The business leaders of tomorrow need outstanding teachers, mentors and role models. We cannot suc-ceed without great faculty, which is why we’re working hard to attract the best and brightest. One of the surest signs that we’re already moving in the right direction is the number of current faculty that have been recognized this past year for dynamic teaching, research and service, not only to the Asper community, but to the broader community.

The business leaders of tomorrow need leading-edge facilities and tech-nology. Last year we introduced ten Bloomberg terminals to the School,

Last year, the Asper School of Business celebrated 75 years of excellence in busi-

ness education. What an inspiring opportunity to explore the roots of our community and take the full measure of how far we’ve journeyed since the original Department of Commerce launched in 1937.

As the pages of this year’s Update make clear, 2013 is the year of look-ing forward: to broader horizons, to strengthening our community, and to building a vibrant future for business education at our school.

This year, our commitment to the future has led us to collectively develop a new strategic plan. We have consulted broadly with faculty, staff, students, alumni and the business community to ensure this plan charts a dynamic course for all members of the Asper community. Our focus is to build on our highly successful undergraduate program by enhancing our graduate pro-grams and world-class research, positioning Asper graduates to be the drivers of economic change, increasing our engagement with the business community, strengthening our national and international reputation, becoming a leader in Indigenous business education, and integrating experiential learning opportunities into every facet of our school.

Together, we’ve already taken steps to make this plan a reality.

Upd

ateExploring the Future

of Business Education

a s p e r s c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s

spring 2013

asper MBa Goes Global p.6

alumni Celebrate 75th p.14

entrepreneurs in action p.20

aboriginal achievement p.22

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

This March the MBA class will travel to Brazil to experience business Latin American style.

Tomorrow’s business leaders also need to be fearless innovators. Under the direction of Stu Henrickson, the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship is creating exciting new opportunities for students at Asper and all across the U of M to develop and realize those big ideas that will change the world.

Tomorrow’s business leaders are all around us, just waiting for the opportunity to make a difference. A successful future

opens doors – which is why I’m especially pleased to report that this year we have created a new admis-sions category for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students. We look forward to welcoming students under the new Canadian Aboriginal Ancestry Admissions Category this coming September.

Of course, the Asper School of Business can’t successfully move forward without embracing the business leaders of today. We are grateful to our alumni community for what they contribute to our past, present and future. Our alumni are proud of their School and it shows. I had the pleasure of hearing it first-hand from many of them at 75th Anniversary alumni receptions across the country. This year, the student-organized Race for Space brought past and pres-ent students together to help build the Asper Student Legacy Fund. Alumni like Stu Clark (winner of this year’s IDEA) have donated not only money but time, energy, and the benefit of their experience to the future of business education at the Asper School.

2013 has only begun, but already it has proven one thing: no matter where we go from here, it is our sense of community that will continue to define the Asper School and set it apart.

In fact, in every way that counts, the future is already here – and we’re ready. Michael BenarrochDean, Asper School of Business and CA Manitoba Chair in Business Leadership

which have given our students and faculty an enormous advantage in research. These terminals will soon find a new home in the Finance Data Centre, now under con-struction in the Albert D. Cohen Management Library. The Centre will provide students with access to the latest financial data and the ability to complete projects that focus on real-life business decisions, moving us beyond textbook teaching by bridging business theory to practice.

The business leaders of tomorrow must think globally. Our interna-tional exchange and study-abroad programs continue to expand as student interest and employer demand for international experience grow. The Asper MBA program is developing a new curriculum to give students the tools they need to meet the demands of an increasingly global marketplace.

2

In 2011, ten Bloomberg terminals were installed at

the Asper School. Since then, the terminals have provided

unprecedented access to real-time financial data,

giving our students and faculty a definite edge in course

assignments, research and business competitions.

this year, our commitment to the future has led us to collectively develop a new strategic plan.

S P R I N g 2 0 1 3

“As an Asper alumni, I am indebted to the Asper School for providing me with an excellent academic education,” she says. “I feel motivated to give back to the Asper community by striving to achieve my best in teaching, research and service.”

Jaysa Nachtigall, a fourth-year Commerce student, was nominated for a Woman of Distinction Award in the Young Women of Distinction category while in her third year. As President of the Commerce Students’ Association from 2011 to 2012, she led the CSA to one of its most successful years by rewriting outdated bylaws, overhauling the association’s organizational structure, and increasing student engagement. As a career mentor assistant, she helped other students make positive career decisions by matching them with mentors in their field of interest.

“I am extremely honoured and thankful to have been recognized among such an inspiring group of women,” she says.

year and a half in a refugee camp, where she was treated for tuber-culosis. At age seven, she arrived in Winnipeg with one focus: to become a doctor. Her commitment to caring for others led her to work as an emergency room physician at Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface Hospital.

She says, “I knew from my first days in Winnipeg that I wanted to give back to Canada and to the country of my birth. Throughout my life here, I have been taught that the secret to happiness is found in giving to others, and this blessing is what drives me each and every day.”

dr Usha Mittoo, a professor in the Department of Accounting & Finance, was nominated for a Woman of Distinction Award in the Education, Training & Mentorship category. She received her MBA from Asper in 1981 and began work in 1988 as the U of M’s first female finance professor. She was the first woman appointed as the Bank of Montreal Professor of Finance in 2000. She now holds the Stuart Clark Professorship in Financial Management.

As the first female Associate Dean at the Asper School, she was instrumental in getting the School its AACSB accreditation. She inspired many women to join finance through teaching and mentoring, and helped raise the number of women professors at Asper from less than ten per cent in the 1990s to about 40 per cent in 2012.

Asper students, faculty and grads often exemplify the highest virtue of leadership:

community service. Not surprisingly, three remarkable women from the Asper School were nominated for 2012 YMCA-YWCA Winnipeg Women of Distinction Awards for enriching our community with their creativity, compassion and dedication.

dr Chau Pham, an Asper MBA student studying Health Care Administration, was honoured with the Woman of Distinction Award for Volunteerism, Advocacy and Community Enhancement. The award recognized her dedication to Canadians Helping Kids in Vietnam, an organization she founded in 1995 to build schools, provide clinical services, and train medical personnel in Vietnam.

Dr Pham’s personal journey is as inspiring as her work. At age five, she fled Vietnam and spent the next

3

Asper’s Women of Distinction

Dr Chau Pham (left), Jaysa Nachtigall (above), Dr Usha Mittoo (below)

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

growing number of men who “recognize the importance of style and fit,” says Parkes.

Fittings are often social events, he adds. “A lot of guys are surprised at how fun the process of getting the perfect suit actually is.”

Since 2008, business has expanded to include fittings across the Prairies and Ontario. EPH plans to open a swank retail location in downtown Winnipeg later this spring. But success doesn’t mean the boys have grown too big for their britches. In January, they gave back to the Asper School by sponsoring the Suit Yourself event, a competition that pitted Asper Co-op students against one another to produce the best resume, elevator pitch and job interview. The winners each won a made-to-measure EPH suit and $250 in accessories.

“Our backgrounds and education at the Asper School provided a foundation that we relied on from day one,” says Hunek. “The three of us majored in different business fields, and we continue to draw upon our individual strengths and expertise to achieve success.”

Upon his return home, he worked with Ethans and Maciek to put their idea in motion. They held their first suit fitting at the Winnipeg Winter Club, and EPH Apparel was born.

“The beauty of EPH is, guys don’t have to try anything on,” explains Ethans. “We take their measure-ments, walk them through what kind of suit and customized details work best for them, and send the order to our tailors overseas. The suit arrives in about four weeks. It fits perfectly, and it costs less than a suit made to measure here in Winnipeg.”

Most of their customers are young men looking to suit up for a special occasion, but also include a

We’re not your dad’s suit store.”

That’s how Andrew Parkes describes EPH Apparel, a men’s clothing company he co-founded and operates along with fellow Asper BComm grads Alex Ethans and Maciek Hunek.

For one thing, they don’t have a store – yet. Rather, the boys have made a huge success out of an innovative idea. The notion came to them shortly after graduating in 2008, when all three were hunting for those first five suits every profes-sional man needs. “Nothing fit, or else it was too expensive, or else it looked like something our dads would wear,” laughs Ethans. “We thought there had to be a better solution, so why not provide it?”

Parkes had been traveling in Vietnam and saw “tailors on every street” producing high quality suits at a far lower price than he was used to seeing in North America.

4

Suit Yourself

Left to right: Alex Ethans

[BComm(Hons)/08], Andrew Parkes

[BComm(Hons)/08], Maciek Hunek

[BComm(Hons)/07], founders and owners

of EPH Apparel, say their degrees from

the Asper School helped prepare them

for the challenges of starting and operating their own business.

“ Our backgrounds and education at the asper School provided a founda-tion that we relied on from day one.”

“

“My time at Asper definitely encouraged me to get involved with the community here in Toronto,” she says. “I was a member of the Commerce Students’ Association for three years and the skills I learned there, and the connections I made with Winnipeg business leaders, helped me lead a cabinet and work with the staff and senior volunteers.”

Lindy Norris [BComm(Hons)/09] was recognized for, among other

things, providing mentorship to young entrepreneurs through organizations such as Canadian Youth Business Foundation and Athena Leadership, a development forum she founded.

Norris says her experience as an Asper student made a strong contribution to her desire to invest time, passion and energy in her volunteer work. “The Asper School actively promotes charitable initiatives and encourages student involvement at the community level, and should be commended for fostering an environment where the value of giving is equal to the value of education.”

The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was created to mark

the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The Medal honours significant con-tributions and achievements by Canadians – and in 2012, recipients included three past and present members of the Asper community.

dr Walter Good, a senior scholar at the Asper School and former head

of the Marketing Department, was recognized for his work in help-ing establish the Direct Selling Educational Foundation of Canada and serving as the Chair of its Academic Advisory Committee for a number of years.

“It’s a real thrill to receive that kind of recognition for helping to make the Canadian public more aware of a largely unknown, but economically significant industry,” he says.

danielle arnold [BComm(Hons)/06] was recognized for her work for

the United Way in Winnipeg and Toronto, where she now lives. She’s co-chair of the United Way’s GenNext Cabinet, which creates volunteer opportunities for young people to engage with their communities.

5

Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipients

In 2012, over 60,000 deserving Canadians received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. The medal depicts a crowned image of the Queen, and the reverse marks the 60th, or diamond, anniversary of her accession to the Throne. The maple leaves refer to Canada, and the motto VIVAT REGINA means “Long live the Queen!”

LIBerAL MP JusTIn TrudeAu paid a special visit to the Asper

school of Business on February 1, 2013 at an event hosted by the

Commerce students’ Association. He spoke passionately to a

packed audience of U of M students and faculty about putting an

end to political cynicism and making post-secondary education

more accessible to all.

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

This spring, the Asper MBA is launching an interna-tional applied learning

experience in partnership with the business community and the Manitoba government.

From March 30 to April 7, our MBA students will travel to Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre, Brazil, where they’ll visit businesses, government organizations and industry representatives. Their goal is to gain first-hand insight into how culture, economic devel-opment and management systems interact in Brazil, and to establish and expand their international business networks.

When they return, the students will present their findings to Peter Bjornson, Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training and

Asper School of Business in particu-lar. On another expert panel, Asper alumni talked about the impact of the Asper MBA on their careers and their lives.

“This was wonderful exposure for the Asper MBA,” says Dr Smith. “Many young Chinese professionals are extremely interested in studying in Canada.”

In September 2012, the Asper MBA joined several other globally top-ranked Canadian

MBA programs at the inaugural Canadian MBA Fair in Beijing, China.

Organized by the Trade Commissioner Service at the Embassy of Canada, the event was an opportunity for the Asper MBA to connect with nearly 300 talented international professionals seeking an exceptional business education in Canada.

Dr Malcolm Smith, head of the Marketing Department, and Ewa Morphy, Graduate Program Manager, met with attendees one-on-one, and highlighted our program’s admission requirements and outstanding student experience. Smith spoke on an expert panel, where he discussed why prospec-tive MBA students should consider studying in Canada – and at the

6

ThE ASpER MBA: GoinG Gl BAl

Asper MBA Goes to Beijing

The Asper MBA program continues to distinguish

itself as a top-rated, internationally accredited leader in

business management education. This year the program

leaps even farther ahead as it revamps its curriculum

and expands its global connections.

pilot project

S P R I N g 2 0 1 3

pursue in this country when she graduates.

“Sao Paulo was a big city, but I never had as much contact with such cultural diversity as I do here. In the Asper MBA I have professors from backgrounds spanning the entire globe. And my classmates are just as incredible. When one of my colleagues found out what I did in Brazil, he told me his dad was the vice president of a huge real estate development company right here in Winnipeg. I’m already making amazing connections.”

Even more important, she says, are the insights shared by expe-rienced CEOs who participate in some of the classes. “I remember one CEO telling us about his ethical responsibilities towards his employees and his passion for his work. These are lessons that no book teaches.”

Fritsch began her MBA in 2012 and plans on finishing in April 2013. Before she graduates, she’s looking forward to taking part in the Brazil study trip because it will give her the opportunity to introduce members of her new business network to her old one. When she returns, she plans to pursue a career in real estate or urban development here in Winnipeg, her new home.

A sper MBA student Adriana Fritsch traveled a long way from Brazil to Manitoba to

sharpen her professional edge. The business leadership skills and career opportunities she’s gained have made every step of her journey worthwhile.

In Sao Paulo, she had a thriving career as an architect and real estate developer until the subprime crisis of 2008. She’d visited Canada before and says she “always dreamt of living in such a wonderful country.” When friends told her how earning an MBA had opened up their careers to unbelievable opportunities, she decided it was time to give her own life the same boost forward.

“I want to expand my business leadership perspective,” she says, “so I made a point of taking classes that challenge me to think outside the box, such as Innovation, Venture Capital Analysis and International Marketing.”

Core business management courses have enhanced her back-ground in architecture and urban studies to make her “a more confident, complete professional.”

She’s also gained a perspective on Canadian business culture and practices that will prove invaluable to whatever career she decides to

Trade. They’ll focus their final reports on business barriers and opportunities for three Manitoban or Canadian companies or industries.

“We’re very excited about the potential of this opportunity,” says Marci Elliott, Executive Director of the Asper MBA program. “The latest market research indicates employers want to hire MBAs who are familiar with international business. We’re thrilled to be working with our alumni, the business community and the Manitoba government to make that happen.”

ReviSed CURRiCULUM

The MBA curriculum will undergo a significant revision

over the next several months, says Dr Subbu Sivaramakrishnan, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Asper School and Chair of the MBA Program Committee.

“Our intention is to redesign the MBA curriculum so that it continues to keep up with latest trends in the business world, gives students hands-on experience in managing an organization, provides them with an executive perspective on business, and equips them with the skills and mindset that employers are looking for in the global world of business.”

Dr Sivaramakrishnan says the School plans to have the new cur-riculum ready for implementation starting in the Fall 2014 term.

7

ThE ASpER MBA: GoinG Gl BAlAdriana FritschMBa StUdeNt SPOtLiGht:

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

dr Gady Jacoby, Professor, Accounting & Finance. He earned his PhD in Finance from York University. His research interests include investments, market microstructure and bank solvency.

dr Koi Yu (adolf) Ng, Associate Professor, Supply Chain Management.

He earned his PhD from the University of Oxford. His research interests include port economics and maritime security and training.

Rick Pelletier [BComm(Hons) /92, MAcc/94], Business Manager. Rick is a CA with over 15 years of experience in both the private and public sectors. He has served as Vice President with Bessemer Trust Company and Assistant Controller for the City of Winnipeg.

vanessa Shaff, Donor Relations Officer. Vanessa has over seven years of

fundraising experience with the Faculty of Dentistry, Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Red Cross. She has a BA from the U of W and is pursuing an Asper MBA part time.

Mike Gould [BComm(Hons)/12], Business Development Officer, Asper MBA and Executive Education programs. Mike is a former CSA president with a background in marketing.

dr Rui Zhou, Assistant Professor, Warren Centre for Actuarial Studies and

Research. She earned her PhD in Actuarial Science at the University of Waterloo. Her research interests include longevity risk management for pension plans and measuring uncertainty in mortality forecasts.

dr tao (tony) Fang, Assistant Professor, Human Resources

Management. He earned his PhD in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management from the University of Toronto. His research interests include compensation and benefits, high performance work-place practices, and employment equity.

dr Lukas Neville, Assistant Professor, Organizational Behaviour. He

earned his PhD in Organizational Behaviour at Queen’s School of Business. His research interests include trust, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

Stuart henrickson [BComm(Hons)/85] is the new Executive Director of the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship. See story on page 20 for details.

dr Lysa Porth (Asper PhD/11), Assistant Professor and Guy Carpenter

Professor in Agriculture Risk Management and Insurance. The professorship aims to generate more stable incomes for agricul-ture producers, more efficient risk management and production, and enhanced food security. Porth will also supervise graduate students in the newly created Master of Science program in Actuarial Mathematics.

dr victor Cui, Assistant Professor, Business Strategy. Dr Cui earned his

PhD in Business Administration from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia. His research interests include inter-firm competition and technological innovation.

8

FAculTY STAFFThrough groundbreaking research, inspirational

teaching and visionary administration, the faculty and staff

of the Asper School of Business are the engine that drives

our community to excellence in business education!

new

Face

s&

2012 AssociAtes’ AchieveMent AwArds

Research: dr Nick turner Professor/Associate Dean, Business Administration

dr Fang Wan Associate Professor, Marketing

Teaching: dr Reg Litz Professor, Business Administration

dr Subbu Sivaramakrishnan Associate Professor, Marketing

Service: dr Sandy hershcovis Associate Professor/Head, Business Administration

Service: dr Kelley Main Associate Professor, Marketing

alok dua, Business Administration/Supply Chain Management, was the recipient of the 2011-2012 Golden Shovel Award, which goes to the professor the graduating class believes had the most significant impact on their final year at the Asper School.

dr Suresh Bhatt was presented with the title of Professor Emeritus in May 2012. Bhatt, a professor of Supply Chain Management, was with the U of M for nearly 37 years before he retired in 2011.

Charlie Curtis, FCA and Executive in Residence at Asper, is the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba. This award goes to CAs who have provided outstand-ing service to the profession and the community throughout their lifetime. Charlie received his CA designation in 1955 and his FCA designation in 1974. He continues to call upon his professional experience and generously gives back to the community.

dr John Godard, Business Administration, was appointed Chief Editor of the British Journal of Industrial Relations (BJIR) for a four-year term beginning July 2012. BJIR is an international, peer-refereed research journal of the London School of Economics and the leading British journal in the field of industrial relations.

9

Awards & Achievements

hiGh

Fiv

E!

Far left: Charlie Curtis (left) and Rick MacKay, President & Chair of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba. Photo courtesy of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba

For five years running, faculty members from the Asper School have won either the Dr and Mrs H.H. Saunderson Award or the Olive Beatrice Stanton Award,

prestigious honours that recognize teaching excellence at the University of Manitoba.

Keeping the tradition alive, dr subbu sivaramakrishnan, Marketing, won the 2012 saunderson Award. Dr Sivaramak-rishnan’s award citation praised his gift for making students enthusiastic about learning.

“I believe the success of a teacher rests heavily on quality communication, making the course interesting, and enabling experiential learning,” he says. “I make sure students comprehend,

learn and think – not just hear, jot down, memorize and regurgitate. I relate concepts to everyday life, do a lot of show-and-tell, and give a number of examples to get the point across.”

S P R I N g 2 0 1 3

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

How are you involved in creating the one-minute Research Bytes?

I can’t take the credit for the idea: that came from Business Administration Professor Nick Turner. He was inspired by a series of short BBC videos and thought we could do something similar to highlight faculty research, past, present and future.

We thought these videos would be a great way to make what we’re doing accessible to a wider audience, including potential students, other researchers, and the business community at large. I took charge of producing the first three batches.

One of the happy results I’ve seen is that they’ve been great for us, too, as a way to learn more about what our own colleagues are doing. Some grad students at our own School have even told me the videos remind them of why they went into grad studies in the first place. That alone has made the videos worthwhile.

Apart from professional skills and academic knowledge, what is the one thing you hope your students take away from your classes?

I want them to understand the power of thinking deeply about a question. There’s nothing more seductive than the opportunity to draw out the answer to a question or problem. It’s one of the best parts of being a researcher – and a teacher.

View the Research Bytes at umanitoba.ca/asper/research

to persuasion in the marketplace. I’m interested in what we call “persuasion attempts”, whether they come from ads, sales clerks or other consumers.

One question I’m trying to answer is, what makes consumers suspicious when someone or something tries to persuade them to buy a product or service? When should they be, and when shouldn’t they be suspicious?

These days I’m focusing on what happens when the consumer has the same knowledge or experi-ence as the persuasion agent – for instance, when the consumer has been a salesperson themselves. I want to know if that necessarily makes you more accurate at judging other people’s behaviour.

Ultimately, I’m hoping my research will build better, more aware consumers.

It’s been a big year for Dr Kelley Main. She was awarded a 2012-2013 U of M Graduate

Students’ Association Teaching Award, a 2012 Associates’ Achievement Award for Service, a Best Conference Paper Award, and was appointed both Interim Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Programs and the new F. Ross Johnson Professor in Marketing. In 2012, she turned the spotlight on faculty research by helping launch the Research Bytes series on the Asper School of Business website. Now, it’s Update’s turn to point the spotlight on this dynamic, inspiring member of the Asper community.

Tell us about your research interests.

Generally speaking, I’m looking at ways we as consumers respond

10

Dr Kelley MainAssociAte deAn, reseArch & grAduAte ProgrAMs F. ross Johnson ProFessor in MArketing

FaCULtY SPOtLiGht:

S P R I N g 2 0 1 3

Thanks to a strategic initiatives endowment from entrepreneur

and philanthropist Stu Clark [BComm(Hons)/76], last year the Asper School of Business launched the Stu Clark Distinguished Speaker Series, which invites prominent researchers from outside the U of M to present their research and connect with faculty and graduate students.

Fourteen researchers have presented so far – some from as far away as Italy, Hong Kong and Singapore – on a range of topics that speaks to the dazzling depth and breadth of research informing the global world of business.

FaCULtY aPPOiNtMeNtS

Marci elliott (MBA/12) has been appointed Executive Director

of the Asper MBA program.

dr Gady Jacoby has been appointed to the Bryce Douglas Professorship in Finance.

dr Kelley Main has been appointed the new F. Ross Johnson Professor in Marketing, and replaces Nick Turner as Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Programs while Nick is on leave for the next year.

dr Zhenyu Wu has been appointed Canada Research Chair in

Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In his research, Dr Wu explores the risk-taking behaviours of entrepre-neurs and investors in new venture financing. His findings could help ensure these new ventures continue to survive and grow.

dr Xiaofan Steven Zheng has been appointed to the Bank of Montreal (BMO) Professorship in Finance.

Gordon Pitts, senior business columnist at the Globe and Mail, dropped in on February 12, 2013 for an informal discussion with Asper students and faculty.

11

Speaking of Research

On tO tHe next BIg tHIngdr Charles Mossman, Associate professor of Finance, will retire July 1, 2013.

Dr Mossman has been a professor at the Asper School since 1990. From 1997

to 1998 he was Acting Head of the Accounting and Finance Department, and

from 2004 to 2009 he served as Associate Dean for the Asper School. During

the last two years of his appointment he updated the Asper School’s programs

and developed a report that resulted in the renewal of the School’s AACSB

accreditation. Dr Mossman served as Acting Dean of the Asper School in 2011.

dr Sam Cox, professor of Actuarial Mathematics, retired from the L.A.H.

Warren Chair on January 1, 2013. During his tenure at the School, the

Warren Centre was recognized as a Society of Actuaries Centre of Actuarial

Excellence and admitted into the Canadian Institute of Actuaries University

Accreditation program.

Beth Clark, who served as the Asper School’s Chief Budget Officer and

has been an integral part of the U of M community for over 35 years, retired

January 3, 2013.

STU

CLA

RK

Dist

ingu

ished

Spea

ker S

eries

Should senior leaders who lead their organizations to superior

performance be hired to lead your organization? Or are you better o�

developing senior leaders in your own organization? Using data from

the National Hockey League, Dr. Rowe argues that organizations

that grow “star leaders” internally and keep them perform much better

than those who bring star leaders from outside.

Friday, April 510:30 am108 Drake Centre

GUEST SPEAKER: Glenn RowePaul MacPherson Chair in Strategic Leadership Richard Ivey School of Business Western University

16 STAR LEADERS:

Should they be bought or home-grown?

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

B.o.s.e. gives events A BoostPulling off a successful student event is no easy task. Add alcohol to the mix, and the challenges multiply.

That’s why CSA President Emily Ashley launched B.O.S.E., the Board of Social Event Planners, in January 2012.

“My experience as a CSA social planner taught me that it was pos-sible to throw events that appealed to students, ensured their safety, and maintained the U of M’s reputation in the community,” she says.

Now, student event planners from all U of M faculties meet monthly to share and coordinate event ideas and listen to guest speakers such as the Manitoba

actively involved in giving back to their school. The Asper Student Legacy Fund goes towards improv-ing the student experience, includ-ing facilities in the Drake Centre.

“2012 was the perfect year to restart the tradition,” says Baker. “It was the School’s 75th anniversary and the Drake Centre’s 50th. At the Anniversary Gala, alumni we spoke to were ecstatic about the idea.”

Sponsors included Booster Juice, the Hub bar at the U of M, the Young Associates and the Running Room, who developed the 5 km course.

rAce For sPAceRunning is good for your health – and for your School. Last September, over 85 Asper students and alumni ran the Race for Space and raised $1200 for the Asper Student Legacy Fund.

Faculty of Management students started the Race for Space fundraiser in the 80s. The funds they raised helped build the Drake Centre, the Asper School’s permanent home.

Commerce Students’ Association (CSA) sports reps Steve Baker and Brandt Butt revived the run as a way to get Asper students and alumni

12

lEADinG BY ExAMplELike all good leaders, Asper students demonstrate a

commitment to making a difference – in their school,

their university, and their community.

Students in the Faculty of Management started the Race for Space in the 80s (above). This year, some participants showed up in costumes, including a team of Mighty Duhks and Spice Girls (right).

The winner of the 2012 Race for

Space was alumnus Taren Gesell

[BComm(Hons)/08], a former CSA President and

creator of the Asper Student Legacy

Fund.

S P R I N g 2 0 1 3

at this year’s Jeux de Commerce West, the largest business school competition in Western Canada. Our team placed first in the Business Strategy, Not For Profit Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Debate academic categories, and also took home third place honours in Taxation, Finance, and the Social competition. The team’s longstanding faculty advisor, Professor Mary Brabston, was honoured with the Faculty Advisor of the Year award.

Find out more about the Commerce Students’ Association at aspercsa.com

Wong, who graduated last May with a double major in Marketing and Human Resources, says it’s natural for Asper student athletes to take on leadership roles on their teams.

“The Asper School develops your ability to think creatively, make quick decisions, communicate effectively, work as part of a team… All of these directly correlate to being a leader on an athletic team. Being an Asper student made me a better Bison athlete, and being a Bison athlete made me a better Asper student.”

Jdc westAsper placed second for the title of School of the Year – the highest finish ever in the School’s history –

Liquor Control Commission, U of M Conference and Catering, and sponsorship experts.

Ashley’s initiative is paying off. In September, UMSU hosted the U of M’s largest and most successful concert ever, featuring Ludacris and K’naan.

AsPer AthLetes go For goLdMany Asper students are Bison athletes – and in true Asper fashion, most are in leadership roles on their teams. Hats off to four students who received major Bison Sports year-end awards for the 2011-2012 season:

dane PischkeBison Sports Male

Athlete of the Year; MVP, Men’s Volleyball

Lisa WongStudent-Athlete Leadership and Community

Development Award; MVP, Women’s Track & Field

travis toetStudent-Athlete Leadership and

Community Development Award

Blair MacaulayMVP, Men’s Hockey

“Business is competition,” says Pishke. “To be a great competitor in athletics or in business, you have to have the desire to achieve, always perform at your best, work hard, stay confident, and learn as much as you can to succeed.”

13

lEADinG BY ExAMplELisa Wong (left) excelled as Bison Track & Field team captain.

Dane Pischke (above) had an amazing 2011-2012 season at confer-ence and Canadian Intrauniversity Sport (CIS) level, where he racked up points and accolades over the course of all 20 regular season Bison Volleyball games.

Our JdC West team of 50 students spent

six months training for the January 2013

showdown. Their preparation paid off!

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

After a summer hiatus, the celebrations resumed full force on September 14, 2012, when – in conjunction with University Homecoming – the Drake Centre temporarily shelved its classroom demeanour and became a multi-level party central for around 500 faculty, staff, students, alumni and retirees.

2012 was party time for the Asper School of Business! The School celebrated its

75th Anniversary in style with alumni receptions across Canada (see page 16 for details).

In March, some 200 local alumni gathered at the venerable Manitoba Club in Winnipeg to meet, mingle and munch. Dean Emeritus Jerry Gray was on hand to present the history of the School. If you thought history was dry, the history of the Asper School is anything but.

14

celebrating 75 Years of Excellence

Gail Asper, daughter of the Asper School’s benefactor, the

late Dr. Israel (“Izzy”) Asper, blows out the candles on a

stunning cake.

Brian Johnson, Senior Stick, 1965

From left to right: Rich Allden [BComm(Hons)/54], William Thorne [BComm(Hons)/53], Claude (“Woozy”) Wilson

[BComm(Hons)/52]

S P R I N g 2 0 1 3 15

CLaSS OF ’72 ReUNiON2012 marked the 40th anniversary of the Commerce Class of 1972. Twenty-five

members of the original graduating class returned to celebrate the milestone at Homecoming.

A special thanks to Class of ’72 members Stuart Breckon, Don Keatch and Linda Stewart

for organizing this wonderful gathering, and to the whole class for continuing to support

the Class of 1972 Scholarship.

Twenty-five Senior Sticks from past years gathered at the 75th Anniversary Gala for a raucous reunion, including the most senior, Brian Johnson [BComm(Hons)/65].

Far left, top: Arni Thorsteinson [BComm(Hons)/71] and Susan Glass [BComm(Hons)/67]

Far left, middle: Dr Roland Grandpre (Dean of the Asper School from 1981-1987), Dr Usha Mittoo (Professor of Finance), Dr John Mundie (Dean Emeritus)

In December, the Asper School launched Open for Business, a book commemorating the School’s 75-year history written by Laird Rankin [BComm(Hons)/64] (left).

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

Also in August, the Centre played host to the 47th Actuarial Research Conference for the first time since 1981. The conference attracted over 100 actuarial scholars and graduate students from around the world, as well as local students and indus-try representatives. During the conference, the Canadian Institute of Actuaries honoured the Centre with a plaque, which now sits proudly in the sixth-floor lounge of the Drake Centre.

Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the actuarial program at the U of M

and its 75th anniversary as part of the business school. To celebrate these major milestones, special lectures were held for the public and students. Nearly 180 faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the program attended a centen-nial dinner in August, where they were treated to a lively, thought-provoking speech by Ken Clark [BComm(Hons)/55].

16

100 Years of Actuarial Excellence

Left: Dr Jeffrey Pai, L.A.H. Warren Professor, is con-

gratulated by alumni Jim Snell [BComm(Hons)/76] in front of the commemorative plaque.

Right: Ken Clark, keynote speaker at the centennial dinner, was the Gold Medalist of his class and is now Consulting Actuary with Eckler Ltd. in Toronto. His speech touched on how the actuarial profession has changed over the years, and why the world needs actuaries now more than ever.

TOrOnTO April 19, 2012Senior Sticks, left to right: Danielle Arnold [BComm(Hons)/06], Marc Henry [BComm(Hons)/08], Irene Pran [BComm(Hons)/59], Rick Waugh [BComm(Hons)/70], Don Thompson [BComm(Hons)/60], Alexis Hur [BComm(Hons)/05], Mike Gould [BComm(Hons)/12]

CALGArY May 22, 2012Left to right: Lorena Prakash (MBA/02), Rollie Cyr [BComm(Hons)/73], Dean Michael Benarroch, Fang Wan (Marketing), Nick Gill [BComm(Hons)/03]

VAnCOuVer June 21, 2012Left to right: Wes McMillan [BComm(Hons)/02], Iain Black [BComm(Hons)/90], Howard Harmatz (Business Administration), Dean Michael Benarroch

CROSS-COUNtRY aLUMNi eveNtS

S P R I N g 2 0 1 3

Arni Thorsteinson [BComm (Hons)/71], a founding director of the Associates of the Asper School of Business, says he was so impressed by the program, he provided supplemental funding “to enhance opportunities for social and cultural engagement.” Thanks to his support, students visited the Wailing Wall and the site of the Crucifixion, swam in the Dead Sea, and basked on the beaches of Tel Aviv.

Olivares says the experience opened her eyes to a country much different from the one she was

André Cadieux wanted to push beyond his comfort zone. Reyna Olivares

wanted to see how another country does business. In May 2012, both students signed up for the Arni Thorsteinson Israel Study Exchange Program – and plunged into a life-changing experience.

The program, now in its fifth year, was made possible thanks to a donation from the Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman Foundation. Mr. Schwartz, founder of Onex Corporation, says the program gives Asper students the chance to “explore Israel for themselves as an innovative democracy that has become the start-up nation of the world.”

As part of the exchange, students from Ben-Gurion University in Beersheva, Israel travel to Winnipeg for a week of business classes at the Asper School. Joined by Asper students, they fly to Toronto, and then to Israel for three weeks. The students form teams and develop marketing plans to introduce Israeli brands to Canada, or Canadian brands such as Second Cup or Boston Pizza to Israel.

Olivares says she was amazed by how entrepreneurial the country is. “They have a huge number of start-ups there. And each of them has to solve basic infrastructure problems to survive, let alone thrive. But thrive, they do.”

For Cadieux, the trip offered insight into the realities of business. “It was great to see principles we were learning in class being put into practice by companies across the ocean.”

17

Expanding horizons

“ The Arni Thorsteinson study exchange Program has

been possibly the most rewarding teaching experience

i’ve ever had. it’s not just about teaching students about

business in another country – it’s about sharing an

experience that literally changes their lives,” says Sean

Macdonald, Business administration, one of the Asper

profs who helps organize the program.

expecting. “I’ve been involved in a lot of things at Asper, like CSA and Co-op,” she says. “Out of everything I’ve done, this trip challenged me the most and gave the most back. It was the best experience ever.”

Sergio Carvalho, Associate Professor, Marketing at Asper, has designed and coordinated the academic component of the program since 2008. He says the trip transforms students. “In a very short period of time you see them mature. They come back completely different people with a new perspective on the world.”

Cadieux agrees. “I now have more confidence, new friends at home and abroad, and a much keener interest in what’s going on in the world around me.”

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

Published by Palgrave Macmillan, Management and the Gospel reveals how Luke’s Gospel – which includes an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth – can help readers implement change in their own business. “The book challenges some common assumptions that have been with us for some time about whether modern manage-ment theory and practice are based on a biblical Judeo-Christian ethic,” says Dr Dyck.

His research reflects his abiding fascination with the role values play in how organizations change and in how we think about management.

“For me, management is about people, and is thus – by definition – a moral activity,” he explains. “If we don’t understand how values influ-ence our actions, we run the risk of unthinkingly adopting values we may not agree with.”

Dr Dyck says he hopes the book ultimately challenges managers to adopt practices that treat all people with more dignity. “For me, it’s important to empower people to manage in ways that are consistent with their own values while respect-ing and better understanding the values of others.”

So far, Dr Dyck says, reactions to the book have been overwhelmingly positive. “Practitioners have found its counter-cultural perspective inspiring, management scholars have been impressed by the breadth and depth of the arguments, and biblical scholars have welcomed a different lens through which to read the text of an important Gospel.”

What can a first-century Gospel teach us about 21st century

business management?“A great deal,” says Dr Bruno

Dyck [BComm(Hons)/84], Professor, Business Administration

at Asper. Over the past five years he researched and wrote Management and the Gospel: Luke’s Radical Message for the First and Twenty-First Centuries, an exploration of what management theory and practice were like 2000 years ago. The book launched at McNally Robinson Booksellers on February 27, where it stayed on the bestseller list for a week.

eCONOMiC OUtLOOK 2013

Asper students, faculty and guests were treated to

penetrating insights into the state of the global, national and local economies at the 2013 Economic Outlook Panel and Reception, host-ed by the Associates on January 23.

Dean Michael Benarroch provided an overview of the global economy. He predicted a 2013 characterized by only moderate growth in the face of the Euro crisis, as well as the “Fiscal Cliff” and “Debt Ceiling” crises in the U.S.

Dr Usha Mitto, Stuart Clark Professor of Financial Management, took a closer look at the U.S. and Canada. She discussed how the slow pace of economic growth in Canada throughout 2012 was due, in part, to a large federal deficit, high house-hold debt, rising housing prices, and energy exports to the U.S. She warned that “we need to look at doing more trade with Asia and less with the U.S., but we currently don’t have a plan for accomplishing this.”

Stuart Henrickson, Executive Director of the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship, brought the discussion closer to home. In his overview of the Manitoba economy, he noted that our province is well on its way to enjoying a surplus economy, although probably not until 2015 or later.

“Thanks to tax credits, support programs, and our strategic location at the heart of North America, small businesses have the ability to thrive in Manitoba,” he added, “but a strong stimulus plan is needed.”

18

Management: The Gospel Truth

dr dyc...k says he hopes the book

ultimately challenges managers to

adopt practices that treat all peo e

with more dignity.

“...the book ultimately challenges

managers to adopt practices that

treat all people with more dignity.”

S P R I N g 2 0 1 3

Clark visited the Asper School in September 2012 to accept the award. He said his decision to help grow the entrepreneurship program at the Asper School was a natural one.

“That’s something I felt was really important in a university business education: some exposure to entrepreneurship, some exposure to how to build a business plan, some exposure to what it takes, what the commitment is. Because every business starts as a small business.”

Chip Wilson, founder and chair-man of Lululemon Athletica Inc., will receive the 2013 IDEA this June. Lululemon, an athletic wear company, boasts a cult following around the world.

The annual International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) honours

business executives who have achieved outstanding entrepreneurial success and made an exemplary contribution to economic life. In light of the award’s 30th anniversary in 2012, Arni Thorsteinson, chair of the award committee, says it was “the perfect time to recognize a deserving, Manitoba-born and educated entrepreneur of international stature.”

The honour went to oil and gas entrepreneur and philanthropist Stu Clark [BComm(Hons)/76]. Aside from donating over $9 million to the Asper School over the past nine years, Clark has volunteered countless hours to the School and the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship.

MBa GOLd MedaLiSt GiveS BaCK

The T.A. (Stoney) Anderson Gold Medal honours the

Asper MBA graduate with the highest overall academic standing in the program. This year’s recipient was Dr. Aaron Chiu, MD, FRCPC, FAAP (MBA/12).

A neonatologist at Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg and St. Boniface Hospital, Dr. Chiu donated the $1000 award that came with the medal back to the Asper School of Business, along with a matching amount.

“I wanted to thank the School for the wonderful MBA experience by making a donation that would benefit future students,” he says.

GLOBaL MaRKetiNG COMPetitiON

students from some of the world’s top business schools

gathered in Winnipeg in January to compete in the 31st annual Manitoba International Marketing Competition (MIMC). Organized every year entirely by Asper students, the competition is the largest of its kind in Canada, and pits under-graduate student teams against one another for the title of global champion. The MIMC also part-nered with the U of M Marketing Association to host a conference on cross-cultural marketing. This year’s global marketing champion was the University of British Columbia.

19

What’s the Big iDEA?

In an interview with professor Reg Litz in front of the Asper community, Stu Clark explains why entrepreneurship is an essential part of business education.

The U of M, the Asper School of Business and the Associates established the IDEA award in 1983.

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

$20 billion in global transactions. He has advised companies of all sizes, from owner-operated startups to major corporations like Coca-Cola, Unilever, Petro Canada and Canada Life. He also worked as a mentor for business startups at YES Winnipeg.

“An entrepreneur is someone who spots an opportunity to create something that wasn’t there before,” says Henrickson. “You have to be a problem solver and a natural leader. The Stu Clark Centre is devoted to nurturing these qualities and chan-neling them towards opportunities for success.”

Henrickson says his vision for the Centre includes three priorities: providing students with more entrepreneurship resources inside and outside the Asper School, developing mentorships for student entrepreneurs, and building an on-campus incubator – an office space where young entrepreneurs can base their start-up businesses.

Henrickson has an MBA in Finance from the University of Calgary, a CFA designation, and is a Certified Financial Planner.

Find out more about the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship at umanitoba.ca/entrepreneur

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ADvEnTuRES in EnTREpREnEuRShipexciting new directions, incredible opportunities, and

the support of dynamic business leaders are driving the next

generation of student entrepreneurs towards successful

business ventures at the Asper School of Business and the

Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship.

new vision, new ventures

stuart Henrickson [BComm(Hons)/85] was appointed Executive Director of Entrepreneurship at the School’s Stu Clark

Centre for Entrepreneurship in October 2012.Henrickson will be responsible for nurturing and

mentoring students to launch their own businesses, to promote entrepreneurship, and to make

connections with the business community.

His diverse experience makes him an ideal fit for the role. Working on projects worldwide from Canada to Malaysia, from London to Dubai, Henrickson learned from multiple cul-tures and has been involved in over

S P R I N g 2 0 1 3

StUdeNt iNNOvatORS ShiNe

In November, Innovate Manitoba held their first annual Pitch Day

competition, where entrepreneurs from across Manitoba present their business ideas to a group of industry judges.

Asper student Jason Greschuk was one of the big winners. His concept for No-Bull Energy, a business that harvests cattail biomass as an alternative energy source, won for Best Student Pitch.

“It was a nerve-wracking experience,” admits Greschuk, who graduated last year with a BComm(Hons) in Entrepreneur-ship/Marketing. “But even if I hadn’t won, it would have been worthwhile because I met so many great, young entrepreneurs and contacts in the business community.”

they would handle a major dis-agreement with a business partner. I must have repeated the question in my head 50 times before the live feed was on me. The Dragons all gave their own answers, which basically went back to trusting who you work with.”

Thirty students from the New Venture Analysis class were invited by CBC

Manitoba to participate in Dragons’ Den Day in Canada on September 19, 2012. The event included live TV access to the popular “Dragons”, a panel of Canadian moguls with the cash and know-how to help your start-up business take off – if your idea is worthy.

Two Asper students – Sinan Leylek and Nick Kuzyk – were lucky enough to ask the Dragons a question.

“I’ve been watching Dragons’ Den ever since the first season, so I was really excited,” says Leylek. “Being a small business owner, I wanted to know how

21

ADvEnTuRES in EnTREpREnEuRShip

into the Dragons’ Den

Left: Asper prof Zhenyu Wu (second from right) helped organize Dragons’ Den Day. “The event helped students apply what they had learned in class to the real world. It was also a great opportunity for the Dragons and their audience to learn more about our students!”

In January, Asper MBA students placed second in their division and 14th overall at the 32nd annual John Molson MBA International Case Competition. The Asper team, left to right: James Fehr, Dori Chudobiak, Marilyn Brennan (coach), Vanessa Shaff, Omri Makover

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

Services, won the Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Award. Tim Sweeny, owner of Creeway Aviation, won the Excellence in Aboriginal Small and Medium Enterprises Award.

Clarke, a Certified Financial Planner, launched Clarke Financial in 1994 using his own money as start-up capital. The full-service firm now manages over $60 million

Hosted by the Asper School of Business and the School’s Aboriginal

Business Education Partners, the 8th annual Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Awards celebrated two business leaders for being inspiring entrepreneurs and role models.

Andrew Clarke, owner of Clarke Financial Planning and Insurance

22

Aboriginal leadership Excellence

Below: Tim Sweeny, owner of Creeway Aviation

and winner of the Excellence in Aboriginal Small

and Medium Enterprises Award.

Andrew Clarke, (right), owner of Clarke Financial

Planning and winner of the Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Award, with Dean Michael

Benarroch.

for over 600 corporate, government and individual clients across the country. Headquartered in Winnipeg, the company is 100 percent First Nations owned and operated.

Sweeny started Creeway Aviation in 2006 to address the growing needs of Northern Manitoba’s aviation industry. Based out of Thompson, the company provides aircraft charter and maintenance services. It also offers students in the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) apprenticeship program the opportunity to work towards their AME license without having to leave their community.

aSPeR CReateS NeW PathWaYS FOR aBORiGiNaL StUdeNtS

In September 2013, the Asper School of Business will welcome

up to ten new students admitted under its newly created Canadian Aboriginal Ancestry Admissions Category.

The category allows the Asper School to admit Aboriginal students who meet the minimum admis-sions Adjusted Grade Point Average (AGPA), but may fall below the competitive AGPA, which varies from year to year.

Shortly after his appointment as dean of the Asper School in 2011, Dr Michael Benarroch made it a priority to create new pathways for Aboriginal students to study business. He told the Globe and Mail that Aboriginal students “are an under-represented portion of our population in the business school, so from our perspective we feel it would be a real contribution to the community and to the Aboriginal community if we could increase the number of students.”

S P R I N g 2 0 1 3

The judges were Shaun Hampton, Entrepreneurship Consultant with the Province of Manitoba; Mavis McRae, Entrepreneur in Residence with the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship; and Stuart Henrickson, Executive Director of the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship.

“We were extremely impressed by the depth of research and vision exhibited by the presenters and the viability of each of the cham-pionship round concepts,” says Henrickson. “There is no doubt that we have some exceptional student businesses coming out of the University of Manitoba.”

On March 26, six winners chosen from the nation-wide competitions will rendezvous in Ottawa and battle it out for the national title.

Talk about setting the bar high! First-year BComm student

Simon Burns won the 2013 championship round of the Wes Nicol Entrepreneurial Competition, which awards $170,000 in prize money each year to individual students or student teams who submit winning plans for their entrepreneurial business ideas.

At the February 13 event, Burns presented “Elapse Electric”, a revolutionary hybrid propulsion system that lets consumers drive carbon free, regardless of their vehicle model, range or power requirements.

“I had an excellent experience with my first foray into the world of high-pressure presentations,” says Burns. “The judges demanded a level of professionalism and dedica-tion that was profoundly inspiring.”

The Wes Nicol program is a national program designed to gener-ate and reward interest in entrepre-neurship by undergrad students in any faculty at participating Canadian universities. The Asper School of Business runs the competition, which is open to all undergraduate students on campus. This year, four of the six teams were from faculties outside the Asper School, including Engineering and Science.

aBeP StUdeNt WiNS GeNeRaL eLeCtRiC aWaRd

Commerce student Zack Unrau has been chosen to receive

a 2012-2013 G.E. (General Electric) Scholar-Leader Program Award. The second-year student is only one of two students from across Canada to be selected for this coveted honour.

Unrau says he’s thrilled by the opportunities the award will create for him. “I’ll have the chance to do things I wouldn’t otherwise get to do, like attend a business conference in Toronto and work with an expe-rienced G.E. mentor.”

Unrau is also a member of the Aboriginal Business Education Partners (ABEP), a community of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students pursuing Bachelor of Commerce degrees at the Asper School. This marks the second year the award has been given to an ABEP student.

CUttiNG thROUGh the SPiN

On February 25, staff and students of the Aboriginal

Business Education Partners hosted “Idle No More: Context, Meaning and Dialogue.” Niigaan Sinclair, Professor of Native Studies at the U of M, and Nina Wilson, a U of M Master’s student and Idle No More organizer, led a discussion that cut through the media spin on the grassroots movement that has been sweeping across Canada.

23

First-Year Student conquers Wes nicol

Simon Burns (right), winner of the 2012 Wes Nicol Entrepreneurial Competition, is stoked to receive his prize from judge Stuart Henrickson, Executive Director of the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship.

ASPER MEDIA CENTRE See us in action by visiting the Asper School of Business Media Centre at umanitoba.ca/asper/mediacentre. View news and upcoming events. Explore the School’s leading-edge research. Photo and video galleries showcase Asper faculty and students involved in their School and their community. The Media Centre is also home to the online edition of Update from this and previous years.

A S P E R S C H O O L O F B U S I N E S S24

She received compliments from both parties for her insightful translations and diplomacy, as well as her marketing skills in a highly technical field.

Roberta Desserre, Managing Director of the HVDC Research Centre, describes Kuzura’s perfor-mance as “extremely admirable for a technical person many years her senior and is phenomenal for some-one of her age and experience.”

With Kuzura’s help, MHI may soon be realizing sales in a region where they previously had limited exposure and success.

Not one but several Asper students nominated The North West Company as Asper Co-op Employer of the Year. The North West Company has been a staunch supporter of Asper Co-op since the program’s inception in 2007. As a result of their continued commitment to the program, Asper students have a great deal to say about the positive corporate culture and business practices that have made their experiences with this company an integral part of their growth as young business professionals.

a direct hand in training Manitoba’s future business leaders.

At the recent Celebrating Co-op event, second-year Marketing student Mariya Kuzura was named Co-op Student of the Year for her incredible work as a Marketing Associate in the Manitoba HVDC Research Centre, a division of Manitoba Hydro International (MHI).

Initially hired to research Eastern Europe as a potential market for MHI products and services, Kuzura went well beyond the call of duty to make her first co-op term a success. Using her business, marketing and language skills, she identified key companies and contacts for MHI. Then, on a site visit to Russia, Kuzura proved an invaluable member of the team by providing translation services and helping to establish and consolidate MHI’s relationships with their new partners in Moscow.

now in its sixth year, the Asper Co-operative Education Program is

thriving, thanks to strong partner-ships with leading businesses in Manitoba and across the country. The idea behind co-op is simple: connect students with valuable, paid work experience while they’re still in school. The result? A richer learning experience for students, and a chance for employers to have

celebrating co-op

The North West Company, winner of the 2012 Asper

Co-op Employer of the Year Award.

Left to right: Darcie Gault (Manager,

Corporate Human Resources at

The North West Company), Vanessa

Breland and Courtney Thomson

(Asper Co-op students), and Gail Chevalier (Director,

Corporate Human Resources and Giant

Tiger at The North West Company)

2012 Asper Co-op Student of the Year

winner Mariya Kuzura (right) with

Dean Michael Benarroch.

The idea behind co-op is simple: connect students with valuable, paid work experience while they’re still in school.

204.474.8960 asper_info@umanitoba.ca @ asperschoolumanitoba.ca/asper

For more information, contact: Judy Wilson, Director Marketing & Communications

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