UNews - Faculty of Management Dean

SBI partners with ATB to create speaker series

trevor.kenney — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 23:13:55 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge joined ATB Financial officials at the new Highlands Crossing branch in west Lethbridge on Friday, October 5, 2012 to announce ATB Financial's support of the newly-established ATB Financial Small Business Institute Speaker Series.

A $36,000 investment will help launch the series, which will see industry leaders and researchers visit communities throughout southern Alberta to share their knowledge, insights and experiences on topics related to small business.

"This gift demonstrates ATB Financial's commitment to education, research and the business communities of southern Alberta," says U of L Faculty of Management Dean Dr. Bob Ellis. "The new speaker series will help forge ties among the small business community, ATB Financial and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, resulting in strong partnerships that benefit southern Alberta business."

The widespread delivery of the speaker series is what makes the program so unique. Presentations from industry leaders and researchers will be made throughout southern Alberta, with a special focus on reaching rural communities.

"One of the things we love most at ATB Financial is being able to help small businesses succeed," says Rob Smith, Vice-President, ATB Financial South. "At ATB, we like to think we know Alberta and Albertans better than any other financial institution. With that in mind, it's exciting to partner with the U of L's Faculty of Management for the ATB Financial Small Business Institute Speakers Series. Having established small business leaders share their knowledge and experience with the rest of southern Alberta can only make our local economy stronger."

Led by Small Business Institute directors, Dr. M. Gordon Hunter and Dan Kazakoff, the series will be of interest to those currently involved or considering an investment or career in small business.

"The focus of our investigations is on privately held small businesses, varying from start-up businesses to those that are multi-generational," says Hunter. "The small business is the lifeblood of many rural communities and it's this unique focus of the Small Business Institute that makes its findings so relevant to the Lethbridge and southern Alberta area."

By further connecting with the rural communities that drive the southern Alberta economy, the SBI and students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge also realize a great benefit from this relationship.

"Our students will benefit from the exchange of ideas with the area's business people," says Kazakoff. "The whole notion is that with an institute, you get people together who might have a common interest in the subject area. By discussing ideas around the table with other individuals, you often find you get a greater depth of understanding. This series offers that opportunity for us to better connect with and understand the issues facing small business owners and operators in southern Alberta."

Scotiabank helps launch FNMI mentorship

trevor.kenney — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:30:40 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge welcomed Scotiabank officials to campus on Tuesday, Feb. 7 to announce a major gift in support of First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students.

The $150,000 investment will help launch a mentorship program aimed at post-secondary students, as well as students in junior high and high schools in Lethbridge and reserve communities throughout southern Alberta.

"This gift demonstrates Scotiabank's incredible commitment to education and the FNMI community, and sets a strong example for others to follow," says U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon.

"This gift also represents a partnership. The U of L is committed to working with Scotiabank to ensure FNMI students will have the resources they need to be successful and realize their post-secondary education aspirations. The mentorship program is a great addition to our support programs for FNMI students. We are proud of what it's accomplished already and look forward to growing this program in coming years."

There are two key elements to the program that make it unique, says U of L Faculty of Management Dean Dr. Robert Ellis.

"U of L First Nations, Métis and Inuit alumni will serve as mentors to Aboriginal students in the management and pre-management programs. The alumni will support, give advice, and help to instill confidence in the students."

In turn, the U of L Aboriginal management students being mentored will provide guidance to junior and senior high students in the local city and reserve schools. "This program will allow U of L students to act as role models for the Aboriginal students who are at the high school level.

"Education is one of five pillars of Scotiabank's global philanthropic program known As 'Bright Future'," says Shannon Burch, the VP of southern Alberta/Kootenays for Scotiabank. "We have always believed in contributing to communities in which we live, work and do business. Scotiabank takes tremendous pleasure in supporting important institutions like the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge."

Backpack donations encouraged

trevor.kenney — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:17:39 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Faculty of Management is once again participating in the Interfaith Food Bank's Annual First Day at School program.

The program provides backpacks filled with school supplies to students from low-income families. The Faculty of Management Dean's office (Markin Hall 4101) will be accepting school supply donations through to Monday, Sept. 12 during regular office hours, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Cash donations will also be accepted instead of school supply donations. Cheques can be made out to the Interfaith Food Bank. Tax receipts are available for both cash and school supply donations.

Following is a list of school supplies requested by the Interfaith Food Bank.

New backpacks
HB pencils
Erasers
Scribblers
Glue sticks
Wax crayons
Binders
Scotch tape
Pencil sharpeners
Pencil cases
Ball-point pens
Geometry sets
Pocket-sized dictionaries
Lined loose leaf paper
Washable felt markers
Loose leaf dividers
Calculators
30 cm metric rulers
Small tissue packs
Highlighters
Duo-tang folders
Pencil crayons
Scissors
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Hygiene items

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ sees great value in its external relationships

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:04:50 +0000

By RICHARD WESTLUND

A couple of years ago, while at the Canadian Universities Government Relations Officers annual conference, I attended a presentation made by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario and the London Chamber of Commerce about the strong partnership they enjoyed.

At first glance, the session seemed understated and underwhelming, as it was slotted amid more noteworthy sessions that included federal deputy ministers, prominent media columnists and established strategists within government. However it was this session that resonated with me more than the others because it spoke to the great opportunities that arise when partnerships with local entities are established.

Western's relationship with the London chamber, at one point, was fairly one-sided. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ would approach local businesses only when it needed something – such as support for a specific application for government funding.

The relationship changed when the London chamber reengaged the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and insisted that Western become a meaningful partner. After some concerted effort, the chamber and the university created a relationship of mutual benefit.

After returning home and pondering this example, I joined the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee. I had given the local chamber little thought prior to that point but now felt it was important to get involved. What I immediately found was that the Lethbridge and Western situations were hardly comparable.

I discovered that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's relationship with the local chamber goes back decades. On its website the chamber proudly states the significant role it has played in support of the U of L in the community. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has an automatic appointment to its board of directors and various committees have U of L representatives actively participating in events and meetings. Faculty of Management Dean
Dr. Bob Ellis, for example, serves on the Government Affairs committee.

As well, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ researchers have taken the time to share their expertise with the chamber. In the past few months alone, Dr. Geoffrey Hale has spoken on border issues and Dr. Judith Kulig advocated for federal funds to create a pilot program for initiatives that would help universities retain Aboriginal students and assist in their transition to the workforce.

Like the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has a role to play in the economic development of the city and beyond. One of the key directions in the U of L's Strategic Plan is to enhance relationships with external communities. Faculty and staff from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ currently share their skills with a myriad of different local organizations. It is this spirit of sharing knowledge and expertise that benefits both the community and the U of L.

Looking at the emphasis the U of L places on community engagement, and by the number of advocates the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ already has in the community, fostering these meaningful partnerships and interactions will only help the city and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to thrive in the future.

Richard Westlund is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's government relations director

Miller sisters hit it big with Top Ad Exec

trevor.kenney — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:09:47 +0000

Sisters and Faculty of Management classmates Brittany and Amanda Miller placed third overall in the prestigious Canada's Next Top Ad Exec competition, which wrapped up at the end of March.

"All of us in the Faculty of Management are very proud of Amanda and Brittany's success in this prestigious national business case study competition," says Faculty of Management Dean Dr. Bob Ellis.
"Amanda and Brittany possess the creativity, confidence, and leadership skills to transform the organizations in which they will work and the communities in which they will live following graduation."

Brittany and Amanda Miller with the new Chevy Sonic.

The contest, sponsored by McMaster ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's DeGroote School of Business, tasked students with creating an advertising campaign for an actual product from a real business – in this case, Chevrolet Canada's new Sonic compact car.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta team placed first, and the sponsoring group, McMaster ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, was second. For finishing third, both Amanda and Brittany receive $1,000 scholarships from Chevrolet Canada, as well as a Fuji camera gift package.

The marketing majors were initially selected to the top 25 from a field of 167 teams from universities across Canada. The contest was open to both
undergraduate and MBA students. CNTAE's top 10 teams then faced off in a pitch or perish final presentation to a panel of expert judges from advertising, marketing and communications.

Judges evaluated each team by looking at participants' overall strategy, creativity and attention to detail.

"Submissions this year were some of the highest quality our judges have ever seen," says Meghan Brennan, co-chair, CNTAE.
"While each of the top-10 contestants submitted a top-tier entry, the three winning entries displayed a professional level of strategy, creativity, research and feasibility within the $1 million budget provided. These entries showed judges that marketing on campuses across Canada can be taken to a new level by using a mix of new and traditional media tools."

The Faculty of Management provided financial support to both Amanda and Brittany to assist with their travel expenses to and from Toronto.

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Hunter receives prestigious FCMA designation

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:13:21 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Management professor Dr. M. Gordon (Gord) Hunter was recently designated a Fellow of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada (FCMA).

The FCMA, presented to Hunter and five other Albertans, is a prestigious national honorary designation that is awarded to CMAs who, through their own outstanding achievements, bring distinction to the management accounting profession and serve as role models for others.

Hunter is the fourth
U of L faculty member to achieve this designation. Past recipients of the FCMA in the Faculty of Management include
Dr. Murray Lindsay, as well as instructors Bruce Thurston (Lethbridge campus) and Tim Spielman (Calgary campus).

Faculty of Management Dean, Dr. Robert Ellis, says that Hunter's dedication to research, teaching, and his association with CMA Alberta, allow him to continue providing relevant and student-centred learning opportunities.

"Gord has made exemplary contributions to scholarship, teaching and to the professional community," says Ellis. "I speak for all our faculty members when I say that we are very proud of Gord for being honoured by his peers in the Society of Management Accountants."

In his current role as a professor of information systems at the U of L, Hunter teaches several courses and, in 2009, developed a new accounting information systems course. He has been an advocate for the CMA designation in several capacities, including acting as a coach in the CMA Alberta Board Governance and JDC West Case competitions. He has also been a CMA
ambassador in the post-secondary community at CMA Alberta events.

Hunter has continually shown a commitment to enhancing the profession and designation through written publications; developing, delivering and overseeing a variety of post-secondary courses; and sitting on international conference committees.

For a look at the full issue of the December Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

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