Chief Jim Chu - Sauder School of Business
Transcription
Chief Jim Chu - Sauder School of Business
SPRING/SUMMER 2008 • VOLUME 28 • NO 2 A magazine for alumni and friends of the Sauder School of Business at UBC Chief Jim Chu business of police work and the BIV’s Top Forty Under 40: The Sauder Six for 2008 And... PMA 40063721 Jake Wetzel rows for gold in Beijing THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA SPRING/SUMMER 2008 • VOLUME 28 • NO 2 Cover Story 10 30 Police chief Jim Chu helps keep the peace with good business sense. Kevin Rush and Bruno Vander Cruyssen launch London alumni group. London calling MBAs at the VPD Features 31 18 Student Corner Watch for Olympic rower Jake Wetzel (MSc candidate) in coverage of the Beijing 2008 Summer Games. Six degrees of separation Meet the six well-connected Sauder alumni named to the Business in Vancouver 2007 Forty under 40 list. 8 School News 4 Newsworthy Our experts weigh in on mortgage rates, Facebook and consumer profiling. Beyond Pink! Young Women in Business Network launched. 6 Actuals Net Impact career fair attracts top employers and Pollay Prize lecture reveals why we pick French fries over salad. 34 16 A first in Canada New Early Career Masters program offers unique edge. Class Notes Bob Harwood (BCom 45) puts words to his memories and we say goodbye to Eric Lavarack (MBA 81), Robert Miller (MBA 88) and Professor Emeritus Vance Mitchell. 28 Insider Information Faculty and research updates. Bits & Pieces People 27 2 Viewpoints from the Dean 3 Sauder Index 32 Earning Interest 2008 is the Year of the Rat, and much more! Supporting the school Vancouver law firm shares class action settlement with Sauder. 40 Points of View Senior Associate Dean Frieda Granot encourages alumni to join the dialogue. COVER PHOTO BY PERRY ZAVITZ SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 1 Viewpoints FROM THE DEAN MARK MUSHET There is nothing quite like the end of the school year. For most of us, that feeling of completion (and of summer ahead) roots nostalgically as far back as kindergarten. Around here, the energy palpably increases, especially for those who are completing a cycle of learning. This year’s Class of 2008 Sauder graduates probably share many of the hopes and fears you had at the time: what is the perfect job and how do I find it; how quickly can I pay off these student loans; and how can I make a difference? 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 THERE IS ANOTHER, RISING ATTITUDE AMONG grads these days, however. It’s the notion that none of us is apart from our community, but in fact are a part of our community. Sounds simple, but it’s driving more and more students and alumni to harness the management skills they’ve earned here, and pursue different paths than they otherwise might have. They’ve recognized that the principles of management apply to business, certainly, but also to the not-for-profit and volunteer sectors; and in pursuits from politics to policing. At Sauder, we have a long tradition of teaching business in its context and management for all applications. Jim Chu, our cover story, is an excellent example of someone whose leadership and management as Chief of the Vancouver Police Department takes into account broader societal issues every day. Turn to page 10 for insight into his experience. For further evidence that management is practiced in all domains and made stronger by connections, check out the alumni named to this year’s Business in Vancouver 2007 “Top Forty under 40” list: Six Degrees of Sauder (page 18). With less than two decades of career experience behind them, these five men and one woman are inspiring in their work, and their play. And, it doesn’t take Facebook to find overlapping interests, either; two love Tojo’s (who doesn’t?), two are guitar heroes (in their own minds) and two crunch the numbers. Interestingly, all are avid runners. 2 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 We are excited by several new programs launched this spring: the new Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), led by our own James Tansey; and an Early Career Masters program targeting graduates from non-business programs. In April, 35 students were the first in Canada to begin an Executive MBA in Healthcare, our investment in the health of our healthcare system. (Watch our fall issue of Viewpoints for more on sustainable business practices, and the work of the CSI.) As for our physical developments, the massive equipment I see and hear daily from my office is evidence that Phase One is underway in the construction of new facilities to replace the outdated ones we all get by in now. We’re looking forward with enthusiasm to the equity-raising phase of our next chapter in the building campaign, and to getting closer to our commitment to bring new learning technologies to increase our global connectivity. After all, that’s what good management is about; building on the connections and strengths of people, communities, governments and economies—around the world. And that’s what our alumni, both brand new and longtime, are about, too. ■ Jennifer Wah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR DESIGN Brandon Brind CREATIVE DIRECTOR Pierre Romano GRAPHIC DESIGNER Leanne Romak 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 regularly for alumni and friends of the Sauder School of Business. Email: [email protected] For an online version of Viewpoints, visit www.sauder.ubc.ca CHANGE OF ADDRESS Send change of address to Alumni Relations Office, Fax: 604-822-0592 or email to [email protected] ©Copyright 2008, 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 CONTRIBUTORS Sue Bugos, Cristina Calboreanu, Rob McMahon, Derek Moscato, Jennifer Wah, Leanna Yip PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063721 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO ALUMNI RELATIONS, SAUDER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Daniel F. Muzyka, Dean RBC FINANCIAL GROUP PROFESSOR OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP 800 ROBSON STREET, VANCOUVER, BC V6Z 3B7 The Sauder Index BY ROB MCMAHON Date Louis XIV created the first modern-style police force in Paris: March 15, 1667 Date Sir Robert Peel founded the London Metropolitan Police: September 29, 1829 Minimum height requirement to become a “Bobbie:” 6 feet Weekly wage: 1 pound per week Date Vancouver’s first police officer, John Stewart, appointed: May 10, 1886 Size of force, who wore badges made from American coins: 4 Size now: 1,214 Year Jim Chu graduated from Sauder with an MBA: 1989 Year he developed the VPD’s first website: 1996 Number of years on board of Richmond Public Library: 8 Size of Chinese-Canadian population in Canada in 2006: 1,346,510 Percentage of Chinese-Canadian residents who call Vancouver home: 33 Number of CFL records held by Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Norman Kwong (aka “The China Clipper”): 30 Number of successive terms served by Peter Wing, North America’s first mayor of Chinese descent: Three, in Kamloops Years Sauder BCom grads Virginia Yung and Anne Heung crowned Miss Hong Kong: 1997 and 1998, respectively SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 3 Newsworthy SAUDER IN THE NEWS PERRY ZAVITZ Sauder professors Seidel and Cavusoglu wade into Facebook debate Canadians feeling the pinch of higher mortgage rates LOVE IS FLEETING, BUT FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS ARE FOREVER—AND MORE PUBLIC THAN MOST FOLKS would suspect. That was the sentiment from two Sauder professors who recently weighed in to a flurry of national stories documenting the rise of the online social networking application, Facebook. Sauder’s Marc-David Seidel noted in a March 15 Vancouver Sun article—“Getting close and personal”—that information posted online to ever-popular social networking websites is mostly permanent. “There are organizations that archive content of web pages so that even if you later pull your photos, stories, et cetera off of the sites, they can still surface again later,” Seidel said. “Once something is posted on a social networking site, it can basically be considered to be out there permanently.” In a March 25 Global National News television report, Sauder professor Hasan Cavusoglu commented on the latest security breach on Facebook, where a hacker viewed Paris Hilton’s private photos. “It doesn’t surprise me,” stated Cavusoglu, “because there are so many programs out there—and they inevitably introduce problems with the software, and the testing is not done properly.” ■ COMMENTING IN A MARCH 27 TORONTO STAR article on Canadian banking trends, Sauder professor Tsur Somerville pointed to a “widening spread” between the traditional five-year fixed mortgage rates and five-year bonds as a sign the banks are shunning real-estate risk. “However you want to measure it, the spread between what central banks are lending at overnight (rates) and all forms of non-government debt, those spreads have gone up,” Somerville said. “Subprime in the summer reminded us there is actually risk in the world, and in real estate in particular.” A perfect storm of real estate stories on both sides of the border—including the subprime situation, rapid price escalations in the Metro Vancouver housing market, new mortgage products, and a gloomy real estate outlook from Canadian politician Garth Turner—meant that Somerville was fielding reporters’ calls through the spring. In addition to several Vancouver Sun stories, Somerville was a guest on CKNW’s Bill Good Show on April 7, and was interviewed by CBC TV’s Kirk Williams for the news feature “Realty Check.” ■ 4 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 Richard Pollay: New smoking regulations are good for BC children, ex-smokers ON MARCH 31, THE BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED THE AMENDED TOBACCO Control Act, which banned smoking in indoor public places and work places, patios, and near doorways or air intakes. Even puffing on a cigarette at a bus stop is now a no-no in BC. The Act also limits the display and sales of tobacco and tobacco products. To clear the air on the new law, Sauder professor emeritus Richard Pollay, an expert in tobacco marketing, was featured on CTV British Columbia News, and Vancouver radio station News1130. Pollay said the idea of the tobacco display ban was to take away the temptation to smoke from youngsters. Because BC is one of the first places in Canada to do that, he added, they do not know for sure if it will work. “But everything we know from tobacco company corporate documents, and from marketing theory and experience for other products, it should be quite effective,” said Pollay, who noted that covering up tobacco products at supermarkets, drug stores and convenience outlets would also help people trying to quit smoking or those who have recently stopped. ■ Heart disease in U.S. forecast to surge: Sauder professor HEART DISEASE MAY BE ON THE UPSWING, ACCORDING to a study by Sauder professor Peter Nemetz. The study, conducted with the Mayo Clinic, looked at autopsy data from Minnesota residents who died from unnatural causes. Nemetz and research colleagues found that many of those who died from incidents such as motor vehicle crashes already had clogged arteries. Their findings reached a presumably concerned international audience, courtesy ABC News. In their article, the researchers recognized the corresponding rise in national obesity and diabetes rates in roughly the same period but say that further research would be needed to establish any connection. Nemetz’ study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in February, was also reported by Reuters, Canada.com,Vancouver Sun, and the Calgary Herald. ■ New YMCA named after Robert H. Lee IN MARCH, THE VANCOUVER SUN REPORTED THAT SAUDER alumnus Robert H. Lee had donated $2 million to help the YMCA with the redevelopment of its Vancouver property. According to YMCA Greater Vancouver president Bill Stewart, the donation from Lee will result in the new downtown premises being named the Robert Lee YMCA. The Robert H. Lee Graduate School was established at Sauder in November of 2006 to recognize Lee’s generous contributions to the school. He graduated from UBC in 1956 and has served on the UBC Board of Governors and was a founder of the UBC Properties Trust. Lee, reported the Sun, has been a YMCA member for 45 years, and is a huge backer of the organization’s health and fitness mandate. ■ Sauder professor James Brander goes “Econ One-on-One” in Wall Street Journal: “Could Resources Become a Limit to Global Growth?” IN MARCH, SAUDER PROFESSOR JAMES BRANDER AND MATHEW Kahn of UCLA participated in the Wall Street Journal’s “Econ One-on-One” feature—discussing limits-to-growth in the context of today’s rapid run-up in raw material costs. Brander likened the Club of Rome predictions on the issue in the early 1970s to the fable of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. “There is a real wolf nearby—in the form of resource degradation and rapidly growing population—but, like the shepherd boy, the original ‘Limits to Growth’ got the timing wrong and sounded the alarm too early,” said Brander. “With good policy combined with technological progress, economic growth need not cause environmental damage. On the contrary, improved living standards depend on the environment. We normally fail to measure economic growth properly,” he added. ■ Memo to problem customers: “Go shop at Wal-Mart” WHAT ARE RETAILERS SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THAT HANDFUL OF DISCOUNT-OBSESSED shoppers who never get past the sales bin, or constantly hassle sales clerks for a deal? The April 7 edition of Maclean’s magazine asked that question in a story about North American electronics retailer Best Buy, and the firm’s potentially controversial consumer profile strategy. According to leaked documents, Best Buy profiles its customers—labeling some as “demon customers” (cheapskates who don’t make it past the discount bin). A notch up the customer scale is what Best Buy segments as, more kindly, “Ray Middle America.” Darren Dahl, Professor in the Marketing Division in the Sauder School, says such a profiling strategy is not only common in retail circles, it may be good business practice, too. “Some significant little chunk of their consumers, they don’t make money on,” he said to Canada’s best-known news periodical. “It’s in their interest to either change those customers or lose them. Let ‘em go shop at Wal-Mart.” ■ To learn more about Sauder in the news, visit www.sauder.ubc.ca SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 5 Actuals SEEN AND HEARD IN THE SAUDER WORLD Sauder Net Impact 6th Annual Conference and Career Fair a success THE SAUDER MBA NET IMPACT chapter hosted the 6th Annual Net Impact Conference and Career Fair at UBC Robson Square on March 28th. The event’s theme was “The Competitive Edge: Integrating Profitability and Sustainability,” and was attended by more than 100 participants consisting of MBAs from the Sauder School of Business and the Segal School of Business at Simon Fraser University, MBA alumni, and many industry executives. The event was a great success, kicking off with a networking lunch and a keynote speech by Tamara Vrooman, CEO of Vancity, and continuing with a career fair that featured 18 for- and nonprofit firms, including Vancity, Business Objects, BC Hydro, and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. After the career fair, participants attended one of two interactive workshops: one focusing on Corporate Social Responsibility and the other on Integrating Sustainability with Profitability. James Tansey, Maurice W. Young, Chair of Ethics at the Net Impact Career Fair Team: (left to right) Jessica Langelaan, Rob Wood, Ashley Kerr, Nancy Wyeth, Taylan Kadayifcioglu, Tony Valente, Deana Machin, Jon Lawrence, Angie Im, Alex Hebert, Julien Lafaille, and Joe English. Sauder School of Business, moderated the Corporate Social Responsibility Panel, which featured Allison Morrison (BC Hydro) and Patricia Bjerrisgaard (Business Objects). Rebecca Pearson, a previous Net Impact Club President, led the Sustainability and Profitability Panel, which featured Ken Johnston (Novex Courier), Shannon Boase (Earthcycle Packaging), Esther Speck (Mountain Equipment) and Karen Hamberg (Westport Innovations). Following the workshops, James Tansey moderated a plenary discussion on social enterprise, featuring Jane O’Connor (Canadian Mental Health Association), Deanne Ziebart (Developmental Disabilities), and Elizabeth Lougheed-Green (Vancity Community Foundation). The event helped participants deepen their understanding of what for- and non-profit organizations are doing to make BC a better place. The day closed with a wine and cheese reception. ■ EUGENE LIN Alumni weekend Generations of alumni came together for the Alumni Weekend on May 24. 6 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 ON MAY 24, AS PART OF THE 2008 UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH Columbia’s Alumni Weekend, the Sauder School of Business organized a series of activities including a tour of the Henry Angus Building and several presentations and lectures. Dr. Maurice Levi delivered a lecture titled “The Loonie—What Does it Mean for You and Me?,” looking at the loonie’s recent appreciation and its implications. Dr. John Claxton, Academic Director of the UBC Ch’nook Aboriginal Business Education program, hosted a discussion on the Ch’nook Aboriginal Business Centre, focusing on this exciting initiative linking UBC with the Aboriginal community in an interesting example of social entrepreneurship. Tara Cree presented a session titled “Brand You—Developing Your Personal Brand,” which focused on defining one’s personal brand and learning how a personal brand can help with career management and business success. ■ Tokyo alumni UBC Transportation and Logistics chapter reunion Students’ Association Alumni SAUDER ALUMNI IN TOKYO Awards Night gathered recently at Le Bilboquet for an inaugural celebration of the new alumni chapter. For more information about the chapter, contact Benjamin Rameau at [email protected], or +81-80-5164-4175. ■ Sauder alumni celebration in Tokyo (left to right: Hannes Voltanen, Erina Takeuchi, Benjamin Rameau, Jeffrey Chan, Jessica Lu, Mark Robinson, Kei Rameau, Yumiko Kinoshita, Michael Eyestone). THE TLOG ALUMNI AWARDS NIGHT WAS HELD AT UBC’S ROBSON Square campus on April 2nd, and included students, alumni, and influential business leaders in the transportation and logistics industry. The evening featured an interactive speaker series, a cocktail reception and awards presentation.The Alumnus of the Year Award, recognizing accomplishments within the transportation and logistics industry, went to Craig Ballard, BCom 93. TSI was named Employer of the Year, an award recognizing a firm that has been instrumental in the growth of Sauder students in the transportation and logistics industry. Presentations highlighted potential career paths, challenges, and opportunities in the supply chain sector. Alumnus of the Year Craig Ballard is Managing Partner of Finao Capital, a private equity fund based in Phoenix that invests in early stage technology companies in the Southwest. He also serves on the boards of directors of Telserra Global and Iamota. Prior to Finao, Ballard was the founder and CEO of Logistechs Inc., a leading provider of inventory management and financing services to the commercial airline industry, which was purchased by GE Commercial Finance in 2004. Ballard also held senior management position at KPMG Consulting and Ryder Integrated Logistics. While at Ryder, working on behalf of General Motors, he helped lead one of the largest JIT supply chain transformations in US automaker history. Employer of the Year TSI is the largest employer in the Port of Vancouver, with an annual payroll exceeding $150 million. In addition to the economic impact, TSI is a strong supporter of the communities in which it operates. As such, TSI has instituted a company philosophy to purchase supplies and equipments locally wherever possible. Over the years, TSI has provided support and sponsorship for more than 100 organizations including the TLog Club at UBC. ■ 2008 Pollay Prize winner presents “Salad Daze and Frappuccino Focus” to standing-room only audience DR. LAUREN G. BLOCK, PROFESSOR of Marketing at the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College at the City University of New York, was the winner of the 2008 Pollay Prize at the Sauder School of Business, named after professor emeritus Richard Pollay, and honouring intellectual excellence in research on marketing in the public interest. She presented the Pollay Prize lecture, “Salad Daze and Frappuccino Focus: What Influences Our Food Choices?” on March 7 to a standing-room only crowd at UBC. Dr. Block showed some of her key findings, including how well-meaning labels and packaging can sometimes lead to less-thanideal nutrition decisions, particularly for consumers most in need of the health benefits. Dr. Block’s research focuses not on the individuals who make healthy decisions, but on consumers who don’t. To the chagrin of some drive-thru salad enthusiasts, she discussed evidence that the mere presence of a healthy item on a menu of relatively unhealthy options licenses people to eat the unhealthiest item on the menu. Ironically, people actually make worse decisions when the healthy item is available compared to when the item is not an option. Additionally, she showed that the influence of the healthy item on unhealthy choices has a second ironic result: it is strongest for people with high levels of self-control, relative to those with low self-control. ■ Future Alumni Mentoring Lecture ON MARCH 20, BRIAN SUNG, BCom 65, Partner of Nicola Financial Group, spoke to students at the Future Alumni Mentoring Lecture. Born and raised in Vancouver, and part of a large family-owned business, Sung has developed an understanding of entrepreneurs’ need for holistic financial and estate planning. He focuses on estate planning, wealth preservation, and financial risk management. Nicola Wealth Management is currently managing over half billion in investment assets for over 500 private client families. ■ Brian Sung, BCom 65. Sauder Business Club of Toronto launch DAVID KWAN, BCOM 00, AND A visionary group of Sauder alumni in Toronto, are involved in shaping the Sauder Business Club of Toronto (SBCT). A grassroots initiative established by alumni for alumni, the club will serve the business, social, and professional development interests of the Greater Toronto Sauder alumni community. Stay tuned for a SBCT special feature in the September issue of Viewpoints Magazine. For more information, e-mail [email protected] ■ SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 7 Girl power: The next generation Introducing the Young Women in Business Network BY MAILI WONG, BCOM 01 Have you ever met a young woman with all the skills and potential to become successful in a career in business, but she lacked the guidance or mentors to help her make it happen? Now, thanks to a group of highly-motivated and entrepreneurial students, she has the opportunity to propel herself and meet with other emerging professional women—right here in Vancouver. On March 28th and 29th, a group of UBC and SFU undergraduate students launched the Young Women in Business (YWiB) Network at a two-day conference named Beyond Pink!, held at the Sheraton Wall Center. The YWiB Network is the first non-profit society of its kind in Western Canada, tailored towards helping young women in the process of launching their careers through social and professional networking. Maili Wong shares her experiences. WHEN I FIRST MET WITH THE ORGANIZING team of the Young Women in Business Network, I was very impressed. These ladies, most 3rd and 4th year UBC and SFU students, had recognized a need and developed a vision to bring together ambitious young Beyond Pink! 2008 organizing committee. Front row from left: Jen Loong, Ceanne Horon, Christine Ang, Marica Rizzo, Back row from left: Jennifer Sung, Alicia Woodside, Kelly Ko, Eva Taylor, Jenya Rolzing, Maria Semenova, Demi Lo, women interested in a career in business. Their goal was to build a community of in New York, I was instantly enthusiastic social and professional relationships to equip about supporting such a network here was a great success. In attendance were more each other with the skills and confidence to in Vancouver. It was a gap waiting to be than 200 energetic young women from achieve success in their careers. Having filled, and these women were committed across Canada—mainly current university been involved with organizations like this to creating the solution. students or recent graduates one to five years 8 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 The inaugural YWiB Beyond Pink! Conference CHRIS CHERNOFF “The YWiB Network is the first non-profit society of its kind in Western Canada, tailored towards helping young women in the process of launching their careers through social and professional networking.” willing to participate as mentors throughout their careers. The conference was supported by a number of key partners and sponsors, including the Sauder School of Business. My firm, HSBC Bank Canada, also sponsored some employees to attend and the feedback was outstanding. This conference marks just the beginning of the development and networking opportunities the YWiB network plans to create for its members. Throughout the year, members of the Young Women in Business network will have access to a variety of educational, social, Claire Frazer, Norma-Jean Thompson, Christine Lowe, Lisa Chung, Ealeen Wong, Iris Lo, Kimia Niknamian. Paulina Lipska, Carla Culos, Lynsey Brothers, Nina Turkiewicz, Elizabeth Young. charity and networking events. For more information on how to join or support this network, please visit the website at www.ywib.ca. ■ into their careers. During the conference, Tradeshow featuring 50 of Vancouver’s most each delegate was given the opportunity to outstanding female entrepreneurs, and at the participate in a series of interactive work- gala dinner celebrating the delegates’ accom- Maili Wong (BCom 01, Finance) is an Investment shops with dynamic speakers from across plishments. These environments introduced Advisor with HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc. and a Board North America, with the Women in Business the delegates to a network of professionals Member of the Young Women in Business Network. SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 9 The busi 10 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 ness of police work JENNIFER WAH WITH ROB MCMAHON COURTESY OF VANCOUVER POLICE DEPARTMENT BY In person, Jim Chu (MBA 89) is unassuming and modest. But as the first person of Asian descent to lead a police force in Canada, Jim’s role is anything but modest. At home in both his pinstripes and his police blues, Chief Chu is also unique in bringing both training and focus on business to a non-profit police force. And, he says, his MBA experience at Sauder honed the leadership skills that got him where he is today. Like recent chiefs before him, Jim’s first seasons on the job have unfurled in a media spotlight, a side of the job that has surprised him with its intensity. Luckily, his easygoing people skills and a receptive attitude to his communication advisors have contributed to a respectable first year under his belt. Viewpoints met up with Jim Chu at the VPD headquarters now overlooking the Canada Line construction on Cambie Street. Family photos, awards of distinction, and a framed copy of the first Internet site he convinced the force to develop in 1996 decorate his office. With the buzz of a 1,200-strong police focused on keeping Vancouver’s streets safe in the background, Jim Chu took time to answer our questions. PERRY ZAVITZ Jim Chu's easygoing manner with people has made him as at-home discussing crime as he is commerce. SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 11 PERRY ZAVITZ “I have always valued education and knew that a graduate degree in business would be very helpful if I wanted to move up the ranks. I was thrilled to be accepted into the Sauder MBA program.” Do you see yourself as a business leader or a police chief? I know my position is seen as a community leader, and that’s quite humbling to me. In Vancouver, the business of police work is also very closely scrutinized by the media, politicians, and the public. So by default, I’m certainly drawing significantly on my business training in this job. I believe part of being a leader is drawing on broad-based knowledge, and that when you keep your mind open to learning, it makes leaders better decision-makers. An MBA seems unusual training for a police officer. What drew you to that path? Seven years into my police career, I found myself drawn to some of the administrative challenges the force was facing. I have always valued education and knew that a graduate degree in business would be very helpful if I wanted to move up the ranks. I was thrilled to be accepted into the Sauder MBA program. My wife (Vicki, a 29-year police veteran herself) and I had four young kids at the time, and I continued to work full-time, so yes—there were a few intense years, but in the end I really feel it’s an honour to have graduated with a Master’s degree. Can you share some specific examples of your application of business thinking to police force issues? In the mid-1980s, I looked into our 911 emergency call centre. In my view, there were inefficiencies because staffing and call volumes Jim Chu poses with his wife Vicki at his MBA graduation from UBC in 1989. In the photo, Vicki is seven months pregnant with their youngest daughter Emily, now destined for business school herself. weren’t matched up. I drew on my organizational behaviour and quantitative methods training to design a more efficient model for the centre. The end result was that we could answer 911 calls faster with the same level of staffing, and we also improved shifting ergonomics for our staff. A few years later, then-Chief Bob Stewart brought me in on a project linking VPD strategic planning with Mayor Gordon Campbell’s strategic vision for the City of Vancouver at the time. Because I had just taken a Policy Analysis course, I knew exactly what Mayor Campbell was trying to accomplish and was able to make the link between his vision and our plans. It was probably around the mid-90s that I also saw the opportunity for the VPD to venture into uncharted territory: a rising trend called the Internet. There was nervousness and uncertainty that this was a valid investment, but I knew it was a case of “if you build it, they will come,” so I spent a bit of time developing our first site, and then made the business case to launch it. I still have a screen capture of that first site on my wall—it looks so archaic now! My profs would have been embarrassed by one work situation: in 1990, when I was working as a detective, one of my assignments was to investigate a financial executive. I pretended to be the dumbest MBA grad ever and got him to explain the financial transactions he oversaw, as part of a suspected charity theft. In the end, I was able to manufacture with him a false relationship around my business ineptitude and his business acumen. We didn’t have much direct evidence but this investigative strategy worked because he gave a full confession and outlined how he took the money. When the time was right, my partner and I arrested him. If the Vancouver Police Department is a not-forprofit entity, what is your bottom line? I’m here to maximize performance and minimize cost, so there are definitely aspects of the job that parallel those of a businessperson. There are concerns, for example, over funding because we don’t have a regional police force. Police services are mainly funded through property taxes, but Vancouver has more people in it on any given day than actually live in the city, so the city’s per capita policing needs are higher than suburban communities. We need to develop some kind of funding equalization formula, and are definitely looking through an economic lens at that complex challenge. One early focus is to reduce the strain on our policing resources with projects such as the mediadubbed “Con-Air” program. Vancouver is an attractive destination for everyone, including criminals who commit serious crimes and then leave the jurisdiction they are charged in. They avoid prosecution because the jurisdiction that issues the arrest warrant does not want to fund the return of the suspect. We believe this is contrary to our principles of justice and we have obtained some grant money to allow us to fly home offenders who have committed serious crimes. We want to get the message out that you can’t come to Vancouver to evade charges. The Vancouver Board of Trade is also working on a proposal to pool donated air miles to help fund the travel costs associated with returning these offenders, typically to eastern jurisdictions. Much of the media coverage of your appointment as chief last June focused on you being the first police chief of Asian descent in Canada. How was or is that relevant? I have always seen myself as a Canadian first, then as a police officer, and usually somewhat fleetingly as a Chinese police officer. Until the media jumped all over that, to be honest, I hadn’t dwelled on it as a major factor, though I guess to others it became a big story in a city as diverse as Vancouver. I remember shortly after my getting the job was announced, a South Asian man came up to me on the street and said “It’s good to see one of us as chief.” It took me a moment to realize he was referring to me as a visible minority, like him. I do like to emphasize that I am the police chief for all residents of Vancouver, not just one segment of the community. Vancouverites may not realize the VPD has always pioneered new thinking in policing: we were the first to hire a female officer and to launch a Marine Squad, and the first real-life police force to venture into the virtual world with recruitment in the 6.7-million-strong Second Life, as well as on YouTube and Facebook (see sidebar). What was the toughest course you took at Sauder and why? Without a doubt, Professor Bill Stanbury’s class on business and government relations. That was the hardest course I’ve ever taken, and one of the best. At the Chinese New Year parade this year, Jim took a moment between dragons and raindrops to take a snapshot with a bystander. It brought together public policy, economic incentives and externalities, advocacy, and media relations. It was a small class and the workload almost killed me! I think the mass media is very important to democracy, but it’s sometimes challenging to deal with the roller coaster nature of the press coverage the police get. I certainly take the advice of my communications experts to heart. “I’m here to maximize performance and minimize cost, so there are definitely aspects of the job that parallel those of a businessperson.” Who is Jim Chu when you’re not the chief of police? In this job, you’re always on the job to a certain extent. But I do have a life outside these walls! I got to know my wife, Vicki, 26 years ago when we were both relatively new to the force. Her father had been with the VPD and we discovered had a lot in common. So I’m a husband, and a dad, too, to my two sons and two daughters, now between the ages of 18 and 26. My eldest daughter is in first year law and my older son is interested in opera and has a degree in music. Both are UBC grads. My younger daughter is finishing first-year arts at UBC and hopes to be admitted to Sauder. Vicki is now retired as a police officer, but works part-time. ■ SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 13 A force to be reckoned with POLICE WORK MAY NOT BE THE Research and Audit section, a VPD think tank involved in research, usual career path for an MBA, feasibility studies, and cost-benefit analyses. “There is a strong push to but it’s been a lifelong dream for be fiscally responsible and make the most efficient use of resources,” Constable Philip Heard. he explains, “and that’s where an MBA degree really adds value.” During the third year of his Philip Heard (MBA 2007) Asked to name the biggest misconception of the public about Bachelor’s program in Chemistry police work, Heard laughs: “Most often, people underestimate the at UBC, Heard worked at London academic and intellectual side of police work. It amazes them to learn Drugs as a loss prevention officer. how many officers have master’s degrees, law or commerce degrees. He was planning to put his Much of a police officer’s training is learning the legal aspects, and degree to work in forensics, but being able to communicate, think on your feet, and adapt.” he soon realized that he enjoyed interacting with people and felt His enthusiasm about his work is palpable. “It’s rewarding to feel forensics was too lab-oriented. Heard, whose older brother Michael that you’re helping and making a difference,” he says. “I can’t imagine (also a UBC alumnus) works as a detective in the Gang Crime Unit in ever doing anything else.” But if he had to, it would probably be as a the Vancouver Police Department, applied to the VPD immediately paramedic. “I need to interact with people and feel I’m giving back after graduating in 2000. to the community.” He was first assigned to the downtown core as a frontline Shortly after our interview, Heard was seconded to the RCMP-run officer, answering patrol calls and 911 calls, and then he walked the Integrated Security Unit, which is planning security for the 2010 beat in the Downtown Eastside. In 2006, he started in the Planning, Olympic Games. ■ Three more Sauder alumni bring good sense to the VPD CRISTINA CALBOREANU Tackling recruitment face-on CHIEF JIM CHU SAYS THE VANCOUVER POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A great place for a business graduate. “We have fewer people with this kind of background, so there are probably more unique opportunities for advancement.” Certainly this is true for Jess Ram (BCom 84), now an inspector with the VPD. He added to his BCom with a Master’s degree in Counseling. It’s no wonder the NYPD called on his expertise to support their members after the tragedy of September 11,2001. Now a superintendent, Al Niedtner’s (BCom 78) experience in high-profile security and counter-terrorism has protected royal families, Pope John Paul II, and former US President Bill Clinton. Now seconded to the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit, Al will help keep athletes and spectators safe during the 2010 Olympics. Adam King (BCom 90, pictured at right with Phil Heard) keeps busy these days as a detective in the VPD’s busy Property Crime Unit. Voted valedictorian by his Police Academy classmates, Adam’s dry humour has served him well in his commerce-to-crime fighting career. ■ 14 JENNIFER WAH VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 The VPD is pulling out all the stops when it comes to recruitment these days, with more than 100 spots to be filled, and quick. Targeting the younger, tech-savvy crowd, the force launched efforts online through both Facebook (see screenshot above) and YouTube, becoming the first force in Canada to use these tools. MBA gradturned-chief-of-police Jim Chu says the force needs business minds too. “What you learned in business school will be valuable here, and there are fewer of you to compete for advancement,” he says. Salaries are good too: $75,000 after four years of service. ■ PERRY ZAVITZ Phil Heard (left) and Adam King both call themselves “carpet police” now; they don't spend much time in a squad car. Still, neither blinks an eye when the flashing lights come on for the camera. SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 15 UBC puts graduates on career fast track New one-year master’s program gives grads a foundation in business BRIAN MORTON BY Recently, the Sauder School of Business announced the launch of a groundbreaking new master’s program at the Robert H. Lee Graduate School. A first in Canada, the Early Career Masters program is a one-year master’s degree in business management specifically designed for graduates from non-business programs such as arts, science, and engineering. Graduates of the program will receive a Master of Management degree. The Early Career Masters program was featured in the February 9, 2008 issue of The Vancouver Sun. We are delighted to re-print the article here. THE UNIVERSITY OF BC’S SAUDER SCHOOL OF seeking to complement their undergraduate Business is making it easier for liberal arts and other concentration with applied business skills; and non-business graduates to aim for management individuals seeking to advance quickly into positions when they start their careers. entry-level management positions. The Early Career Masters (ECM) program, “Employers are looking for students who have a strong foundation in specific business management skills...” ~ Richard Rees, CEO Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC includes an optional internship or international master’s degree that provides a general foundation study-abroad experience. in business and management for people with bachelor’s degrees in non-business disciplines. The program is based on similar programs in with an opportunity to gain valuable business skills that can be applied to a career in any industry or sector. In addition to the arts, the program is geared their degrees with hard business skills. for individuals with non-business bachelor’s degrees “It’s the first in Canada,” Jérôme Couturier, in disciplines such as science and engineering. associate dean in charge of the school’s professional Graduates of the program receive a Master of graduate programs, said in an interview. “And it’s Management degree from the Sauder School of one of the few schools in North America that is Business. Couturier, who is helping set up the program, September, with 60 to 70 students. We expect to said there are several reasons the university is run two classes in 2009.” establishing the program. According to a release, the Master of “We realized that we did little to support Management degree is well-established in Europe, non-business undergraduates before they enter the and is gaining prominence in North America working world. And part of this school’s mission is because of the faster-advancement career potential to help everyone,” he said. it offers graduates. Prospective students who should consider the VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 The Early Career Masters will provide students Europe where new university graduates round out doing this. We’re starting with our first cohort in 16 The program, which costs about $23,000, which gets underway this fall, is a new one-year “As well, we felt there are a growing number of undergrads who finish engineering, arts and Early Career Masters include: fourth-year students sciences who feel they need some kind of business and recent university graduates of non-business foundation. Engineers coming out of UBC will most programs; candidates with limited work experience likely be considered for jobs as engineers—but if they come in with an engineering undergraduate A 2001 Trent University study showed that (degree) and a solid foundation in business, they’d students with liberal arts programs experienced be considered for entry-level management positions twice as many weeks of unemployment immediately more quickly. following graduation compared to applied graduates. “They’d have two skills to offer, not one. “And they (recruiters) want engineers who also have a good business acumen, who can play a role in the commercial side.” As well, many businesses value graduates with liberal arts backgrounds because of the different skill sets they bring to the company. Couturier said students entering the program would get a foundation in all the key business disciplines, including strategy, accounting, leadership and marketing. “Right now we’re promoting the program in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Toronto. There’s no equivalent for a program like this in Canada. “But we expect the majority of the students, at least at first, to come from B.C.” Meanwhile, local business leaders are praising the program as a way to help employers find employees with valued business skills. “With the shortage of skilled labour in western Canada and the prospect for growth of Pacific Rim IAN LINDSAY, VANCOUVER SUN economies, I think Sauder’s new ECM program will help fill the void for employers providing emerging business leaders with an applicable non-business undergraduate degree,” Kevin Mahon, president & CEO of Adera Development Corp., said in a statement. Jérôme Couturier is in charge of professional graduate programs at Sauder School of Business. Richard Rees, CEO of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of B.C., said in a statement that “employers are looking for students who have a According to the release, the ECM program strong foundation in specific business/management offers an opportunity for liberal arts graduates to skills, and the ECM launched by the Sauder School avoid the early career uncertainty associated with of Business provides that foundation.” post-graduation. ■ SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 17 SIX DEGREES BY SUE BUGOS 18 PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS CHERNOFF VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 S OF SAUDER SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 19 Six young Sauder alumni named to Forty Under 40 list The concept of six degrees of separation—the idea that each of us is just “six steps” removed from every other person on the planet—reinforces how small our world really is. While the Sauder alumni community is really just one degree from each other by sharing the bond of… well, actual degrees from the same university… that’s too easy a connection. How else do our worlds intersect, and how do our graduates take those giant steps that catapult them from the Henry Angus Building to a world economy? The 2007 Business in Vancouver Top Forty under 40 list reveals some surprising connections among honourees who have each catapulted in their own way, “I read somewhere that everybody on this planet is separated by only six other people. Six degrees of separation between us and everyone else on this planet. The president of the United States, a gondolier in Venice, just fill in the names. I find it extremely comforting that we’re so close.” ~ Oisa Kitteredge (character in 1993 movie Six Degrees of Separation) and all within a relatively short time. Sauder alumni often figure prominently on this list, and this year is no exception. Viewpoints spoke to six alumni from this group and found interesting connections between them as well as wise words which speak to what takes us from Sauder to the world beyond. Guglielmo Marconi first introduced the idea of six degrees of separation when he explained in his 1909 Nobel prize speech that his calculations determined that it would take six radio relay stations to get a message around the world. 20 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 Douglas Tronsgard MBA 95, CEO, Next Level Games Age: 37 Why: After spending several years in the “work ‘til you drop” gaming industry, Doug and his business partners decided there had to be a better way. So they founded Next Level Games—an award-winning full-service, independent video game development studio—in an effort to remain in a business he loves and be successful at it while still enjoying everything else life has to offer. Who: He enjoys life with wife Corinne and two young children Xian and Kai, and is passionate about creating a value-based workplace that engenders creativity, empowers staff and allows him and his partners to make the “right” decisions based on how they think people should be treated, what is best for the company, and sustainable business practices. In the five years it has been in business, Next Level has racked up the awards, including recent nods as one of both BC’s and Canada’s best employers. What he says: “The future of business lies in the values of companies and I take my role as a business leader seriously. Our approach to work/life balance and the environment recognizes that the next generation has a different connection to work than previous ones. We’re about changing the dynamics of business and I’m really excited about what’s ahead.” Their focus on doing the right thing, both for business and for their staff, is exemplary. For example, it was based on confidential responses directly from their employees that Next Level won the 2007 Top BC Employer of the Year award. Photographed on location at Tojo’s Restaurant, Douglas Tronsgard has found sushi bliss. Q When: During what he calls a “fantastic experience” completing his MBA, Doug cites the mock interviews with senior Vancouver business people as one of the most invaluable opportunities he had. The chance to be one-on-one with people he admired, not only gave him confidence to pursue the job opportunities he wanted, it also helped develop strong connections with the Vancouver business community. If there was a $40,000 cash prize that went along with being named one of the Top Forty under 40, how would you spend it? “Well...we are moving to a new office at the end of the year and I am hoping it’s feasible to put solar panels on the roof. If it is, I’d spend the money on that.” SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 21 Alan Oishi BCom (Finance) 91, COO, Colliers International Age: 39 Why: In the 1990s, Alan was instrumental in the sale of several large corporate properties for commercial real estate giant Colliers International, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars. In 2002, he joined Colliers’ executive team and a couple of years later managed the recapitalization of the firm. Who: This former university varsity hockey player has worked his way through the ranks of Colliers since graduation. He’s enjoyed many different careers, just all in one company, and has taken advantage of the many opportunities that have been provided along the way. His busy work life is balanced by wife Cindy and two young sons Ryan and Trevor. Alan really enjoys the process of his business, which has helped lead him to success. He says, “The focus should be on the being. I think it’s a choice to live into my future and when I focus on the process, good results happen.” What he says: “For everyone who is in a demanding job, particularly when there is significant travel that pulls you away from family, finding a good work/life balance comes down to a mindset. When I accepted the idea that I needed to focus on doing what I think is most important, I’ve been able to find a fairly good life balance—most of the time. However, you always have to give something up to gain something new; it allows you to move forward and also usually provides someone else with a great opportunity.” When: When he applied for his first job at Colliers, Alan was interviewed by someone who knew his junior varsity hockey coach at UBC. That connection sparked a great conversation and Alan is convinced it helped him land the job. Alan Oishi stops by Tom Lee Music to try his hand at a new guitar, an instrument he has just recently taken up. Q If there was a $40,000 cash prize that went along with being named one of the Top Forty under 40, how would you spend it? “If there was a $40,000 prize, a small amount would go to a celebration with family and friends and the majority of it would likely be used to pay down our mortgage. I know that’s a boring answer, but it is the most realistic one!” 22 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 David Porte BCom (Urban Land Economics) 90, President Porte Development Corp. and Porte Realty Ltd. Age: 39 Why: As President of Porte Realty Ltd. and Porte Development Corporation, David puts a lot of emphasis on building strong relationships. After gaining some experience working in other companies’ real estate sales centres, David joined the family business in 1991 and took on increasing responsibility over the years. He places a lot of value in community involvement, something he takes very seriously as an active member of his synagogue, President of the Camp Hatikvah Foundation, a director of the Urban Design Institute and founder, with his wife, of the Cassie and Friends Fund. Who: David took on the reigns of the company when his dad Hershey retired two years ago, and proudly credits his dad with teaching him how to treat people, how to take a long view on business decisions, and the importance of community involvement. “My dad was a big influence on me; he showed me, without lecturing, by example, how to conduct business. He wasn’t able to attend the awards night and actually passed away a couple of days after it, but saw the Business in Vancouver article and that meant a lot to be able to share the recognition with him.” What he says: “Being successful is about all of the usual boring things, committing yourself to something and working hard, but it’s also about being conscious of every decision you make and what the repercussions are down the road. How you treat someone today can resonate many years ahead.” At Vancouver’s brand new Centre for Digital Media, David Porte has fun in one of several rooms dedicated to learning Guitar Hero. Q When: David made lasting friendships at Sauder and still sees former classmates on a regular basis. Some of them were early supporters of the “Cassie and Friends Fund for Children with Juvenile Arthritis,” a fund David and his wife Debbie started to provide support for families and raise awareness of juvenile arthritis after their young daughter was diagnosed with the disease. If there was a $40,000 cash prize that went along with being named one of the Top Forty under 40, how would you spend it? “I would buy a small gift for my two children and my wife and donate the rest of the money to Cassie and Friends.” SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 23 Michelle Ong BCom (Accounting) 90, CA, Principal, Keefer Holdings Ltd. Age: 39 Why: In the mid-1990s, Michelle was working for KPMG when she began to help her father with the family business, Keefer Laundry (a large commercial laundry which was founded by her grandfather and his brother in the early 1900s). She joined the firm in 1999, and helped propel it to huge growth. In 2004, faced with the prospect of further expansion or sale of the business, Michelle spearheaded the sale to an American firm that shared similar values that would ensure their staff (many of whom had worked with them for decades) would be well looked after. With her father, she now runs the family holding and real estate development company, while also engaging in a variety of community and new business endeavours. Who: Most recently Michelle has been focusing her business, creative and leadership skills on leveraging business opportunities to support the community while balancing raising two active school-aged children (Melissa, 10 and Bradley, 9) with her husband Theodore. She is a regular guest speaker at UBC’s Sauder School of Business commerce course on family business taught by David Bentall. An active and achievement-focused person, Michelle has also just completed the Vancouver Half-Marathon, and is going back to her roots in competitive badminton, training and coaching. What she says: “Working with an executive coach I’ve learned some key things that have helped overcome roadblocks: not being attached to things having to happen a certain way and coming from a perspective of abundance rather than scarcity (as in feeling confident that whatever I want to do is possible). I have a number of ventures I am working on and am responsible for, which is all around redefining business with success in financial performance, operational excellence, workability, community, and social impact.” When: When Michelle was invited to serve on the Advisory Board of the UBC Business Families Centre, she felt very strongly about playing an active role. She continues to be passionate about making a difference for other business families so that there is workability and prosperity in the family and in the business. Michelle is also completing courses towards the Certificate in Business Families Advising offered through the Centre. 24 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 Although she helped grow and then spearhead the sale of her family’s main business, Keefer Laundry, Michelle Ong enjoys the nostalgia of stopping by the old facilities in south Vancouver. Q If there was a $40,000 cash prize that went along with being named one of the Top Forty under 40, how would you spend it? “I would charter a plane, rent some homes, and take all my family and friends on a golfing getaway.” Craig Dudra BCom (Accounting) 92, CA, CFA, Managing Director, Corporate Finance Group and Head, Forest Products Group, RBC Capital Markets Age: 37 Why: After a successful stint with Arthur Anderson, during which time he earned his CA, and Marathon Developments, Craig took a break from the corporate world to see the real world. He returned energized and jumped in to the finance and investment banking sector. Craig has enjoyed great success in this field—brokering several high profile deals—and sees the forestry sector, where his work is mainly focused now, as an area with immense opportunity despite the current negative industry conditions. Who: After achieving several career milestones, Craig turned down other opportunities in 1998 to backpack for a year across six continents. He visited places like Jerusalem, Madrid, and Bangkok, and says every place had an impact on him in its own way. He now credits that journey with giving him a skill set he wouldn’t have otherwise, which has helped him reach bigger career milestones than he ever imagined. He says there’s no better way to learn about dealing with different personalities, cultures, and ways of communicating. The travel bug is still with him, and Craig hopes to visit South America soon with his wife Kim. What he says: “I look forward to going to work every day because it doesn’t really feel like work; it’s what I love to do and that is so important to truly achieve success. It takes hard work, and there are ups and downs along the way but if you can always look ahead and stretch yourself and just do what you love, there’s a good chance you will enjoy success.” Craig Dudra might not think of A&W as a spot for a business lunch, but he was happy to stop by for a frosty mug of root beer and recall his work setting up the A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund. Q When: When Craig was deciding what to study at university, his dad pointed him towards commerce and suggested getting his CA. Craig credits that gentle nudge and the early foundations from Sauder for helping him get where he is today. If there was a $40,000 cash prize that went along with being named one of the Top Forty under 40, how would you spend it? “I might be tempted to blow it on a fun weekend in Vegas, but in the end, I would choose to take my Mom and Dad to some of the interesting places I have traveled to. After that, I’d put some education savings aside for my growing number of nieces and nephews and I would donate the balance of the funds to charity.” SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 25 Brad Newby BCom (Accounting and MIS) Hons UBC 91, Partner, Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP Age: 38 Why: Brad is a Partner at Farris, focusing on business law that includes mergers and acquisitions, securities, and corporate finance. He advises entrepreneurs and business leaders from a variety of industries. In 2007, he was named as one of Canada’s Leading Lawyers Under 40 by Lexpert magazine, one of the most respected legal publications in Canada. He enjoys the time he spends engaged in community and philanthropic endeavours, such as serving as Chair of the United Way of the Fraser Valley a few years ago. Who: Learning the ropes at his father’s law firm, Brad was steeped in a culture of putting people first and understanding that a lawyer’s first job is to serve. That message has stayed with him along with words from a high school teacher who admonished him to never forget that you always have to give back. It’s something he hopes to instil in his three children, sons Aidan and Conor and daughter Colette. Whether on the soccer field or in the board room, Brad is an achiever who thrives on “getting things done.” What he says: “It takes time to learn about business in the real world and it’s not something you can rush. As long as you have a constant and persistent drive to be a better business person, you will get there. It seemed to take about five years before I started to feel like I was ready to take off—I’ve been really amazed by what I’ve seen my classmates achieve at that five-year mark, too.” When: “One of my favourite classes at Sauder was Steve Alisharan’s class on entrepreneurship; we worked in small groups and the ideas people developed really demonstrated what everyone was capable of doing. Some incredible things came out of that class. My group wrote a business plan for a high-end wilderness resort in BC that was aimed at the growing number of aging baby boomers with large disposable incomes and a desire to feel young and adventurous. Back in 1991, five years ahead of Boom, Bust and Echo, it was fairly innovative. So was the business plan for a brew pub in Yaletown another group wrote, which was brilliant back then.” 26 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 When Brad Newby is craving a burger, only an A&W Teen Burger will do! He was happy to oblige, while also recalling his work setting up the structure of the A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund with fellow alumnus Craig Dudra. Q If there was a $40,000 cash prize that went along with being named one of the Top Forty under 40, how would you spend it? “I would take my family on a big trip.” NO GREATER GIFT Sauder’s corporate governance programs receive funding boost BY CRISTINA CALBOREANU ON MARCH 3, MR. DAVID KLEIN FROM THE PROMINENT LAW FIRM of Klein Lyons, joined Sauder School of Business faculty and students for an event celebrating a recent donation of over $230,000 in support of corporate governance programs at the school. The funds represent Sauder’s share of a $1 million settlement from a class action lawsuit against Boliden Limited, the operator of the Aznalcóllar / Los Frailes mine located approximately 45 kilometres west of Seville, Spain. Boliden raised money in Canada through a public offering of shares, issuing a prospectus in June 1997. In April 1998, the tailings dam at Los Frailes failed, releasing approximately 1.3 million cubic metres of tailings and 5.5 million cubic metres of tailings water into the nearby river systems. The slurry wave covered several thousand hectares of farmland, threatening the Doñana National Park, a United Nations World Heritage Area. “The dam failing,” explained Klein, “affected the company’s earnings and therefore the value of the shares. We learned that there had been reports of problems at the Spanish dam prior to the issuance of the prospectus in 1997, so the allegation in the claim is that the company, by failing to disclose those problems, had violated Canadian securities legislation and that the shareholders who purchased under the prospectus were entitled to compensation.” After five years of litigation, a resolution was reached whereby Boliden agreed to pay $1 million in settlement of the claim. Due to the administrative expense of distributing the net settlement funds to individual class members, it was decided no direct compensation would be paid to class members; instead, the net settlement funds would be paid to charitable and non-profit organizations appropriate to the allegations in the lawsuits. “This type of resolution,” noted Klein, “is not unusual in class actions. It’s referred to as cy près distribution and it happens in class actions where either the individual class members are very difficult to identify or locate, or where the amount of money is such that distribution of the funds will use up most of the settlement, and so it’s felt that it’s more appropriate to distribute the funds to some other recipient in such a way that the class thereby receives an indirect benefit.” In the Boliden case, the beneficiaries were the Sauder School of Business, the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, the Consumers’ Association of Canada, and the Small Investors’ Protection Association. Sauder’s share of the settlement, in the amount of $233,155.88, will be dedicated to the continued development of the “Responsible Trustee,” On behalf of law firm Klein Lyons, David Klein showed their support for corporate governance programs at Sauder. a program created to promote understanding of the capital markets as well as informed and responsible investment practices. Delivered through the Bureau of Asset Management at the Sauder School of Business, “The Responsible Trustee” includes annual courses aiming to educate trustees of pension and benefit funds. These courses are currently at the introductory and intermediate levels, and the program plans to develop more advanced and specialized courses in the years to come. “The Sauder School of Business is already a leader in the field of business ethics research, which is a cornerstone of our curriculum,” said Dean Daniel Muzyka. “This new investment in our research and teaching will allow us to delve further into issues of individual and corporate integrity and responsibility, and to examine the governance mechanisms businesses must develop to promote ethical decision making.” “We’re very pleased that we were able to make this provision to the Sauder School of Business,” added Klein. “Sauder has a superb reputation across Canada and throughout North America, and we’re delighted that we were able to establish this relationship with the School —Prof. Ron Giammarino was one of our experts on this case, so we thought it was particularly appropriate that we could give back to the school in this way.” Founded over 15 years ago, and with offices in Vancouver and Toronto, Klein Lyons is one of Canada’s leading class action law firms. It has been involved in a variety of high-profile class actions, including Nortel, Air Canada, Crocus, and Merit Energy. ■ SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 27 Sauder Faculty INSIDER INFORMATION James Tansey to lead Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) at Sauder Sauder professor promotes clean, high-speed alternative to pollution-creating jet travel in Japan SAUDER PROFESSOR AND TRANSPORTATION EXPERT TAE OUM co-chaired the International Symposium on Climate Changes and Transport Strategy, held in Tokyo in December. He was joined by Professor Shigeru Morichi, Head of the Institute of Transport Policy Studies (ITPS), Japan. Since January, Oum, Sauder’s UPS Foundation Chair in Transport and Logistics, has been coordinating the JR-Maglev (magnetically levitating train) research program for JR-Central Railway of Japan in its formative stage; making the case for high-speed rail travel as an environmentally friendlier form of travel—compared to air travel—between the dense mega-cities of Tokyo and Osaka. While project planning is still at the early stages (construction won’t begin until at least 2009), the tab for the project is expected to reach $100 billion, making it the most expensive infrastructure project in world history. Oum is the president of the Air Transport Research Society (ATRS), a world-wide networking organization for researchers, policy makers and executives, and the past President of the American Economics Association’s Transportation and Public Utilities Group (TPUG). ■ 28 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 THE NEW CENTRE FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION (CSI) WAS ESTABLISHED at the Sauder School of Business this past January. The centre will advance sustainable business practices in such areas as carbon markets and development, sustainable transportation, and food security and aquaculture. Building on the Sauder School of Business’ MBA specialization in Sustainability and Business, the centre will support the development of a range of approaches to social enterprise, ranging from social marketing to venture philanthropy. CSI is led by Sauder professor James Tansey. This past spring, Tansey was a speaker during UBC’s Celebrate Research Week in downtown Vancouver, where he presented “Sustainability and Social Enterprise.” His presentation focused on the findings of a survey of social enterprises across North America and Europe, and included presentations by MBA students who have developed business plans in this domain. He was also honoured for his research activities at UBC at the Celebrate Research Week gala. Tansey’s carbon offset firm, Offsetters Climate Neutral Society, recently linked up with Vancity to help the credit union become the first carbon neutral financial institution based in North America. ■ Sauder professor ranks golf’s elite in unique study IN JANUARY, SAUDER PROFESSOR MARTIN PUTERMAN TEAMED UP with research assistant Stefan Wittman to offer the first systematic analysis of professional golf performance. Their study compared records of 440 players from different eras, showing how hard it really is to succeed in professional golf. It employed advanced statistical methods to assess the career records of golfers competing on the PGA Tour. Their research has shown what most weekend golfers already know: it’s hard to play consistently good golf. Both Dr. Puterman, whose research usually focuses on improving access to the health care system, and Wittman, a UBC graduate, are avid golfers. “This project gave me a way to combine two of my passions, golf and statistics,” said Puterman, a 13 handicapper. The pair analyzed annual PGA Tour earnings data for the period 1980-2006, establishing categories of players who performed similarly throughout their careers. Using money-list data, the researchers classified players into five groups: Elite, Distinguished, Established, Journeymen, and Grinders. Puterman says the golf study will be useful in his teaching and further research. He hopes that a follow-up study relating shot making to player performance will impact PGA Tour policy. All data was drawn from pgatour.com and was analyzed using a set of statistical methods referred to as cluster analysis. Cluster analysis has many applications, notably in improving the efficiency of Internet search engines. It also is used to identify information patterns in fields as diverse as consumer behaviour, crime detection, and a focal point for Puterman at Sauder—health care. In March, the UBC Centre for Health Care Management at Sauder—of which Puterman is Research Director—was lauded in the pages of the Globe and Mail as an emerging centre for excellence in the application of operations research to deal with challenges in health care delivery. ■ UBC leads the way in operations research ranking UBC AND SAUDER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS FACULTY PLACED FIRST IN the Interfaces journal ranking of universities’ contributions to the INFORMS practice literature (international/non-U.S. category) in December. The purpose of these rankings is to measure the contributions of universities to the INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences) practice literature. According to Michael H. Rothkopf, editor of the Interfaces journal, “these rankings will stir the competitive spirits of universities and lead to additional, and much needed, contributions to the practice literature.” ■ Paul Cubbon launches new marketing column in Business Examiner IN APRIL, SAUDER MARKETING INSTRUCTOR PAUL CUBBON LAUNCHED a new marketing column for the Black Press-published Business Examiner, which is distributed regionally in British Columbia. Entitled “The Sell,” Cubbon’s foray into opinion journalism will focus on the latest marketing trends, highlighting best—and worst—practices, and offering insights into the leading thinking and strategies in the field of marketing. Cubbon has an international business background, having worked for the J Walter Thompson advertising agency and for Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer packaged goods companies. His first column focused on social networking tools for businesses. ■ 2007-2008 Sauder Research and Teaching Excellence Awards announced IN APRIL, SAUDER PROFESSORS KAI LI AND RALPH WINTER WERE recipients of the 2008 Sauder School of Business Research Excellence Awards, for the Junior and Senior categories respectively. These awards are given in recognition of outstanding individual accomplishments in research. Li is the W.M. Young Professor of Finance at Sauder; Winter is Professor of Strategy, Business Economics and Finance at the school, and Canada Research Chair in Business Economics and Policy. The UBC Killam Teaching Prize recognized professor Harish Krishnan for his outstanding contributions to undergraduate teaching in the Sauder School of Business. Krishnan is a professor in Sauder’s operations and logistics division, and his research interests include pharmaceutical supply chains and antitrust issues. The 2007-08 Talking Stick Award for Innovation recognized professor Steve Alisharan for his commitment and passion for the continuous improvement of the MBA Cores and the overall MBA experience. Alisharan was lauded for his relentless focus on innovation, and his commitment to student-focused teaching. In addition, he was instrumental in bringing the annual Capstone Program to the MBA program, and played a lead role in developing Sauder’s new Executive MBA in Health Care. ■ To learn more about the research being conducted by Sauder faculty members, visit www.sauder.ubc.ca SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 29 New Sauder alumni chapter offers a jolly good time London calling BY ROB MCMAHON When Bruno Vander Cruyssen was interviewed for a job at Credit Suisse in London, he was shocked at the line of questioning. AT THE TIME, VANDER CRUYSSEN (BCOM 91) didn’t realize the man interviewing him, Kevin Rush (BSc 80, MBA 81), was a fellow alumnus. “When he asked me a question about one of the faculty members, I almost fell off my seat,” said Vander Cruyssen, laughing. “Since I’ve started working in London, I do business with new people all the time, and always wonder if they might be Sauder alumni too.” With this in mind, the pair recently decided to start a new London-based alumni chapter. They hope the chapter will act as a resource for business networking, offer advice on London life for newcomers, and help build Sauder’s international reputation. “Kevin and I decided to start with a high-profile inaugural event, and then let the Kevin Rush and Bruno Vander Cruyssen met up near the Cabot Fountain at London’s Canary Wharf recently to chat about their work as co-chairs of the Sauder London alumni chapter. rest take care of itself,” said Vander Cruyssen, who now works in Credit Suisse’s Fixed and MSc graduates, sending it out to potential share memories of the West Coast. Vander Income Division. “No one is obliged to come employers across Canada. After graduation he Cruyssen said he still visits Sauder fairly every time—we’d rather make it fun than participated in an alumni group in Vancouver, regularly, meeting with professors like Rob obligatory.” and received the Blythe Eagles Volunteer Heinkel. Rush remembers walking around Leadership Award in 1986. campus last summer and being struck that it Rush, who is now at Barclays Capital, agreed. “Everyone’s life is pretty busy with “I’ve always enjoyed being involved in had changed a great deal since his graduation. work and family, so we’re not basing graduate student associations, since they put everything on going out to the pub,” he said. me in contact with people from lots of in life as I did in my last two years at Sauder,” “We’re inviting people to contribute what diverse backgrounds,” he said. “UBC is such said Rush. “One of my fond memories is they can, and keep it fun. The key is that the a huge school, and it’s nice to get to know taking a break in the Bus Stop café, which chapter is driven by content like invited people there you might not otherwise meet. was next to the Henry Angus building, speakers and networking.” I also like building things, and I suppose that between classes enjoying a cup of coffee and the London chapter is that kind of project.” one of their famous cinnamon buns.” ■ Both Rush and Vander Cruyssen have long been involved in Sauder. During his graduating Since both alumni are involved in year, Rush was the president of graduate investment banking, they need to work in student association, and the employment large metropolitan areas like London. But coordinator for his class in 1981. He helped they still miss British Columbia, and view the self-produce a brochure showcasing the MBA chapter as a way to connect with others who 30 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 “It’s funny, but I’ve never worked as hard Those interested in connecting with other alumni based in London, England, can email [email protected] or [email protected]. STUDENT CORNER Jake Wetzel OLYMPIC ROWER / MSC CANDIDATE BY CRISTINA CALBOREANU In his own words Medal record: On rowing: I’ve been doing a Silver, 2004 Summer Olympic Games, Athens – Coxless Four lot of different sports over the years. Before rowing, I had been competing at a high level as a cyclist for six years—I was on the Canadian Junior National team. But I found I had the ideal body type for a rower and I was successful as soon as I started rowing. For me, the excitement comes from being able to compete at the highest level. Gold, 2007 World Championships, Munich – Eight Gold, 2003 World Championships, Milan – Coxless Four Gold, 1999 World Championships, St. Catharines – Coxed Four Other sports: Cycling, cross-country skiing, mountaineering Hobbies: Guitar On the Olympic Games: I will be competing in the men’s eight in Beijing. It’s the biggest and the fastest boat—definitely the flagship event for rowing. The importance of mentorship BY PETER KIM On his role in the boat: I row in the fourth seat, in the engine room of the eight. The stern pair sets the rhythm and the bow pair controls the balance of the boat. Seats 3 through 6 are the power in the boat. My job is to hold the power and the pace as high as possible for as long as possible. On the outcry about China’s crackdown on Tibet protesters: It’s unfair to expect athletes to take on the responsibility for the issue of human rights. Our focus is on competing. It’s the International Olympic Committee that decided to award Beijing the Games—it’s no surprise to anyone that there’s an authoritarian regime in place and that they don’t have a great human rights record. The Olympic Games are not going to solve the problem, but they are going to have a positive impact by bringing human rights issues out in the open and putting scrutiny on the government. On his plans for the future: I am retiring from rowing after the Beijing Olympics and my focus will be on coming back to Sauder and finishing my PhD in Finance. I’m very interested in doing financial research, and I’m planning to pursue an academic career. On choosing business studies: Business school is a natural fit for me—I have always been interested in what’s happening in the markets and where the real decisions are being made. In brief Born: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Education: Undergraduate degree (double major in Economics and Statistics) at the University of California at Berkeley (2001); Master’s degree in Financial Economics at Linacre College, University of Oxford and the Saïd Business School (2006); currently pursuing his MSc at the Sauder School of Business. MY TIME AT SAUDER HAS BEEN a rich, fulfilling experience. And although the friends that I’ve made and the activities that I’ve been involved in have added new dimensions to my life, my most fulfilling experiences have been times when I’ve interacted with various alumni of the school and when I’ve taken away lessons from those interactions that I would not have discovered possibly until much later in my life. This is the power of mentorship. The instance that most readily comes to mind was when I enrolled in Comm486R, taught by Sauder alumnus Irfhan Rawji, in the fall semester a year ago. The course content, in its own right, was pretty amazing. It combined Irfhan’s favorite cases studied in his first year of the Harvard MBA curriculum and a speaker series that introduced our class to some of the most successful business leaders in Canada. The course was challenging, fun, interesting and all the other adjectives that a person would use to describe an activity that was exceptional in every way. But for me, the real benefit that I derived from that course was how I was induced to reassess my motivations and priorities in life given what Irfhan had shared with us. I had been lucky enough to observe and to be taught the importance of being empathetic, community oriented, socially conscious, balanced in life and career… and I feel that the path that lies before me is better than the one that I had planned prior to interacting with Irfhan. Don’t get me wrong; I probably would have figured these things out eventually, but not until later in life, and not without making mistakes along the way. Given my recent experiences, I am an impassioned believer in alumni involvement in students’ lives. I strongly feel that I cannot overestimate the impact of alumni involvement in the Sauder undergraduate community and I hope to be able to contribute and help others grow in the same way that I have. ■ SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 31 Earning interest BY TRENDS, TIPS, AND TIDBITS SUE BUGOS Top of the news, top of mind, tops in their field. Here’s what’s happening in our world. Top of the world—well, at least Canada When Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu joined the force in 1979, he was one of only three officers of Asian descent. Rising through the ranks, he was named chief last August. Elsewhere in Canada, Asian Canadians are making their mark as well. • What a year, what a number 2008 is designated the Year of the Rat in the Chinese calendar, which started on February 7th. It is a leap year, and it will be the only year in the twenty-first century during which two dates correspond to perfect numbers; one is June 28 (composed of the perfect numbers 6 and 28), which is always a date composed of perfect numbers, and the other is August 12 (composed of the perfect number 8128, as in August 12, 2008). This year is also has many designations, such as: • International Year of Languages; • International Year of Planet Earth; • • Another police officer of Asian descent, Ottawa’s Inspector Kai Liu, was the first Asian police officer in that city when he joined the force in 1986. Last year he was honoured with the “Asian-Canadian of the Year” award, which recognizes contributions made by an AsianCanadian role model living in the Ottawa area who balances a successful career with community and charitable work. Senator Vivienne Poy, the first Canadian Senator of Asian descent, actually gave Insp. Liu his award. In 2005, Canadian Football League legend and first AsianCanadian to play in the CFL, Normie Kwong, became Alberta’s first Asian-Canadian Lieutenant Governor. • International Year of Sanitation; • European Year of Intercultural Dialogue; • Year of the Dolphin (extended from 2007). 32 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 Each year, Fortune magazine names its list of most powerful women in business. The 2007 list was full of highly credentialed women, making their mark on the business world. Topping the list are: 1) Indra Nooyi Chair and CEO, PepsiCo 2) Anne Mulcahy Chair and CEO, Xerox 3) Meg Whitman President and CEO, eBay 4) Angela Braly President and CEO, Wellpoint 5) Irene Rosenfeld Chair and CEO, Kraft Foods iPhone rated top invention by Time Magazine Even though it’s just now coming to Canada, and there have been many criticisms of the latest and greatest in mobile communication, Lev Grossman, writing for time.com, says there are five reasons this phone rocks: 1) It’s pretty—Apple recognized that good design is just as important as good technology. • International Year of the Potato; • Year of the Frog, as declared by the international conservation initiative Amphibian Ark. Taking Girl Power to new heights YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS Tell us what you think of this issue of Viewpoints. Go to www.sauder.ubc.ca to complete our reader survey. 2) It’s touchy-feely—touchscreen technology gives users the feeling of being in control with the touch of their finger. 3) It will make other phones better—Apple negotiated a deal with AT&T allowing it unprecedented freedom to build the phone to its own specifications; other phone developers will now want to negotiate the same type of deal, leading to better phones all around. 4) It’s not really a phone, it’s a platform—the designers actually took their operating platform and essentially squished it down in to the phone; it really is a genuine hand-held computer. And, since platforms are designed to be built upon, watch for amazing new things to come along that will fill the blank spaces that are on the desktop with icons. 5) It is just the beginning of big things to come—The iPhone is built to be improved and will evolve into amazing things; just watch and you will see the next generation of iPhone will be even cooler than the current version. After 40 years of relative obscurity, bisphenol A takes the dubious honour of “chemical most in the news” today Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the highest volume chemicals in commercial production today; its molecules are building blocks that form the basis for polycarbonate plastics. It has been widely used in baby bottles, drinking bottles, CDs, and to coat the inside of aluminum cans. Research has demonstrated that when exposed to high heat or acidic compounds, toxins leach from these containers and are ingested by the people using the products. BPA has been shown in animal research to be an endocrine disruptor, mimicking estrogen and affecting hormone development. While the research community and most recently the Canadian government and US National Toxicology Program say there is “some concern” related to the use of BPA, there is still more research to be done to determine the exact health effects on humans because there is so much daily exposure to it. Canada is the first country in the world to complete a risk assessment of BPA. This is being done in consultation with industry and other stakeholders over a 60-day public comment period. The Government of Canada is proposing to reduce bisphenol A exposure in infants and newborns by proposing a number of actions: to ban polycarbonate baby bottles; to develop stringent migration targets for bisphenol A in infant formula cans; to work with industry to develop alternative food packaging and develop a code of practice; and to list bisphenol A under Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. For those who are concerned about BPA exposure, the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences recommends these steps: • Don’t microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers. Polycarbonate is strong and durable, but over time it may break down from over use at high temperatures. Crime in Canada A recent Maclean’s magazine feature looked at crime in Canada—reviewing 100 cities and regions by comparing national averages from 2006 per capita crime rates and then creating a ranking based on aggregate results for six key offences (murder, aggravated assault, sexual assault, robbery, vehicle theft, and breaking and entering). Surprisingly, nine of the top ten “crime-ridden” cities are in western Canada, stretching from Winnipeg to BC. The sixth least “dangerous” city, however, is North Vancouver. MOST “DANGEROUS” CITIES (based on an overall crime score related to the national average): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Regina Saskatoon Winnipeg Prince George Edmonton LEAST “DANGEROUS” CITIES: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Caledon, ON Maskoutains MRC, PQ Nottawasaga, ON Halton Regional, ON Petrolia, ON North Vancouver, BC Michael Dell, 40th richest billionaire in the world • Polycarbonate containers that contain BPA usually have a #7 on the bottom. • Reduce your use of canned foods. • When possible, opt for glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food or liquids. • Use baby bottles that are BPA free. In its annual “World’s Billionaires” list, Forbes.com ranks some familiar as well as very reclusive people. For example, Dell Computers founder and CEO Michael Dell of Austin, Texas is at number 40 on the March 2008 list. With humble beginnings, selling computer parts and repair services out of his University of Texas dorm room in 1984, Dell took the company to record breaking heights. This 43-year old’s personal net worth is estimated at $16.4US billion. Before turning 40, he consistently ranked #1 on Fortune magazine’s list of America’s “Richest 40 Under 40.” The top five on this list are: Name Age Net worth (billions $) 1) Warren Buffett, USA 77 62.0 2) Carlos Slim Helu & family, Mexico 68 60.0 3) William Gates III, USA 52 58.0 4) Lakshmi Mittal, India 57 45.0 5) Mukesh Ambani, India 50 43.0 SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 33 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! 1940s Bob Harwood, BCom 1945 As UBC marks its 100th Anniversary I return for a 60th Anniversary Class Reunion. Asked to share something of a unique time in the life of UBC immediately after the Second World War I do so through the lens of my own involvement. When I enrolled, victory in Europe was eight months away. Atomic bombs would bring the war in Asia to an abrupt end within the year. Student enrollment tripled to more than 10,000 when a grateful nation enabled veterans to resume educations interrupted by The War-or even earlier by The Great Depression. Under President Larry McKenzie’s oversight, army huts in vast numbers were brought in to serve as temporary classrooms and residential camps for student veterans. In the most mature student body ever, political activism and altruism were in vogue, focused on issues of social justice and peace. We sought to build a world in which Great Depressions and Great Wars would be no more. My participation in that era continues to define who and what I am to this day. My own world view was stimulated even earlier by a home environment in which discussion of the big issues of the day was a dinner table norm. During prolonged hospitalizations with osteomyelitis in the 1930’s I became an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction alike. In 1942, 34 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 months after Pearl Harbor, I experienced the trauma of having literally half of my 700 school classmates disappear overnight when all Canadians of Japanese descent (however distant) were arbitrarily relocated inland. With a non-athletic focus of necessity I became President of the Student Council and of the Debating Society at Richmond High. Winning Richmond’s University Entrance Scholarship in 1944, my academic plan was to complete a BCom and a BA in Economics and English. But, to borrow a phrase from former Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan, I also brought an “irrational exuberance” to my involvement in extracurricular activities-a trait I would exhibit throughout my career and to this day in retirement. I was privileged to study under faculty icons of that period. For English I was one of just 30 under Dr. Garnett Sedgewick, the Shakespearean scholar and head of the English Department for three decades. Walter Gage (later Dean) led a much larger math class in Arts 100 but knew each student by name. In that era there were even classes of 800 in the Auditorium. In 1944 I joined the Parliamentary Forum, modeled after the Oxford Union, participating in its debates and a Mock Parliament that would become less “mock” as veterans who had been active in the political parties of the day joined our ranks. Marshall McLuhan later coined the insightful phrase, “The medium is the message.” For me, the English language, written and spoken, was rapidly becoming the medium through which I sought to convey the message of my many and varied passions. And later that year, in a non-campus context, I met the girl I would one day marry. The following year I became President of the Parliamentary Forum and was elected to serve as Junior Member on the 46 / 47 University Students’ Council. That summer I was Costume Director for the Vancouver Diamond Jubilee Show—an epic reproduction of Vancouver’s history on a vast stage at Brockton Point. And my dating of Ione became a courtship. Weekly Student Council sessions in 46 / 47 (under Ted Kirkpatrick as President) extended far into the night and were but a platform for other involvements. I participated in interuniversity debates and as a UBC delegate to the Pacific Northwest College Congress on World Affairs (PNCC). At Reed College in Oregon, Eleanor Roosevelt was our theme speaker as we debated with ardor and in detail the framework and rules that would (or should) govern the newly formed United Nations. I became the Canadian representative on the PNCC Executive. I won reelection to Students’ Council, this time as Treasurer and Office Manager. That summer I established “Harwood’s Household Services” to build my summer earnings. And, in the midst of all this, Ione and I were married that August. I would return to UBC and she to her teaching career. While serving as Treasurer under Grant Livingstone, the first war veteran Student President, I was elected to Sigma Tau Chi, the honorary fraternity. There, UBC’s President McKenzie was a participant among equals as we discussed campus issues. I was one of UBC’s delegates to the National Federation of Canadian University Students conference. I became the new NFCUS President, succeeding Maurice Sauve. Years later, his wife Jeanne would become the first woman to serve as Canada’s Governor General. I embarked on a speaking tour of Canada’s then 22 universities returning just in time for final exams. The Bachelor of Commerce Degree I received (along with one William Sauder, after whom the school is now named) should really have gone to Ione for so magnanimously accommodating all of my excesses in the first months of our marriage! As our Student’s Council completed its term, members of the incoming council joined for a number of sessions by way of initiation. Among them was future Prime Minister John Turner. After another entrepreneurial summer, my NFCUS responsibilities continued as I pursued my BA program. I met with Paul Martin Sr., father of another future Prime Minister, in whose portfolio NFCUS concerns fell, and met with my Regional Vice Presidents at McMaster University where our Secretariat was located. By anniversary coincidence I was the guest speaker at the 2008 General Meeting of the McMaster University Women’s Club. I had a very fulfilling marketing career in Canada and for several memorable years in Great Britain, drawing extensively on communication skills honed at UBC. I have been blessed with two great marriages. I lost Ione to cancer after more than 27 years of marriage. Barbara and I are about to celebrate our 31st anniversary. Since 1990, but for travels abroad, we have divided our year between our home in Canada and our home in a vibrant expatriate community in Central Mexico. Echoing those years at UBC, I am an active participant in one, sometimes two, weekly discussion groups on world affairs and a long time regular at the bi-monthly sessions of the Writers’ Group as dozens of published authors gather for readings and critique of each others’ work. My most recent book is titled “Seeking COMMON GROUND in a troubled world” (www.firstbookstore.com and search by author). My monthly columns on world affairs over many years are also accessible on line by simply searching Google for This World of Ours by Bob Harwood. Each day I continue to draw on my personal experiences during that unique period in UBC’s history. CLASS NOTES 1950s BCOM 1958 REUNION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18TH TO FRIDAY, JUNE 20TH, 2008 - KELOWNA The Reunion Committee has worked very hard to put together a program that is engaging, educational, entertaining, and above all stressfree, for both the mind and body, as we all know our limitations! Still have questions? Call your Reunion Committee for additional details: John Bishop: (604) 926-8728 Barrie Lindsay: (604) 261-3653 Charlotte Warren: (604) 738-7202 David Stowe: (604) 731-4526 Bernie Treasurer: (604) 525-5737 Jim Horsman, BCom 1959 Jim Horsman’s service to Alberta includes his many contributions during five consecutive terms as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and 14 years as a Minister of the Crown, his efforts to strengthen postsecondary education in the province, and his distinguished service representing Alberta and Canada on the international stage. He has been a driving force behind many programs and institutions that shape the quality of life enjoyed by Albertans. Jim was born in Camrose, Alberta in 1935. During the Second World War, he lived in nearby Meeting Creek with his grandparents while his father, George, served overseas and his mother, Kathleen, served as the first postmistress at the Suffield Defence Research Establishment. After the war, Jim’s family moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan where his father worked as a CPR fireman and engineer. The family grew with the arrival of Jim’s sister, Lynn. Jim was an active and avid student who, although naturally introverted, excelled at debating and public speaking. He left Moose Jaw to study at the University of British Columbia where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1959, followed by a law degree in 1960. He began his career articling in Calgary and may well have stayed there were it not for a visit to a cousin who was a veterinarian practicing in Medicine Hat. While there, Jim met a local lawyer who needed a partner. He jumped at the prospect and joined the practice. Shortly after settling in Medicine Hat, Jim met a young high school teacher named Betty Whitney, the daughter of a pioneer Alberta ranch family. They were married in 1964 and began raising a family. Those early years marked the beginning of a remarkable association between Jim and a community he has long been proud to serve. He began with a small legal practice that covered everything from drafting wills to defending criminal cases. Jim enjoyed the work, particularly opportunities to argue cases in court. He also began to foster a growing interest in public life. Jim became an activist with the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party and served as the Vice President for Southern Alberta before throwing his own hat in the ring as a candidate. He made two unsuccessful attempts before becoming the MLA for Medicine Hat in 1975. Jim’s years at the Alberta Legislature included terms as Minister of Advanced Education and Manpower, Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs, Attorney General and Provincial Secretary, Government House Leader and Deputy Premier. His considerable legacies from this period include his leadership of Alberta’s negotiations during both the Canada/USA Free Trade Agreement and NAFTA and his work as Alberta’s key representative during the 10 years of discussions following the repatriation of the Constitution of Canada. He also established the Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund, which has endowed over 10,000 Alberta students annually since it was first introduced in 1981 and successfully promoted private sector support for Alberta universities and colleges and technical institutions. Jim continued to serve Albertans after leaving politics in 1993, including work as Alberta’s chief negotiator on the issues of free trade within Canada. Jim also served as Chancellor of the University of Lethbridge and continues to support the university’s leading work in water and environmental research. He was a founding member of the Alberta Ingenuity Board and has served Albertans as a member of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation. Over the years, Jim has represented the province as a national and international speaker on constitutional law, senate reform, and free trade and as a member of the Advisory Board of the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States. Jim’s contributions to Medicine Hat over the years include a term as chair of the Medicine Hat College Board of Governors and many other activities in support of the school. He chaired the 1995 Medicine Hat Flood Relief Committee and has served with the local Kinsmen Club, the Chamber of Commerce, St. John’s Presbyterian Church and countless teams devoted to projects from renovating the local court house, library, and YMCA to developing sports facilities. Jim and Betty provide scholarships and student leadership awards to three Medicine Hat high schools, as well as scholarships for University of Lethbridge political science students. His many honours include membership in the Order of Canada, the Alberta Order of Excellence, an Honourary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Lethbridge, the Queen Elizabeth II Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals, the Governor General’s 125th Anniversary Medal and the Alberta Centennial Medal. Jim has always remained unassuming in the face of his many accomplishments. He is known and respected as much for his humility, great sensitivity, and ability to listen to others, as he is for the remarkable things he has done on behalf of his fellow Albertans. 1960s Don Marlatt, BCom 1962 Following a variety of employment and other adventures across Canada and beyond, Don is now enjoying a busy retirement in Kitsilano with his spouse, UBC instructor Vicky Monsalve. Robert Mackay, BCom 1964 A retired lawyer, and Past National President of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Robert has now been named the Commander of the Sovereign Order of St. John, Knights Hospitaller, Victoria Commandery. This is a charitable order which supports the mentally ill homeless in Victoria. In addition, he has accepted the position of Vice-Commodore of the Schooner Cove Yacht Club. 1970s MBA 1978 – 30TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION FESTIVITIES FRIDAY, AUGUST 15TH, 2008 5:30 PM Darby’s Pub, 2001 MacDonald Street, Vancouver No Host Bar Join fellow alumni and Professors we may remember on the patio for a drink; We have a special spot for our alumni and Profs. Get there early to avoid the line-ups! SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2008 11 PM TO 4 PM The Brock House Restaurant 3875 Point Grey Road, Vancouver Cash Bar Dress: Stylish Casual Adults: $62.50 Registration Details will be online shortly RSVP DEADLINE: July 10, 2008 SUNDAY, AUGUST 17TH, 2008 Leisurely Bike Ride along the Sea Wall Contact [email protected] for more details. SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 35 CLASS NOTES Lyall Knott, BCom 1971 Lyall Knott, Q.C., B.Com. (UBC), LL.B. (UBC), LL.M (Lond), a Senior Partner at Clark Wilson LLP in Vancouver, has been elected to the Board of Directors of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Founded in 1973, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is a multi-service, multicultural agency with a mandate to promote the well-being of Canadians and immigrants. The organization assists new immigrants with settlement; provides counselling and support to families and individuals with personal issues; promotes personal development of children and youth; facilitates social participation of parents and seniors in the community; helps the unemployed in job and career development; facilitates entrepreneurs in business development; delivers education and employmentrelated training; and promotes social change through community development and advocacy. of his Chemistry and Math degree at UBC. He became a Chartered Accountant in 1982 and provided professional accounting services to many junior resource exploration and other companies. He has also served as a senior financial officer for a number of public junior resource companies and a number of First Nations. He has served for a number of years as the treasurer and on the board of directors and on the advisory board of the British Columbia and Yukon Chamber of Mines, as well as treasurer of other community groups. He was a mining industry representative on the Treaty Negotiation Advisory Committee. He was a founding member of an organization which jointly sponsored a mining conference held in Dalian, China in 2000. He was instrumental in persuading a number of mining and junior resource companies from Canada to attend this conference. His present activities include liaising between the AMEBC and Sauder’s Ch’nook Aboriginal Business Education program. 1980s include topics on the upcoming U.S. election, architecture, and climate change, to name a few. If you are interested in attending but have not been receiving the notices please contact the UBC Alumni Association office in Vancouver [email protected], or me directly at 403.298.7820. MBA/MSC 1988 FRIDAY, JUNE 20TH 7:00 PM START Pub Night Mahony & Sons 5990 University Boulevard [UBC] www.mahonyandsons.com No Host Bar Join us for a drink on campus; get there early to avoid the line-ups! SATURDAY, JUNE 21ST 6:30 PM – 1:00 AM Salmon BBQ The Brock House Restaurant 3875 Point Grey Road, Vancouver Cash bar Dress: Stylish Casual Spouses/Significant Others welcome Adults: $65 per person (includes taxes & tip) Agenda: 6:30 Reception 7:30 Dinner Registration: Mary Cue, BCom 1987 In November, I gave birth to my first (and only) baby, Matthew Henri Lapointe. On completion of my maternity leave, I will resume my work as a real estate development consultant in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/ Alumni/Reunions/UpcomingReunions /default.htm Do you have any photos of our time together? We're looking for evidence of all those embarrassing / memorable moments! Please bring them to the BBQ!! SUNDAY, JUNE 22ND RUN / WALK / PICNIC AT SPANISH BANKS KIDS WELCOME! Meet next to Brock House Randall Yip, LIAC 1979 Randall was recently recognized by the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AMEBC) with the 2007 Frank Woodside Past Presidents’ Award. The award was given in recognition for his outstanding achievements and distinguished service to the minerals industry and AMEBC. The award was presented on January 30th at the Mineral Exploration Roundup 2008. Randall started his association with mining during his youth on Texada Island. His father was a chemist with a mining company and the life of the entire village revolved around mining for limestone. His part-time summer jobs between University terms were with the company and he worked there for several years after completion 36 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 BCOM 1988 REUNION SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH, 2008, NOON TO 4 PM The Brock House Restaurant 3875 Point Grey Road Vancouver, BC Agenda: Run / Walk starts at 9:00 AM Picnic at 11:00 AM on Spanish Banks (hot dogs and hamburgers provided) Salmon BBQ Join us for a fabulous get-together on the west lawn! Register Now: Jim Vavra, BCom 1984 Last year I started organizing and hosting UBC Alumni networking lunches in Calgary, centered around a speaker who is a UBC alumnus with expertise in the academic, governmental, non-profit, arts, or business field. The event is run bi-monthly and has sold out every time. Future speakers are expected to http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/ Alumni/Reunions/UpcomingReunions /default.htm Contact [email protected] for additional information. YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS Tell us what you think of this issue of Viewpoints. Go to www.sauder.ubc.ca to complete our reader survey. CLASS NOTES 1990s MBA 1997 REUNION 11 YEAR REUNION MBA 1998 REUNION 10 YEAR REUNION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2008, NOON TO 4 PM SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2008, 2 PM TO 5 PM The Brock House Restaurant 3875 Point Grey Road Vancouver Kingston Taphouse & Grill Dress: Stylish Casual 755 Richards Street (between West Georgia and Robson) Vancouver Significant Other/Kids Welcome Dress: Stylish Casual Adults: $55 (includes taxes & tip) Tickets: $45 per person Kids ages 4 to 12 - $ 27.50. Free for children under 4. Spouses/Significant Others Welcome Cash Bar Brian Elgood, BCom 1990 Raman Jottey, BCom 1996 Morgan Tam, BCom 1991 My husband and I are celebrating our second year of marriage. Ottawa is wonderful. In 2007 I became my own boss (financial consulting) and delegated myself 100 per cent accountability— no more, no less. UBC and CGA prepared me well for this journey. Agenda Noon: Outdoor Fun on the West Lawn! https://secure.sauder.ubc.ca/alumni/ alumni_reunions/mba1998/ mbareunion1998reg1.cfm 2000s Reception & Cocktails for the Adults Games: bocce ball, bowling and croquet sets outside on the west lawn 1pm: Salmon BBQ buffet 4pm: End. Tuum Est! https://secure.sauder.ubc.ca/alumni/ alumni_reunions/mba1997/ mbareunion1997register.cfm MBA 1993 15 YEAR REUNION Contact [email protected] for additional information SATURDAY, AUGUST 23RD, 2008, NOON TO 4 PM Brock House Restaurant 3875 Point Grey Road Vancouver, BC Salmon BBQ Dress: Stylish Casual Tickets: $60 per person Spouses/Significant Others Welcome Register Now: http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/Alumni/Reu nions/UpcomingReunions/default.htm BCOM 1998 REUNION SATURDAY, JUNE 21ST, 2008, 6 PM David Williams, MSc 1997 I have been working at Disney World (a.k.a. the Happiest Place on Earth) for the past 3 years. Currently I am a manager of Research and Analysis, a job where I apply the Management Science skills I learnt at Sauder to analyze and model data to make better business decisions. Steamworks 375 Water Street, Vancouver Come celebrate with us at an evening cocktail reception. Your ticket will include a grand assortment of hors d’oeuvres (light dinner), two drinks, and a spectacular view of the north shore mountains and Burrard Inlet. Tickets:$100 per person (incl. taxes) Hannah Lee, BCom 1996 BCom 1998 Reunion Committee Members After working in Shanghai for over 5 years and during this time taking NCTY public on NASDAQ, I have moved to Beijing in March 08 and started a new life in a new city and am now with a pre-IPO storage solutions provider, UIT, as their VP & CFO. Marc Drysdale ([email protected]) & Natalia Venida ([email protected]) SHARE YOUR NEWS Class notes are easier than ever to submit. Simply fill out the online form at www.sauder.ubc. ca/alumni/classnotes Register Now: https://secure.sauder.ubc.ca/alumni/a lumni_reunions/bcom1998/bcomreuni on1998reg1.cfm Lorri Jongeneel, BCom 2000 I have been fortunate to travel to visit my friends around the world these past few years, for both business and pleasure. My time is spent between work, triathlon (currently training for Ironman Lake Placid 2008), and travel—anywhere and everywhere! My graduation from UBC and participation in triathlon has introduced me to friends and colleagues to visit Bermuda, Turks & Caicos, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, France, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, and hopefully Bali in 2009! Currently, I am living and working in Manhattan and would love to hear from other UBC Alumni in NYC as TO has the majority population right now! SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 37 CLASS NOTES Connie Leung, MBA 2000 Michael Drouillard, DULE 2005 This year my book, Landlording in Canada (Self-Counsel Press, February 2008) was published! It became available in bookstores nationwide in April. Landlording in Canada is loaded with practical information for small landlords, from those who own a few rental apartment units, to those who own nothing else outside of a secondary suite. You could say that writing a book like this makes a lot of sense for me—a DULE graduate with the “property management” specialty! a management consultant. In the last several months I’ve been working on a case in Dublin and enjoying weekend trips in Ireland (photo: Cliffs of Moher, West Coast) and mainland Europe. I have just been posted to a short project in Abu Dhabi with a future project set up for Mexico later in the spring. Needless to say, the apartment in Montreal is collecting some dust! Regards, Graham. Connie has been working with Fortis Intertrust, engaged in promoting services about setting up corporate structuring for Hong Kong and China for the past 4 years and has been enjoying her work. She has also become a frequent traveller within Asia as well as in Europe. Andrew Zyp, MBA 2002 Chloe Susan Juliana Zyp was born early February this year. Ada Ho, BCom 2003 It never occurred to me how much I would love traveling and seeing the world, until now. For the past year+, I have been traveling mostly to the States for work. Although some are not the grandest nor the most exotic of places, I have definitely become accustomed to the traveling life—the hotels, the airports, the taxis, and experiencing the local cultures. I’ve been the Marketing Programs Manager at Layer 7 Technologies for the past 16 months now, and been enjoying every bit of it! I learn lots everyday, and get to work with some of the brightest and ambitious people I have ever met. So as now, I’m definitely mixing pleasure with business! 38 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 Ryan McLellan, BCom 2005 This has been an exciting year so far! In January, I started my dream job as the Sports Marketing Manager for Gatorade. I classify this as one of my dream jobs because I love coming into work everyday! I was able to combine the marketing skills I developed at the Sauder School of Business with my passion for sports. One of the perks is traveling to all the best sporting events across our country to represent the Gatorade brand. I also recently purchased my first piece of real estate in Vancouver. Currently I am training to represent Team Canada as a goaltender at the World Inline Hockey Championships this summer in Slovakia. Carl Hung, BCom 2006 I’m the VP of Season Components (http://www.seasoncom.com), a contract electronic manufacturer (wire harness, cable, PCBA, plastics). Helped company grow 40 per cent this year—forecasting similar growth for next 4 years. Classmates who need contract manufacturers—contact me! to spend some time in the Philippines in the fall with my brother. 2007 marked my fifteenth anniversary with my company, and also ended with a promotion within Merck Frosst’s Vaccine Division to the role of Public Health Manager, Western Canada. In this role I manage all of our company’s publicly-funded vaccines, and I am currently obtaining public program listings for the new HPV (cervical cancer) and Zoster (shingles) vaccines. Outside work, my pursuits include playing hockey twice a week, and taking our Lab/Pointer out for regular daily exercise, rain or shine. Binhui Qi, BCom 2006 I am Binhui, graduated in 2006, major in marketing and international business. I am now working in real estate field, and I got married last year. This is my family picture of my husband, my new born baby, and I. (My baby’s name is Brayden, born on 26th Jan, 2008) Peter Rasquinha, MBA 2006 Peter obtained the PMP certification from the Project Management Institute, PA, USA. Ashram Mustapha, MBA 2006 Graham Day, BCom 2006 I’ve managed to have had great luck of late working for Oliver Wyman as My wife and I did the trip of a lifetime last spring, with a week in Istanbul and a country-wide tour of Egypt. Now that my studies are over, we have a lot more time to do personal travel, and business travel across Canada is a lot easier. I also managed SHARE YOUR NEWS Class notes are easier than ever to submit. Simply fill out the online form at www.sauder.ubc. ca/alumni/classnotes CLASS NOTES Franco Barbiero, MBA 2007 Mary and I were married in July 2006 and we are expecting our first child this June. Soon after graduation, we moved to Toronto where I began a career in investment banking with Scotia Capital. Toronto is a great city, but there’s no place like Vancouver! training towards commercial valuation and real estate financing. Great job satisfaction comes from being able to see that my valuations and recommendations for real estate financing play an important role in the world, especially in such volatile times. My bachelor degree in commerce specialized in real estate, so I have been able to find the type of work I wanted immediately. My degree has also been very helpful, providing relevant study and training for the job I am at today. I am currently in the PGCV program, and will graduate from this program in 5 months. I am also working towards getting my AACI from the Appraisal Institute of Canada and will achieve this designation in one and a half years. There is no doubt in my mind that the programs offered by UBC are creating valuable skill sets for students and that such training allows graduates to qualify for positions that would otherwise demand years of experience. in memoriam Eric (de Traynel) Lavarack, Edwin Chen, BCom 2007 Got my dream job in Intel as a material planner. MBA 1981 Eric (de Traynel) Lavarack, born December 12th, 1945, passed away on July 8th, 2006 after a long and courageous fight with brain cancer. He was born in Argentina, educated in France, England, and graduated from Laurentian and from UBC with an MBA in 1981. He worked in the mining industry based out of Vancouver for greater part of his career. He is survived by his wife Nicole Legault and son JeanSebastien. Jonathan Matthews, BCom 2007 Robert Miller, MBA 1988 I graduated in 2007 with a BCom, and I immediately started working as a residential appraiser for the BC Assessment Authority. This provided me with first-hand experience in property valuation and the basics for property inspections. I then got a job with Standard Life as a Mortgage Analyst, Underwriter. This job has provided me with more in-depth Robert (“Bob”) Miller, passed away in February, after a 4 1⁄2 year battle with cancer. Vance Mitchell, Professor Emeritus Dr. Vance Mitchell was a valued member of our Faculty from 1967 to 1988 serving in what was initially known as the Industrial Relations Management Division. Vance joined our faculty from the University of California, Berkeley where he completed his PhD. Prior to undertaking his PhD, Vance had a 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force (Career #1). The next 20 years were devoted to helping our faculty (Career #2). Vance served for several years as Chair of the OB-IR Division. He was especially helpful as a mentor with the new faculty during our rapid expansion between 1967 and 1970. In 1969 the faculty was approved to offer PhD programs, initially in three areas: Finance, Marketing, and Organizational Behaviour. Vance especially enjoyed working with the PhD students in Organizational Behaviour and was supervisor for more than nine PhD students during these early years. As one of his former PhD students noted: “He had really mastered the art of supervising PhD students…. He applied the LMX theory long before it was even articulated! ... Vance taught me what a supervisor has to do to facilitate the transformation of a student from becoming a scholar to being one.” Vance had a broad range of research interests and was a willing co-researcher with many members of the division. One of his most often cited works was “Measurement of Maslow’s Need Hierarchy” with coauthor P. Moudgill, but this is just one of many carefully researched and timely papers by Vance and his coauthors in the broad area of organizational behavioural psychology. Vance was also a thoughtful institution builder. In addition to his work within the faculty, Vance worked to build our relationships with other institutions across Canada and the United States. He was active in the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada and served as President of the Western Academy of Management. He encouraged his colleagues to become active in these national and international organizations. Vance and Frances were exceptional hosts to many divisional and faculty functions at their home. They made a significant effort to welcome all new members to the Division, giving Vance an opportunity to showcase his expertise in gardening: He was a Fellow in the American Horticultural Society and loved to be in the garden. Vance retired from UBC and was granted Professor Emeritus status in 1988. At that time he returned to the United States to served as Professor of Aviation Sciences with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach until 2007 (Career #3). Vance passed away on February 21, 2008. He is survived by Frances, his wife of 62 years, his sons Scott and Bill, his daughter-in-law Sita and two grandchildren. Frances is now living in her new home in California. Contact Us Is your information missing or incorrect? Just let us know by emailing [email protected] 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! 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. SPRING/SUMMER 2008 VIEWPOINTS 39 POINTS OF VIEW The courage to pursue your dreams What makes someone successful? Have you ever wondered what is the special alchemy that makes the difference between success and failure? “I urge you to pause and reflect on your own dreams and successes.... And I invite you to share them with us.” 40 VIEWPOINTS SPRING/SUMMER 2008 OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AS I HAVE LEARNED more about the different paths our distinguished alumni have taken in their lives and careers, I have come to realize that the two most important ingredients for success are passion and courage. Again in this issue of Viewpoints, we are proud to feature an exquisite group of accomplished Sauder alumni and students who embody these qualities. They have distinguished themselves in amazingly diverse areas, but their stories carry a common thread. There is a lesson here: about dedication and determination, and the courage to turn your dreams into reality. It is a lesson that James Chu, Chief Constable of the Vancouver Police Department, knows all too well. Read his story, and you will be amazed at the remarkable journey of a business grad from Shanghai to East Vancouver, and the path that led him to become Chief Constable in one of Canada’s largest cities. You will find that those same qualities define Jake Wetzel, the Sauder student and Olympic rower who boasts an Olympic medal and three world championships titles, and who will be representing Canada at this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Furthermore, for the second time in our spring issue of Viewpoints, we are delighted to be celebrating the accomplishments of Sauder alumni named among Business in Vancouver’s “Forty under 40.” This year’s honorees have left an indelible mark even before their 40th birthdays. In areas as diverse as law, services, finance, real estate, and the game industry, these impressive young leaders have made a difference. To quote Business in Vancouver, “This year’s award winners help to drive BC’s economy forward and vividly illustrate the value of pursuing business dreams.” And let us not forget the inspiring young women who have recently founded the Young Women in Business (YWiB) Network, an initiative that is very near and dear to my heart. This past March, they organized Beyond Pink!, the first event of its kind in Western Canada, bringing together an impressive group of seasoned professionals and young women just starting their careers in an inspirational two-day conference marking the launch of the YWiB network. These young women showed tremendous determination and energy— their success bodes well for the future of women in business across the country. All these stories, as diverse as they are, speak of courage and determination. They are an inspiration to us all. As you read them, I urge you to pause and reflect on your own dreams and successes. And I invite you to share them with us—send us your stories, in articles or Class Notes or letters to the editor. We hope the dialogue will be rich and rewarding. After all, your story might just give someone the courage to pursue their own dreams. ■ Frieda Granot, CM EXECUTIVE EDITOR, VIEWPOINTS SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN AND SAUDER PROFESSOR, OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS DIVISION