cent increase from the previous September.

Employees from PCL, Canada’s largest construction company, spoke to MacEwan University students late in September. Dave Hall, Manager, Materials Management and Jamie Nelson, Supervisor Materials Management, presented to over 20 students. They described a general scenario to the audience: when required material or shipments to a job site are not there on time, thousands of dollars are lost each hour because employees are on standby, waiting to begin their work. “That’s how critical the supply chain is,” de Borja says.

It is a two-way street of interest between de Borja and Alberta’s construction companies to form a few partnerships. “Oil and gas is always going to be here (Alberta),” de Borja says. “But the construction industry is one I wanted to ramp up to be equal so there are opportunities for students in both industries.”

De Borja is quite certain that if at least two industries are consistently vying for his students, MacEwan University Supply Chain Co-op grads will have job security even if oil prices drop. Buildings, roads and industrial sites will still require construction.

Many large companies within the province are on the hunt for supply chain staff as longterm solutions and have contacted de Borja directly to find out how to include MacEwan University as part of their recruitment plan.

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PCL PARTNERS: (Left to right) Dave Hall, Manager, Materials Management, Jamie Nelson, Supervisor Materials Management and Enrico de Borja, MacEwan University’s Co-op Education Advisor for the Supply Chain Management major

students,” de Borja says. “These construction companies are hungry for this talent that we are developing at MacEwan.”

Scott Sharun, Assistant Manager, Procurement of PCL Industrial Management is a strong supporter of the Supply Chain Co-op program. His department has experience with two MacEwan University Supply Chain

a co-op offer with one company because he wanted to hold out for a four-month buyer position with PCL, which he got.

“Right within the first week they had me buying materials, like consumables, hammers and odd-end tools that people needed on our sites and facilities,” Gordon-Fulk says. He was surprised by the freedom he

“In the past year, we’ve seen a really big boom in construction companies taking our students. These construction companies are hungry for this talent that we are developing at MacEwan,” says Enrico de Borja, MacEwan University’s Co-op Education Advisor for the Supply Chain Management major.

Co-op students so far and another PCL department had two co-op students, and two graduates. He’s encouraged by the skills, eagerness and desire to get things done that these students bring forth during their placements. “Going out and acquiring ready-made talent is very expensive and very hard,” Sharun says. “I see great potential coming out of that group – long-term and short-term.”

Craig Gordon-Fulk, 21, is a MacEwan University Supply Chain Management major in his fourth year of the co-op program. He took a gamble by not immediately accepting

was given to make decisions; it wasn’t as he envisioned a co-op to be. At PCL, he was supervised but was given the opportunity to work things out on his own and ask questions to senior buyers when needed.

“We try to train them to become a junior buyer and actually give them a real taste of what they’re going to be doing here if they decided to stay,” Sharun says.

Gordon-Fulk’s employer asked him to return, and he’ll start an eight-month co-op this May.

www.MacEwan.ca/business

GANOTEC PARTNERS: Sasha Kostic (left) with MacEwan University Co-op student, Stefan Luca

Ganotec West ULC’s headquarters are located between Edmonton and Spruce Grove, in Acheson, Alberta. Ganotec builds industrial facilities such as power plants, refineries and oil sands projects, and is in its third year of partnership with MacEwan University. The company’s District Business Manager Sergey Rozhdestvensky says Ganotec provides students with an opportunity to learn about a very large, sophisticated and multi-disciplined industry. His organization’s talent search involves being visible in the community and hiring local Alberta talent.

“We treat (co-op students) as full-time employees, like a new hire,” Rozhdestvensky says, adding that the co-op program gives Ganotec the opportunity to screen future full-time employees.

He says Ganotec has had a positive experience with all three of its MacEwan University Co-op students. Stefan Luca, 25, was one of them.

“The co-op has helped me figure out and defi ne my career path and fi nd out more of what I want from my professional life,” Luca says.

Luca was required to return to MacEwan for his final semester of school, so Ganotec, not wanting to lose the talent it had invested in for eight months, offered Luca a parttime position. He was able to co-ordinate MacEwan University School of Business

his remaining university classes around the three days a week he works at Ganotec. After his graduation in December 2012, he hopes to specialize in procurement and material co-ordinating.

In addition to fi nding willing employers to take co-op students who offer challenging supply chain work, it is also de Borja’s responsibility to ensure both sides give and get what is expected. Before students go into any co-op placements, they have to complete a pre-employment seminar that de Borja instructs. Within the 15hour seminar, the emphasis is on fi nding a career. Topics covered include: resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, professionalism and networking.

Says de Borja, “Students are getting multiple offers from multiple organizations. That has to go through a 23-year-old’s head – ‘Hey, I’m getting all these job offers.

I’m good, right?’ ” His response to that is, if you can substantiate why you deserve a certain starting salary, then go for it.

“You’re a Supply Chain grad, you’d better be good at negotiating,” Negotiations should be expected by employers, as a robust exchange between them and potential employees.

De Borja does warn students, though, to have balance, as humility goes a long way.

“The companies that are doing well are more receptive to taking on students and

taking a chance,” de Borja says. “Recruitment is strategy. You have millions of dollars of project work but you don’t have the staff to do it. The companies that are already looking have planned well ahead of the pack.”

He says employers should know that students talk and the companies that are secure and unafraid of what is said about them will benefit the most from this free advertising.

Students don’t hold back on the information they share with peers regarding salary, positions, tasks, million-dollar projects they worked on, and so on.

Edmonton, Calgary and Fort McMurray are the three main cities drawing co-op students from MacEwan University’s Supply Chain program. De Borja’s main focus, when he took the university co-op advisor position two years ago, was to have more jobs than students. His continual networking is part of how he’s made that plan come to life. The positive experiences employers say they’ve already had with students is the other half that has companies coming back for more and new organizations getting in line to be a part of this successful recruitment strategy for well-trained, junior-staff members.

Supply chains are becoming better understood and Alberta is the place to be to take part in such a multi-disciplined sector. aspire

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THE PARTNERSHIP ISSUE

By Elizabeth Chorney-Booth

MUTUAL

BENEFITS

PHOTO: EUGENE UHUAD

The successful relationship between Intact Insurance and MacEwan University’s Insurance and Risk Management program proves the importance of clear communication

WIN-WIN SCENARIO: Personal Lines Manager Connie Stonehouse (right) helped Jordan Froese test-drive her new career at Intact Insurance

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nyone looking for a model of a healthy post secondary industry partnership need to look no further than the MacEwan University School of Business’s Insurance and Risk Management program’s relationship with Intact Insurance. The partnership is relatively straightforward in that it serves the needs of both parties without fuss or compromise. Simply put, Intact needs qualified insurance professionals to staff its operation. In turn, the MacEwan program needs industry support to attract and retain students. Through clear communication, each party fulfills the needs of the other in a mutually beneficial and highly successful partnership.

MacEwan University offers a 13-month diploma program in Insurance and Risk Management that prepares students to move on directly to insurance industry careers. The program has an incredibly high success rate, with nearly 100 per cent of graduates going on to jobs in their chosen field. Since the program is so industry specific, the faculty has forged very close relationships with a number of insurance companies, both to help place students upon graduation and also to develop a program that best meets the needs of the industry.

Teresa Costouros is the Faculty and Industry Liaison for the Insurance and Risk Management Program, and she has taken considerable care to foster relationships with key players in the insurance industry.

Through her own network of industry connections, she has developed a particularly close relationship with Intact Insurance, which routinely hires on MacEwan students, including six from the most recent graduating class. Costouros initially felt the need to reach out to Intact when she realized that some of her students were struggling financially.

“Intact Insurance have been very supportive in terms of sponsoring scholarships, specifically for our students,” Costouros says. “They currently have three $1,000 scholarships that only students from the insurance diploma program are eligible for.”

What began as a means of financing students has grown into a partnership that has numerous benefits for the University, the company, and students alike. In addition to those three $1,000 scholarships, high-level managers from Intact attend the program’s annual mixer event, which gives students a chance to mingle with potential employers and learn more about opportunities within the industry. Intact also hosts a recruitment event in which students are invited to the Intact offices to get a feel for the workplace environment and ask questions about the company. Intact also assists with proctoring CIP exams, is represented on the program’s advisory council, and frequently participates with guest speakers in-class.

“It’s a win for us, in terms of the success of our students getting jobs and the many resources we have out there to help us in the delivery of our curriculum,” Costouros says. “It helps us keep our program strong and viable.”

Jordan Froese has benefited directly from the partnership between Intact and MacEwan. Froese graduated from the certificate program in Insurance and Risk Management in 2011, which included a work program with Intact. While taking her classes, Froese worked half days at Intact, and the company took care of her tuition. Froese got a chance to practically apply the theoretical knowledge she picked up in class and also had the security of a full-time job waiting for her once she completed her certification.

Froese says that the work program allowed her to gain first-hand knowledge about the insurance industry while she was still in school and also gave her a chance to test-drive her new career in the workplace environment. She says that Intact was, and remains, supportive every step of the way. A little over a year after graduating, she’s already begun to work up the ranks of the company.

“This is actually somewhere where I can find myself a fit,” Froese says.

MacEwan University School of Business

“I have been lucky enough to move up and our managers are always wanting to know what I want to do, because I put that effort into school they know I want to be here. That’s the culture here – if you want something they will help you get there.”

All of these initiatives are clearly beneficial to the University and the students, but the rewards for Intact are also significant. First off, the company gets an upper hand over their competition by hiring the promising graduates they meet through the program’s mixer as FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS: Teresa Costouros, Faculty and well as the company’s in-office Industry Liaison for the Insurance recruiting event. and Risk Management Program Keith Jerke, Intact’s Regional Vice President in Northern Alberta, says that the partnership goes beyond the opportunity to woo MacEwan’s top insurance students. By working closely with Costouros and the program’s advisory council, he and his colleagues are able to help MacEwan build a program that meets the changing needs of the insurance industry.

“Through the advisory council and the scholarships we’re helping them get people hired,” Jerke says. “But we’re also providing them with feedback on what it is we’re looking for in new hires.”

Both Jerke and Costouros acknowledge that without these partnerships, the Insurance and Risk Management program would be less successful. From Costouros’ point of view, if the program was not able to offer scholarships and other support to students, many students would apply for jobs in insurance without going through a specified program for insurance professionals. The partnership also gives Costouros the ability to attract high quality students who know that they are likely to graduate from the program with gainful employment. On the other side, while Intact routinely hires new employees who do not necessarily have insurance-specific diplomas, the MacEwan program gives the company a chance to take on new hires who already know the ins and outs of the insurance industry.

“It really helps the industry if they have well-educated insurance students,” Costouros says. “Insurance specifically, because they can hit the ground running even if they don’t have hands-on experience, since they’ve got a good theoretical knowledge of insurance.”

“Coming out of the insurance program, these students have made the decision that they want to get into the insurance industry,” Jerke says. “When you hire university graduates who might have a Bachelor of Arts degree, they’re looking for work, but sometimes they aren’t as committed to a career in insurance. With the MacEwan grads, we have a higher retention rate.”

Costouros encourages companies who want to get involved in similar partnerships with any of the MacEwan University School of Business career programs to get in touch with the appropriate faculty liaisons.

She says that the first step is to create an open line of communication.

If both parties are able to clearly articulate what they want out of the partnership, the relationship can be mutually beneficial and hassle-free.

“I feel very blessed to have an industry that is so behind the program,” Costouros says. “Anytime I’ve asked for anything the insurance industry has been very supportive and willing, and Intact being at the front of that line. It’s definitely a two-way street and I’m very grateful for everything that they do.” aspire

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THE PARTNERSHIP ISSUE

By Cailynn Klingbeil

WORK TERM

PHOTO: BLUEFISH STUDIOS

Cooperation between West Fraser Co. and MacEwan University has been a bonus to all involved

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WINNERS W

hile MacEwan University students have completed on to doing financial statements,” she says. work terms as far away as Houston, 20-year-old She’s looking forward to taking on even more responsibilities when Natashia Harland choose a practicum closer to home. she returns to Hinton Pulp in May. “I’ll be doing a little of everything, Harland, who was enrolled in MacEwan University’s Accounting and more of the controller duties but a lot of accounts payable as well. Just Strategic Measurement diploma, completed her first work term at Hin- anything that anybody needs help with, and special projects as well,” ton Pulp, a mill in her hometown operated by West Fraser Timber Co. Harland says.

“I wanted to go back to Hinton and I liked that I could work for “Every time she comes back I try and give her more depth,” says an industry rather than an accounting practice,” Harland says of her Purcell, Harland’s supervisor. “The next time she comes back in co-op choice.

May, we’ll be giving her more of a senior level role. She’s evolved and “I know a lot of the other employees there because I lived in Hinton it’s great.” for so long, so it’s great being back in the community and everyone’s Once her final work term is done and she has graduated with her very welcoming.” degree, Harland plans to work toward her Certified Management Harland liked it so much, in fact, that she returned for a second Accountant designation. “After that I would like to still work in work term. And now that she’s industry, hopefully in a smaller graduated from the diploma protown,” she says. gram and transferred into MacEwan Harland’s career path of accountant “Individuals like Natashia bring huge University’s Bachelor of Applied started rather simply. “I like math and value to our organization and their Business Administration–Accounting I liked it in high school,” she says. “I contributions are significant. They degree, Harland will complete her thought this would be a good thing year-long practicum at Hinton Pulp, to go for.” Her mom, a payroll clerk, come with this knowledge of current starting in May 2013. encouraged her to pursue studies in technologies that they learn in school Harland is excited to return, the field after high school, and she today, and that efficiency helps us with and her employer is happy to have hasn’t looked back since. her back.

“I like the math part of the job and I our everyday business,” says Eva “It’s been great having her,” says also like working with different people Purcell, an accounting supervisor at Eva Purcell, an accounting supervisor and talking to vendors,” she says. at West Fraser.

In between her work terms she has West Fraser Timber Co.’s Hinton Pulp.

“Individuals like Natashia bring enjoyed her time in the classroom, at huge value to our organization and MacEwan University’s South Campus. their contributions are significant. They come with this knowledge of “I had smaller classes and got to interact with the professors. The current technologies that they learn in school today, and that efficiency whole class was pretty close so that was nice,” Harland says. helps us with our everyday business.”

Ena Chaisson, University Advisor in the School of Business, helps Purcell says the pulp mill’s partnership with students started when MacEwan University students market themselves to potential employparents working at the mill asked if there was room for their offspring. ers prior to work term placements, including support with resumes It’s since evolved and the application process is open to everybody, not and practicing for interviews. just families.

In Harland’s case, Chaisson sees her multiple work terms with West “It’s great because the students are enthusiastic and they learn Fraser as a win-win for all involved. quickly. From my experience in the accounting department, ev“The smaller centres benefit by being connected to large post-secerybody is happy to train these students because they’re so eager,” ondary institutions, which do industry-quality training. Students arrive Purcell says. skilled and ready to go, and they bring that training to smaller centres The company is an especially good fit for students who are origithat may not have on-site training like that,” Chaisson says. nally from Hinton. “It’s really good for us to get young people that are Students completing work terms benefit in many ways, too. “It verifrom Hinton,” Purcell says. “It’s a lucky thing – the students are back fies that this is indeed the career for them,” Chaisson says. with their families and then we also have them working for us. We’re Plus, accounting students accelerate their income potential with always hoping that there’s going to be a future for them here.” each work-term they complete. “There’s the immediate effect of For Harland, staying with the same employer for multiple work having real-time, real-world experience, and there’s also the practical terms has allowed her to advance her career, all while she is still in benefit of being able to accelerate their income potential because they school. “I was doing accounts payable the first year and then I moved have real-world experience,” Chaisson says.

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By Caroline Barlott

BEYOND Boundaries

Hosting international students is just one piece of an extensive partnership between the Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research and MacEwan University

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s the airplane began its descent into the Edmonton International Airport, seven graduate students from India looked down and were surprised by the lack of buildings surrounding the city. “India has more post secondary students than Canada has in its entire population,” says Kimberley Howard, project manager for the study tour that brought Indian graduate students from the worldrenowned Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research to Edmonton to learn about another business culture, and culture in general. “It’s no wonder they were surprised by the difference in population.”

If the students’ first impression of the city was one of emptiness and isolation, it quickly changed upon spending nine days learning more about business in Edmonton through a program this September that combined academic lectures, visits to businesses and a tour going through Calgary, Drumheller and Banff. They had a chance to see the dynamic work being done with waste management and learned about the oil industry in the province.

“Going to the waste management plant, they thought it was a world-class centre. Obviously, with a population of over a billion, dealing with waste is a huge issue, and they were impressed with [the plant],” Howard says. They also toured the Rocky Mountains and West Edmonton Mall. The students received credit toward a post-graduate diploma in management, “which is the Indian equivalent of an MBA,” Howard says.

“The partnership between MacEwan and Welingkar is unlike any partnership I’ve seen in another university,” says Makarand Gulawani, Assistant Professor at MacEwan University. “It’s because of the amount of resources involved and the number of people willing to help these students learn about international business.”

Gulawani has taught international business at MacEwan University for six years, but prior to his post in Edmonton he was teaching and doing administration work for the Welingkar Institute. The school has two campuses, one in Mumbai and one in Bengaluru. When MacEwan University wanted to start forming international partnerships with trading countries and top schools, Gulawani knew Welingkar would be an excellent choice. Welingkar is known for its innovative ideas, including recently winning a Mumbai University New Initiative Joint Action Now award for the concept of holding campus blood donation camps, where students donate blood during school hours. “We are both very innovative and we complement one another,” Gulawani says.

MacEwan University School of Business

The partnership started in 2008, when undergraduate business students went on the first study tour to India. They had the opportunity to meet with business leaders and learn about another culture. Then, in 2011, they returned to Welingkar, and signed an updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the institute, showing the commitment on both sides to ensure that students gain increased international knowledge through future collaborations.

“The MOU and the partnership is very important to us, we feel there is a lot of potential for collaborating with MacEwan University and the partnership brings out the best of students at both institutes,” says Chandana Pai, General Manager, Strategic Alliances and Business Development at Welingkar.

Pai travelled with students to Edmonton and says those students, including Mekin Shah, were very excited to bring back the

MacEwan University students are planning to go to India again in May, with a new model for the program involving business mentors being paired with students. Gulawani is very excited about the trip, and is impressed by the number of people involved who are willing to help the students understand another culture. They will have the chance to visit their mentor’s business partners and receive one-onone advice.

The partnership is multi-layered, with future opportunities in the works. When the Indian students were in Edmonton, they met with members of Enactus to discuss the possibility of working together in the future. Enactus is a student group that brings together future business leaders to create a better, more sustainable world. A chapter of the international non-profit organization (formerly known as Students in Free Enterprise, or SIFE) has been active since 2011.

“The partnership between MacEwan and Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research is unlike any partnership I’ve seen in another university,” says Makarand Gulawani, Assistant Professor at MacEwan University.

knowledge they gained at MacEwan to Welingkar.

“When we arrived in Canada, we were initially surprised at not finding very many people. But after we interacted with so many people – the professors, the business people – everyone was friendly and took good care of us,” Shah says.

He said it was clear in his travels and studies that Canada is a county that places high importance on the environment.

“At the waste management plant it was interesting to see how they recycle paper, plastic, and especially electronic waste because that’s something that’s generated all over the world.

Coming from India where the pollution rate is so high, it could be great if we could incorporate a system like this here and create a cleaner environment for the citizens, and create energy out of it. Maybe we could have the Edmonton Waste Management System share the technology and expertise and help us set up such a plant over here,” he says.

“We’re considering the study tour the first in a chain of lots of great things we can do. Welingkar believes in developing global managers, and MacEwan University is a great partner when it comes to that,” Pai says.

The benefits of this partnership are far reaching, both for the students, and the universities.

For students, it’s an opportunity not available in the classroom, says Howard. “There’s nothing that can prepare you for going to India.

You have to go to see it, smell it, experience it.”

International business students will one day be doing business with other cultures, especially in our economy, where everything is interconnected, Howard says. “Even those who never leave Alberta, they’re going to be working with people from different cultures, backgrounds and different first languages.

They may be importing, exporting to India.

They need to know how to operate in a global world,” she says.

The study tour program offers a chance to see how business is conducted in a different country, while experiencing another culture.

Feedback from students has been so positive that all of the Indian students Howard spoke with said they want to return. Gulawani heard similar comments, “Students said: ‘We are sure that with this kind of experience and opportunity we got, our friends will feel jealous.’”

But it’s little wonder. “You can’t simulate the experience of going abroad in a classroom,” says Howard. aspire

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CONSTANTINE TANASIUK

TEAM MACEWAN: (From left to right) Dan Philpott, Dexter Hamilton, Ian Abuan and Taylor Scinski

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By Kelley Stark

Edmonton’s new Quarry Golf Club is run by graduates from MacEwan University’s Professional Golf Management program

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any of the people involved in running Edmonton’s new golf course, The Quarry Golf Club, are MacEwan University graduates, most from the University’s Professional Golf Management Program.

Built on an old sand and gravel pit, the course is located in north Edmonton along the North Saskatchewan river, at 945167 Avenue. Using materials already on-site – 45 acres of lakes, plenty of topsoil, and piles of covered gravel to separate the holes – the course was built without having to import any materials.

The Quarry Golf Club employs many MacEwan University graduates, including Taylor Scinski, Head Professional and a 2009 graduate of MacEwan’s Professional Golf Management program. Golf pros and MacEwan graduates also include Tyler Komick, who graduated in 2010, Dan Philpott, who graduated in 2008, and Ian Abuan who graduated from Golf Operations Management in 2009 and then completed the Bachelor of Commerce transfer program in 2011.

These graduates are greatly responsible for a very successful first year. “Starting up a new golf course has been a fantastic experience,” Scinski says. “There are obviously many hurdles to overcome when starting up a new golf course, as with any business. But there have been no hurdles too large to overcome, which has been great. Overall, it has been excellent.”

He says the first season went very well and the public seemed to really like the course.

All four of these professional golfers believe their success and their education goes hand in hand. “I believe my time at MacEwan has benefited The Quarry by giving me the appropriate business skills required to understand how to effectively address a start-up company,” Scinski says.

Komick agrees, saying: “MacEwan gave me the things I need to know to make myself successful in the golf industry.”

The 27-hole course was designed by architect Les Furber, known for his designs across Canada, as well as the United States, Germany, the Czech Republic, Cuba, and Switzerland.

He and his team have designed over 150 golf courses around the world. And Les Furber, with all his experience, believes that

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SWINGING FOR SUCCESS The Quarry is good enough to host a large tournament in the future.

The design of the course is very impressive. There are holes that go downhill then climb back up, a hole where you can see three-quarters of the entire course, a hole that has a waterfall running on both sides of the green, and one hole even has two greens, giving the player a choice of targets.

The 2012 season saw the opening of the fi rst 18 holes – the Granite and Slate nines.

The Ironstone nine will be opening for the

The program runs from late-September until March – structured around the golf season. It is a two year program and prepares students for careers as assistant professionals and teaching professionals (until they complete requirements for Class “A” membership with the CPGA). Students can also work in club management, clubhouse operations, course maintenance, golf equipment sales, golf retail management, and tournament and event management.

Part of the two-year program consists of a

“The overall education I received from MacEwan has helped me greatly during my time with The Quarry,” said Taylor Scinski, Head Professional at The Quarry Golf Club and graduate of MacEwan University’s Professional Golf Management program.

2013 season. The nines range in yardage from 5,100 yards to 7,600 yards and have at least five tee decks on every hole, catering to every handicap of golfer.

The golf course also features a practice area with two putting greens, a chipping green, a fairway bunker, and three levels of grass tees on the driving range.

The Professional Golf Management program is the fi rst of its kind to be endorsed by the Canadian Professional Golf Association (CPGA). The course focuses on general management, organizational behaviour, marketing, sales techniques, accounting, fi nance, human resources management, and business computer applications.

Professional Golf Management also offers industry-specific courses focusing on pro-shop operations, sales, golf equipment, backshop and practice facility operations, golf car fleet operations, programs and leagues, rules of golf, food and beverage operations, and golf course maintenance.

practicum during the golf season. The Quarry will be posting jobs at MacEwan University for any Golf Management students who wish to do their summer practicum there.

After finishing the two-year Professional Golf Management diploma, students can enroll in the one-year post-diploma certificate as they aspire to become a head golf professional, teaching professional, or director of golf. The post-diploma certificate in professional golf management completes the three year business education required by the CPGA, and teaches students about setting up a golf operation, golf course design, golf club repair, golf club fitting, and courses that help students develop their personal games.

Scinski appreciates that the program is there. “I do not feel as though there is one specifi c skill that I have learned at MacEwan that helps me most with being a Head Professional. I do, however, feel that the overall education I received from MacEwan has helped me greatly during

my time with The Quarry,” he says.

Additionally, Abuan values the management skills taught in the program. “How to manage and motivate employees of different generation, being able to do so helps the operation run smoothly,” he says.

The Quarry Golf Club is now closed for the season, but will be opening again in mid-April of 2013. Scinski is looking forward to the new year and some changes that will be taking place. “The 2013 season will be an exciting one for us at The Quarry.

Our clubhouse is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in the spring of 2013, which will allow us to have a full food and beverage operation as well as give us the ability to host large corporate tournaments and functions,” he said. This is in addition to the new Ironside nine scheduled to open in the new year, making The Quarry a 27-hole golf course.

Things you should know before golfing at The Quarry Golf Club • Season and corporate passes are available now for the 2013 season.

• The Quarry is a ride-only facility.

All prices include power cart rental.

• Tee times can be booked five days in advance.

• Tournaments and events can be booked up to a year in advance.

• There is a dress code.

• The Quarry is a soft spike only facility.

• Group and private lessons are available.

• Rental clubs (both left and right) are available in the pro shop. Rental clubs consist of brand new Titleist 910 D2 driver, 910F Fairway woods, AP1 irons, Vokey wedges, and a Scotty Cameron putter.

ABOVE PAR: The Les Furber-designed course features challenging play and impressive views

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RESEARCH MATTERS

FINANCIAL

WIZARDS MacEwan University students show youth the magic behind money management

By Caroline Barlott

MacEwan University School of Business

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RESEARCH MATTERS THE STUDENT TEAM: Vivek Agnihotri Mohammed Atiq Ann Cho Kristen Bond Kristen Chmura Ge Qingrui Peter Lee Harkaran Minhas Prasann Patel Wilson Wong

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andling your finances seems fairly straightforward: You need to spend less than you make, always ensuring a little extra stays in your bank account. You should make a budget, save money, and invest. Easier said than done.

You’re not born knowing how to manage money, says Fernando Angulo, Assistant Professor with the MacEwan University School of Business. It’s a skill you develop, and without the proper help, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and ill-informed. It can be intimidating, too; a whole other language exists in the world of finance, with terms like negative equity.

According to Angulo, who headed a financial literacy project for MacEwan University’s winter 2012 marketing research class, having enough money without living pay cheque to pay cheque or without accruing debt is a big mystery for many people.

“Nowadays, you can get $3,000 in five minutes.

People can get easy money through credit cards and some people, especially young people, start to think life’s easy,” Angulo says. It’s not until the bills start piling up that the fine print of those credit cards reveals itself in the form of huge amounts of interest that accumulates very quickly.

But the Chartered Accountants Education Foundation of Alberta (CAEF), the Alberta chartered accountant profession’s non-profit organization, wants to change the way people think about money. And it’s doing that through scholarships, awards and special projects that aim to teach young people the things they need to know about money management before bad habits start to form. In 2010, the CAEF began its Paying It Forward fundraising campaign, with funds going towards fi nancial literacy tools for junior and senior highschool students.

One of these financial literacy tools is the Money Project, a website collaboration between CAEF and Angulo’s marketing research class that went live in November. The website aims to be a “one-stop-shop

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for financial resources for young people,” says Katie Starratt, who manages the Money Project for the CAEF. But the partnership won’t just help the youth who read the website – it’s been beneficial to the MacEwan University students and the CAEF as well.

Angulo’s market research class had a chance to put their textbook learning into practice by conducting focus group discussions and surveys at Centre High and Spruce Grove Composite High. They learned about the problems youth had with finances, the holes in their knowledge and the best way for them to gain that knowledge. That information was then given to the CAEF, used to determine what to put in the Money Project website and the best way to present it.

Two of the MacEwan students, Ann Cho and Kristen Bond, say they spent about 80 per cent of their time during that semester on the project, but that’s because they were so passionate about it. In fact the project made such an impact that they both changed their majors from management to marketing because they realized how much they enjoyed the various interactions and the process of gathering information. “We were actually contributing something that would be put to practical use and it motivated us to work hard,” Cho says.

Cho says sometimes the project felt like a “real” job, which is exactly the experience Angulo wanted to create for his students. “They don’t just remember the terms they were taught, like quantitative research,” says Angulo, “They remember how to do it. I wanted them to have a real-life experience.”

“This class challenged me to step out of my comfort zone by leading a discussion with a group of highschool students, and it gave me so much insight into the world of marketing research,” says student Kristen Bond. “It was an assignment that didn’t feel like an assignment, because we had actually started to connect with the project on a different level. [We] wanted these high school students to succeed in their finances and

www.MacEwan.ca/business

Fernando Angulo

reach their financial goals.”

Starratt says the information gathered by students was incredibly useful. “Being a non-profit organization, it was amazing to work with the students to have extra research that we could use for the website,” she says. And it wasn’t just a regurgitation of what had been expected from the CAEF. The organization had a general idea of the types of information the students would need. But when it came to the presentation of the material, they were off the mark. They had expected the young people, a generation accustomed to the constant buzz of video games, smart phones and MTV, to be most interested in fun ways of learning about finances, maybe in the form of games or cartoons.

But many of the students were already earning their own money, buying their own cars and saving for university. They wanted to learn the math behind interest rates and the specifics of how to make a budget balance; they wanted practical information without the kitsch.

MacEwan University student Prasann Patel, an accounting major, also worked on the project. He conducted many of the interviews with high school students, where he learned about their spending habits and what they really wanted to know.

“A lot of times, the high-school students would be going out four or five times a week, and a lot of the times, they don’t think about how big an impact those days out can have,” says Patel. “A lot of times managing money means a lifestyle change.”

Patel says when he asked the students how far ahead they plan their finances, many thought no further than a couple of weeks, maybe a month. He says the students were especially appreciative to have a one-on-one interaction where they could gain insight about what would be coming next for them, including heading off to university and figuring out how they could plan for that financially. It was obvious from the start that not only did the youth need the website, they wanted it – a place where they could get financial information that would MacEwan University School of Business

be relevant to their lives.

Cho says that many students expressed they had, in fact, been taught how to save money, and the amounts necessary to save for big purchases. But they also said the information was impractical, because once the large sum was finally saved, the market would have changed, making the purchase (of a car, a house, etc) impossible.

So, the CAEF took the information collected by MacEwan University students, along with some of their own research and made a website – themoneyproject.ca – providing original content, while connecting readers with financial information that already exists. The site covers financial topics such as

Fernando Angulo’s market research class had a chance to put their textbook learning into practice when they conducted focus group discussions and surveys at local high schools. daily budgeting tips, advice from professionals and the correlation between an individual’s thoughts about money and his or her financial situation. And, as per the request of youth, many of the elements are interactive, including a survey that’s like a financial personality test, with the end result being a personal money motto, showing how the person views money.

Both Angulo and Starratt are happy with the partnership and the benefits experienced by both MacEwan University students and the CAEF. And in the coming years, they’re excited to watch as more and more young people gain knowledge from the website.

“We saw in our research there’s a trend among Canadians to have problems with debt. We thought by targeting a young audience, we could start to build positive habits so they could have a strong foundation going forward,” says Starratt. aspire

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RESEARCH MATTERS

BEYOND THE Two researchers build a new performance model for business that considers social, sustainable, economic and environmental factors

By Cailynn Klingbeil

MacEwan University School of Business

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wo MacEwan University faculty are working to develop a broader comprehensive performance model for companies, one that examines firm performance beyond the typical dimensions of financial statements.

“We’re trying to develop a model that is more comprehensive in looking at other dimensions of firm performance,” says Dr. Eloisa Perez, a faculty member of MacEwan University School of Business.

“When we think about performance we immediately think about financial performance, but there are other dimensions of it and that’s what we are exploring. We are trying to develop this comprehensive performance measure that would include social, economic and environmental constructs.” aspire

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RESEARCH MATTERS

Evandro Bocatto

these alternative pieces of firm performance is challenging. Identifying what social return and innovation look like and determining the measures that accurately capture it is not as simple as examining a company’s financial records.

“We’re looking at customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, how the company is viewed in the community in terms of environmental issues, if they protect the environment, if they have a sustainable strategy for the long term,” says Perez, listing just a few of the many factors being explored.

“We’ve also included the contribution to society in terms of taxes paid and job creation.”

In looking at all those factors, Perez and Bocatto want to find out where innovation fits – is a company that values sustainability and acts on its environmental impact more innovative than a company focused just on

“We are trying to develop this comprehensive performance measure that would include social, economic and environmental constructs,” says Dr. Eloisa Perez, a faculty member of MacEwan University School of Business.

Perez is working with her colleague, Dr. Evandro Bocatto, also a MacEwan University School of Business faculty.

“Once we have a model, then we can develop a framework for small businesses,” Bocatto says. Right now, Bocatto and Perez are researching big companies, looking at constructs correlated to performance and innovation.

“We’re looking at the data in terms of the environment, the society and corporate governance; the thesis is that if companies are incorporating new beliefs into the way they operate, as a result they will create innovative products, services and processes.

Innovation enchants customers hence impacting performance. We’re starting with big companies because we have a huge number of observations in our database and then applying it to small and medium-sized businesses,” Bocatto says.

They believe the study will yield a valuable map of what companies do now and how they can create sustainable value while making meaningful contributions to their communities.

The two researchers admit that measuring p.36

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its financial performance? “Our hypothesis is that if you are a more holistic company, you would be more innovative,” Perez says.

For the scope of their research, innovation is connected to sustainability. “It’s not just looking at innovation that brought us to where we are right now, but innovation that really looks forward, into the future, and says, ‘what’s going to be sustainable 50 years from today?’”

Perez and Bocatto speak about the fact that the world in which companies conduct business has changed; we’re all more connected today and there are very few boundaries. This has many implications for business, whose role as a global citizen means being responsible and sustainable at all levels of operation.

“A company could be a very good company locally, but if they hire a supplier in China that uses underage workers, that’s not being a global citizen,” Perez says.

The pair is using a database called Sustainalytics, which includes profiles of Canadian companies listed on the TSX, with environmental, social and governance analyses.

“That’s where we’re at right now, collect-

Eloisa Perez

ing data on companies based in Canada and in Alberta,” Perez says. While the study initially intended to focus on small- to midsize companies in the Edmonton region, the researchers have opened up their sample size but expect the results they receive will be beneficial to businesses of all sizes.

“Very little research is being done in terms of sustainability in a deeper sense, including these many variables. Statistically there are some challenges because there are so many variables, so that’s why we want to start with the bigger companies that we have data available for and see if it works. Then we can apply our findings to small- and mid-size enterprises,” Perez says.

The database includes information on many Alberta companies, primarily in the oil and gas, mining and manufacturing sectors.

A fourth-year MacEwan student is helping Perez and Bocatto collect the data, including examining employee and customer satisfaction with each company. “There is another element, executive pay, and she’s collecting data on that as well. We believe such pay makes a difference in the position toward sustainability; that there’s a link between executive pay and sustainability. Sustainability involves a long-term objective, and executive pay is generally tied to short-term objectives,” Perez explains.

Perez and Bocatto expect to finish the project by June. “We’re still collecting data and working the statistics, but we will have some results very soon,” Perez says. www.MacEwan.ca/business

By Doug Yearwood

OPPORTUNITIES

AND CHALLENGES

Chinese investment in Alberta’s oil sands

C

hinese direct investment in Canada was $10.9 billion in 2011. MacEwan University School of Business Institute of Asia Pacific Studies (IAPS), with funding from the Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN), held a very informative conference discussing Chinese investment in Alberta’s oil sands on October 25.

The conference was hosted by Dr. William Wei, Chair of the Asia Pacific Management program at MacEwan University. Three speakers presented their diverse points of view: Dr. Lianyong Feng, professor, School of Business Administration at the University of Petroleum, Beijing, Dr. Wilton Littlechild QC, and Neil Reddekop, lawyer with Ackroyd, LLP. Through a translator, Dr. Feng addressed and countered Canadian concerns that state-owned Chinese enterprise investing in Canadian resource industries could cause problems down the road, as the Chinese government could be ideologically opposed to Canadian interests while not allowing reciprocal investments in China.

Feng’s comments emphasized that due to new energy independence policies, rapid development of unconventional gas and an emerging new energy revolution on the horizon, the United States as a primary petroleum marketplace might not be in Canada’s best interests long-term.

Canada’s crude oil is traded at a lower rate than the international standard due to its density. With Canada’s current energy plan, Feng suggests an increase in exports to China would be beneficial. “In the future it is estimated that US imports will be decreasing.”

Despite the positive economic benefits of exporting Canadian petroleum products worldwide, there are local and First Nation GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: Lianyong Feng, Neil Reddekopp, Dr. Wilton Littlechild speak about Sino-Canadian resource relationships

MacEwan University School of Business

concerns about the environment. In his conference presentation, Dr. Littlechild points out that First Nation’s rights to sovereignty over natural resources are supposed to be upheld by treaties such as the Constitution Act of 1930. However, recognition of First Nations’ rights has been ambiguous at best.

“Treaty rights are abrogated on a daily basis,” says Littlechild.

Neil Reddekop concurs with this message. He also feels that the business and operational practices threaten the environment and integrity of the oil sands and its surrounding communities.

“A majority of Alberta First Nations that have commented on the pipeline have not said, ‘no pipeline at any cost’. Rather, they have said, ‘the conditions for our acquiescence in the pipeline have not been met,’” Reddekop says.

Reddekop and Littlechild agree that by finding a balance between business and environment, many social concerns would be addressed.

They both see positives in a proposed organization put forward by Dr. Feng: a multilateral energy collaboration that would see Chinese integration into the Canadian market and bridge the relationship between governments, enterprise and community. The Sino-Canada Energy Cooperation Regulatory Association (Sino-ECRA) would ensure transparency on energy use, and provide benefits to both the corporate sector and First Nations’ communities.

The result of the conference is another step forward in broadening understanding through discussion between Asia and Alberta. Developing these relationships is a key element of the work at MacEwan University School of Business IAPS and more discussion forums like this one are sure to be held in the future.

CONFERENCE ATTENDEES: Joe So, Gov’t of Alberta and Chiu Lau, Lee Garden

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FACULTY PROFILES

The Facilitator Building relationships, mentoring and negotiation: All in a day’s work

PHOTO: BLUEFISH STUDIOS

By Robin Schroffel

Gordon Lucyk Co-Chair Student Services, Coordinator, Intl. Business You could say that Gordon Lucyk has a talent for making connections. As the Co-Chair of Student Services at MacEwan University School of Business, he’s the one students go to when they’ve got an academic issue, whether it’s the desire to take more courses than normal, do something out of the ordinary, or appeal a grade.

On top of that, Lucyk acts as the primary faculty contact for Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME), a program he was instrumental in bringing to MacEwan University, as well as the main faculty advisor for Enactus (formerly known as Students in Free Enterprise, or SIFE). Finally, he’s a Course Lead and instructor for Business 450, an innovative offering that sees students apply strategy in a simulation before making presentations to panels of academics, administration and business leaders from the outside community. Last year, he and fellow Course Lead Victor Bilodeau were recognized for their work in Business 450 with a MacEwan Day Innovation Award.

But Lucyk’s multi-faceted role at MacEwan University developed with time. He came to the school in 2004 as an instructor due to his international negotiating experience, but his varied resume – including a MBA and MA from the Wharton School in 1991, years spent marketing a commodity to the Asian market, and experience working in finance in France – led him to eventually do much more.

His current position, which he stepped into in mid-2011, allows Lucyk to get really involved when a student is looking to go above and beyond. One of his favourite aspects of his job has been connecting students with conferences and helping them to prepare p.38

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case-study presentations. “It’s been great to give students the opportunity to show their abilities,” he says.

And some of the students he’s worked with have been extremely successful: one case study was picked up for publication by a textbook, while another was published in the conference proceedings.

This year, Lucyk plans to research more conferences and connect even more students with these opportunities.

More than anything, he loves to see students engaged in their education. That explains Lucyk’s obvious pride when he talks about Enactus, an organization he’s seen go from about 15 active members to a list of 180 in the span of a year. “When I look at the youth of today, I think they want to have more than just a job. They want to do something that makes a difference in the communities they work in,” he says.

According to Lucyk, Enactus can help students do that. The experience a student gets, not only in contributing to the community but in the connections they make, can have a huge impact on their future. “It’s a way of differentiating themselves from their peers,” he says. “It has a positive benefit for their careers, but it also allows them to give back.”

It’s understandable, then, that Lucyk doesn’t mind putting in extra time for Enactus: from early meetings to weekend retreats and even to late-night social events, Lucyk is enthusiastic about being a part of it all. “I really enjoy the energy and ideas students bring, and will meet with them anytime, anywhere. Though it’s important to know when it’s time to go and let the students be students,” he says with a laugh. www.MacEwan.ca/business

The GameChanger Real-world experience plus formal education equal a fresh take on Business 201

PHOTO: BLUEFISH STUDIOS

By Robin Schroffel

Leo Wong Assistant Professor When Leo Wong was an undergrad marketing major at the University of Alberta, he joined a few student clubs, but found himself searching for more opportunities to get involved. He didn’t find them, so the avid volunteer created his own. Soon after graduating, Wong started his own non-profit organization, Youth One, which acted as a social network, publishing platform, and volunteerism hub for youth, which he ran for two years before returning to school for a PhD in marketing. In August 2011, he found himself joining the MacEwan University School of Business as an assistant professor teaching a variety of courses.

Wong brings a rare combination of real-world experience in non-profit management and a formal marketing education to his students, and this year, the results are showing in the revamped Business 201 program. Normally the first business course students take, it was once a dry overview of the many facets of business education. Historically, “not a lot of students enjoyed the course,” admits Wong. But last year, along with five students, he submitted a video to a competition jointly hosted by the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) office and a school in Denmark on how he would change Business 201. The video placed second and earned Wong and a student a trip to Denmark.

Now, Wong is the Business 201 course lead, and using his background in sustainability as a starting point, he’s put his recommendations into action. “There’s a lot more discussion now. The course now is very much about sustainability,” he says.

But by far the biggest innovation to Business 201 is the course’s MacEwan University School of Business

community service assignment, which requires students to put into practice the basic principles they’ve learned. Each class puts together its own food bank drive, organizing itself into various roles, developing job descriptions and ways of reporting to each other, and producing tangible results in the amount of food collected. In a way, it’s like role-playing, but in the real world.

“It’s very much an experiential way of learning and it has a social benefit in terms of helping the student food bank here at MacEwan,” Wong explains.

The food bank drive doubles as an Enactus project. Enactus is another area at MacEwan University that Wong, as the group’s faculty advisor, has become deeply involved in. Along with the food bank drive, Wong advises on the group’s work with St. Michael’s Health Group and its product, Baba’s Own perogies (learn more about this initiative on page 11). This year, he’ll be looking at ways Enactus can help the social enterprise to raise funds for a freezer truck and develop a competitive business strategy.

Wong is passionate about the partnerships he’s forged through Enactus and PRME, and believes these types of projects are critical for creating a full educational experience. Through these, students are able to grow both personally and professionally, and he feels this gives MacEwan University students a competitive edge.

“Everyone gets a degree, but that’s really the minimum that a student should get out of coming here,” he says. “These opportunities are ways to engage people so that we think about issues and we can become more responsible leaders. That’s why I get involved.” aspire

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GRAD PROFILES

The Connector MacEwan University student builds community through campus club he founded

PHOTO: BLUEFISH STUDIOS

By Matt Hirji

Rob McCuaig Management Studies (2011) Bachelor of Commerce (in progress) When Rob McCuaig first started his studies at MacEwan University in 2008, he noticed a lack of community spirit and student engagement on the college’s south campus. Unsatisfied, he decided to do something about it; he started the Business Academic Recreation Social Club (BARS) and began to build connections with his fellow students.

“I realized that the more you get involved with the school, the more you get out of your education,” McCuaig says. “It’s really simple to go to school, attend classes and then just leave right away. You didn’t get that strong university feel. But if you do that you’re not fully taking advantage of all the resources that MacEwan puts into students.”

A few dodgeball tournaments and social functions later, the BARS club had grown in popularity far beyond McCuaig’s expectations. And before long the South Edmonton Business Association (SEBA) expressed an interest in building a partnership with the fledgling social club. Recently, the two organizations have been working together to host events where students can meet and learn from business professionals.

In addition to facilitating professional development, McCuaig says that the BARS club fosters a strong sense of community, allowing students to cultivate common interests and learn from each other’s life experiences outside of the classroom.

Today, McCuaig, who received his diploma in Management

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Studies in 2011 and is now pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce at MacEwan and sits on the board of SEBA, remains steadfast in his belief that post-secondary education should be more than just going to lectures and studying from a text book.

“You start to lose out on the whole university experience if you just focus on academics alone. I learn in so many different ways, and learning from the textbook alone is only one avenue,” McCuaig explains. “At the end of the day, if I can gain experiences from many different places and learn little amounts of information from a lot of different people then I’ll be better off for it.”

The goal of learning from different people has even motivated McCuaig to travel through a study abroad program offered by MacEwan. In January, McCuaig will fly to Sweden, where he will complete his final semester of school.

Studying abroad is an experience McCuaig has been eagerly anticipating: “It’ll be a great learning experience,” McCuaig says.

“Last year I met quite a few MacEwan exchange students from Europe and they said the exchange was one of the best experiences that they’d ever done. The amount of personal growth that you get out of an exchange is just not something that I want to miss out on. Taking yourself out of your own culture, I think it will really broaden my perspective on things. It’ll allow me to come back to Edmonton and start a career with fresh eyes and new ideas.”

www.MacEwan.ca/business

The Entrepreneur Food truck owner gained work ethic and motivation at MacEwan University

PHOTO: BLUEFISH STUDIOS

By Matt Hirji

Ariel Del Rosario Asia Pacific Management Diploma (2003) Five years ago, in the spring of 2006, Ariel Del Rosario was given an assignment to create a business plan in one of his MBA classes at the University of Alberta. For some students the task was merely another hurdle to jump over. For Del Rosario, it was an opportunity to set a dream of owning a successful business into motion.

One year later, what emerged from the assignment was one of the first food trucks to open in Edmonton. In fact, when his kitchen-in-a-truck parked itself downtown to serve Filipino barbeque food under the moniker Filistix, many potential customers were cautious of the novel food option. Del Rosario and his business partner, however, remained optimistic that his business would become successful in time.

“In every other culture, there was some sort of street food culture that existed,” Del Rosario explains. “I realize that in [Edmonton] it’s a seasonal business, and you can only operate in May through October. But there’s all this street food culture elsewhere. So we said ‘Why don’t we bring it to Edmonton, and see what happens?’ We saw it as an opportunity to make a bit of money, but also as an opportunity to introduce a little bit of street food culture to the downtown core.”

Del Rosario is the first to admit that none of this would have been possible without the help of MacEwan University. That’s where Del Rosario first learned foundational knowledge in

MacEwan University School of Business

business, while also honing his entrepreneurial spirit.

Frustrated in the workforce after graduating high school, Del Rosario realized that he needed to pursue a post-secondary education if was going to achieve his goal of being a successful businessperson. So, in 2001, the Edmonton native decided to enroll in the Asia Pacific Management diploma program at MacEwan University. As it turns out, it was a pivotal decision that paved the way for a thriving career as an entrepreneur.

“I owe a lot of my success to [MacEwan University] because they pushed me. Without that I don’t think that I’d be where I am today. I knew that I had it in me; I’d always had this drive to be an entrepreneur. But studying at MacEwan University instilled a strong work ethic in me and really motivated me to succeed,” Del Rosario says.

After graduating from MacEwan University, Del Rosario went on to pursue an MBA at the University of Alberta. It was there that he further developed his skills as an entrepreneur and started his company.

“I’d never thought about it that way, but it’s definitely been a long journey,” Del Rosario says. “Originally, we wanted to provide healthy alternatives in terms of healthy food options in Edmonton’s food trucks. We wanted to change the way people thought about food trucks. Now, we want to see how far we can expand in the next few years.”

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Springboard

By Adrienne Hill, Public Relations (2012)

RENDERED

SPEECHLESS Dynamic classes and course material set the stage for a vibrant career

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I signed up for two evening courses as part of the Public Relations program at MacEwan University. After successfully completing both courses with knowledgeable and helpful instructors, I was left with no doubt as to my next steps. I promptly signed up for the popular full-time program.

September 2011 marked the beginning of a busy first semester. I learned the fundamentals of what it takes to communicate effectively in a dynamic and intriguing field. The small classroom sizes contributed to increased comfort, confidence and connection with fellow staff and students; we were in this together, learning from one another.

Our hands-on, practical learning environment helped us develop valuable critical thinking skills through in-depth exploration of timely news events. Lively discussions allowed budding professional communicators to do what we do best, communicate!

Another valuable component of the program involved extensive writing assignments. Late into the second semester, we were assigned to write our first speech for Rachel Notley, member of the legislative assembly of Alberta for the NDP. She was set to speak at Grant Notley Park at an event honouring workers injured or killed on the job. This park was named in honour of her own father who died tragically in a plane crash in 1984 while serving his constituents.

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Daunted at first, I embraced the challenge in capturing Rachel’s voice by turning her passion into words that would inspire the crowd.

Stories of pain and loss came to light from families who had lost loved ones from often preventable deaths in the workplace. Slowly but surely, the speech took shape.

My efforts paid off as my speech was one of three chosen by our instructor, Elaine Calder, to present to Rachel. I was even more thrilled to learn that Rachel had chosen my speech to address the crowd. It was fortunate I wasn’t the one speaking as I was rendered speechless!

While I may have succeeded with this particular assignment, I didn’t do it alone. I received immeasurable support from my instructors and gained valuable knowledge from the course work. I can safely say this program has opened doors and provided ample opportunity for me to pursue a successful career in communications.

Today, I am working with the Alberta government within a dynamic and busy communications team. With each passing day, I gain a broad range of valuable communications experience including strategic planning, developing a wide variety of information materials for internal and external audiences, nurturing client relationships in the production of collateral materials, creative storytelling, collaboration on numerous initiatives and more.

www.MacEwan.ca/business