Viewpoints FROM THE DEAN - Sauder School of Business

SUMMER/FALL 2006 • VOL 26 • NO 1
Vancity’s Dave Mowat
What’s your
vision?
Turning personal vision
into business success
Building for the future
Your old school is
renewing itself
Step right up
Former banker calls
on fellow alumni
Plus!
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More Class Notes
than ever before!
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Summer/Fall 2006, Volume 26 No. 1
Cover Story
School News
Newsworthy
More than just words
on the wall
6
Turning personal vision into
business success; three alumni
did it, and so can you
International airport rankings and
a Sauder must-see on YouTube
8
Features
31
An eye to the future
A modest proposal for an
ambitious place of learning
Insider information
Faculty and research updates
22
Student corner
Global graduates—an update from the MBA president
23
At the gateway to accounting
Sauder has a program that can put you on this path
12
25
People
4
Class notes
From Ron Alexander (BCom 50)
to remembering Graeme Stamp
(DULE 74)
Actuals
BComs from 56 and 06 are seen
and heard in the Sauder world
35
Share your news
Make sure you’re in the next Class Notes
Roundup
No greater gift
2
Viewpoints from the dean
Bruce Birmingham’s gift
comes with a call to action
3
The Sauder index
16
Earning interest—trends, tips, and tidbits
Hot jobs, hot sneakers, hot books
20
24
Moving forward
Moyra Van Nus on best friends and other connections
36
Points of view
Frieda Granot comes home
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
1
FROM THE DEAN
MARK MUSHET
Viewpoints
“THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A DREAM TO
CREATE THE FUTURE.”
In society and in business, we see
Victor Hugo’s words from Les Misérables
played out over and over. Those who dare
to dream, who have a vision of a better
way, are the ones who move us forward.
In my role as a researcher studying
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship, I
understand most clearly the need for,
and the power of, a vision.
In my leadership role here at the
Sauder School of Business, I am supported
and led forward by people with vision: an
inspiring throng of alumni whose incredible
success is proof of vision brought to life;
aspiring and creative students, filled with
dreams, refreshing in their optimism; and
fellow academics who envision—and
pursue—new ways of thinking about
business.
In this issue of Viewpoints, we’d like to
share with you some of our hopes and
dreams—our vision—for the Sauder
School of Business.Your old school is
thriving, but it’s time for further renewal.
We’ve been adding and revamping
programs, increasing undergrad and
graduate admissions, and we’ve added
50 new faculty over the past six years
alone. Our house is buzzing; now it’s time
to rebuild the very foundation that
supports us—our learning platform.
Read more about our thoughts on this
(including those of BCom 77 grad Fred
Withers) starting on page 12.
Several alumni are helping us start
down this path, including Bruce
Birmingham (MBA 71), the now-retired
CEO of Scotiabank. His gift of $2 million
came in January, just a few months after
the Bob Lee/UBC $15 million donation.
2
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
Both gifts came with a call to action for
others who have benefited from the Sauder
network of knowledge. Turn to page 20.
On a related note, one of the school’s
more visionary alumni shares his story. At
the helm of the mold-breaking Vancity
Credit Union for the past six years, Dave
Mowat (BCom 78) shares his beer bottlesto-banker tale of success with humour and
humility. Turn to page 8 for the story of
how the current Vancity vision was
brought to life through a storytelling
exercise involving all employees. In this
same story, you might be surprised to
hear another banker, RBC’s Maureen Howe
(PhD 87) cite the Dalai Lama as one of
her motivators toward a vision. Finally,
Hank McKinnell (BCom 65), CEO of
pharmaceutical Pfizer, Inc., speaks of the
connection between profoundly personal
moments and professional dreams.
Starting on page 18, you will be
interested to learn of the continued
strength of Sauder’s faculty members in
several notable research projects. The
school’s ability to make a difference is
extending to research projects in Kenya
and Singapore, to name just a few.
Finally, our team here at Sauder
continues to grow, especially in the area
of alumni support. When you have the
chance to meet the charming and
accomplished Frieda Granot, you will be
as pleased as I am that she is back at
Sauder after serving as UBC’s Dean of
Graduate Studies for 10 years. Frieda takes
the helm of our external relations team,
including development as well as alumni,
international, and government relations.
Working with her is Moyra Van Nus, also
an accomplished UBC veteran.You can
read their welcome messages bookending
our largest-ever Class Notes section.
As alumni, you, more than anyone else,
embody what this institution has to offer.
Your path starts right outside our doors.
Your vision is our call to action. And
your career success defines Sauder’s goals
for the future. Do you have a dream?
We do, and we hope you’ll help us
bring it to life. ■
OUR MISSION FOR VIEWPOINTS
Viewpoints Magazine is designed to nurture dialogue
and relationships with our alumni and friends by
ensuring that you continue to enjoy the practical
benefits of the school’s leading-edge business thinking.
Viewpoints presents news, research and commentary
that demonstrate the ability of our faculty and our
graduates to define the future of business and to open
doors for those who are connected to the Sauder
School of Business. Your thoughts about this mission
are always welcome.
EDITORIAL
Frieda Granot EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Cristina Calboreanu
Jennifer Wah
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MANAGING EDITOR
DESIGN
Brandon Brind ART DIRECTOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Pierre Romano GRAPHIC DESIGNER
PRODUCTION
Spencer MacGillivray
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Viewpoints Magazine is produced by Forwords
Communication Inc. and published by the Sauder
School of Business, University of British Columbia
800 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 3B7
Tel: 604-822-8555, Fax: 604-822-0592. Viewpoints is
published twice a year for alumni and friends of the
Sauder School of Business.
Email: [email protected]
For an online version of Viewpoints, visit
www.sauder.ubc.ca
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©Copyright 2006, Sauder School of Business.
Editorial material contained in Viewpoints Magazine
may be freely reproduced provided credit is given.
ISSN 089-2388. Canada Post. Printed in Canada.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Frieda Granot (chair), Dale Griffin, Robert Helsley,
Daniel Muzyka, Moyra Van Nus
CONTRIBUTORS
Wendy Bishop, Sue Bugos, Cristina Calboreanu, Ricardo
Estrada, Fiona Fung, Marla Levy, Rob McMahon, Derek
Moscato, Arthur Redillas, Jennifer Wah, Leanna Yip
Cover photo: Perry Zavitz
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ALUMNI RELATIONS, SAUDER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS,
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800 ROBSON STREET, VANCOUVER, BC, V6Z 3B7
The Sauder Index
BY
ROB MCMAHON
Total amount Canadians gave to charity in 2004: $6.9 billion
Change from 2003 levels: increased 6.3%
Amount Canadians donated for tsunami aid in 2005: $15.26 per person
William and Marjorie-Anne Sauder’s gift to Sauder in 2003: $20 million
2003 ranking of their donation in Canadian business school history: 1
Number of Internet users in Canada (2005): 21.9 million
Percentage of Canadians online at least seven hours a week: 56 %
Percentage of rooms at Sauder with wireless Internet access: 100%
Male to female ratio of Sauder BCom students: 1:1 (47% female / 53% male)
Number of Canadians who have visited an online dating site (2004): 1.2 million
Number of graduates from Sauder’s full-time MBA program in 2006: 125
Percentage of graduates who find employment within three months of graduation: 92%
Average starting salary after graduation: $79,000
Average cost of a new computer in 1997: $1,968
In 2005: $938
Drop in prices for computer equipment from 2004–2005: 16.6%
Number of consecutive years e-commerce sales in Canada have increased by 38% or more: 4
Years in which Sauder’s main UBC campus buildings were constructed: 1962, 1973, 1992
Total area used for learning space: 7,864 square metres
Area of the West Edmonton Mall: 492,000 square metres
Total number of Sauder graduates since 1956: 26,000
Number of faculty members who joined Sauder in the last three years: 46
Population density in Canada in 2005 (per square kilometre): 3.5 people
At Sauder: 522.4 people
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
3
Actuals
SEEN AND HEARD IN THE SAUDER WORLD
Ted Rogers on the business of family
ON MAY 18, GUESTS AT THE FOURTH
Family Legacy Series dinner were treated to
a Canadian business icon’s first speaking
engagement in Western Canada.
Rogers Communications President and
CEO Ted Rogers addressed a sold-out
crowd at a fundraiser for the Business
Families Centre. After a short film profiling
the company and its founder’s history,
Mr. Rogers was joined by Vice-Chairman
Philip Lind and moderators Philippe and
Nan-b de Gaspé Beaubien.
Following his father’s untimely death
at age 38, Mr. Rogers assumed his legacy
when the eight-year old boy’s mother told
him his job was to guide the family back to
communications. After co-founding BatonAldred-Rogers Broadcasting at age 26, Mr.
Rogers set a demanding personal pace and
redefined Canada’s communications industry.
“The founder [of a business] never
wants to give up,” he said.
Mr. Rogers discussed his family’s
role—from his “tough as nails” mother to
his wife Loretta, who was named to the
board immediately after their marriage.
He spoke of the difficulty of balancing his
desire for his children to join the business
against their personal aspirations, and the
challenge of keeping a family together
over generations.
Every family business needs a trusted
advisor, and for Ted Rogers, that advisor is
Philip Lind, who spoke about establishing
relationships with the founders of a family
business and their successors, and the
importance of institutional knowledge.
“Always give advice on what you think
is right, not what you think they want to
hear,” he said.
This magical evening concluded with
the presentation of a $25,000 gift to the
Business Families Centre on behalf of the
Rogers Group of Companies. In the words
of Ted Rogers: “If you’re going to donate
something, do something long-term that’s
going to last.” He added, “We have an
emotional commitment to education.”
4
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
Dan Muzyka with Ted Rogers and Jim Pattison.
Mr. Rogers (second from right) joined by vice-chairman Philip Lind and moderators Philippe and Nan-b
de Gaspé Beaubien on the stage at the dinner.
BComs reunite after 50 years
THE CLASS OF 1956 GRADUATED FROM UBC’S
School of Commerce five decades ago. It was
50 years this year since we said goodbye to
E.D. MacPhee, the winged-collar director, our
professors and classmates and the old army
huts we loved. The school became a faculty
the following fall and E.D., as we referred to
him, became its dean.
Our 50th anniversary was marked with a
gala celebration and dinner Sunday, May 28th
at the West Vancouver home of Henning and
Kam Brasso. Henning served as president of
the CUS during our years at UBC. The
Brassos graciously welcomed all 30 of us,
plus professors Ralph Loffmark, Noel Hall
and spouses. Many others from our class who
are now spread across Canada and beyond
sent regrets. Both those attending and others
not attending provided update notes as to
where and what they were doing.
Reunions every five years have been
an important part of the tradition for
our class. We are fortunate to have two
UBC Chancellors Emeriti from our class:
Bob Lee and Bob Wyman. Both served as
honourary chairs and involved members for
our reunion committee. Regretfully, for the
first time, Bob Wyman could not be with us
in person. Other members of the committee
include Henning Brasso, John Banfield, Gerry
and Bill Gartside, Gordon Flemons and
Gordon Thom.
Sadly, 17 of our class have passed away,
including Bob Peacock who was with us in
good spirits on May 28th.
Class of 2006
Graduation Tea
IN JUNE, UBC’S SAGE BISTRO WELCOMED
Sauder’s graduating class for their annual tea
with the dean.
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
5
Newsworthy
SAUDER IN THE NEWS
To learn more about Sauder in the
news, visit www.sauder.ubc.ca
“Don’t touch!”
Territorial behaviour at the job
An in-depth look at territorialism in the
office (Globe and Mail Careers, July 19),
citing research on the subject from
Sauder professor Sandra Robinson of the
Organizational Behaviour and Human
Resources Division, showed that the
behaviour can not only alienate co-workers,
but can hurt career prospects for the
Sauder professor Tae Oum released the annual performance benchmark survey on the world’s leading
airports at the 10th Annual Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) Conference in Nagoya, Japan in June.
affected individual.
So what’s a worker to do if one of these
“turf tyrants” works in the same department?
According to Robinson, there are good and
International airports rated
bad ways to handle excessive territorialism
In June, Sauder professor Tae Oum released a widely-anticipated performance
on the part of fellow workers.
benchmark survey on the world’s leading airports. The 5th annual report garnered substantial
“Good” approaches include “staying
coverage in national and international media outlets, including The Toronto Star,The Globe and Mail,
out of the territorial worker’s cubicle or
The Montreal Gazette,The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Hong Kong Sun and Copenhagen Capacity.
office as much as you can,” and offering
International airports in Atlanta and Tampa Bay were ranked tops in North America, while
small concessions, particularly about things
Toronto’s Pearson International Airport lagged near the bottom, according to the report,
or spaces that don’t mean a whole lot.
released by the Sauder School of Business-hosted Air Transport Research Society (ATRS),
On the “don’t do” list, Robinson advises
of which Oum is president.
against making fun of their claims, or
Findings were presented at the 10th Annual ATRS Conference in Nagoya, Japan.
over-reacting and taking away their territory.
Office coffee-mug bandits, take note.
6
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
WestJet vs. Air Canada:
The cross-country dogfight
continues
UBC Numa Numa:
An Internet sensation
Business Families Centre
offers critical tools, knowledge
for business succession
An out-of-court settlement between
Sauder’s Business Families Centre recently
WestJet Airlines and Air Canada earlier this
garnered coverage in The Vancouver Province in
year, in which WestJet apologized for its
a story about how small- and medium-
“cyberspying” activities against the
sized businesses in B.C. should carefully
country’s largest air carrier, underscored
plan their successions.
the intense rivalry between the two outfits.
According to Adjunct Professor David
Both airlines are locked in a cross-Canada
From “Star Wars Kid” to “Bus Uncle,”
Bentall, past chair of the Centre’s advisory
dogfight for market share in an increasingly
viral videos are all the rage these days.
board, families who mishandle succession
competitive industry.
Thanks to Sauder graduate Tyson Miller
may ruin their business and spark family
and current undergraduate marketing
acrimony. “Nobody wins when parent-
discount carrier pledged to pay its
student Jorgen Kjono, UBC has entered
owners try to protect their nest egg through
competitor $5.5 million in legal fees and
the Internet video fray.
prolonged and excessive involvement in
In the settlement, the Calgary-based
donate $10 million to children’s charities.
For a total of $12, the Sauder duo
Sauder professor Marc-David Seidel
produced the “UBC Numa Numa” spoof
provided expert commentary on the story
video and posted it online. The video has
of family business leaders across the country
to a number of media outlets, including
since been viewed over 10 million times
will retire, initiating the largest asset transfer
The Globe and Mail, National Post, Edmonton Journal,
on the website YouTube.com and has
in Canadian history. However, most
and Global National. Seidel told Global National
become the flagship offering from HBS
families have no succession plan in place.
that the settlement represents “a longer
Productions, Kjono’s film production
term impact.”
company that produced the video.
“The actual settlement itself has a very
the business,” he told The Province.
Over the next 15 years, three-quarters
That’s where the Business Families Centre
(BFC) at Sauder comes into play: to provide
In addition to garnering a standing
crucial support in the way of knowledge,
small financial impact of about $15 million,
ovation at the UBC Engineers annual film
management tools, and business strategies.
which is not a lot for (WestJet),” he said.
festival, it has earned national media
“However, long-term… having this morale
coverage in Canada (including Global
erage from radio broadcaster CKNW during
hit can be quite large.”
National News) and Kjono’s home country
an in-depth interview with BFC executive
of Norway. Additionally, the video now has
director Judi Cunningham about the impor-
to the Financial Post and Calgary Sun on the
its own Wikipedia entry, and impressively
tance of business families in Canada, in
future growth prospects of Air Canada and
spent nearly 10 weeks as one of the most
light of the July takeover of family media
WestJet respectively.
popular clips on Google Video.
concern CHUM Ltd. by Bell Globemedia.
Also in June, Seidel provided comments
In July, the Centre garnered further cov-
Does using fear as a marketing tool really work?
According to the National Post’s Emily Mathieu in a June 23 feature article on automobile marketing, using fear as a sales tactic
is as old as advertising itself. Case in point: the recent television ads for the Volkswagen Jetta, in which two young men walk away from a
VW shaken but unharmed after a brutal accident with a wayward pick-up truck.
It’s attention-grabbing advertising, but does it really work? Sauder marketing professor and associate dean Dale Griffin weighed in on the
debate, maintaining that the shock approach doesn’t always produce favourable results. “You are walking a fine line between making people
emotionally involved and making people so upset that they just want to deny the possibility that it’s relevant to them,” Griffin told the National
Post. “This ad is not brand consistent,” Griffin added, noting that Volkswagen cars are seen as friendly, reliable and modest.
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
7
“Vision is about being
able to see opportunities
where people, life and
business intersect.”
- Dave Mowat (BCom 78)
8
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
More than just words on the wall
A clear view through
the intersections
BY
SUE BUGOS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
PERRY ZAVITZ
Vancity CEO Dave Mowat shares his thoughts
on bringing corporate visions to life
How many times have you walked down the corridor of your corporate offices, or perhaps
even glanced up at the wall of your own work area to see the company “Vision Statement”
displayed for all to see? Maybe you even had a hand in drafting it? How often do you
actually connect the work you do with those words on the wall?
If you work at Vancity, chances are that you not only know what the vision is, but you also know
exactly how the work you do every day on the job is important to achieving it. “Ninety-nine percent
of vision happens every single day. It’s about being able to see opportunities where people, life and
business intersect, and to set them into the framework that you have outlined. It’s like a Rubik’s cube,”
asserts Vancity’s CEO Dave Mowat (BCom 78). “Your vision is the framework, your corporate selfesteem.You have all of these pieces, and you have to put little things in place in order to achieve it.”
Mowat agrees that thinking big can lead to great achievements, but he also feels strongly that a
vision needs to be functionally possible. “I can’t help but think about all of the books out there that
talk about grandiose visions; Jim Collins calls them ‘big, hairy, audacious goals’ in his book Good to Great.
He, and others, say you must set really long-term, consistent goals. We’ve actually worked with Collins
at Vancity, and I think there’s great value in what he says. However, setting a vision doesn’t just happen
once. It’s not so much about saying ‘I can put a man on the moon,’ but seeing the opportunities every
day. It becomes the framework for the company and you need to be able to see things clearly and
understand the little things; enunciate them in a way that they become understandable to everyone
who has a role in achieving what the vision sets out.”
Two years ago, Vancity embarked on a unique journey to create the “story” of Vancity. With 340,000
members and 2,000 employees, that wasn’t an easy task. But, after speaking to every employee and
receiving over 1,000 submissions, the company was able to create a narrative that explains what sets
Vancity apart from other financial institutions; how it’s different as a result of Vancity’s people, the
members’ experiences, and community involvement. “When we had all of those raw stories, the
overarching theme that emerged is ‘we’re damn good bankers and great neighbours’,” smiles Mowat.
That evolved into a compelling, earnest and not-surprisingly, down-to-earth position statement on
the direction Vancity is taking.
The culmination of months of an exercise that Mowat acknowledges might have been seen to be
‘artsy fartsy’ is actually a solid business case that provides the vision, the direction, the reality of who
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
9
Dave Mowat:
“When I grow up…”
and what Vancity is. ‘Things
it’s landing a man on the moon,
grow here’, states the company
ending apartheid or something
story. Vancity is ‘rooted and
far less earth shattering—like
reaching’; rooted in its history,
finding a way to sell a cup of
secure, grounded and networked
coffee for four bucks—it has
and ‘reaching’ as a visionary,
been leadership, coupled with
aspirational and thriving organi-
vision, that has made the seem-
zation.
ingly impossible… achievable.”
“Interestingly,” says Mowat,
It’s interesting to think about people we consider
visionaries and great leaders as children. Did they have a
five-year plan for themselves in high school? Were they
always training to strengthen their shoulders for the load
they would one day carry as the business leaders they
have become?
When asked ‘Would the five-year old Dave be surprised
Enunciation of the vision
“there was a secondary effect of
and ongoing communication,
the storytelling exercise. Not
according to Mowat, are the keys
only did it help us articulate in a
to getting those words to jump
simple way who we are and
off the plaque on the wall.
where we are going, but it
Under his leadership, Vancity has
served to sort of ‘put our stake in
been named the best place to
the ground’; we clearly state
work in Canada by several
what we stand for and it serves
organizations, including Canadian
as an excellent touch point for
Business and Maclean’s magazines.
decision making. When faced
Mowat is passionate about
with any kind of challenge, we
engaging and empowering
can look to that story to help
employees ‘to do the right thing’
guide our thought processes and
which leads to the company’s
lead us in the right direction.”
successes, including $11.8 billion
With his down-to-earth
in assets and numerous commu-
to see the current Dave as CEO of a financial institution?’,
approach to big thinking, Mowat,
nity-minded initiatives such as
Dave Mowat’s eyes twinkle as if remembering early aspirations
who sits on the Board of Visa
the annual $1 million Vancity
that were in a different direction. However, he responds
Canada and Visa International
Award (the largest corporate gift
thoughtfully by acknowledging that even at an early age he
along with many other corporate
of its kind in Canada).
knew he wanted to pursue a career in business.
and non-profit organization
Although he humbly chuckles,
boards, makes the whole process
“The biggest part of my job is to
thirteen, which likely was the beginning of his career trajectory.
of creating and implementing a
get out of the way,” Mowat adds
By the time he was studying at UBC, Mowat was convinced that
corporate vision sound rather
that there are three things a
banking was the business direction he wanted to pursue and since
simple. “Simple,” he would say,
leader must do to help bring a
then has worked diligently in small business financing, venture
“but not easy.”
vision alive: ensure the vision is
Mowat started his own beer bottle return business at age
capital markets, and served as president and CEO of Vancity
In a speech delivered to
widely communicated and that
Capital Corporation for two years prior to becoming CEO of
Leadership Vancouver a few years
people understand the meaning
Vancity in 2000. The company’s website unofficially calls him
ago, Mowat talked about the belief
behind the words; explain the
Vancity’s “Top Dog” and he chuckles then just shrugs his
that building leadership through-
series of logical and intuitive
shoulders when asked whether his friends at UBC would be
out the organization is key to
steps the company is taking to
surprised to see him now. You just know there are some
Vancity being an innovative
achieve it; and help everyone in
stories which will remain untold. ■
company. He also said, “Whether
the organization see how they
10
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
fit, and how what they do every
Maureen Howe:
day is essential to achieving the
“What will I wish I had done more of?”
vision.
Beyond guiding a company, vision can help individuals plan their personal and professional
lives. When defining her personal vision, Maureen Howe (PhD 87), the Managing Director of
RBC Capital Markets’ Global Equity Division, took inspiration from the Dalai Lama, who
believes the meaning of life is to be happy.
“I speak to every single new
employee at Vancity, and one of
the things we talk about is that
Vancity always has a five-year
plan and a one-year plan at any
given time and those plans are
available to every employee at
any time. Communication is
essential to building leaders,
ensuring our vision is clear and
achieving success,” emphasizes
Mowat, who was named
Communicator of the Year by the
BC chapter of the International
Association of Business
“I ask myself what I will feel good about at
the end of my life, and what I may wish I had
done more or less of,” she said.
Maureen has never written down a personal
vision statement yet as she learns from successes
and failures, Maureen says her commitment to
personal vision remains strong and she constantly
reflects on her short- and long-term goals. PhD
studies at Sauder helped Maureen realize that
entering a field she loves was key to her
happiness and has increased the probability of
her success.
“As a student, I was primarily focused on not
flunking out,” she said. “But as my confidence
grew, so did my personal vision of what I wanted
out of a career.”
Maureen said she learned that balancing
work, health, fitness and personal life increased
her business success—and her longevity in the
field. At 49, she is one of the oldest equity
analysts at her company.
A demanding schedule, with days that begin
at 4:00 am and frequent travel to Toronto and
New York has prompted her husband to describe
her as a workaholic. However, Maureen says the
term is relative, especially in the investment
business, where some people consistently work
70-hour weeks.
“They are burned-out and their lives are
falling apart,” said Maureen. “I don’t see the
point in living like that. I view the demands of
work as a series of sprints, not a marathon.” ■
Communicators (IABC) in 2005.
He says that he draws his inspi-
Hank McKinnell:
ration as a leader, not from big
Sometimes vision comes from observing blindness.
name celebrities and academics,
but from the people around
him. “I marvel at the different
perspectives that exist right here
in our organization,” he says
sincerely. “There are a lot of
smart people with great ideas,
and they inspire me.”
Clearly, giving legs to the
words on the wall is not an easy
task. However, having successfully
led Vancity and other organizations in creating and giving life
to a corporate vision, Dave
Mowat understands what it takes
to develop a vision and see it
through with the support and
invaluable contributions of the
team of people who walk along
side it every day. ■
Thirty years ago, former Pfizer chairman Hank McKinnell (BCom 65) managed the company’s
affairs in Afghanistan and Iran. One day he noticed a boy helping his grandfather, who was
blinded by trachoma. McKinnell, who knew trachoma was preventable, eventually helped
establish Pfizer as a partner in the International Trachoma Initiative, which aims to
eradicate the condition by 2020.
This connection between personal, everyday
observations and long-term goals helped
McKinnell guide Pfizer’s vision.
“It’s like the old story of the stonecutters
telling passers-by what they do,” he said. “One
says he’s cutting stones. Another says he’s
building a cathedral. Which one is going to take
the work more seriously?”
Pfizer’s strategy is governed by three
separate but linked areas: purpose, mission
and values. The purpose summarizes the
157 year-old company’s business—to advance
humanity’s quest for healthier, happier lives
through innovation in pharmaceuticals.
The company’s mission is to balance the
needs of the company’s stakeholders in a
sustainable and positive way, and to help
Pfizer become the world’s most valued
company. When developing the mission,
Hank remembered his father’s advice to set
principles and stick to them. For Pfizer, these
principles became the company values, a set of
nine qualities that guide Pfizer’s mission.
“Leaders must acknowledge that decisions
must fulfill all of the values, not just some of
them,” Hank said. “Values aren’t ‘management
by Plexiglas’—they are the compass-points for
all decision-making.”
In the 1990s, Pfizer aimed to become
“Number One In 2001.” It achieved this goal
despite an enormous challenge: the loss of $14
billion in annual sales over a three-year period.
For inspiration, Hank said he looked to Uganda’s
AIDS Support Organization, whose employees
refuse to let hurdles such as the country’s lack
of medical infrastructure discourage them.
“Sometimes, we all have to focus on
overcoming a hurdle without losing sight of the
big picture,” said Hank. ■
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
11
An eye to the future
The Sauder School of Business
“We’ve renewed our programs,
we’ve renewed our faculty, and we’ve
renewed our commitment to deliver fresh
perspectives...The next leap is to
rebuild our learning platform.”
- Dean Daniel Muzyka
12
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
reinvents itself
BY
MARLA LEVY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
PERRY ZAVITZ
THE ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHER HERACLITUS
knew it way back when, and it holds true even
more so today—the only thing constant is
change. We see it in virtually all facets of our
lives, from the dizzying pace of man-made
technological advances to the natural process
of a child moving from infancy to adulthood.
Change is all around us.
The Sauder School of Business is no
exception. In recent years, there has been an
ambitious effort to renew the business
school—namely revamping the programs and
recruiting new faculty. The addition of 125
new spaces at the undergraduate level has
improved access to business education, thanks
to the Sauder family’s $20 million investment
in the school in 2003, and an ongoing
commitment of $1 million per year in increased
funding from the provincial government. A
strong faculty has been reinforced by 46 new
members who have come aboard over the past
three years. While these measures have gone
a long way to heightening the school’s global
and community presence—positioning Sauder
as a top business school—there are further
changes to come.
Dean Daniel Muzyka, pictured with
Fred Withers (BCom 77).
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
13
“We’ve renewed our programs, we’ve
At the heart of customization is a
conscious entrepreneurial endeavours); the
renewed our faculty, and we’ve renewed
respect for individual needs and objectives,
growing number of co-op students who
our commitment to deliver fresh
and a recognition that there are different
are learning by doing; and the inclusion of
perspectives,” says Dean Daniel Muzyka,
modes of learning. “We need to be able to
“outside” individuals in the learning
“and the results are really there. We’ve built
further customize our learning for individual
process, such as having venture capitalists
stronger connections to the communities
and group needs, not just offer classes
teach classes on venture capital. “It is
we serve, we’ve developed new research
on a rigid schedule emphasizing certain
cooperative, not just in the old way we
centres and we have reinvigorated the old
formats. We’re not just talking about
think of it, but cooperative in the sense
ones.” The school is highly regarded for
professors teaching classic business cases
that we’re working within the community.
producing award-winning research, future
in amphitheatres. We’re talking about many
We’re a part of it, not apart from it.”
business leaders and new ideas for
more platforms for learning, and many
managers and professionals. Sauder has
more tools for learning. That’s going to
cornerstone of the learning environment,
program offerings in satellite locations,
require a very different set of assets in
but will become more so. “One of our
from the IMBA program at Shanghai Jiao
place.”
faculty used Internet video to bring in
Being connected, of course, is already a
Tong University to the partnership with
three other colleagues from institutions
Fundação Dom Cabral (a leading
around the globe to be part of a class
executive development school in Brazil)
to provide joint executive training
programs, to the part-time MBA program
at UBC Okanagan.
Ask Muzyka what he sees as the
coming steps in the school’s evolution, and
he is quite clear: “The next leap is to
rebuild our learning platform at UBC. Our
facilities here don’t adequately support
“If you truly want
to be a great school,
you need to have a
facility that allows great
teachers to deliver
great programs.”
- Fred Withers (BCom 77)
time when it will be commonplace for a
business person to click in from his/her
office and have an interactive dialogue
with students, be they in the classroom,
or working as a small group in a
conference room.
“Business executives understand today
business leaders), they’ve got to be part
and parcel of building those future
constructed at a time when educational
generations. They’re willing to spend the
thinking was confined to a professor
lecturing classes.”
“That’s easy and efficient.” He envisions a
that if they want future generations (of
either the scale or scope of our mission,
today or in the future. They were
dialogue on leadership,” says Muzyka.
Learning is also going to be more
time. Why can’t the student group working
Indeed, two external accreditation
cooperative, says Muzyka. “Individuals are
in a conference room connect with an
agencies have echoed the dean’s concerns,
going to be working together in changing
executive on the other side of the globe?
citing spatial inflexibility and the poor state
sets of groups and sub-groups. We’re going
The answer is they can and they do.”
of the physical facilities as major roadblocks
to need more group interaction space.
in the school’s vision to become a recognized
It’s going to be less about individuals tied
to promote that with facilities that provide
leader in the creation, teaching and appli-
to a classroom.”
for that group interaction. It’s about learning
cation of innovative management thinking.
DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT LEARNING
“Learning as we know it today, and
Muzyka notes that cooperative learning
But, as the dean underscores: “We need
in an environment that is customized,
is about learning from and with people
cooperative and connected. We’ve got
at Sauder, but also learning from and with
an opportunity to build that learning
people (and experiences) outside of the
environment. That’s the next step in the
as we conceive of it in the future, is
school. For examples he cites the Sauder
evolution of the Sauder School. We’re
dramatically different,” emphasizes Muzyka.
students working in Africa this past
going to change the nature of how people
He describes the changes underway in
summer as part of Social Entrepreneurship
learn here, and learn with others in the
learning in terms of “The Three Cs”—
101: Africa (a program to help African
community, in Canada and around the
customized, cooperative and connected.
youth develop and promote socially
world.”
14
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
Dean Daniel Muzyka was photographed outside the well-known Henry Angus Building on campus, with Fred Withers (BCom 77), a member of the school’s
Faculty Advisory Board and a fellow champion for change.
BEYOND BRICKS AND MORTAR
Sauder Faculty Advisory Board member
He adds: “The physical environment
dictates the teaching style.You can have
built in 1962. “We need to get it into the
21st century.”
Fred Withers, a 1977 BCom graduate who
great professors, but if they don’t have the
Chances are that if Heraclitus was
is now Managing Partner of Ernst and
right teaching environment, they’re not as
alive today, he would agree. Though his
Young in Vancouver, says that the physical
effective. Similarly, you can have great
ideas date back to around 500 BC, the
facilities of the school may have been
students, but if you’re not giving them the
ancient Greek philosopher saw that change
adequate in his student days almost 30
right learning environment, they’re not
was not only inevitable, but something
years ago, but he believes they are wholly
going to learn as well.”
to celebrate. ■
inadequate for educating today’s students.
Withers says, only half-jokingly, that
“Your facility helps support your teaching
the striking resemblance of the current
and we have a facility that is misaligned
facility to a 1960s secondary school
with the teaching and learning methods of
(hallway lockers and all) has some alumni
today. If you truly want to be a great school,
affectionately referring to their alma mater
you need to have a facility that allows great
as “Angus High,” a nod to the Henry
teachers to deliver great programs.”
Angus Building, the heart of the school,
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE UPGRADING OF THE
SAUDER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF VIEWPOINTS.
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
15
Earning interest
TRENDS, TIPS, AND TIDBITS
Hot jobs in 2006
Space-age sneakers
Almost a year ago, Canadian
Business magazine offered predictions of the hottest jobs of
2006. Scan the list to see how
their predictions measured up.
What would Obi Wan Kenobi
wear at a basketball game?
Perhaps one of these four pairs
of shoes, compiled from
Forbes.com. From built-in computers to space age construction
material, these sneakers fit as
much in a science-fiction movie
as at the local gym.
Oil & gas
Alberta’s oil and gas industry is
booming. From field operations
to engineering management,
Canadian Business predicted a
massive labour demand.
Information technology
Despite painful memories of the
sector’s performance, Canadian
Business said the high tech
industry is surging once again,
with an increased demand for IT
managers of all stripes.
Corporate fundraising
Large hospitals, universities and
cultural institutions are hunting
for individuals with a background
in sales and marketing to run
their multimillion-dollar corporate
fundraising campaigns.
16
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
Health care
In the pharmaceutical and public
health-care sector, recent
demand for electronic health
records and partnerships with
smaller life-sciences firms resulted in more jobs for CIOs, IT
project managers and business
development officers.
Prepare for the Superjet
adidas_1 Intelligence Level 1.1
A computer in the sole of the
adidas_1 Intelligence Level 1.1
adjusts the shoe’s cushioning and
support using calculations based
on weight, pace and surface.
Online gaming
Global revenues in the online
gaming industry jumped to
$12 billion US in 2005 from an
estimated $3 billion US in 2001.
Business analysts, software
developers, project managers and
network administrators are in
high demand.
B.C. and Alberta top
Canadian employment levels
According to the B.C. Ministry of
Labour and Citizens’ Services,
British Columbia’s unemployment rate fell to a 30-year low
of 4.8% in February, with
9,000 new jobs added to the
economy that month. In Alberta,
the unemployment rate fell to
3.1%, less than half the national
average of 6.4%. The Canadian
unemployment rate was the
lowest it has been since 1976.
Nike Air Max 360
The Air Max 360’s midsole contains
65 layers of nitrogen-pumped
microfilm to cushion the foot.
Puma Nuala Chapora
Perhaps the most mystical shoe
on the market, the yoga-inspired
Nuala’s sole contains strategically
placed magnets for “spiritual
balance and holistic benefits.”
Imagine flying from LA to China
in six hours. Forbes.com reported
on new jet engines that can rocket
at four times the speed of today’s
fastest jets.
A typical V-8 engine ignites
fuel at 33 staccato bursts per
second. The pulse detonation
engine, which is being developed
by General Electric and United
Technologies, will ignite fuel at
100 rapid-fire bursts a second.
First used during World War II,
pulse detonation was then picked
up by the American Air Force to
develop high-speed cruise missiles.
In the 1980s, Boeing engineer
Thomas Bussing used the technology to hammer out plans for a jet
engine model in his Seattle garage.
After raising $24 million, in 1995
he built his first working engine.
The first commercial jet
engines are expected to hit the
market in 10 to15 years.
Snapshot: Corporate social
responsibility in Canada
Brooks Trance 5
Employing an HVAC (heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning) system, the Trance 5’s silver
lining distributes heat throughout the sneaker, blocking blisters
and preventing sweat and odor.
A recent Ipsos Reid/Canadian
Business for Social Responsibility
(CBSR) poll showed that while
corporate Canada develops
corporate social responsibility
(CSR) policies and programs,
Canadian consumers are unaware
of these initiatives. Sixty-eight
percent of Canadians said they
pay attention to issues related to
corporate social responsibility
and three-quarters of Canadian
companies are actively engaged
in key CSR activities.
However, only a third of
Canadian consumers knew about
companies that had “made an
explicit commitment to CSR” or
have “formal policies in place
that require companies to take
on socially responsible activities
and initiatives.”
The New York Times:
Top 10 business bestsellers
(hardcover)—September 2006
The New York Times: Top 10
business bestsellers (hardcover)—
September 2006
5) Now Discover Your Strengths
by Marcus Buckingham and
Donald O. Clifton
Stories the world should hear
more about
In today’s information-saturated
world, journalists can’t catch
everything. The following five
stories were chosen by the United
Nations Department of Public
Information as being at risk to
“slip off the radar screen.”
Visit www.un.org/events/
tenstories/ for the full list.
1. From water wars to bridges
of cooperation. Despite widespread perceptions that shared
water basins cause conflict, water
is often a source of collaboration
between countries.
1) The World is Flat
by Thomas L. Friedman
10) Jim Cramer’s Real Money
by James J. Cramer
6) Who Moved My Cheese?
by Spencer Johnson
2) Freakonomics
by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
2. Behind bars, beyond justice.
An alarming number of children are
being held in detention without
sufficient cause, often for offences
that are not considered criminal
when committed by adults.
7) The Five Dysfunctions
of a Team
by Patrick Lencioni
3. Liberia. As the nation recovers
from years of civil strife, it grapples with an array of challenges.
4. Nepal’s hidden tragedy.
Caught in more than 10 years of
violence, Nepal’s children have
become the overlooked victims
of the country’s ongoing strife.
5. South Asian earthquake.
After the successful relief effort
that helped prevent additional
casualties in quake-devastated
areas, the people left homeless
and destitute by the disaster are
looking to restore their livelihoods.
9) Good to Great
by Jim Collins
3) The Long Tail
by Chris Anderson
8) Feeding the Monster
by Seth Mnookin
4) Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
by T. Harv Eker
The changing nature of
charity in Canada
Lower levels of government
funding have expanded the role
that charities play in the lives
of Canadians. According to
Canadahelps.ca, charities must make
the most effective use of every
dollar donated, as well as adapt to
online donation technology.
In the first three and a half
days after the 2004 Boxing Day
tsunami, $12 million—over 60
per cent of the $20 million
donated by Canadians—came in
over the Internet.
While the largest annual
donations came from people with
a household income of $100,000
or more, donors in the lowest
income bracket give the largest
percentage of their income
(1.12 per cent).
Almost half of all dollars
donated go to religious organizations, but the largest number
of donations is given to health
care organizations.
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
17
Sauder Faculty
INSIDER INFORMATION
Social Entrepreneurship 101: Africa
to paper sessions covering current theoretical and applied research,
In July and August, Sauder professor Nancy Langton led a group of
the conference featured special panel discussions on the topics of low
UBC students to Kenya to develop, promote and expand the socially
income homeownership policies and real estate derivatives.
motivated entrepreneurial endeavors of African youth.
The project, called Social Entrepreneurship 101: Africa, was
developed by Click Africa in collaboration with the Sauder School of
Leading academics also spoke on a number of important topics
including housing affordability, real estate investment, real estate in
Asia, and homelessness and low-income housing.
Business. Langton’s team worked extensively with four Kenyan youth
The Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate was established
whose innovative and socially-conscious ideas, which included food
at the Sauder School of Business with the support of the Real Estate
retailing, Internet communications, and the establishment of a kerosene
Foundation of British Columbia and aims to advance the research
depot, had the greatest potential to have a large and positive effect
and teaching of urban economics and real estate within the
on the local community. The youth attended daily one-on-one
province. For more information, visit www.cuer.ubc.ca.
individual consultation sessions about their business proposals with
the Social Entrepreneurship team.
For more information about the project, visit
http://www.africa.sauder.ubc.ca/. The team also maintained a blog,
which can be accessed at http://www.se101africa.blogspot.com/.
BITSAFS presents “Intelligent Gateway” vision for ports
at U.N. World Urban Forum
In June, The Bureau for Intelligent Transportation Systems and
Freight Security (BITSAFS) at the Sauder School of Business took
part in a United Nations World Urban Forum panel focused on
competition and cooperation in North American ports, and how the
movement of goods affects the sustainability of our urban areas.
“Due to explosive growth on the West Coast, we have a unique
opportunity to avoid destructive competition,” said Dave Frank,
managing director of BITSAFS. “Together we must find a way to be
in the middle of the action, or we will be on the side.”
“To make goods movement sustainable, we must be as efficient
as possible. This means ‘intelligent gateways’ that link truck and rail
through information flows about cargo and carriers,” Frank said.
At the conference, BITSAFS discussed how applying intelligent
The Social Entrepreneurship 101: Africa team. Bottom row, from left:
Sauder professor Nancy Langton and UBC students Brittany Baum, Sarah
Malleson, Eiston Lo, Kathy Cochrane. Top row, from left: UBC students
Josephine Wong and Alia Somji.
transportation systems through the deployment of new and existing
technologies—to ports, airports, traffic corridors and border crossings—ensures the health and continued viability of the Pacific gateway.
BITSAFS was established in 2005 to conduct and disseminate
Sauder hosts leading real estate academics in Vancouver
research in the area of intelligent transportation systems and freight
From June 30 to July 3, the Centre for Urban Economics and Real
security. For more information, visit www.freightsecurity.ubc.ca.
Estate at the Sauder School of Business welcomed leading academics,
international conference of The American Real Estate and Urban
Sauder transport simulation model receives government
funding award
Economics Association (AREUEA) and the Asian Real Estate Society
Sauder professor Garland Chow will receive up to $23,000 to develop
(AsRES), held in downtown Vancouver.
a simulation model of the movement of seaborne international
practitioners and policymakers in housing and real estate to the joint
The co-sponsored event, led by Sauder professor and Centre director
containers through the Vancouver gateway in order to model the
Tsur Somerville, brought together experts from real estate and urban
benefits and costs of alternative security options. The model will
economics to present and discuss new research in urban and real estate
represent the operational characteristics of all participants in the
economics, real estate finance, development and investment. In addition
container transport chain.
18
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
prestigious awards for women; for the YWCA of Vancouver, 2006
The model is one of 13 transport projects across Canada chosen
was the 23rd year of the Awards.
for funding.
The organization credited Granot for “working tirelessly to
“These projects will help to investigate how we can better combine transportation modes for greater efficiency and integration of
nurture the broad-minded, uniquely trained, highly qualified
the transportation system,” said Minister of Transport, Infrastructure
people needed to develop BC’s and Canada’s knowledge-based
and Communities Lawrence Cannon.
economies,” and for having “achieved her success by creating
and then championing new knowledge at the intersections of
Canada’s federal government will award over $1 million in total
traditionally separate disciplines.”
to advance transportation planning and enhance integration and
connections between transportation modes.
•
Tae Oum, Professor, Operations and Logistics Division and UPS
Sauder faculty garners national and international awards
Foundation Chair in Transportation, has been chosen as this year’s
Faculty and staff at Sauder have been recognized with a number of
Distinguished Member Award recipient by the Transportation and
awards in the past few months. The following is a summary of some
Public Utilities Group of the American Economics Association
of their many achievements:
(AEA-TPUG). The award will be made at the AEA-TPUG
conference in Chicago in January, 2007. Oum was also awarded
•
Derek Atkins, E.D. MacPhee Professor of Management,
the Distinguished Researcher Award (based on life-time research
Operations and Logistics Division, received the Talking Stick
contribution to the transportation field) this past March from
Award in recognition of his pedagogical innovation as well as his
the U.S. Transportation Research Forum.
course “Best Practices in Management Science.”
•
•
•
Maurice Queyranne, Professor, Operations and Logistics
Jonathan Berkowitz, Associate Professor, Operations & Logistics
Division, received the 2006 Senior Research Excellence Award
Division, received the UBC Killam Teaching Prize. The award
for his outstanding research in the general domain of combina-
recognizes the recipient for serving the Sauder School of
torial optimization, which is concerned with finding optimal or
Business with great distinction, teaching in all aspects of the
near-optimal solutions to optimization problems with discrete
school’s programs over the past nine years.
decision variables.
CGA Graduate Teaching Award, in recognition of his influence
2006 research grant recipients announced by Asia Pacific
Foundation of Canada
and effectiveness in both graduate and undergraduate classrooms,
The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada announced in July the recipients
coaching of prize-winning case competition student teams and
of the 2006 Asia Pacific Research Grants Program, launched to support
for the co-development of an innovative cross-faculty course.
policy research and informed discussion on Canada’s relations with
Darren Dahl, Associate Professor, Marketing Division, won the
Dahl also received the 2006 Junior Research Excellence
Asia. Grant recipients from the Sauder School of Business were:
Award for his outstanding research in the emotional and social
aspects of consumer behavior, and the Alma Mater Society Just
•
Desserts Award for his contributions to teaching at the under-
Garland Chow—Developing Asia-Canada Supply Chains:
Implications for Canadian Manufacturing Competition
graduate level and to the university community in general.
•
•
Frieda Granot, Senior Associate Dean and Sauder Professor,
David Gillen—A Study of Singapore as a Logistics Hub and
Implications for the Pacific Gateway
Operations and Logistics Division, received the YWCA Women of
Distinction Award in the Education, Training and Development
category. The award is recognized nationally as one of the most
To learn more about the research being
conducted by Sauder faculty members,
visit www.sauder.ubc.ca
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
19
Bruce Birmingham donates
The former president of Scotiabank shares his views on why he made his gift—and why others
BY
MARLA LEVY
As the former president of Scotiabank, Bruce Birmingham (MBA 71) knows the value of a good
investment. So it was no surprise that his gift earlier this year of $2 million to the Sauder School
of Business came with a message. Bruce urged the federal government to eliminate the capital
gains tax on gifted securities, and this past May his wish came true.
“You can’t just be successful
in your own country,
you’ve got to be successful
on a broader stage.”
GLENN BAGLO
- Bruce Birmingham (MBA 71)
20
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
$2 million to Sauder
should step up to the plate
“I THINK THE GOVERNMENT,
after a fair amount of arm-twist-
the incentive to do so now.”
Bruce takes issue with those
serving on the Faculty Advisory
Bruce R. Birmingham Centre for
Board. “I think UBC is unique in
Undergraduate Education. As for
ing by a lot of people, came
who feel that the responsibility
Canada because of its make-up
the naming of the centre in his
around to see the light of day. I
for growing world-class educa-
and its international focus. We
honour, Bruce is modest, saying
know this will be a significant
tion lies with our governments.
need this focus to equip our
he is not one who cares for
boon to all universities, hospitals
“If people want something done,
future leaders to deal with the
recognition. “If that’s what this
and charitable organizations.”
they should get together and do
world at large, not just the
was about, I could have bought a
it themselves,” he insists. “We
Canadian market....You can’t
billboard somewhere,” he quips.
need leadership in this donation
just be successful in your
“All of this is driven by one
Bruce doesn’t mince words
on the subject of alumni giving
back to their alma mater. “UBC
thing: let’s get others involved,
gave all of us this unique education
let’s take the school to a higher
and a unique set of skills that
enabled us to succeed in the
world. As a result of that, we all
have an obligation to ensure the
university succeeds in what it’s
trying to accomplish. Many of us
have done extremely well over
the years...and here’s an opportunity to sustain the university, to
keep it moving in the right
direction, and to achieve the
status of the premier university
in Canada.”
“I think UBC is unique in Canada
because of its make-up and its
international focus.We need this focus
to equip our future leaders to deal
with the world at large, not just
the Canadian market.”
- Bruce Birmingham
level. If it pushes somebody to
do more, then that’s terrific.”
And he hopes that recent
gifts to the Sauder School—from
Bill Sauder and family, Robert
Lee, and now himself—will
encourage others to follow suit.
“The momentum is building and
I think others will stand up in
the next few years and reach
even further heights.”
The ROI for this executive
philanthropist? “With a great
team and a great school, we can
With the new securities
regulations in place, Bruce is
area. Slowly but surely it’s com-
own country, you’ve got to be
take things to the next level and
even more forthright. “It’s almost
ing, but a lot more people need
successful on a broader stage.”
be the best in Canada.” ■
unconscionable if the alumni
to step up to the plate.”
who have made significant gains
Although Bruce was born in
Bruce’s gift is earmarked
for renovating the undergraduate
in their securities don’t donate to
Montreal and spent the bulk of
facilities at the Sauder School,
the university. I just believe that
his 30-year career in commercial
with an ultimate goal of
Canadians need to give more,
and international banking
attracting the most promising
need to be engaged more, and
outside of BC, he’s kept strong
future business leaders. The
nobody can say they don’t have
ties to the Sauder School, including
new facilities will create the
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
21
STUDENT CORNER
An update from the MBA president
Global graduates
BY
RICARDO ESTRADA
Just over 100 newly minted graduates will leave campus
in a few months with those coveted three little letters
attached to their name: MBA.
I have had the privilege to study next to really interesting
and diverse individuals. In our class, we had two Olympic
athletes, a director of a global bank, a humanitarian
who spent five years in Africa, an already-successful
entrepreneur, an Ironman and a PhD, just to name a few.
Our backgrounds are also as colourful as our names and
I believe we truly fit the definition of global citizens.
MOST OF US HAVE A GENERAL
It is not hard to open any
idea of what we want to do; the
newspaper and see the amazing
hard part seems to be figuring
double-digit economic growth of
out WHERE we will end up. In a
China; which is not only huge
shrinking world where we have
considering its population, but
the opportunity to finish our
also seems to be sustainable over
UBC MBA program in universi-
time, at least so far. This is a great
ties in Hong Kong, Barcelona,
opportunity for us; we are
Bombay, Beijing or Melbourne
already in close contact with the
among others, staying put seems
Chinese culture in our class: the
to be a thing of the past.
most popular language in our
MBA Society president Ricardo Estrada after finishing the
Vancouver Sun Run 10 km race last spring with a classmate.
classroom after English is
one of the most international
Mandarin.
and innovative MBA programs
As we learn from the cases
we analyze in class, and the
2008 class will benefit from
mergers and acquisitions that
an improved version of our
take place almost everyday in the
program.
corporate world (especially in
MBA classmates learn outside the classroom as well as inside.
22
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
around. Already, the new
I guess Charles Darwin was
Canada), we are well aware that the
right when he said: “It is not the
world will continue to move—at
strongest of the species that survives, nor
a fast pace—towards globalization.
the most intelligent. It is the one that is
It is now evident that, in order to
the most adaptable to change.” So, if
be competitive as managers, we
constant movement seems to be
need to understand the way
the way things work these days,
business is done outside of
take a look at the picture: If you
North America. At Sauder, we
ASK ME, we’ll just tell you to
have a great advantage: we have
“PLEASE KEEP MOVING.” ■
Diploma in Accounting
Program
At the gateway to accounting:
Shawn Campbell
The UBC Diploma in Accounting
A graduate of UBC’s Diploma in Accounting Program (DAP) in 2004, Shawn Campbell
Program (DAP) is a credit-based
is an example of someone who decided to pursue an accounting career after graduating
program designed primarily to
from university. After completing the one-year DAP, Shawn was hired by Deloitte and
prepare university graduates
Touche LLP in Vancouver, where he is pursuing his Chartered Accountant designation.
who have limited training in
accounting for entry into a
The road to UBC
compressed one-year time frame.
level of achievement and the
Shawn grew up thinking he’d
He says it was a challenging
inaugural Ernst and Young
work for a bank, just like two of
program and a competitive
DAP award for his contribution
many of the course requirements
his uncles. After high school he
atmosphere.
to DAP.
for the Certified Management
enrolled at the University of
“Everyone there already has
professional program. DAP’s
intensive curriculum satisfies
Accountant (CMA) and Certified
Victoria, choosing to pursue a
a degree and we all knew that
In the accounting world
General Accountant (CGA)
commerce degree. While
there’s tough competition to get
Perhaps the true test of
programs and is officially
enrolled in the Bachelor of
hired by the top employers, so
Campbell’s success in DAP was
recognized by the Chartered
Commerce Co-op Program,
we were willing to work hard,”
being hired as a staff accountant
Campbell gained work experience
Campbell says.
by Deloitte and Touche LLP, one
at TD Commercial Bank and also
While he was enrolled in
Accountants School of Business
(CASB). www.sauder.ubc.ca/dap.
of Canada’s top CA firms. Today
spent four months working for
DAP, Campbell recruited a few
he’s working in downtown
an engineering company in
classmates to help found the
Vancouver, providing accounting
Germany. Upon graduation in
DAP Student Club. The club
services for clients in a variety of
2002, he was hired as a financial
introduced an orientation
industries. He’s also enrolled in
services representative at TD
program for DAP students during
the Chartered Accountants
Canada Trust and was transferred
the first week of the program. To
School of Business program and
to Chetwynd, B.C.
provide networking opportunities
plans to write his final exam in
Your idea of success: I will
and overcome the fragmentation
September 2007.
consider myself successful if
After a year in this job,
Campbell evaluated his options.
that can occur when a program
His plan to work in banking
is provided primarily in evening
opportunities when he earns his
wasn’t quite the right fit.
classes, the DAP Student Club
CA designation.
Campbell sees a plethora of
Shawn Cambell on life
beyond accounting
Original career aspiration:
Investment advisor.
I’m happy with my family, myself
and my career.
Role model/mentor: My
grandfather, Jack Drummond,
“If I stayed with the bank, I
organizes social events. And the
“It’s exciting to know that
would be in line for a promotion,”
club was active in organizing a
you have so many choices—you
he explains. “But I also realized
second CA Night, where CA
can stay in auditing, move to
that if I spent the next two
firms meet Sauder School of
other departments or move to
or three years earning a CA
Business students. Specifically for
other parts of the world,” he
Your proudest achievement:
designation, I would have a lot
DAP students, this second event
explains. “DAP has led me to
Where I am today. I’ve put myself
more options.”
improves access to employers.
Deloitte and Touche, which is a
who was a school principal in
Victoria. I still think, “What would
my grandfather think of this?”
in a position to do what I want to
do going forward.
Campbell’s academic
great place to work, and it will
The DAP experience
achievements were equally
lead me to a future where I will
Where you will be in 10 years:
Campbell chose DAP because of
impressive. Upon graduation he
have so many great career
Hopefully enjoying my career and
UBC’s excellent reputation, the
was awarded the inaugural Ellis
options.” ■
working on the other parts of
course’s flexibility and the
Foster DAP award for his high
success—a family and children.
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
23
Moving forward
BY
MOYRA VAN NUS
I met my best friend at UBC. We shared two courses in first year: Math 100
and English 100. Lisa Cartwright (BCom 86, née Carstensen) graduated in
marketing—I graduated in economics. Our walks across campus, the cinnamon
buns at the Bus Stop Café, and struggling with integration, created the
foundation for a lasting friendship. Over the last 25 years, we’ve been
there for one another through all kinds of transitions—both personal and
professional. When I meet alumni, I’m always moved by their similar stories.
BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME…
event near you, such as our
internationally—she is a warm
In addition, we will be celebrating
As one of Sauder’s 26,000 alumni,
annual gala dinner (coming in
and committed woman.
the 25th anniversary of doing
you are part of a powerful
early 2007) or to hear an expert
community. Whether that
speaker.
community extends to one best
I am so pleased to have joined
Some of our most important
business in China and the 5th
partners are those alumni who
anniversary of the International
give generously of their time and
MBA program in Shanghai.
friend you made at school, or 10
such a dynamic team—all of
talent to our Faculty Advisory
As I begin my conversations
former classmates you keep in
whom are committed to world-
Board, which provides advice,
with alumni around the world,
touch with, we are here to help
class teaching and research, and
support and assistance to the
I continue to be impressed with
maintain a home base for your
to building a community of
dean relating to the activities and
your desire to enhance your
community. Ours is also a
Sauder graduates with the skills
the strategic direction of the
connections with one another.
community of knowledge,
and capacity to make a contribu-
school. Two members, in
You speak warmly of your
and—as this issue of Viewpoints
tion to the businesses and
particular, have welcomed me
experience at the Sauder School,
tells you—we have a lot planned
communities in which they work
warmly: Mike Ryan and Fred
and I hope to share some of
to keep that home base thriving
and live. I feel especially privileged
Withers are working hard to
these experiences as we go
as well.
to be working closely with Frieda
help us better align alumni with
forward. ■
In my new position with
Granot, who will be heading up
the school’s needs.
Sauder’s external relations team, I
Sauder’s outreach and partnership
hope to meet many of you in the
with alumni, business partners
ahead. In celebration of the 50th
months and years ahead. We
and donors. Not only is she an
year of the Faculty of Commerce
certainly hope you’ll drop a line
internationally recognized scholar
and Business Administration at
with an update on your life for
in operations and logistics and
the University of British Columbia,
Class Notes in this magazine, or
an extraordinary ambassador of
we are planning an Alumni Gala
that you’ll come out to an alumni
the school both domestically and
in the early months of 2007.
24
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
We have an exciting year
Moyra Van Nus is the Assistant Dean and
Director of External Relations at the
Sauder School of Business. She invites
alumni feedback and comments at
[email protected].
CLASS NOTES
Share the highlights of your year or even the last few months with your classmates, faculty and friends! Class Notes are
now easier than ever to submit—simply fill out the online form at www.sauder.ubc.ca/alumni/classnotes and we’ll print
your update in the next edition of Viewpoints Magazine!
1950s
A collection of class notes from the
class of BCom 56 on their 50th
reunion:
Ron Alexander
Sorry, it is May birthday weekend for
the Alexanders: One daughter, age
40, May 20th. One grandson, age 8,
May 19th. One grandson, age 8, May
29th (my birthday present). One
grandfather, age 73, May 29th
Have fun and good health to all!!
John A. Banfield
Worked for Wood Gundy in various
offices across Canada, then moved
back to Vancouver in 1976 with
Dominion Securities and retired early
in 1990 after a bout with cancer.
After that worked with United Way,
six years on the senate at UBC, and
other commitments. Still married with
four daughters, six grandchildren.
Play golf, tennis, ski and bridge.
Still actively invest and travel.
Allen Baxter
Retired in 1999 after twenty-seven
years of teaching and administration
at UBC, and eleven years of financial
and operations administration at
Riverview Hospital. Continuing
charitable work and enjoying golf,
swimming, travel and family.
Keith Bennett
Retired from forest industry and
active board of referees at
Employment Insurance Commissions;
golf at the Vancouver Golf Club; have
six grandchildren and just returned
from a three week cruise.
I enjoy golf and the summer cottage.
I am active in various associations. We
have three grandchildren.
Brian B. Corbould, QC
Practised law in New Westminster for
nearly forty-six years and retired
2004 from Milne, Selkirk, but still
doing executor work. Received QC
in 1987. Married Mary Sheila
(Gordon) in 1962. I have four
children: Andrew (teacher), Fraser
(wildlife biologist), Gordon (civil
engineer) and Sheila (business
administrator), and have six
grandchildren.
Chair of society to plan and build
Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody,
B.C., Vice Chair of Board of Royal
Columbian Hospital, (1990-99),
Chair of Royal Scottish Country
Dance Society, Vancouver Branch—
and still dance regularly. Member of
Coquitlam Drama Society
(Dogwood). Member of Parish
Council of St. Laurence Anglican
Church and Diocese of New
Westminster Committee (Coq).
Enjoy summer home at Anglemont,
Shuswap Lake, BC.Traveled to Turkey,
South Africa with PSI Upsilon Friends
and to U.K, New Zealand and Hawaii.
James F. Cowie
Retired in 1991 as president of
Ryerson Oil and Gas Ltd. Interests
include golfing, travel, Noval
Museum of Alberta—past chairman.
Recent surgery prohibits attending
reunion but recovering well. Have
five grandchildren—two in
Vancouver and three in Edmonton.
Best wishes to all.
Joe Cvetkovich
Henning Brasso
Still involved in auto business, but my
son runs the business (Richmond
Honda/Surrey Honda). My wife, Kam,
has not been well, so not much travel.
I have had some difficult years
recently and just got out of the
hospital after two months of stay
because of kidney failure.
Ernie Darke
My wife, Gayle, and I are also
celebrating our 50th wedding
anniversary this year. We have a son
Ric in Port Moody and a daughter
Debra in Ottawa. We have five
grandchildren, four boys, ages
fifteen, fifteen, fourteen & twelve
and a girl fourteen. My son’s family
(3 boys including twins) are active
in hockey as they all play and other
sports along the way. My grand
daughter (fourteen) in Ottawa is an
equestrian, a star soccer player and a
down hill racer, her brother is into
hockey and scouting.
I retired from BC Rail in 1997
after 16 years with them...spent a
number of years in the consulting
business prior to joining BCR and
was fortunate enough to work in a
wide variety of industries...moved to
Toronto in 1962 to open the head
office for Allstate Canada. Lived there
for ten years and was active in
coaching baseball, hockey and football; made many lifetime friends.
After retirement I returned to BCR
as a consultant for several years.
During my retirement I was active as
a director of the North Shore
Community Foundation 1997-2002.
Now playing golf, doing some
traveling, working on the family tree
and enjoying amateur photography.
In 2005 cruised the Panama Canal
Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver twentytwo days...golfed in Wilmington
North Carolina, visited my daughter
in Ottawa and friends in Virginia. In
2004 toured the United Kingdom,
England, Scotland and Wales.
Explored London and rode the tube.
It is gratifying to look back over
the past 50 years and remember all
the good people I have worked with
and the lifetime friends made along
the way. Having grown up in Trail
coming to UBC introduced me to
beautiful Vancouver where I met my
wife and many good friends…
retirement here has been very
enjoyable.
Kenneth Brian Davis
Retired from Imperial Oil Ltd; five
grandchildren, three girls and two
boys; traveled to New Zealand,
Australia and Hawaii.
Tom Delong (H.T.)
Retired—three children, two
grandchildren. Interests are sports
and music.
Lorne Dyke
Since the 45th reunion at Bob and
Lily Lee’s home, we’ve kept busy
with international assignments and
travels. Recent visits and work took
us to St. Kitts, Mauritius, Namibia
and S. Africa; last November to India.
Short term projects took me to
Estonia and Guyana (CESO) and
Egypt. We have eight grandchildren;
six in California and two in London,
UK. Best Regards to all classmates
and spouses. Lorne and Ann
(Bissett), BA’54.
John Edwards
Retired after thirty-three years with
the Government of Canada. Four
children: John, graduate of Carleton
University and U of Manitoba;
Susie, graduate of U of Victoria:
Erie. Graduate of Medicine Hat
College and Diana is still at home.
Brocklynn—grand daughter,
Highlights: three terms at City of
Victoria—Heritage Advisory, eight
year of presidency at Hallmark
Society and CGA Community Service
Award (2002); wife, Helen: past
president at Hallmark Society of BC,
first president of $5 Million BC
Heritage Legacy Fund and Winner
of Women of Distinction Award
for City of Victoria (2005).
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
25
CLASS NOTES
John A. Findlay
Following graduation, I was
employed for twenty-one years with
three organizations; Westinghouse,
Federal Government and
Saskatchewan government. Then, due
to a “luck of the draw” event, I was
able to achieve my goal of self
employment. From 1977 to 2003 I
was active as an owner and manager
of residential properties under the
name Highland Properties Ltd.
During the latter period, I was
also involved to a small degree in
personal financial planning and
related software development. This
leads to a hobby of creating software
programs using Borland Delphi 5. I
recently completed a 55-screen
family tree with charts going back to
one William Findlay, born in 1707.
Still married to Ruth (1953), have
two children (a boy and a girl) and
six grandchildren.
Gordon Flemons
Retired from lumber business: Cooper
Widman, Timber Sales, Trans Pac.
Interests include: gardening, golf and
photography. Organizations: Capilano
Golf Club and Probus. Four grandchildren ages nine, five, four and four—
two boys and two girls. Trips include
California every year, Maui every year,
Africa, Kenya, South Africa and cruise
to the Mediterranean.
Barry Griffiths
After graduating and a quick trip to
Europe, I worked for IBM, then got an
MBA in Finance at the University of
Pittsburgh, where I also met my wife,
Bea. I worked on the East coast for a
short while, after which we both
landed jobs with Boeing in Seattle in
the late 60s. Bea started with them in
Information Technology, and then
transferred to Human Resources,
retiring recently from a very good
managerial position. I was laid off in
the “Boeing Crash,” when there was a
large sign up saying “Will the last one
leaving Seattle please turn the lights
out.” That was a big break for me,
because I started buying real estate
at depressed prices.
26
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
We have one child, Christina
(born in 1979). Christina graduated
a few years ago from Gonzaga with a
degree in Civil Engineering and got
married in 2005 to another Zag
engineer.
I still enjoy playing tennis about
three times a week and a group of us
often go to Palm Desert in March to
see at least some of the Pacific Life
Open. We also go to Cowichan in
mid July where a bunch of us “old
fogies” enjoy playing tennis on grass.
If any of you would like to join us
(for tennis or golf), let me know!!!
I’d like to see Australia and N.Z.
before I keel over… And maybe a
few more trips to Europe.
Joseph R. Hill Jr.
Retired from public practice (CA) in
2003. Four children—all happily
married, thankfully. Eight grandchildren—four boys and four girls, enjoy
and love them all!! Play golf with
brother and sometimes with one of
my sons and his son. Personally not
into traveling much; however, my
wife takes in all the world figure
skating events and has been to Finland
with her sister to visit relatives.
Joan Houghland Horsey
Upon graduation in the
merchandising option Joan worked
for T. Eaton Company as a management trainee and then as a manager
for Lore Maria Wiener, fashion
designer. She married in 1958 and
hasn’t worked for pay since; but is
still working very hard.
Murray Joyce
Married D’Arcy Sneath in 1958 and
have a daughter, son and four
grandchildren.
Professional Activities: Teacher in
Burnaby, 4 years; teacher in Kelowna,
4 years; elementary VP, 3 years;
elementary principal, 4 years;
secondary principal, 20 years. Retired
1991 from Okanagan Mission
Secondary School. President/
Chairman of Elementary Principals
& Vice Principals’ Association,
Secondary Principals & Vice
Principals’ Association, Central
Okanagan Teachers’ Association,
Okanagan Valley Teachers’
Association, Geographical
Representative for the Okanagan to
the BC Teachers’ Association.
Community Activities:
President/Chairman of Kelowna
International Regatta, Central
Okanagan Boy Scouts’ Association,
Gyro Club of Kelowna. Director of the
Kelowna Chamber of Commerce,
founding director of the City of
Kelowna Arts Foundation and Director
of Thompson-Okanagan Senior Men’s
Golf Association. Volunteer at the
Kelowna General Hospital, twelve
years and continuing.
Recreational Activities: Golf (joined
the Kelowna Golf & Country Club,
1960, family membership $25),
tennis and downhill skiing at Big
White. Travel: The usual: Jamaica,
Ottawa-Maine-Vermont-New
Hampshire, Lompoc CA, Kauai HW,
Rancho Mirage CA, Phoenix AZ,
Puerto Vallarta MX, Waikiki HW and
Las Vegas NV.
Ted Horsey
Upon graduation in law in 1958, Ted
articled and worked for the law firm
Bull, Housser and Tupper until
retirement for the first time in 1993.
He then went to the BC School of
Horticulture at Kwantlen University
College for two years and upon
graduation taught there and wrote a
text book on landscape estimates and
contract administration used in
Canada and the USA. He retired for
the second time in 2004. He now
gardens and plays tennis.
Helen E. (McLean) Keys
Retired from Government of
Canada Foreign Service Trade
Commissioners Service. Interests
include: Community service work
with the local government, library,
and hospital boards; fabric arts
“stitching” including needlework,
quilting, fabric painting and decorating;
gardening; overseas travel—recently
to Europe, Turkey, Asia and Austria/
NZ. Family includes four children
and two stepdaughters, total eight
grandchildren, (ages eight to
twenty-one), all scattered across
Canada. Greatest pleasure is meeting
old UBC pals after decades of
separation, since returning to BC on
(early) retirement in 1988.
Dennis Lacey
Has been retired for thirteen years—
great life!! Organizations interested
in: Capilano Rugby F.C., Britannia
Heritage Shipyard, West Coast
Railway Assoc., Friends of Barkerville
Historical Society, BC Wildlife
Federation, Vancouver International
Film Centre and Theatre and Four
Wheel Drive Association of BC.
Merrill Leckie
Retired lawyer. Work part-time as
trade-mark agent. Sit as a Harbours
Commissioner for the Cowichan
Harbours Commission. Also
President of Cowichan Symphony
Society. Have four grandchildren.
Travel whenever we can.
Robert Lee
Still active on real estate projects that
I enjoy doing; just been appointed
on CN Railway Board also on
Crown Life and Wall Financial
Board; chairman at UBC Property
Trust doing market housing and
institutional building; have eight
grandchildren and attended the
Masters Golf Tournament.
Mel Lightbody
Retired in Victoria from the Ministry
of Health. Have two grandsons.
Active senior—square dancing, lawn
bowling, tennis, skiing, hiking, and
winter travel to California.
Stan Lind
Semi-retired; involve in commercial
real estate and have four grandchildren.
Angus MacLaren
I have been retired for ten years.
Still fly fishing, shooting videos and
editing it on the computer belonging
to the video club at West Vancouver
Senior Centre. We have seven grandchildren; one granddaughter and six
CLASS NOTES
grandsons. Spent two weeks in
Scotland last August—part of the
time with our oldest daughter, her
husband and two grandsons. Eleanor
and I are reasonably well for our age,
although Eleanor had back surgery in
February for a pinched nerve, but is
recovering well. Looking forward to
going back to Maui in November.
Gerry Manning
After 30 years with Canadian Pacific
Airlines (CP Air) and 15 months
with Canadian Airlines International,
I retired from the airline industry
having served as a Vice President for
18 years. I then formed Manning
and Associates and worked was a
consultant/contract employee in the
fields of employee benefits, pension
plan restructuring, career Counseling
and gave seminars in “How to Start
Your Own Business.” I have a very
satisfying career and Meredith and I
were fortunate to be able to travel in
depth to many places in this
fascinating world. During my career I
was very active in the airline, Human
Resources Federal and Provincial
government committees. I was a
Director of the Vancouver Board of
Trade for 8 years, member and
Chairman of the Travel Assurance
Board for 10 years and spent several
years as a volunteer with the Cerebral
Palsy Association. During my airline
days I also gave guest lectures for
UBC Faculty of Commerce.
We are now both fully retired and
spend the winters in Palm Desert.
Our major activity is hiking but
we also enjoy social golf. Our
Black Labrador dog goes with us
everywhere.
Jaromir (Jerry) Marik
How time flies! Half a century since
I graduated with my classmate Ed
Knight, with a B.Com and a diploma
in Hospital Administration—we were
then the only two in the H.A. option
at UBC.
After thirty-five years administrating hospitals, I retired in 1989 and
volunteered with my wife (RN),
with the USAID and IESC assisting
hospitals in several countries.
Needless to say there have been
many other activities including
enjoying our six grandchildren.
Since 1956 my only visit in
Vancouver was in 1996 and I was
amazed how the city and the UBC
campus had grown. Would like to
visit again but like to remember
the UBC and BC as they were fifty
years ago. Best wishes for the
50th reunion.
friends and family. Last year Palm
Springs called and I think we will
return again in February 2007.
Bob Peacock
I have been retired for ten years from
the Vancouver School Board but am
still a little active with current and
former colleagues. I have a wonderful
family of son, daughter, daughter-inlaw and grand daughter, but my wife
passed away three years ago. I am
learning new tricks and coping by
keeping busy, volunteering as a
tour guide, on-site and on-buses;
walking, fund raising and working
with the federal and provincial
elections which are getting too
complicated and frequent. So far,
I’m “finest kind.”
elected as councilor for the District
of North Cowichan in 1996,
currently serving 4th term. I am also
serving 2nd term as a director of the
Cowichan Valley Regional District
Board. Interests include: land and
planning (sustainability), First
Nations Relations, agricultural programs, the arts, grand daughters,
travel and golf. I married
Marie-Claire (Nee Jobez) in the
Netherlands in 1961. Enjoy
immensely three daughters, two
born in the Hague, one in Paris and
all in professional practice
(law/architecture, medicine and
business). Devoted to two equally
remarkable granddaughters and a
third grandchild en route.
Bob Sinclair
Ron Pearson
John T. McLeod
Retired since 1988. Sold the Dog
Food Company in Atlanta Georgia
and moved to Friday Harbour, San
Juan Island.
Bought a sail boat and cruised in
BWI, Mexico and Northwest. After a
power boat trip to Alaska, retired
from boating and bought a second
home in Whistler. Tried playing golf,
but do not play well.
I have six grandchildren—four in
Phoenix and two in Atlanta. I’m in
good health, happy and enjoying life
with my wife Jean.
Mostly retired—doing individual
assessments for children with learning
disabilities for a learning centre and
some private practice as a registered
psychologist. Spending time hiking,
skiing, sailing and a lot of walking
the beagles. The four years I spent in
business was more than enough.
Working with kids, particularly the
economically disadvantaged has
proved so much more rewarding
for the last 45 years.
Jerry Peterson
I have been retired for seven years
after twenty years with Dupont
Canada Ltd. in Quebec and Ontario
and twenty years with Viking Air
Ltd., in Victoria, B.C.
Retired as General Manager, Western
Canada, MacMillan Bloedel Building
Materials (1992). Volunteer as
management consultant to church
organizations and small businesses.
Have nine children (blended family),
five grandchildren, five great grandchildren. Travel to P.E.I. where spouse
was born and spend summers at the
cottage on Sproat Lake in Port Alberni.
Barney Morrow
George Seymour
Retired from BCIT 1992. Built our
home from logs overlooking the
beach near Rathtrevor Provincial
Park. We have eleven grand children
ranging from one year to twentythree years old. We travel around
Vancouver Island and into the
Interior in the spring and fall to visit
Following graduation, served two
years with the RCN as LT. (pilot).
Entered the Foreign Service in 1958.
Over thirty-five years served abroad,
mainly in South and South East Asia.
I retired in 1993 as High
Commissioner to Malaysia. Moved to
Vancouver Island in 1994, and was
Keith J. Middleton
Retired and enjoying life as a players’
assistant at Morgan Creek Golf
Course. Playing golf, racquetball, and
shuffleboard in Arizona every winter.
We have a granddaughter and grandson. We visited South Africa and
Namibia in January and are planning
a Greek Islands trip in October.
Gordon Thom
President Emeritus BCIT, retired in
1985 and then worked primarily in
outplacement consulting for several
years gradually slowing to a halt.
Now Helen (my wife) and I are
active with six grandchildren
especially in the summers at our
Bowen Island cottage but also
helping out weekly picking kids up
from school, watching soccer
matches or other sporting event, etc.
I have been very active in the
Probus Club Vancouver, a group of
three-hundred plus, mostly
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
27
CLASS NOTES
Vancouver retired or semi retired
professional and business men. I am
now completing my term as Past
President. Helen and I continue to
enjoy a game of bridge and I play
regularly with a Rotary group that
now includes several Probus members. I also enjoy the fellowship of
the Rotarian’s Investment Club even
though I retired from Rotary a few
years ago to become involved with
Probus. Helen and I enjoy traveling
and are returning to Europe this
month—this time it’s Italy.
This year as well as celebrating
fifty years since graduating from
UBC we also will celebrate fifty years
of marriage this October. Fortunately
my health has been good to me
although I feel a wee bit older and
seem to be able to forget many
things but not my age.
Rae Wigen
My wife passed away last December
after 50 happy years of marriage, the
last ten of which she spent in
extended care. I have become
involved with the care of several
other residents of the facility and
accordingly am reluctant to leave
Whitehorse. I have one step-son,
four grandchildren and six
great-grandchildren, all doing well.
During the 50 years since
graduation, I have had a successful
and happy life, and am especially
fortunate in still having excellent
health. I have been retired for many
years but still find that there are not
enough hours in the day for my
several projects, principal among
which is an extensive family history.
I have belonged to several volunteer organizations over the years and
currently provide support to women’s
shelters in Whitehorse and Vancouver.
I don’t care for travel so have
taken few trips, the most recent
being a 2003 visit to my surviving
cousins in Norway and long-postponed tour of the Mayan ruins in
Central America. I enjoy the
laid-back lifestyle of the Yukon and
live on 15 wooded acres outside
Whitehorse.
28
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
Calgary and Alberta Cancer
Foundation.
My wife and I have been married
for forty-seven years. We have three
children and five grandchildren. Our
travels have taken us to most of
Europe, New Zealand, several South
Pacific Islands, Russia, Morocco,
Spain, Mexico and several Caribbean
Islands. We enjoy travel and are
planning our next trips.
Bryan Williams
Married for forty-eight years and
have four children and five grandchildren. I enjoy skiing, golfing,
sailing and fishing. I am ninety
percent retired and serve on several
boards of directors, have a private
real estate holding company and am
associate counsel with my old firm
Miller Thomson. I practiced law from
1959-1996. Served as a judge on
Court of Appeal from 1996-97 and
Chief Justice of Supreme Court of BC
from 1997-2000. Recently traveled
to Hawaii, Czech Republic, Ireland
and Australia. Work as V.P. for
Bill Reid Foundation, partners in
Horn of Africa, Pacific Salmon
Endowment Fund.
Michael A.Williams
Recently retired as the chairman of
an oil and gas exploration and
development company. After
becoming a chartered accountant, I
spent forty plus years in the oil and
gas industry initially in accounting
and finance and since 1987 as
president and chairman of several
companies. Served on several boards
including University of Calgary,
United Way of Calgary and District,
Financial Executives Institute, Junior
Achievement, Anglican Diocese of
Donald W.H.Yerxa
Organizations: Masonic Order; Order
of Amaranth and Shriners. Have six
grandchildren and one great grandchild.
1970s
Robert Hole, BCom 1975
Since graduation in 1975 with major
in finance, Robert obtained his C.A.
designation in 1977 and articled
with Peat Marwick Mitchell. From
1982 to present, Robert has been the
General Manager of Haakon
Industries. In 1987, he was awarded
a Government of Canada Business
Award in entrepreneurship for the
turn-around of Haakon Industries. In
1997, Haakon Industries was a
finalist for the Top 50 Managed
Companies in Canada.
1980s
1960s
Correction: In our Spring 2006
edition of Viewpoints, we wrote that
Mr. David Norton, BCom 65 and LLB
69, was presently taking a business
course exclusively devoted to learning
how to operate an antiquated
accounting machine. Mr. Norton had
in fact written to us only about
reminiscing taking such a business
course 40 years ago. We apologize
for the error.
William (Bill) Garriock, BCom 1961
Currently a director of a number of
public and private companies
following 25 years as CEO of two
fast growing technology based
companies (Miles Canada and MDS
Sciex). Early career in Industrial
Engineering and in sales and
marketing. MBA from Northwestern
(Kellogg) and on-going learning
through YPO and Harvard. Learned
much from chairing two industry
associations. Have “produced” four
great kids and with their spouses and
seven grandchildren, we have
interesting family get togethers. Life
is good...helped by golf, gardening,
spending time at the cottage and
traveling.
Gordon Fox, BCom 1966
After some 45 years in the financial
services/banking business, I retired
at the end of 2005.
Joan Harrison, BCom 1980
I am continuing my HR Services
consulting practice, with a major
contract building HR capability
for Smythe Ratcliffe Chartered
Accountants. It’s been fun to be
back at UBC, now hiring accounting
students.
David Harvey, BCom 1980
After a 25-year absence David has
returned to UBC, this time as
Executive Director for the Association
of Administrative and Professional
Staff at the University. AAPS
negotiates a collective agreement and
represents its 2,200 management
and professional staff members in
grievances and other processes at the
university. Since graduation David
has worked in Human Resources
roles in health care, the provincial
government, post-secondary and
consulting and found the time to
collect his M.Ed. from SFU along the
way. He is active in the BC Human
Resources Management Association.
CLASS NOTES
In his private life, David is: the single
father of two teenage boys, a
recreational sailor, an avid reader and
has a passion for fitness which
normally supports his love of good
food. David can be reached via
e-mail at: [email protected]
Catherine Vertesi, MBA 1980
Many alumni will remember
Catherine as she began in 1980 as
a marketing instructor in UBC
Commerce and then assumed the
roles of director and later assistant
dean, first for undergraduates and
then the MBA and International
programs. Catherine initiated student
mobility programs through
exchanges, study abroad and
summer field schools overseas and
probably sent many of the Viewpoints
readers abroad. In 1993 she joined
the central administration at UBC
to focus on several campus wide
initiatives to broaden the impact of
internationalization. Frequently
invited to share her experience in
implementation strategies with
practitioner groups throughout the
world, Catherine has received awards
from Ottawa, Denmark, Thailand and
Hungary for her work. She served on
BC government advisory committees
and has had a number of leadership
positions in professional groups
focused on international education
activities.
In 2001, Catherine became Dean
of Business Programs at Capilano
College in North Vancouver and was
recently named Vice President
Education for Management and
International Programs. In her new
role at Capilano, Catherine has
exchange programs in place and a
field school for international
students with Canadian participants
and is interested in developing more
partnerships. Catherine is still
happily married to Les and has three
children who are all doing very well;
Janet in a PhD program at Cornell
University, Campbell, an opera singer
who is doing a Masters in
performance at the Cincinnati
Conservatory and David who has a
terrific band called Hey Ocean,
coming soon to a city near you!
Jane Newman, BCom 1982
Highlights: my son’s high school
graduation and organizing Deloitte’s
Impact Day where we landscaped and
planed lumber to put up buildings.
David Wong, MBA 1980
Been working as an oil trader since
1982 starting off with Exxon
Singapore and others including Apex
Oil, Marubeni, Marc Rich, Galaxy
Energy and Petronas. I would very
much like to get in touch with old
friends at UBC
Mary Burns, MBA 1983
I am now a university prof at UCFV
teaching business courses HRM,
OB, OT & Compensation/Benefits.
Had a 12-year career in career
transition consulting and executive
development for downtown Vancouver
consulting firm. Class of 82 will
remember my little girl—she is now
30, married & living in Seattle.
Dean Neumann, BCom 1982
Anne Murdock, BCom 1983
I have been practicing law since my
call to the bar in 1984. Presently I am
a sole practitioner specializing in Civil
Litigation disputes. I have recently
moved offices to Suite 2108 - 808
Nelson Street and enjoy my view of
English Bay as I contemplate the
resolution of my client’s concerns.
My family and I moved to sunny
White Rock approximately eight
years ago. My wife Julie, who is from
California, is busy teaching in
Richmond and we both enjoy
watching our children Ellis (12)
and Raquel (7) do all the things that
we used to do as children (and
then some).
and David Gagne (B.A.Sc 86 and
M.A. Sc 89) had their first child, a
daughter, on April 3, 2006. David
works for a startup hi-tech firm
called Teracidi Corporation and Anne
has been with Teck Cominco Limited
for 20 years and is enjoying a year
off with the little one.
Stephen Hindmarch, MBA 1983
Steve Hindmarch is Managing
Director, Private Equity for HSBC
Capital in New York. He lives with
his wife Monica and their three
children in Scarsdale, New York.
Lynn Kingham, BCom 1984
As well as working in the Human
Resources field, I have been pursuing
my artistic goals. In 2001 I started
painting in watercolours, and last
year I expanded to working in oils,
my current passion. My art celebrates
life—up-close, colourful, and bold. I
derive my inspiration in painting
animals, people, and places from
some of what I value in life; not only
in the subject matter but also in the
qualities of joy, playfulness, humour,
and individuality that are often
portrayed. I have exhibited my work
locally in Victoria galleries and in
shows across Canada. Further
examples of my art can be seen at
www.members.shaw.ca/lkingham.
Stephen Nekolaichuk, BCom 1984
I currently work from home just
outside Austin, Texas as an IBM
Certified Executive Project Manager
focused on Global Technology and
Tools initiatives.
I got down here 9 years ago with
my wife of 25 years and my 3 usedto-be-children (hard to call a 21 year
old, a 16 year old and a 14 year old
children now.)
Prior to accepting this position
with IBM, after finishing university I
worked for Woodward’s (yes, that
long ago), the Overwaitea Food
Group and ISM-BC. Along the way I
earned a Master’s Certificate in
Project Management from George
Washington University and a Project
Management Professional
designation (PMP) the Project
Management Institute (PMI).
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
29
CLASS NOTES
Jim Vavra, BCom 1984
I’ve been busy as an organizer in
Alberta for Michael Ignatieff’s
leadership bid for the Liberal Party of
Canada. I met Michael in Calgary last
year after inviting him to speak at a
Canadian Club of Calgary luncheon
and was very impressed with his
strong desire to make a contribution
to Canadian politics. I was also
drawn to him because of his life
long support of human rights issues,
a field in which he is recognized
around the world as an expert.
Interestingly, Michael accepted his
first teaching appointment at the
University of British Columbia after
receiving his PhD in history from
Harvard University in 1976.
David Brace, MBA 1985
Currently Executive Vice President
Business Development at Aur
Resources Inc., a mid-size copper
mining company based in Toronto.
Was President of Aur’s two copper
mines in Chile from 1995 to 2004
while living in Santiago, Chile. Lived
in Vancouver from 1982 to 1994
while working as Business
Development Manager for Canada
Tungsten Mining. Am married to
Louise (26 years) who I met at a ski
party in Whistler and have 3
children; we still have a condo at
Blackcomb.
Martin Ostensen, BCom 1985
After 14 years, I have left Powell
River, where I practiced law and
raised 3 children, to join Chomicki
Baril Mah LLP, in Edmonton, Alberta.
I will be carrying on an insurance
defense practice. My wife, Moira, is
resuming her graduate studies in
Piano Performance, at the University
of Alberta.
1990s
Derek Pettingale, BCom 1990
David Berlando, MBA 1987
Patrick Lim, BCom 1987
Married and living in Toronto.
Currently working at MDS Inc. as
VP – Finance Technology Excellence.
Randy Helten, BCom 1988
I spent 11 years in Japan after UBC,
working in consulting, radio,
environmental movement, etc. Now
based in this great city of Vancouver
as a freelance translator.
Anjili Bahadoorsingh, BCom 1990
Anjili Bahadoorsingh (BCom 1990;
LLB 1994) and Gary Khan (BSc
1984) are delighted to announce the
birth of their second daughter, Ariya
Mila, on January 8, 2006—a sister
for Anikha Janna!
Mark Brown, BCom 1990
I am president of Pacific Opportunity
Capital Ltd., have 2 sons aged 2 and
4 and managed to complete the UBC
Triathlon in March, 2006!
Tom Freeman, BCom 1988
Jacki Hoffman-Zehner, BCom 1988
Congrats to the faculty on its 50th
Anniversary. I am forever grateful to
the commerce faculty and the portfolio management program for their
role in helping me to land a position
on Wall Street 18 years ago. A
wonderful first career, a great
husband and two children later, I am
back at UBC serving on the Board of
Governors. What an honor it is to
now to give my time and energy to
this magnificent institution.
Shaun Tanassee, MBA 1990
As I acknowledge getting older,
health and the business of health is
on my mind. Mangosteen and
goji berries were not on my
shopping list two years ago and
now my family takes them daily.
Spreading the word about the health
benefits of these and other beneficial
foods is taking up more and more of
my time.
Raymond To, MBA 1990
Raymond was recognized by Business
in Vancouver (www.biv.com) as one
of the Top 40 achievers under the age
of 40 in 2005.
Entering my eighteenth year with
Ministry of Transportation in the
Southern Interior Region. Working to
advance the provincial transportation
system as the Manager of Project
Development and Programming
based in Kamloops.
Recently engaged to Carrie Stiles
with wedding to be announced.
Having a lot of fun!
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
Assumed position as Director of
Marketing and Product Manager,
Power Systems Business Unit at
Teleflex Canada.
Working in South Africa and
Namibia as a consultant to De Beers
Group of Companies
Albert Tan, BCom 1989
30
analyzes and reports on factors
influencing petroleum prices in the
state. It’s a busy time to say the least.
Lastly, I would like to wish all the
best to fellow graduates of the
1990—4 and 5 year Commerce
Programs. I was fortunate to be in
the 5-year program and enjoyed an
extra year on campus. I have fond
memories of my time at UBC.
Eric Cheung, MBA 1991
Michael Nyberg, BCom 1990
Being the proud Dad of 2 young
boys, it is sometimes difficult to
recall what the family did yesterday,
let alone over the past year! The
biggest news this year for us was my
wife and I both qualifying for and
running in the 2006 Boston
Marathon. It was a great achievement.
My career in Sacramento at the
California Energy Commission has
been very interesting with the
development of record high gasoline
prices in both the state as well as the
nation. I am part of a team that
I am now the CFO of Henkel China
based in Shanghai. Henkel is a
global Fortune 500 company with
headquarters in Dusseldorf, Germany.
It makes cosmetics, detergents,
adhesives and various products for
industrial use. Before joining Henkel
in 2004, I worked in Procter &
Gamble China for 9 years. Apart
from work, I like playing golf,
swimming, reading and travelling.
I still go to Vancouver twice a year
to visit my parents.
Jason Choo, BCom 1991
This year has been extremely
exciting on both professional and
personal fronts. I am in my fifth year
with Microsoft Canada, with a focus
this year on the national sales of
CLASS NOTES
Microsoft CRM. It has been a
pleasure to be responsible for a highgrowth product and I enjoy working
with our partners to drive our
mutual success.
In December, I married Linda Yee,
who is also a UBC graduate. While
we are enjoying our lives in Toronto,
we look forward to our regular trips
to Vancouver. Hopefully, we will have
the opportunity to move back in the
coming years!
Paul Cormier, BCom 1991 &
MBA 1992
Paul took up a new position on May
1 as Outsourcing Client Services
Manager, Strategic Partnerships at
BC Hydro. He is responsible for
relationship management, issue
resolution, performance metrics,
benchmarking and internal
governance of one of the largest
outsourcing agreements in Canada.
He continues to live in Vancouver
with his wife Fiona.
Eddy Ng, BCom 1994
I recently accepted a position at
California State Polytechnic University,
Pomona and will be relocating to
Southern California this summer. I
received my PhD from McMaster
University and have been on faculty at
Trent University since 2004.
Joseph Pribaz, BCom 1992
We have recently returned from a
wonderful trip to Disneyworld
Florida where our three children
ages 3, 7 and 9 had a “Magical”
time. I continue to work with CIBC
Financial Planning as a Financial
Advisor while my wife Louise spends
quality time at home with our
youngest son Benjamin.
Steven Chan, MBA 1994
Moved to the US in 1998, where I’m
now a director with Oracle Corp.
Old friends are welcome to visit me
at blogs.oracle.com/schan.
Tomo Adachi, MBA 1993
Wallace Chan, BCom 1994
I spent the first eight years as audit
manager in PricewaterhouseCoopers
(obtained CA in 1997) and moved
onto the Federal Government. I am
currently a senior policy analyst at
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
I am currently taking a Master of
Economics Program at University Of
Hong Kong and am also working for
an economic think tank, Lion Rock
Institute, as an Associate Scholar.
Chris Browne, BCom 1993
Chris has been a Partner with White
Kennedy Chartered Accountants in
Penticton since 1999. He and his
wife Jana have a two year old son,
Connor, and are expecting their
second child this fall.
Steven Flostrand, BCom 1993
Happily living in France and
enjoying the good life here.
Greetings to all my UBC friends!
Hsin-Li Sherry Yuan Hunter,
Brian Mauch, BCom 1993
BCom 1992
Personal: Last year, I got married on
the hottest day of the year; Bill and I
are very much enjoying our first year
of marriage. Work: My new job
focusing on the internationalization
of the MBA Program at the Rotman
School of Management at U of T is
exciting and challenging! Invitation:
We welcome friends to come visit us
in Toronto.
Brian Mauch owns a Vancouver based
technology support business that
caters to small- and mid-sized law
firms. He and his wife, Christine
Coleman, have a two-year-old son
Trevor, and a newborn daughter,
Laura.
Linda Stenberg, BCom 1994
After eight years in Tokyo, where I
last worked as a managing director
for Bear Stearns as their Regional
Financial Controller for Asia, my husband Andrew and I took the occasion
of the birth of our daughter, Liv, in
August 2005 to return to Canada.
My email address is [email protected].
Rahim Dadani, BCom 1994
2006 will prove to be one of the
most exciting years in my life—
getting married and taking on a
new role with an award winning
Company! In May of 2006 I became
the Vice President of Branch
Operations for the White Paper
Company, a paper distribution
company that has been recognized
consistently as one of Canada’s Top
50 privately managed companies.
Also, in July of 2006, I will be
marrying Sheheen Mithani (BSc.
UBC 1996) who is a Naturopathic
Doctor at Bloom Family Wellness in
North Vancouver. So far, it’s been an
outstanding year!
Richard Wong, BCom 1994
My wife, Chinnie, and I welcomed
the arrival of our daughter, Caitlyn
Rebecca, into our family on April
10th, 2006. Her 2-1/2 year old
brother, Caleb, was truly excited and
always wants to help. We now live in
Oakville, Ontario. I work as a portfolio
manager and partner at an investment
management company.
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
31
CLASS NOTES
Judy Wang, BCom 1997
Personally, life has been fun and
good to me. Professionally, I earned
my CGA designation in 2002 and
am currently the CFO at Vancouver
Fire & Security, located in
Richmond, BC. As I haven’t kept
in touch with any UBC alumni
friends, I would love to hear from
anyone!!!
Chris Bing Kin Wan, BCom 1995
Bravo! Happy 50th anniversary of the
Sauder School of Business! I am now
working in my father’s company
named Hong Kong Universal
Jewellery Ltd and involved in the
jewellery wholesale and export
business. To meet the global clients
and attend the international trade
shows, I need to have frequent
overseas trips all around the world
including the Middle East, Italy, the
UK, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, Japan,
S. Korea, Australia, the US and so on.
My ex-classmates and friends, please
feel free to drop me an email at
[email protected] to update
your current status. Cheers!!
Jan Masek, BCom 1995
After coming back to Germany last
year, Susanne and I bought our first
house in Königstein. I am still an
M&A banker with JPMorgan; this
year I focus on business development
in Switzerland, my original home
country. Every now and then I
terribly miss Vancouver! Greetings to
all 1995 Grads!
Josh Bender, BCom 1997
My career is going well, as I’m
entering my 6th year as Manager,
Customer Accounts for Orca Bay and
the Vancouver Canucks, helping fill
the building for all Canucks home
games. Despite missing the playoffs,
we are still looking good for selling
out every game for the upcoming
‘06-’07 season. I’m still enjoying
living and working in Yaletown.
On a side note, I have started a
small business built on the knowledge I gained as POITS manager for
three years—Vancouver Martini Tours
(vancouvermartini.com)! I guide
people around town to find the best
quality martinis and best places that
serve them. A step up from the cheap
$1.75 POITS pints we used to serve,
but just as fun...
Kevin Purkiss, MBA 1997
Engaged to Narinder Singh Jottey on
August 1, 2005 and married on July
29, 2006.
32
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
Kevin and Sheila Purkiss are pleased
to announce the birth of their
second child, Theodore William
Purkiss, born November 18, 2005.
Ryan Goldvine (Goldsmith),
BCom 1998
Married on May 21st, my last name
changed to Goldvine (an amalgamation of my last name and Sara’s). We
met at UBC, but in Political Science
on the way to my B.A. (‘02) and are
now living in Victoria where I’ll be
entering my third year of Law school
at UVic in September. (Maybe I’ll
eventually start working somewhere
down the line)
Rounding out our family is
Scubee, a pit-bull/black lab/
wienerdog cross, more affectionately
referred to as a wienerblab.
Melissa Barton, BCom 1998
This past year has brought me a
move to a new job in a new city
(Ottawa!). I’m currently leading a
national coalition to improve the
quality of work life for Canadian
healthcare providers. I am still
learning lots and having fun—
especially when those rare but
precious opportunities happen for
get together with UBC MBA friends
all over the world.
Michelle (Moy) Custodio and
Jaime Mah, BCom 1998
Geordon Nasadyk, BCom 1997
Unmarried . . . Unemployed . . .
Unconcerned!
Raman Kaur Aujla, BCom 1996
Irene Yung, BCom 1997
After spending 8 years at Royal
LePage Commercial Inc. (now
Cushman & Wakefield LePage), I left
to be a part of a new start up firm
RGD Commercial Realty Advisors.
Been married for almost 2 years
and expecting our first child in
September.
great people. To the Class of ‘98,
hope you’re all well—drop us a line
at [email protected]—we’d
love to hear what you’ve been up to.
After backpacking through the cities
of Europe in the summer of ‘98, we
spent several years in the marketing
industry. In 2003, we finally started
our own business—Mitchell James, a
marketing research, strategy and
planning company. This is something
we joked about in school but has
since become a reality. Mitchell
James just celebrated its 3rd
anniversary in March and we’ve been
fortunate to work with organizations
including UBC, Ballard Power
Systems, BC Lottery Corporation,
The City of Richmond as well as a
number of new ventures and local
entrepreneurs.
We are having a great time,
love what we do and have had
the opportunity to work with some
Bonnie Chan, BCom 1999
After spending a few years in
Toronto, I finally decided to go back
to school for my MBA in September
2005. My first year here at The
Wharton School in Philadelphia has
flown by and for the summer, I
will be returning once more to
investment banking—this time with
Morgan Stanley in New York.
Although I’ve thoroughly enjoyed
my experience here in Philadelphia, I
still miss all of my friends (and the
food) back in beautiful Vancouver.
There’s no place like home!
Jason Jen Way Cheng, BCom 1999
I’ve obtained my M.C.S.E 2001 and
became a support manager since
2003 for an International
Corporation called TileNet with
offices in Europe and Asia and over
2000 information technologists.
CLASS NOTES
Kong Tourism, I have been focusing
in marketing project management
for enhancing the service quality of
retailing and catering sectors in
Hong Kong till now.
Deisy Law, BCom 1999
After being married on Dec 23rd last
year, I followed my husband to come
to Shanghai (we both got transferred
to work in Shanghai, different
company though). It was a whole
new experience—marriage and
relocation. Have to get used to
sharing a bed with another person,
leave aside the snoring sound at
night, and also cultural shock we
have had in Shanghai (everything is
cool now...we passed through the
shocking stage). Never thought that
there will be cultural shock for the
same nation, for we are both Chinese.
We are trying to enjoy our stay
here for the coming 2 years. Been
to several places within China, we
enjoyed the scene and history of
China very much. The 1 week Labor
Day celebration we just had in China
gave us the leisure of returning
home to Kuala Lumpur for 10 days.
We treasure every minute we spent
in our homeland, and eat till we
drop. I gained 1 kg after the trip.
Our next mission is to complete
the assignment in China, and hope
for the next relocation to other part
of the world. Could we be back to
the States or to Canada? Let’s keep up
the spirit.
Haydee Lim-Go, BCom 1999
After UBC graduation, I worked for
Citibank (Philippines) as an investment
consultant for 3.5 years.Then, I pursued
graduate studies, earning an MBA
from Wharton in 2005. I returned to
Manila and am now working for
Monitor Group, a management
consulting firm based in Massachusetts.
On the personal front, I got
married last December to Johann Go,
whom I met in b-school. We plan to
start a family soon.
2000s
Kari Bird, BCom 2000
Following graduation, I started to
work in Client Development at a
private oil & gas services company in
my hometown of Calgary. My
husband of three years, Richard, and
I proudly welcomed a son, Isaac, in
November 2004. I’ve been enjoying
part-time work and full-time
mommy hood ever since!
Carol Wing-Kwan Lee, BCom 2000
Time flies and it’s been 6 years!
Starting off as an Advertising Account
Executive in Hong Kong since my
Y2K graduation, I moved on to the
event marketing field as a Marketing
and Event Specialist at the Hong
Kong Productivity Council for 3
years. Meanwhile, I’ve been pursuing
further study by part-time at the
Chinese University of Hong Kong for
the Master of Science in Marketing
Degree and completed in 2003. In
2004, being granted a new career
opportunity contributing to Hong
INFORMS every year. I also really
miss the PMF friends.
Irfhan Rawji, BCom 2000
Irfhan was recently invited to join
the Toronto-based private equity firm
Birch Hill Equity Partners in the role
of Vice President.
Chris Pan-Chi Lee, BCom 2000
Since leaving UBC I’ve mostly been
working towards my graduate
degrees. This summer, I’ll graduate
from Stanford University with my
PhD in engineering. More importantly,
Ann and I will finally have our
wedding in July in beautiful
California Wine Country. Drop me a
note ([email protected])
if you can make it!
After the wedding I’m
immediately heading off to the East
Coast, where I’ll become a junior
professor at The Wharton School. I
was very fortunate to be offered a
position at this prestigious
institution and will be teaching MBA
courses in operations and
information management as well as
continuing my research projects,
many of which are sponsored by the
National Institute of Health.
Deciding to become a professor was
not easy. I’m leaving behind a Silicon
Valley technology start-up where I
had served as the VP of Quantitative
Analytics since last autumn. But in
the end, I decided that the position
at Wharton would be much more
fulfilling and challenging and is an
opportunity that I just couldn’t
pass up.
I haven’t been in Canada for any
extended period of time since my
brief stint at CIBC World Markets in
the summer of 2001. But I do enjoy
running into Sauder faculty at
Cindy Chung and Olaf Rieck,
PhD 2001
Cindy Chung (PhD 2001) and Olaf
Rieck (PhD 2001) together with
their 21-month old son Esko are
happy to welcome the new addition
to their family, baby girl Siana (born
March 27, 2006).
Felix Gelt, BCom 2001
Lots of changes the past 2 years on
the work front. I left Grant Thornton
Consulting after 3 years to join
BearingPoint Consulting. After 1
year I then decided to test the
entrepreneurial world, so I started up
my own consulting firm.
The best part of the past year was
spending 2 months traveling with 2
old friends through Greece, Turkey,
Jordan, Egypt, and Israel. It was the
best time of my life and I highly
recommended this itinerary to all!
Hope everyone is doing well. Feel
free to drop me a line at
[email protected] if you are in
Toronto or to touch base. All the best!
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
33
CLASS NOTES
Project Finance and Securities
practice groups. My contact
information is now
[email protected].
Helen Goodland, MBA 2001
Highlights: Opening Vancouver’s
Sustainable Building Centre
on Granville Island
www.sustainablebuildingcentre.com
Hakan Telenius, MBA 2001
Since graduation, I have worked (and
will continue to work) with venture
capital, business development, and a
taste of municipal politics.
Matthew Cochrane, BCom 2002
The highlight of my year was graduating and getting into the work force
to make some money!
marketing division. And even being
there for such a short time, I can
honestly say that it is an awesome
place to be! Not only is everybody
helpful, friendly, and resourceful, but
they seem to all carry around a big
Vancity-smile.You feel their
attachment to the company, and we
have every reason to be. The
company offers great learning and
development programs to help you
set your career goals. We had our
Career Exploration Day in late
April—2 days of “career fair” style
event with department booths,
workshops, etc. My work is as
challenging and fun as is being
around the people I work with. I am
responsible for managing the
investments product line; everything
from pricing, promotions, meeting
volume objectives, all while working
with many different department
groups. This is definitely a good
continuation to a next level in
my career!
state of the art bottling plant here in
Vancouver. We received all the
necessary health approvals to start
production in February of 2006 and
have been ramping up production
since then. The picture I have
included is of one of our delivery
trucks. I must say the learning curve
and the experience that I have gained
to date are incredible and would not
have been possible without the
education I received at the Sauder
School of Business.
in memoriam
Jennifer Steele, BCom 2002
Felix Le Corre, MBA 2001
After meeting during the MBA in
1999, June Stride and Felix Le Corre
welcomed their first child, Christine,
born in December of 2005. It is yet
unclear if this is the first 100% UBC
MBA offspring ever (apparently we
are eligible for a birth certificate
from the ACME Academy signed by
Dr. Muzyka and Rev. Alisharan). Both
parents are very proud. June is on
maternity leave after 4 years in
market research in Hong Kong,
while Felix transferred to ABN
AMRO’s London office to join their
global chemical M&A team.
Jennifer Poon, BCom 2001
Since I graduated from UBC
Commerce 5 years ago, I have
worked and studied in Vienna
(Austria), Hamburg (Germany),
and Hong Kong. In April 2005, I
completed my Juris Doctor degree
from the University of Toronto. Last
September (2005), I moved to New
York City where I now work as an
attorney for an international
corporate law firm in their
34
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
I’ve just finished my fourth year at
the University of Texas in Austin and
am almost finished my PhD in
Economics. I spent last summer in
DC as an intern at the International
Monetary Fund and had the
opportunity to meet other PhD
students from all over the world.
Although DC and Austin are both
great cities, I am always looking
forward to my next trip home
(Vancouver).
Ada Ho, BCom 2003
After spending 3 years 3 months
working at Pivotal as a Marketing
Programs Coordinator, I finally had
the courage to step outside my
comfort zone to search for more
opportunities elsewhere. I was
fortunate enough to find an opening
position at one of the best
companies to work for—Vancity! I
had already heard great things about
them, and so that definitely boosted
my curiosity to find out what made
them so famous. I’ve been there for
nearly 2 months now as a Product
Specialist for Investments in their
Amarjit Mann, MBA 2003
We have a new member added to
our family—baby girl born in
February. This is in addition to our
baby boy born in January 2004. On
the work front, I am still plugging
away in mail-order and retail
pharmacy along with classmates
Al Wong and Navtej Bains.
Shafik Haji, BCom 2005
After graduation in May 2005 from
Commerce, I decided I wanted to
make Vancouver my home and
started my own business here. The
business I chose was a product
everyone is familiar with, water.
Therefore, I raised the money
through several chartered banks and
recently finished construction of a
Michael Edward Ainsworth
March 23, 1948 – May 24, 2006
BCom 1971
It is with the deepest sadness that
the family of Michael Ainsworth
announces Michael’s sudden passing
at the age of 58 at his home in
Penticton, BC. Michael is survived by
his loving wife, Ellie; daughter Janice
Rodgers (Charles); grandchildren
Alexandra and John; sister Anita
McCaw (Bill), niece Lisa (Ralph);
nephews Eric (Morgan), Andrew
(Jamie), Mark, and David.
Michael was well loved for his
generous spirit and compassion,
both personally and professionally. As
Senior Vice President and General
Manager of Manulife Financial’s Real
Estate Division, Michael was a consummate, highly respected leader.
After a distinguished and successful
career, Michael had recently
announced his plans for retirement.
A celebration of Michael’s life was
held in both Toronto and Vancouver
where friends, family and colleagues
were able to share our wonderful
CLASS NOTES
memories of Michael. He centered
himself around his family, and was
our true touchstone. Michael will be
sadly missed.
If desired, donations in Michael’s
name will be gratefully accepted by:
The Performing Arts Recognition Fund
The John Moffat & Larry Lillo Award
c/o The Vancouver Foundation
1200 – 555 West Hastings Street
Box 12132 Harbour Centre,
Vancouver, BC V6B 4N6 or online
www.vancouverfoundation.bc.ca
or to the charitable organization of
your choice.
Douglas Holden
April 22, 1933 – May 3, 2006
BCom 1956
It is with great sadness that the
family of Douglas Holden wishes to
announce the passing of their
husband and father. Doug is survived
by Mavis, his loving wife of 44 years,
and five children. The memorial
service was held in Powell River at
tubberfield Funeral Home, 7221
Duncan, on Saturday, May 6 2006
at 2:00 p.m.
Robert Lyle Peacock “Bob”
December 31, 1932 – June 15, 2006
BCom 1956
Robert was born on December 31,
1932 in Vancouver to James and
Esther. He passed away unexpectedly
and peacefully in the early morning
of Thursday, June 15, 2006,
surrounded by his family.
Predeceased by his loving wife
Donna (nee Mulligan), Bob will be
deeply missed by his devoted family,
daughter Sheila, son David, daughterin-law Nobue and granddaughter
Sonia. Bob was close to his twin
brother Sid, sister-in-law Marie,
sister-in-law Doris, brother-in-law
Dave, sister-in-law Mary Ann and
many nieces, nephews, family and
friends; he was the most loving,
generous, thoughtful and supportive
man. He was a life-long teacher, as
well as student. After graduating
from Lord Byng High School, he
studied Forestry, Commerce and
Education at UBC. Bob chose
teaching as a career, touching
thousands of students and colleagues
in Vancouver as a classroom teacher,
as a counsellor and as the Business
Education Coordinator for the
Vancouver School Board. After
retiring, he continued to work as a
sought-after volunteer for many
organizations including the Retired
Teachers Association, the Vancouver
Heritage Foundation, the BC Tour
Guides Association and more. He
loved the city and could tell the best
stories about Vancouver’s history,
neighbourhoods and characters.
Bob worked hard as the Assistant
Returning Officer for Vancouver
Quadra for both the provincial and
federal elections. He was happy
making many plans when we suddenly lost him. The family wishes to
thank everyone for their support. In
lieu of flowers, donations to the
Camp Byng Development Fund,
c/o Scouts Canada, 664 West
Broadway, Vancouver, BC
V5Z 1G1, would be appreciated.
Dad was active in Scouting and
he was proud of all the work that
Mom did to preserve Camp Byng.
A service to celebrate Bob’s life was
held on Monday, June 26 at 2:00
pm, at St. Phillip’s Anglican Church,
3737 West 27th Avenue in
Vancouver.
sadness. Predeceased by his parents,
Ron and Vera and his sister Penny,
Graeme leaves to mourn him: his
wife Betty, his two beautiful
children, Shannon and David, and
the many friends and associates he
gained over the course of a lifetime
of diverse accomplishments.
Graeme was a successful and hard
working executive with a strong
sense of community service that
found expression in many different
areas. He played a powerful role in
reshaping Vancouver through major
projects that included the
redevelopment of Coal Harbour, the
development of the Waterfront
Centre complex and the
advancement of the Vancouver
Convention & Exhibition Centre
expansion. However, his business
leadership roles were no less varied,
ranging from Chair of the Vancouver
Board of Trade and Tourism
Vancouver to Director of the
Downtown Vancouver Association
and member of the UBC Advisory
Boards for the Sauder School of
Business and Centre for Urban
Economics and Real Estate. Still, he
found time to make major
contributions to many community
organizations, as Chair of the St.
Vincent’s Hospital Foundation, Vice
Chair of the Queen Elizabeth theatre
Capital Campaign and the C.H.I.L.D.
Foundation and Director of the
Vancouver Civic Theatres Board, the
Arts Club Theatre and the Canadian
Club of Vancouver. For all these
varied accomplishments he was
named “Business Leader of the Year”
by the Vancouver Junior Board of
Trade and awarded the Queen’s
Golden Jubilee medal.
To his family he was a very loving
and much adored husband, father
and best friend, who lent them all
his strength, support and counsel
and was immensely proud of his
children’s accomplishments. Most
importantly, he dispensed the hugs
whenever they were needed. His
family will miss them, and him,
always. A service was held at St.
Mary’s Anglican Church, 2490 West
37th Avenue at Larch Street in
Vancouver on Tuesday, April 18 at
2:00 PM. A reception was followed
at 4:00 PM in the Pacific Ballroom,
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made to
Graeme’s favorite charities, the St.
Vincent’s and C.H.I.L.D. Foundations.
YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS
Tell us what you think of
this issue of Viewpoints.
Go to www.sauder.ubc.ca
to complete our reader survey.
Contact Us
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Become a Sauder School of Business alumni contact
Be a contact for Sauder School of Business and fellow alumni in
your city, country or region. Help counsel prospective students,
advise new graduates, welcome summer interns and arrange
alumni events. To volunteer, contact us today!
Graeme Andrew George Stamp
February 22, 1944 – April 8, 2006
DULE 1974, Sauder School of Business
Faculty Advisory Board member.
The family of Graeme Stamp
announced the unexpected passing
their loving husband, caring father
and wonderful friend with great
We can be reached at:
tel: 604-822-6801
fax: 604-822-0592
e-mail: [email protected]
We always appreciate your feedback on events and
programs in support of alumni activities.
SUMMER/FALL 2006 VIEWPOINTS
35
POINTS OF VIEW
There’s no place
like home
As the old saying goes, “there’s no place like home.” After ten
years as dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at UBC, I am
delighted to be back at the Sauder School of Business, which
has been my academic home for over thirty years.
I ARRIVED AT UBC IN 1975, SHORTLY AFTER
have a new opportunity to give back to the
a faculty, as we reflect on our past and look
receiving my interdisciplinary PhD in
school that has given me so much in the
to the future, we find that it has never
Business Administration, Mathematics, and
past thirty years.
been more crucial for us to renew and
strengthen our connection with our
Computer Science from the University of
In my new role, I oversee Alumni
Texas at Austin. I was deeply committed
Relations, Development, and International
alumni. We aim to enhance and revitalize
to my research and enthusiastic about
Relations. At the heart of this multi-faceted
our relationship with you. We want to stay
teaching and sharing my passion with
portfolio is the notion of community—our
in touch with you, and hear your stories.
students. I was also actively involved in the
tightly knit community of students, alumni,
Let us hear from you.Your achievements
school’s activities: I represented the school
faculty and staff members, and the inter-
inspire and enlighten us, and our students
on numerous university committees, and
play between academia and the larger
are emboldened by your success.
I was one of the members of the team that
community. In my years with Graduate
worked to restructure our MBA program
Studies, I learned much about the
on our trips and at upcoming celebrations.
and integrate progressive learning models
university and its unique role in the
I hope to work with you all, and our team
that focus on group learning and a
community, and I have gained a profound
in the Sauder School of Business, to ensure
dynamic exchange of ideas.
appreciation of the intricate and vital
that the school remains, as it has been for
relationship between academia and the
me in the past thirty years, a home away
Graduate Studies, I did so with mixed
business community. I am now bringing
from home for generations of students and
feelings—while excited about the
this understanding back to Sauder, and I
alumni. In the words of the German writer
opportunities ahead, I was also mindful of
am very excited about having the
Hermann Hesse, “wherever friendly paths
safeguarding my close connection to the
opportunity to continue to build on the
intersect the whole world looks like home
Sauder School. Throughout my ten years as
school’s relationship with all of you, our
for a time.” ■
Dean of Graduate Studies, I remained
alumni and friends at home and overseas,
committed to the school. When Dean
and working to enrich these relationships
Muzyka offered me the role of Senior
for the benefit of our students and the
Associate Dean for Strategic Development
community we serve.
When I joined the Faculty of
I am looking forward to meeting you
Frieda Granot
SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN AND SAUDER PROFESSOR,
and External Relations, I was delighted to
36
VIEWPOINTS SUMMER/FALL 2006
In this the 50th year of our existence as
OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS DIVISION
LOG ON. SEARCH. RECONNECT.
Sauder online community
Looking for your old classmates? Want a permanent Sauder alumni forwarding email address? Relocating? Need local advice
in a new city? Interested in becoming an online mentor? Make new connections and renew old ties through the Sauder
online community. www.sauder.ubc.ca/alumni
T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A