UNews - ATB Securities Inc.

Calgary Chapter continues to gain momentum

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:14:04 +0000

In 2008, two years after completing his management degree at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Brock Melnyk (BMgt '06), financial advisor for ATB Securities Inc., attended a golf tournament put on by the U of L Alumni Association Calgary Chapter, where he was promptly recruited to be a member of the board of directors.

He served as both a director and vice-president before taking on the role of president (he will complete his term in spring 2013), after which he plans to stay involved with the board and sit as past-president. During his tenure, Melnyk has witnessed a great amount of hard work and dedication from his fellow board members and he is grateful for the gains that the chapter has made in the last five years particularly with the annual golf tournament, which, Melnyk admits, is his baby.

Carolyn Seward, top left, with Liza Worthington and Steve Worthington, had a great time at the Calgary Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament.

"For our Calgary chapter, the annual Calgary Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament is our single fundraiser for the year. When I first joined the association almost five years ago, we were earning enough money to give out one $500 bursary each year. Since then, we have seen a great increase in the success of the tournament in terms of numbers of people participating, increased donations and increased corporate sponsorship," says Melnyk. "This latest tournament was the most successful so far; we raised $8,000 and had approximately 80 people in attendance. We were able to offer four $1,000 bursaries to students and have ensured that this contribution to student success is sustainable in the future."

Money raised at the golf tournament comes from raffle revenues and corporate donations. This year, for example, Calgary-based West Jet agreed to donate a flight for two to anywhere West Jet flies as a raffle prize. Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames donated a Top Shelf Experience, which includes four premium tickets to a Flames game, signed jerseys, dinner and a chance to meet one of the players after the game.

"Jeff Wilson, our vice-president, has been instrumental in increasing our corporate sponsors. Thanks in large part to his hard work with the advancement committee, we have doubled our corporate network," says Melnyk. "Our legacy sponsors have written cheques to us every year since I started with the tournament in 2008. Their generosity, and that of our other sponsors, helps us continue our mission of enhancing the exposure and image of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and alumni in Calgary, while providing networking opportunities for new graduates and students."

Although the Calgary chapter is heading in the right direction, Melnyk believes they still have a lot of work to do as they continue to generate ideas and events that will support all alumni.

"This year, we are introducing our first child-friendly event," says Melnyk. "On Dec. 28 we have rented a suite at the Saddledome for the Lethbridge Hurricanes-Calgary Hitmen hockey game. We are hoping alumni bring their families and enjoy the game in a relaxing, friendly atmosphere, and we would love to have to rent additional suites to accommodate everyone!"

Every year, the Calgary chapter holds a reception at the Big Rock Brewery. It is an evening for alumni to relax, catch up on what is happening at the U of L and in Calgary and to get to know each other. This year the board has decided to hold its AGM at the Big Rock evening in late spring.

"This is always a very successful event," says Melnyk of the Big Rock reception. "Other than the golf tournament, this has the largest turnout, and it's a different demographic in attendance. We would really like to take advantage of how supportive our alumni are by coming out to Big Rock, and similarly, how supportive Big Rock is to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. The majority of our board members are from the Faculty of Management and we encourage alumni from all faculties to get involved so that we can meet the needs of all our current and future alumni."

Melnyk's motivation always comes back to his belief in giving back. It is a philosophy that he hopes all alumni will live by.

"My wife and I have just established scholarships at our high schools to help students pursue their dreams. Without that same kind of help, neither of us would be where we are today," explains Melnyk. "I encourage my fellow alumni to really think about what you have achieved and the help you have received along the way. Whether it is with your time or your chequebook, give back so that others can have those same opportunities."

GET THE FACTS

· Calgary Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament Legacy Sponsors include: LARC Resources, ATB Financial, BMO Nesbitt burns, CGA (Certified General Accountants), CMA (Certified Managerial Accountants) and Trafigura

· Tickets for the Hurricanes/Hitmen game are priced at $25 each, include a meal and can be purchased online by e-mailing uoflcalgaryalumni@uleth.ca or calling toll free 1-866-552-2582. You must RSVP by Dec. 20 and prepayment is required

· Melnyk also runs the annual ATB Brock Melnyk Invitational Golf Tournament, which is in its 10th year. It raised $10,000 for the Alberta Children's Hospital and the Edmonton Stollery Children's Hospital this past year

· Melnyk has been on the organizing committee for the United Way Day of Caring for the past 10 years, and this year he organized 120 bankers to paint 30 houses in one day for underprivileged seniors

This story first appeared in the December 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the entire issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Melnyk enthused about role with Calgary chapter

trevor.kenney — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:46:18 +0000

Enthusiastic, positive and goal-oriented, Brock Melnyk (BMgt '06), president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Association (ULAA) Calgary Chapter and financial advisor for ATB Securities Inc., is thrilled that his life is going as planned. He thanks, in part, the education he received at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's satellite campus in Calgary.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is providing such an amazing opportunity for students. I am indebted to them because if it wasn't for the flexibility and the evening classes at the Calgary campus I would likely not have graduated from university and I probably would not have the job I have now," explains Melnyk. "I had a goal to be married at 30 and have this job. I am getting married at 29 and I have my dream job. I am the happiest person in the world."

Brock Melnyk and his fiance, Terri-Lynn Good, plan to be married this summer.

Melnyk originally began his post-secondary educational career at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary. In 2002, he began working full time as a teller at ATB to pay for his classes, switching majors from economics to finance. He then made another switch, finding the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge a better fit for his educational needs. With additional financial assistance from ATB, he transferred to the U of L's Calgary campus for his final two years, took evening classes and continued to work full time.

"In comparing my education to those of my friends at other institutions, I found that the liberal arts focus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was a much more balanced approach," says Melnyk. "The majority of professors are industry professionals and they are able to tell you real life experiences, which is fantastic. They are there, dedicating their time in the evening to educate and give back to their community and they are so passionate about the students and the material.
"I remember doing a project with my friend Jeff Wilson, who is now the vice president of the ULAA Calgary chapter. Basically, we predicted the whole income trust issue a few years before it happened. It was one of those moments that you don't realize until after you graduate how your professors led you to these types of conclusions and how good your education really was. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was such a tight-knit community with really high-level class discussions; that really pushed me forward and prepared me for my future."

After graduating in 2006, Melnyk continued to advance his career with ATB. For the next several years, his career and volunteer activities kept him quite busy, but he felt disconnected with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. With that in mind, he attended his first alumni event in 2007, the Calgary Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament.

"I went to the tournament and Karen Filbert, ULAA president at the time, proceeded to recruit me as a director. When I joined the board I joined to help out with the golf tournament and then I fell back in love with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and with being involved and wanting to do more," says Melnyk. "Since then we have almost quadrupled the attendees at the tournament, and with the funds we raised from that we have doubled the scholarship we give to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Our focus right now is to have well-attended, high-end events that will appeal to all alumni, help them stay interconnected and feel proud of their ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. We want to increase the prestige of the U of L and its alumni here in Calgary and encourage alumni to get involved and give back to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the community and I think the new campus that we have here, Campus Alberta, is only going to support that."

Although being president of the ULAA Calgary chapter keeps Melnyk busy right now, he strongly believes in the value of continuing education. He says he has learned that if you set your mind to things, you can always find the time for life-long learning and for helping others.

"I am beginning my MBA at Dalhousie ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in September 2012. I believe if you want to succeed you have to further your education," he says. "Similarly, as university graduates we are likely in a better position than the majority of Canadians, and I think it is important that we give back, whether it is financially or with our time. There is always someone who needs it more than we do and it is nice to be able to lend a helping hand."

GET THE FACTS

· Melnyk is a self-professed Gleek (fan of television show Glee) and amateur chef.

· He earned his Certified Financial Planner qualification in 2010 and anticipates being named a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers this year.

· Organizes the Brock Melnyk Invitation Golf Tournament. Part of ATB Financial's Teddy for a Toonie Campaign, the tournament supports the Alberta's Children's Hospital.

· He is also an organizing committee member for the annual United Way Day of Caring.

This story first appeared in the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - ATB Securities Inc.

Calgary Chapter continues to gain momentum

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Melnyk enthused about role with Calgary chapter

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