Chief Jim Chu - Sauder School of Business

Transcription

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: viewpoints@sauder.ubc.ca
For an online version of Viewpoints, visit
www.sauder.ubc.ca
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Send change of address to Alumni Relations Office,
Fax: 604-822-0592 or email to alumni@sauder.ubc.ca
©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
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ALUMNI RELATIONS, SAUDER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS,
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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
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
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
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
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
rameaub@panaxfunds.com,
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
information@saudertoronto.ca ■
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
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.
9
The busi
10
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.
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. ■
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
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.
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
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. ■
17
SIX DEGREES
BY
SUE BUGOS
18
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
CHRIS CHERNOFF
S OF SAUDER
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
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.”
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 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
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.
“I would buy a small gift for my two children and my wife and
donate the rest of the money to Cassie and Friends.”
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
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
“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.
“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.”
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
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
“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. ■
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
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
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
“It’s funny, but I’ve never worked as hard
Those interested in connecting with other alumni based in
London, England, can email Kevin.Rush@barclayscapital.com
or bruno.vandercruyssen@credit-suisse.com.
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
Milan – Coxless Four
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. ■
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
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
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
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 kim.duffell@sauder.ubc.ca
for more details.
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
alumni.association@ubc.ca, 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
3875 Point Grey Road, Vancouver
Cash bar
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
BCOM 1988 REUNION
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH, 2008,
NOON TO 4 PM
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
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
Vancouver
Kingston Taphouse & Grill
755 Richards Street
(between West Georgia and Robson)
Vancouver
Significant Other/Kids Welcome
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
for additional information
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23RD, 2008,
NOON TO 4 PM
Brock House Restaurant
Vancouver, BC
Salmon BBQ
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
(marcdrysdale@hotmail.com) &
Natalia Venida (Natve@oppy.com)
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!
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
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 alumni@sauder.ubc.ca
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: alumni@sauder.ubc.ca
We always appreciate your feedback on events and
programs in support of alumni activities.
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
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

Chief Jim Chu - Sauder School of Business

Transcription

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