spring / 2011 reflections · of business studies. thank you for your ongoing support. charles...

Dr. Glenn Feltham, Dean of the Asper School of Business since July 2004, has taken up a new challenge in Edmonton, as President and CEO of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), at the end of February. He leaves a legacy of excellence, relevance and leadership in Winnipeg. His contributions include academic scholarship, administra-tive leadership and volunteer service as a board member with a variety of organiza-tions, including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (where he also served as Chair), the Winnipeg Airports Authority Inc., and the Crown Corporations Council of Manitoba.

Reflections looking back on my time as Dean at the asper School

of Business, I am immensely proud of what we have

accomplished together.

As Manitoba’s business school, we are dedicated to providing business education and research to meet the needs of this province, a commitment that has put us among the leading business schools not only in Canada, but also abroad. Our AACSB accreditation, our full range of relevant programs, our faculty’s inspired teaching and their award-winning research, our exceptional student engagement, our standing as No. 1 in the world in business planning competitions, our more than 15,000 gradu-ates among whom are several internationally renowned CEOs – all these achievements illustrate our commitment to excellence, relevance and leadership. Yes, in Manitoba, but also around the world.

I want to make special mention of our connection

S P R I N g / 2 0 1 1

A s p e R s c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s

(continued p. 2)

to the community. More than any other business school, we benefit from direct contact with business leaders who are living the lessons and the theories our students are studying in class. These leaders commit their time and expertise as guest lecturers, mentors and advisors to our students. As members of Manitoba’s premier network of business leaders, the Associates of the Asper School of Business are

involved in the growth and development of the School.

m a n i t o b a’ s b u s i n e s s s c h o o l

I have relied on their knowledge, their experience and their friend-ship in my role as Dean, and I am grateful for all of it. Our new downtown James W. Burns Executive Education Centre will enhance this relationship even further.

In closing this final message to you, I want to say how very proud I am of this School: proud of our students, proud of our staff, faculty and alumni, and proud of what we have been able to create together. And I am confident that the best is yet to come. How could it not

be so, when so many outstanding individuals are committed to making the Asper School even better, more relevant, more accomplished?

But when it comes right down to it, everything we do is about people. It has been a privilege to have served as Dean of this School, and I feel truly blessed to have worked within, and for, this vibrant community of learning. Thank you for your support, friendship and guidance. I look forward to hearing news of future achievements, inno-vations and successes from my new home in Edmonton – please stop by to say hello next time you’re there!

Glenn feltham, phD, llB, fcMAPast Dean, Asper School of Business

know I speak for everyone at the Asper School, as well as all of our alumni, when I wish Past Dean

glenn Feltham great success in his new role as President of NAIT. We will miss him, but we will continue to benefit from his influence that has, over his time at our School, been profound and significant.

glenn has been involved in many initia-tives that have improved conditions and opportunities for students, alumni, fac-ulty and staff. Some of these are in the public view, such as the establishment of the co-operative education program and the beginning of direct entry from high school for Commerce students. glenn has surely improved our “Excellence and Relevance”, and we thank him for that.

Our priority is to maintain the momen-tum of change, while we search for a new Dean to lead the School. In the mean time, I assure you that we are moving ahead on many fronts, which include improvements to our MBA

program, ongoing development of executive education, the strengthening of our actuarial program, and continued success in our entrepreneurship competitions.

As a member of the Asper alumni, you play an essential role in the School’s success – today and into the future. We welcome your suggestions and support as we continue our journey of excellence in research and teaching of business studies. Thank you for your ongoing support.

charles Mossman, phD, fcGA, cfAActing Dean

Dr. Mossman joined the Asper School in 1990. He has wide experience in accounting and financial management, and has taught primarily in corporate finance, case teaching in finance, and small business finance. He was Associate Dean from 2004-2009.

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charles Mossman named acting Dean

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The James W. Burns executive education centre the James W. Burns executive education Centre opened its

doors to the manitoba business, government and

not-for-profit communities in march. the Centre, located

less than one minute from the historic corner of Portage

and main, was a major priority for the asper School’s

Past Dean, Dr. Glenn Feltham, as it enables the delivery of

leadership education in the heart of downtown Winnipeg

in the former Great-West life assurance Building.

The Centre has been made possible thanks to the generous support of six donors: Canadian National Railway, Great-West Life Assurance Company, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba, Power Corporation of Canada, The Winnipeg Foundation, and Mr. James Burns. This support has transformed an empty floor at 177 Lombard Avenue into a vibrant state-of-the-art executive education facility.

A number of events have already been held in the Centre since it opened, and the coming months promise to be very busy with client organizations sending their executives for education and training, and several university departments

scheduling events at the Centre. Steve Vieweg, Director of Executive Education for the Asper School, is excited about

the “busy-ness” of the Centre, which is already booked over 33% of the time through to June.

An official opening ceremony is scheduled for mid-June 2011. Watch the Asper School website for details.

ACTUARIAL HISTORY PUBLISHED

he Warren Centre for Actuarial Studies and Research, the second oldest

actuarial program in Canada and the fourth oldest in North America, will mark its 100th anniversary in 2012.

In advance of this auspicious milestone comes the publication of the history of the Centre, an undertaking gener-ously funded by Murray Taylor [BSc in Actuarial Science/76]. He wanted to capture the past on paper as a way to inspire students about their future in the actuarial profession. “The success of the program is very contingent on leadership, staffing and the continuous recruitment of students,” said Murray, President & CEO of Investors group, explaining that actuarial skills are applicable in the general running of any business. He said what drew him to support the Asper School was a sense of apprecia-tion for his education: “It’s easy to take the past for granted, but we should celebrate our strengths for the future.”

The Centre, a designated Centre of Actuarial Excellence, enjoyed a 40 per cent increase in student enrolment last year, bringing the total number of students in the program to 91.

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

murray taylor

m a n i t o b a’ s b u s i n e s s s c h o o l4

Stu Clark[bcomm (hons)/76]

$5 million gift: 2004• Stu Clark Centre for

Entrepreneurship

$3 million gift: 2011• Stu Clark Centre for

Entrepreneurship• Stu Clark Investment

Competition • Chair in entrepreneurial studies

“I’ve been very happy with my involvement with the School as a donor since 2004. Both Glenn

Feltham and Rob Warren have kept me very well informed of how my original gift is being put towards

entrepreneurial studies and so I’m happy to be making a second major gift. The Chair in entrepreneurial studies will enable research and scholarship to happen in that area, and a speaker series will put today’s leading entrepreneurs in front of students on campus. I am fortunate to be able to give back to my alma mater in this way, and I am pleased to be able to help raise the profile of entrepreneurial studies at the Asper School.”

AluMni Give BAckthe asper School has a long history of achievements

that are reflected in the success of our alumni. As leaders

of businesses and organizations of every size and type, you

take the school and its reputation with you across canada

and around the world. in so doing, you inspire our students

of today to reach higher.

We rely on you to help us open the door to new students

and faculty, and to new opportunities for growth. every

connection you create, every

gift you make helps cement our

reputation as a school that

prepares students for new

challenges in our ever-changing

world. We deeply appreciate your

ongoing involvement with the school. Without you, we

would achieve less today and envision less for the future.

Donors give for many different reasons, at many different

levels, and sometimes donors wish to remain anonymous.

such is the case with a recent generous gift made to

establish a memorial fund in the area of accounting.

every donation is valued, and we are happy to respect

your wishes regarding what your gift supports and

how your generosity is recognized.

i invite you to contact me to discuss how your contribu-

tion – whatever the size – can be put to best use. i look

forward to hearing from you.

Marci Elliott, PHEc

Director of Development

[email protected] | 204.480.1046

a s p e r s c h o o l o f b u s i n e s s 5

William (Bill) G. EamEr fca[bcomm (hons)/72, mba/73]

$50,000 gift: 2011• William G. Eamer Co-op

Program Scholarship• William G. Eamer Professional

Scholarship

“Establishing scholarships is a way for me to repay both the university and the faculty for my educa-tion, and to

encourage and support today’s students in pursuit of their University degree. I have good memories of my student days... I was motivated to make my first gift after my class, the Class of ’72, established a scholarship fund in 1997 in conjunction with our 25th reunion. We raised close to $20,000, and I was pleased to be a founding contributor to the fund.” Bill has also established scholarships in the Faculty of Pharmacy, in recognition of his respect for the pharmaceutical profession with which he was associated in the 90s as Executive Director of the Manitoba Society of Pharmacists. He calls it his other favourite profession – “in addition to chartered accountancy, of course!”

N. murray EdWardS

$250,000 gift: 2011

N. Murray Edwards, a leading financier and energy developer, made a $250,000 contribution towards the Asper School’s planned Financial Data Centre. Mr. Edwards’ gift will fund a stock ticker that will show live trading activity from a variety of exchanges. The Financial Data Centre will provide access to a range of financial databases. The objective is to provide a rich, inno-vative student learning experience by having students use real-time financial data from industry-standard sources to analyze financial situations presented within their finance, accounting and entrepreneurship classes.

Mr. Edwards is owner and president of Edco Financial Holdings Ltd., a private management and consulting company of which he became a director and sole shareholder in 1988. In the fall of 2010, Mr. Edwards received the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) from the Associates. Mr. Edwards was impressed by the Asper School when he received the IDEA award and, as a result, is pleased to be making a contribution towards the $6 million financial centre.

AluMni Give BAckfunding priorities 2011-2012

lready one of Canada’s leading business schools, the Asper School is planning a

future of enhanced growth and achieve-ments. Our student experience, one of the most dynamic in the country for undergraduate and graduate students alike, will get even better and more varied, thanks to the plans we have for enriched learning through such initiatives as the new financial data centre – a large undertaking at approximately $6 million, MBA business planning competitions, classroom upgrades, international exchanges, and scholarships.

A gift to the Asper School to support our plans for growth will help us refine and enrich the experience our students have during their business studies. We want to continue to attract the very best students and to prepare them with relevant learning that sets them up for success in the real world – locally, nationally and internationally.

Asper students gain knowledge and understanding of multinational business, culture and diversity, all of which is critical to understanding, and succeeding in, today’s global business environment. Please join us in educating the global business leaders of future generations.


ABep achievements and awards aBeP changed its name and updated its logo last year.

now called aboriginal Business education Partners, the

new name better reflects the program’s spirit and intent of

partnership – with students, sponsors and community.

Hosted by the Asper School, the annual Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Awards (EABLA) honoured two individuals who exemplify creative, compassion-ate and effective leadership within the context of Aboriginal Business. The gala evening recognized George Boyd, CEO of Southeast Resource Development Council Corp, with the Excellence in Aboriginal Business Community Leadership Award, and Sean McCormick, Founder of Manitobah Mukluks, with the Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Award.

ABEP awarded more than $190,000 to students in the form of scholarships, bursaries and prizes for their academic achievement. The total represents a

record amount in the history of ABEP, an Asper program partnering with Aboriginal students focused on earning their Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degrees. These awards represent

the academic excellence, hard work and dedication of our students as they earn their degrees in the same manner as all Asper graduates.

The 2010 Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Awards brought together Manitoba’s most promising Aboriginal youth leaders for an evening to celebrate their many accomplishments. Four ABEP students were among the only 16 nominees from across the province selected to receive the awards: Josée Lépine for academic perfor-mance. Matthew Cook-Contois for artistic performance. Lenny McKay for business/entrepreneur-ship. Desiree Pachkowski for community/volunteerism.

Dr. Hari Bapuji, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, launched his book Not Just China: The Rise of Recalls in the Age of global Business, at Western Canada’s largest independent bookstore, McNally Robinson, in January.

Dianne Buckner, who hosts CBC’s Dragons’ Den and is a member of CBC News’ business team, was keynote speaker at the 44th annual Commerce Business Banquet.

Brock Bulbuck, [BComm(Hons)/82], President & CEO of Boyd group Income Fund, gave a lively presentation to students in November.

from left: past Dean Glenn feltham, lisa Meeches, sean Mccormick, George Boyd, and Wanda Wuttunee, ABep Director.

aBeP addresses the unique needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis students who are admitted to the U of M and intend to apply to the Asper School of Business. Students receive holistic, academic, financial and personal support during their qualifying year and throughout their BComm(Hons) degree.


Our Grads GO PlacEs!

phD research earns Asper grad position at lsethe path to success is not always a straight line. Just ask

tara reich, who will defend her PhD thesis this spring

before taking up her tenure-track assistant Professorship at

the london School of economics (lSe) in england this July.

What began for Tara as under-graduate studies in psychology at the University of Western Ontario became graduate studies in social psychology at the U of M, then PhD research at the Asper School of Business, and now has become a posting to the LSE, one of the foremost social science universities in the world.

Tara researches observers of work-place aggression. “We know quite a lot about perpetrators and victims, but we don’t know a lot about the impact of aggression on those who witness it. This is a significant over-sight, because 57% of workplace aggression occurs in the presence of other people. We don’t know how observers react, how their perceptions of the people involved are changed,” she explains. “My research looks at observers who don’t know either the perpetrator or the victim personally and asks, ‘what is the fallout for the people involved in the aggression when there are witnesses?’”

When Tara moved from social psychology to business to pursue her PhD research, she did so in order to work with Asper Associate Professor Sandy Hershcovis, whose research involves employee well-being, the psychology of workplace aggression and sexual harassment.

“I give a lot of credit to Sandy, who has been such a great influence on me as a researcher,” explains Tara. “I feel like LSE is hiring Sandy as much as they are me, because she has really helped shape my work. I just cannot say enough about Sandy’s support. She’s fabulous and a ton of credit for my success goes to her.”

When Sandy sent out to the Asper School community the announce-ment of Tara’s appointment, she says her email inbox was flooded with congratulatory messages. “The reaction has been so positive and that’s very nice,” explains Tara.

“From the Dean to my peers to faculty members who have – and haven’t – taught me... the reaction demonstrates the very supportive nature of the School and shows that we really want our grads to succeed.”

Tara’s research has been supported by both a SSHRC and an MGS grant. She was a visiting scholar at the Institute of Work Psychology at the University of Sheffield (England) from September to December 2009. “I’m very excited

about the opportunity I’ve been given at the LSE,” she says. “The risks I’ve taken along the way have really paid off.”

Tara and Sandy are co-authors of a paper titled “The Moderating Effect of Equal Opportunity Support and Confidence in Grievance Procedures on Sexual Harassment from Different Perpetrators” that was published in 2010 in the Journal of Business Ethics, which the Financial Times ranks among the top 45 busi-ness journals in the field of business.



Adding up the numbers through an MBA rob tétrault [asper mBa/09] grew up in a house of numbers

– his father was in finance, his mother in accounting – yet

his ambition was to be a lawyer. he pursued the path of

justice, earning a Juris Doctorate in 2006 from the University

of toronto and returning to Winnipeg to article at aikins

mcaulay & thorvaldson before being called to the bar in 2007.

He spent two years working as an insurance litigator, but discovered that it wasn’t what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

“It was a narrow field and, while I enjoyed advising people, I wanted a broader scope to work with,” he explains. “I enjoyed the financial aspect of the work and began to think that an MBA program would be interesting for me.” It turned out to be just the ticket.

Rob completed the Asper MBA in 11 months, majoring in finance – maybe the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, after all! “The program put all the pieces together for me,” he says. On graduation he chose to work as an Investment Advisor at National Bank Financial (formerly Bieber Securities), which Rob describes as “very entrepre-neurial, with room to grow and lots of support.” He credits the Asper MBA with opening his eyes to his “deep rooted passion for finance” and making him realize his skill with numbers and creating portfolios for clients.

Having the MBA credential gave him instant credibility, he says. “Without it, I’m not sure I would have had the opportunity to work at such a reputable company as NBF,” he says. He draws on his learning every day: “Most of the time, I employ skills learned in my advanced finance courses (portfolio theory, international finance, capi-tal markets) using portfolio theory and investment models. Other days I use the business analysis courses to run diagnostics of pub-licly traded companies, in order to decide if they would be a good fit in a specific portfolio,” he explains.

He remains in close touch with classmates – some of whom have become clients – and professors alike, and is working on a quantita-tive analysis paper with Professor Bhatt hoping to get it published or accepted for presentation at an upcoming conference. “I would recommend the MBA to any-one who will be working in the Winnipeg business community,” he says. “The contacts you make are invaluable and will almost certainly lead to new clients, business contacts, or future partnerships.”

[BComm (Hons)/06], a graduate student in the MSc program, was awarded $5,000 to research what drives online poker players to gamble. The award, from the Manitoba gambling Control Commission, will support Bahl’s project that will use a new qualitative methodology called netnography to analyze posts and discussions on an online poker forum.

Under the supervision of Dr. Rajesh Manchanda, the Asper School’s F. Ross Johnson Professor in Marketing, Bahl will integrate more traditional gambling motive typologies and current online gambling research. By developing a clearer understanding of what motivates online gamblers, Bahl hopes to be able to make recom-mendations about how the burgeoning field of social marketing could be used to encourage these players to gamble responsibly.


“In 2010 alone, I travelled to 17 countries and 31 cities,” he says. “I spent mid-summer (with 24-hour daylight) up in the Norwegian Fjords with 12 of my friends from all over Europe; we drove to three unbelievably beautiful cities and stayed in cabins at night to rest. Other highlights for me have been Paris, London, the French Riviera, and Barcelona! Through my work, I’ve picked up basic Swedish and am taking French classes. I’ve also learned some survival Polish to get me through my days when I work there...and I have basic Spanish, too, so I think I’m set!”

Michael is loving his current expe-rience on a global project and plans to pursue it for another 18 months. “I have a personal goal to live and/or work in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific, so at the end of the 1.5 years, I would like to be in Asia Pacific and spend a short period of time there and then eventually come back to Canada. The beauty of being young and mobile is that the possibilities are always endless! Electrolux is present in 56 countries – so potentially, you never know what will open up.”

Michael credits his involvement with AIESEC for introducing him to the possibilities and benefits of international work. “The student

group facilitates global internships for young people under the age of 29 and with university degrees, so I decided to apply to the program and was accepted for a 6-month Business Analyst Internship with Electrolux in Stockholm, Sweden. I had just two weeks to pack my bags and move across the world! Four months into the internship, I was offered my current position.”

He says that he would do one thing differently, if he were to re-do his years at the Asper School: “I would definitely participate in the International Exchange program.

So many of the friends I’ve made in Europe have studied internationally – it’s a great experience, and I wish that I had travelled a lot earlier in my life!”

Michael credits a conference Chair at the JDC case competition in Vancouver with giving him some crucial career advice. “It wasn’t actually anything profound...but on the opening night, this guy said in his speech ‘Go Big’, so being in Europe is me going big!

“Living and working abroad has been one of the hardest yet best

things I’ve ever done for myself,” he says. “I lived a very comfort-able, simple life in Winnipeg, but after moving away from Canada to Europe, I realize how much I’ve missed out on by not pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Now I can hardly wait to see what the rest of my world travels will bring me.”

AIESEC, the world’s largest student-run organization, has over 50 years’ experience in developing high-potential students into globally minded responsible leaders through leadership experiences and global internships.


have degree. Will travel.When you ask michael torres [BComm(hons)/07] where he’s

working these days, be prepared for a long story: Currently

based in Brussels, Belgium as an hr transformation

analyst for electrolux aB, he also works for the company

in Sweden, Italy and Poland. and when he’s not in any of

these countries, he’s travelling elsewhere.

Michael says he would definitely participate in the International Exchange program.


Asper students make connections for life

through their learning and their fun.

They work hard to raise money for charity.

They network with business leaders. They

organize conferences. And they make friends

who form the foundation of

their professional lives.


The CDC’s career advisors – human resource professionals with extensive experience in career planning – help students understand their strengths and interests, and work with them to identify and articulate their professional goals. CDC staff act as career coaches for Asper students and alumni, helping with everything from career research to resume

writing, from job search strate-gies to effective interviewing

and networking skills, and professional development opportunities.

“We have a rich network of employers and compa-

nies across Canada who contact us when they’re

looking for business students and graduates who can make a

meaningful contribution to their organizations,” explains CDC Director Kelly Mahoney, who has headed the Centre since 2005. “We feel great satisfaction from helping students and alumni gain clarity about how to present themselves in the marketplace and define the career path they wish to pursue.”

celebrating 20 years of putting Asper students on the right (career) trackIn 2010, the Career Development Centre at the asper

School of Business marked its 20th anniversary of

service to students and alumni, specializing

in helping them manage their current and

future careers.

[BComm(hons)/10] knew the career he wanted

and he knew where to go for the skills he needed to open doors along

the way – the asper School’s Career Development Centre.

“I attended the resume writing seminar, got the CDC staff to review my resume

and give me suggestions to improve it,” he says, “and I was a regular user of the

job bank. Many students use the job bank – it’s just great. Tons of opportunities

right around the world are posted in the bank and I took advantage by applying

for jobs and going on interviews. I would check the job bank every day. It’s a

huge service to students, and the CDC provides excellent guidance to us as we’re

planning our careers. Every student should pay attention to what’s available

through the CDC.”

Evan, who was an actuarial math major and was awarded a John Culver

Wooddy Scholarship for the 2010-2011 academic year by the Actuarial

Foundation in recognition of his academic achievements, is now working as an

actuarial analyst with New York Life Insurance in New York City. Evan’s solid

academic record and strong resume landed him an interview in November 2009,

a summer internship in 2010 and then a full-time job in January 2011. “I used

all the skills and techniques I learned through the CDC,” he says.

kelly Mahoney (front) with the cDc Team


senior sticks (aka presidents of the commerce students

Association) from five years got together during homecoming 2010 for a rare

photo opportunity. from left are: Jack Yellowlees – senior stick 1949. Brian

Johnson – senior stick 1965. Gabriela Rosales – senior stick 2010. Roy Williams –

senior stick 1950. Michael Gould – senior stick 2009.

Alumni gather at a reception hosted at Glenn feltham’s home. (below)


Athlete connects sport and business Passion and persistence are the name of the game for

michelle Kliment, a 3rd-year student at the asper School,

who is pursuing a double major in International Business

and entrepreneurship while completing her second

international study exchange in europe and maintaining her

spot on the University of manitoba’s Bison soccer team.

She found her passion at age seven when her dad signed her up for the local community soccer league and she’s been playing ever since. Michelle worked her way through city and provincial teams and, today,

she is the second leading goal scorer on the U of M team and an Academic All-Canadian with a GPA of 3.41.

The persistence? Well that’s there every day – and necessary, given her ambition: “My long-term goal is to

acquire an International Master’s in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport. This degree was created to promote management education within the sports world, and it will help me achieve my ultimate goal of working in management for FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) or in the sporting world somewhere,” she says.

Michelle chose business studies because, “business is a science and an art and, because of that, people in business can choose a career path that best suits their interests and strengths,” she explains. “There are many similari-ties between sports and business. For example, it is essential in business to be able to socialize and work in groups. Cross-functional teams of skilled workers are con-stantly being created to achieve particular goals, just like in soccer or any other team sport.”

Hard working, determined, motivated, patient, sociable, stra-tegic, competitive – these are the characteristics that Michelle says are found in the business and the sports world. But she could just as easily be describing herself, because when passion and persistence come

together, that’s what it looks like.

Visit our website (umanitoba.ca/asper) for the full-length interview with Michelle Kliment, and to learn about other Asper students who combine a passion for sports with a commit-ment to business studies.

Dane Pischke, Bison volleyball player, Asper student, Academic All-canadian, team rep on Athletes’ council,

5th in points and 6th in kills in Western

canadian division

Tricia Mayba, Bison volleyball player, Asper student, Academic All-canadian, cis Tournament All star, member of the canadian national team

There are winners and losers (competition), people

standing on the sidelines (investors), and referees (regulators).”– Michelle Kliment

Michelle Kliment


connecting business skills with sanitation needs the topic of toilet design likely didn’t come up in their

business studies text books, but BComm (hons) graduates

Cordell Jacks (2003) and tamara Baker (2006) have not only

helped design a better toilet, they’ve won an international

award for their work and, more importantly, have improved

the quality of life and health for thousands of families in

rural Cambodia.

In fact, more Clean Latrines were sold in 2010 than other models had been sold in the previous four years. The next objective is to take the program and the model national throughout Cambodia.

In addition to bringing sanitation to rural families, the Clean Latrine opens up entrepreneurial opportunities for small business owners who can earn a good income from producing and installing the concrete-based latrines.

For their work and their com-mitment to the cause of sanitation, Tamara and Cordell were honoured by IDE Canada at the organization’s fall banquet in Winnipeg in October 2010. Their work was featured in the Globe and Mail and on CBC Radio’s “As it Happens”.

Cordell and Tamara each took tradi-tional corporate jobs after graduating, earned good money and gained good experience, but neither of them found the work very inspiring or fulfilling. However, when they connected with IDE Canada, an organization that creates income opportunities for the poor, they discovered a way to combine their passion for meaningful work with their business education and their marketing and entrepre-neurial skills.

Their connection with IDE took them to Cambodia as program and marketing managers for IDE’s Water and Sanitation program. In that country, only 23 per cent of people have a toilet in their home; the rest use bushes and fields. Not pretty, and not sanitary, as evidenced by the sickness that plagues such communities.

Cordell and Tamara were charged with getting more families to buy and install the existing latrine models, but it was a tough sell. At $100, the model was too expensive for most families and the process to purchase and install it too labour intensive. Undaunted, the Asper grads collaborated with Jeff Chapin, of the leading design firm IDEO,

to create the Clean Latrine: a sim-plified latrine that costs only about $35. Says Cordell: “A family can make the decision in the morning to purchase the Clean Latrine and have it installed and ready for use that same day.”

Since the launch of the Clean Latrine, more than 7,500 of them have been installed in two rural provinces, which represents a 36 per cent increase in latrine coverage.

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participants have experience in accounting in their country of origin, a Bachelor’s degree, and proficiency in English.

“It’s a great group and it’s going well,” says Janet Morrill, Associate Professor of Accounting & Finance, who was a driving force in establish-ing the program. “I greatly admire how much work the participants are putting into their courses and how hard they’re trying. The biggest challenge for them is getting used to the speed at which they’re expected to work – many are not used to that level of communication or speed – and in a foreign language to boot!”

Participants took a 3-week intensive ‘English for Accounting purposes’ pre-course, and special workshops have been held to address specific

challenges, such as how to approach multiple choice and short answer questions on exams.

While the future of the BPA program is not yet finalized, early reports from participants are over-whelmingly positive.

lloyd arches has been in Winnipeg for less than one year. He and his family moved from the Philippines where he was a state auditor. “I am very thankful for this opportunity. This program is helping me accom-plish my personal goal to work as a professional in a company while pursuing my education for a CGA designation.”

Yan Zhang, originally from China, has a diploma in Finance, a Bachelor of Arts and five years’ work experi-ence in the accounting field. She has lived in Winnipeg for two years and has not yet gained any work experience here. “My goal is to find my first accounting job in Canada. In the program, the biggest challenge for me is time management. I need to find a balance between my studies and spending time with my family and son.”

norberto evangelista, a Certified Public Accountant in his home country of the Philippines, came to Winnipeg three years ago. While he has worked in accounting here, the BPA program is helping him expand his career options. “The program is helping me transition from what I used to do professionally in the Philippines to what is expected of me in the Canadian workplace,” he says. “In the Philippines there is only one accounting designation. In Canada there are three different associations, which provides me with options and I can focus directly on the designation of choice. Having professional success in Canada will definitely benefit my family.”

An innovative program in the Asper School’s Department of Accounting and Finance is helping foreign-trained accountants make important connections in their profession in order to build a better life for them-selves and their families in Canada.

For the past year, the Asper School has been offering a pilot ses-sion of the “Bridge to Professional Accounting” (BPA) program that prepares internationally trained accountants to enter the programs of professional studies for a Certified General Accountant, Certified Management Accountant or Chartered Accountant designation.

The BPA is a full-time 8-month-long program that offers interme-diate and advanced accounting courses, communication courses and guest lectures, all with exten-sive personalized learning support. Special funding has come from the Manitoba and federal governments;

connecting professional accountants with new opportunitya productive, rewarding life is built one connection at a

time. We learn new things. We meet new people. We find

new opportunities.

(from left) lloyd Arches, Yan Zhang and norberto evangelista are being prepared to continue their professional studies in cGA, cMA or cA programs.


ames D. Sinegal, co-founder and CEO of Costco Wholesale Corporation, will receive the

2011 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) from the Associates of the Asper School of Business, at a gala dinner in Winnipeg in June. Sinegal will be presented with a custom-made pure gold medal produced by the Royal Canadian Mint specifically for the award.

“Costco has grown from a single Seattle warehouse into the largest wholesale shopping organization by sales volume in the United States, becoming a true example of suc-cessful entrepreneurship,” said Arni Thorsteinson, chair of the IDEA Committee for the Associates and president of Shelter Canadian Properties Limited.

The Associates, a group of more than 250 prominent business leaders who support the Asper School of Business, are committed to ensuring the School remains one of the top business schools in Canada. The Associates support and promote interaction between the business community, faculty and students through programs and events including the IDEA dinner.

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ASPER CO-OP PROgRAm AwARDS HOnOUR wELLIngTOn wEST

ellington West Holdings, one of the largest and fastest-growing indepen-

dent full-service investment firms in Canada, was a two-time winner at the 2010 Asper Co-op Program awards.

The company was not only named Employer of the Year, but Devan Graham, an Asper student who worked in the HR Department, was named 2010 Co-op Student of the Year – she was “the best of the best” students Wellington has ever employed through the Asper Co-op Program, said Brad Lutz, Director of Human Resources. “Devan has been an outstanding addition to our team and...we will be thrilled to have

her start her full-time career with us upon graduation.” Devan is an excellent Ambassador for the Co-op Program and the Asper School, volunteering as a mentor to fellow students, answering questions, con-ducting mock interviews and helping the co-op team facilitate orientations to new students.

Wellington West is a long-time supporter of the Co-op Program and has consistently provided high-quality work relevant to co-op students’ field of study; has mentored co-op students throughout their work term and offered them support and constructive feedback; and has delivered a positive orienta-tion to the workplace, making co-op students feel welcome as members of the Wellington West team.


Dr. Hari Bapuji, Business Administration, was promoted to Associate Professor, effective March 30th and was granted tenure effective July 1st.

Dr. Namita Bhatnagar, Marketing, was promoted to Associate Professor, effective March 30th.

Dr. Raj Manchanda, Marketing, and Dr. Malcolm Smith, Marketing, were both promoted to Professor, effective March 30th.

Dr. Alex Paseka, Accounting & Finance, was granted tenure, effective July 1st.

Mavis McRae [BSc(Food Sci)/93, Asper MBA/01] is Entrepreneur in Residence at the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship. She specializes in the areas of product development and food safety, project management, and new business development.

In 2010, Dr. Charles Mossman received his CFA designation, and was honoured with the Pinnacle Award for outstanding career achievement from CGA Manitoba.

aWarDS Dr. Reg Litz, Professor of Marketing, received the 2010 Dr. and Mrs. H. H. Saunderson Award for Excellence in Teaching. An inspiring teacher and supportive mentor, Dr. Litz is recognized by students for his creative, humorous and engaging teaching style.

Mr. Sean MacDonald received The Golden Shovel Award for Excellence in Teaching from the graduating Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) class in May 2010.

Congratulations to the following Asper faculty, whose teaching and research skills have been recognized with an award for achievements in 2010:

2010 associates’ achievement awards Teaching: Mr. Sean McDonald, sessional instructor, Business Administration. Dr. Parshotam Dass, Associate Professor, Business Administration

Research: Dr. Nick Turner, Associate Dean and Associate Professor, Business Administration

Service: Dr. Ed Bruning, Professor, Marketing

2010 Cma Canada merit awardThese cash awards, worth $7,500, are given annually to two faculty members who demonstrate particu-larly high achievement in the com-bined areas of teaching and research over a four-year period.

Dr. Raj Appadoo, Assistant Professor, Supply Chain Management

Dr. Sandy Hershcovis, Associate Professor, Business Administration

Some aChIevementSDr. Nick Turner, Associate Dean and Associate Professor, Business Administration, was named Associate Editor at the Journal of Management Inquiry.

Dr. Hari Bapuji was interviewed by CBC National News in November, 2010 regarding issues to do with recalls of unsafe products.

Research presented by Dr. Raymond Lee at the Wonca Conference of Family Doctors was featured in Elsevier Global Medical News and Family Practice News.

Dr. Neil Fassina, Associate Professor, Business Administration, was made president of the Human Resource Management Association of Manitoba in 2010.

Dr. lUmInG WanG was named Assistant Professor, Marketing,

effective July 1, 2010. Dr. Wang came to the Asper School via

the University of Alberta, where she earned an MA in economics

and a PhD in marketing. Dr. Wang’s research interests include

branding, research methodologies and consumer choice modeling.

Dr. ZhenYU WU, was named Associate Professor in the

Department of Business Administration, effective July 1, 2011.

Dr. Wu was most recently the Centre for Strategic Financial

Management Scholar at the Edwards School of Business,

University of Saskatchewan. His research primarily focuses on

entrepreneurial finance and corporate governance, especially

the application of agency theory in these fields.


hICKSon reSearCh DaY Once again, Asper faculty members shared their current research projects at the semi-annual Hickson Research Day in November 2010.

Dr. Reg Litz looked at the challenges faced by startup companies, as illustrated by a documentary about the dotcom business govWorks.com, which failed despite its potential.

Dr. Krista Uggerslev presented data that help explain “What’s Behind the War for Talent?” – the labour shortage – in today’s marketplace.

Dr. Bob Travica outlined “An Information View of Organizations”, which delivers tools for improving information management and the alignment between organization and information systems.

PhD student Olga Bullard asked, “What causes consumers to engage in behaviour that is detrimental to themselves?” – and provided insight into a possible answer by exploring the “regulatory fit effect”.

Chris Adams, adjunct professor, shared findings from his research into how socio-economic factors impact corporate social responsibility concerns of Manitobans.

Dr. Sarath Abeysekera discussed his research that investigated the tendency of some microfinancing initiatives to veer away from their original mission of serving the very poor due to the pressure of balanc-ing outreach with sustainability.

The Research Day is held twice yearly in honour of the late Dr. Allistair Hickson, who was an avid researcher and generous colleague. For more Asper School research news, go online to umanitoba.ca/asper.

nFa ConFerenCeIn September, the Asper School of Business co-hosted the Northern Finance Association 2010 Annual Conference at The Hotel Fort Garry. Dr. Usha Mittoo and Dr. David Stangeland co-chaired the event, which attracted 191 participants representing 15 countries and 4 continents. Keynote speakers included Dr. Espen Eckbo from Dartmouth College and Dr. Randall Morck from the University of Alberta.

BranD StormIn October, the inaugural Brand Storm event, the brainchild of Dr. Fang Wan, brought together more than 60 Winnipeg business people, local and international researchers, and local brand experts to discuss brand development and brand man-agement issues. The distinguished guest speaker was Professor Amitava Chattopadhyay, who holds the L’Oréal Chair in Marketing, Innovation and Creativity at the European Institute for Business Administration, Paris, France. He presented his research findings on how brands from emerging economies have built global or regional brands despite small budgets and the generally negative images of their country in the global marketplace.

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using a child’s puzzle toy to illustrate the concept, Reg litz explained how entrepreneurs envision new systems and how those systems actually end up working is not always the same thing. sometimes it comes together as planned, but more often...not exactly!


For more information or additional copies of Update, please contact:

Judy Wilson, DirectorMarketing & Communications

306 - 181 Freedman Crescent Winnipeg MB R3T 5V4Phone: 204.474.8960 email: [email protected]

umanitoba.ca/asper

competitions since 1995. A2K was pitching a non-invasive colorectal screening tool from the National Research Council.

nASDAQ CLOSIng BELL RUng – AgAInThe annual Stu Clark Investment Competition, hosted every March in Winnipeg by the Asper School, is a business planning competition that offers teams the opportunity to win a berth in the prestigious Venture Lab Investment Competition held at the University of Texas, while also giving them a shot at thousands of dollars in prizes. The SCIC winner earns the honour of ringing the closing bell at NASDAQ in New York City. On August 10, 2010, Asper faculty and students rang the-bell again – for the second year in a row.

InTERnATIOnAL BIzCAmPThe SCCE has established a BizCamp in Mindanao (Philippines), which will teach entrepreneurship to indigenous people as a way of developing the region’s economy to be less dependent on royalties provided by mining companies.

Student entrepreneurs (undergradu-ate and graduate levels) learn how to develop a sound business plan, which they then pitch to potential investors at competitions held around the world.

The Centre has recently received two generous donations in support of its entrepreneurial teaching. Gerald Schwartz [BComm/62], through the Gerald Schwartz Heather Reisman Foundation, made a gift of $500,000 to support the continued offering of the Arni C. Thorsteinson Exchange Program with Ben Gurion University in Negev through the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship. Stu Clark [BComm(Hons)/76] provided a gift of $3 million to establish a Chair

stu clark centre for entrepreneurshipthe Stu Clark Centre for entrepreneurship (SCCe) at

the asper School nurtures the skills required to take a

business from idea to execution, through courses and

through business planning competitions.

and Fellowships in entrepreneurship as a way of building capacity in the Stu Clark Centre and to launch a distinguished researcher speaker series.

#1 In THE wORLDAn example of how successful the SCCE is at nurturing entrepreneurial talent is the A2K team of Anocha Jivanuwong [MBA/10. B.Arch, LEED AP], Katherine O’Rourke [BComm(Hons)/10] and Andrea Legary [B.Sc. Mech. Eng. Asper MBA/10]. Their stellar performance in 2010 included two 1st-place finishes and a handful of top-3 showings, all of which helped the Asper School achieve a world record: forty-six 1st-place finishes at international business planning

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spring / 2011 reflections · of business studies. thank you for your ongoing support. charles...

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