UNews - Thomas Latta

Co-op, connecting students with business for 20 years

trevor.kenney — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:23:11 +0000

In 1991, Brian Mulroney was Prime Minister, the World Wide Web became publicly available on the Internet, the Soviet Union dissolved, Super Nintendo was released in North America and the Management Co-operative Education program at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, the first program of its kind in Alberta, was born.

"Co-op combines the theoretical knowledge of the classroom with hands-on education found in the workplace. Experiential learning is one of the best ways to develop new skills," says Dr. Mary Thompson, who became the program's director in its second year and helped shape it for the next 10 years.

With her background as a professional recruiter, Thompson introduced a client-centred approach to the program, which ensured it met the changing needs of the business community.

Steve Craig and Dr. Mary Thompson are keen on getting students co-op placements that will further their career goals.

"We explored what we could do for employers," she says. "And that focus also ensured success for our students because we prepared them well with workshops and one-on-one counselling before sending them to employers."

Thompson stresses that the program was built and refined based on scholarly research.

"We researched business trends and learning curves," she says.

As a result of that research the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge was the first co-op program in Western Canada to move away from the standard four-month work terms to longer work placements, ranging from eight to 16 months.

"We discovered that four months was just not long enough," says Thompson. "We were able to extend the placements because we had the hard evidence that proved their value. We were leaders in removing rigidity from the program, which was really advantageous for both students and employers."

It was also under Thompson that the co-op office started providing placements for its own students as junior administrators in the program.

"We were unique in that we used co-op in co-op," she says with a smile.

Steve Craig, the current director of the program, was one of those students who did his work placement in the U of L co-op office.

"We just never let him leave," she says. "He's doing a fabulous job now as director."

Co-op continues to work well for students and employers.

"The real beauty of the program is that it is multi-pronged," says Craig. "Co-op is more than a job experience; it can really broaden a student's horizons. Students benefit from having mentors in their workplace, obtaining work experience, making valuable connections in their industry and finding their fit. They also bring what they have learned back into the classroom, which enriches learning for other students."

Co-op placements also enable students to explore possible career directions.

"My co-op placement launched my career in the oil-and-gas industry. I was able to try on a business that I really knew nothing about," says Thomas Latta (BMgt '97), who was hired full time after his placement and is now manager of Operations, Accounting and Finance Solutions for Enerplus Corporation in Calgary. "I discovered I really liked the work and the industry. The placement helped me discover what the industry was all about and gave me a career direction."

Students have worked locally, provincially and internationally in places as far afield as France, Ireland, Ghana, Botswana, Malaysia, Vietnam, South Africa and India.

"The lower cost of living, as well as the uniqueness and relevance of emerging economies, make it interesting and possible for students wanting to do an international placement," Craig says.

Over the past 20 years, participation in the program has grown.

"In its first year co-op had three students," says Craig. "In 2010, more than 200 work terms were completed by students in the Faculty of Management."

For 20 years co-op has continued to develop and maintain successful relationships with businesses across the country and beyond.

"The relationships are important," says Craig. "We are pleased that alumni of our program think so much of it that once they are in positions to do so, they hire U of L co-op students."

Employers benefit from co-op, too. Businesses can use co-op placements to fill short-term needs and work with prospective employees before making a long-term commitment. For many companies, co-op students have become part of their recruiting strategy.

"The companies I've worked for consider co-op students a key part of staff development," says Latta. "At Enerplus, we are building our co-op component and recognize the value in seeing prospective employees at work before we hire them permanently. If we have an open position, we will look at our co-op students first because with them we already know there is a good fit."

Co-op continues to be a win-win-win situation for students, businesses and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

"It provides employers with motivated and intelligent employees now and potentially for the future, while offering students an opportunity to learn and develop as professionals and determine a career fit," says Craig. "I see the value of co-op continuing for everyone involved."

Alma Matters

trevor.kenney — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:54:27 +0000

What's new with our alumni? Let your classmates know what you are up to by sharing a note about your life. Share your news with us through e-mail (alumni@uleth.ca), or by phone (toll free 1-866-552-2582).

Check out the latest news from our alumni below.

1970

Kinahan holds community focus
Brian Kinahan (BMgt '79) believes his time spent at the U of L was foundational for his career. "At the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ I gained the ability to think through problems and come up with solutions, to expand my mind and think beyond more than just one focus," he says.

Now the president and CEO of 1st Choice Savings, Kinahan has played an integral part in the growth of the credit union, which currently boasts a balance sheet in excess of $400 million. While helping to build a successful financial institution is something he is proud of, he is also grateful for the opportunities he has to serve his community.

"My goal is to continue building on the success of 1st Choice Savings, guiding it to be a viable and important part of the financial world that focuses on being a community-minded institution that cares about individuals."

1980

Nancy Walker BMgt '82
Walker was awarded a Fellow of Chartered Accountants (FCA) from the Alberta Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Bill Neudorf BEd '88
"In memory: some of you may remember the little three-year-old girl who would come to class with her dad and spend the time colouring or playing with dolls. Her name was Bobbi Renee Neudorf. Bobbi later suffered from Crohn's disease through her time at university but finished a BSc in Occupational Therapy at the U of A and worked for three years in the QEII hospital in Grande Prairie. Bobbi succumbed to complications from the disease and passed away from a massive blood clot on Sept. 21, 2009. She was 25 years and two months old."

Pamela Zollner BEd '86
After graduating from the U of L, Zollner taught for a couple of years in Alberta before developing a taste for international travel by backpacking around Australia and New Zealand. Zollner incorporated this love for travel into her work by teaching in Singapore and India. Zollner completed her Master of Education in June 2008 and is currently teaching Grade 2 in Calgary.

1990

Winner of the $10,000 Alberta Readers' Choice Award
Michael Davie (BMgt '94) won the inaugural $10,000 Alberta Readers' Choice Award for his first novel

Author Michael Davie

, Fishing for Bacon. The Alberta Readers' Choice Award is modelled on the very popular Canada Reads prize. Five books, each one championed by a celebrity, vie to win a popular vote. With $10,000 going to the winner, the competition is on the same financial level as the Governor General's Awards.

Aaron Berg BSc '95, MSc '97
Dr. Aaron Berg was recognized as GeogNews' (News Digest of the Canadian Association of Geographers) Geographer of the Week. Berg is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph. He completed a BSc and an MSc degree in Geography at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, an MS in Geological Sciences at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Texas at Austin and his PhD in Earth System Science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of California, Irvine. His research focuses on hydrology and hydro-climate simulation. Areas of current research interest include: macro-scale modeling of hydrological states and fluxes; climate change and water resources; the spatial scaling of hydrological properties; and evaluating the impact of land use change on regional hydrologic cycles.

Thomas Latta BMgt '97
"I am currently working as the manager, Operations Accounting and Business Solutions for Enerplus Resources Fund and have been with Enerplus for a year and a half. Prior to that, I was with ConocoPhillips Canada and its predecessor companies for 15 years."

2000

Amos Altman BA '04
Altman's play FORTITUDE is part of Fuse 2010 (The Enbridge New Play Development Program) at Theatre Calgary. This heartwarming and hilarious play emerged from the 2008/09 FUEL Playwrights' Circle at Theatre Calgary.

Ryan Epp BA/BMgt '05
Epp, former captain of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey team, is now a constable with the Lethbridge Police Department.

Barry Gergel BSc '05, MSc '07
"I'm currently working toward my PhD in the Department of Computing Science at the U of A."

William Katelnikoff BMgt '05
"I received my chartered accountant designation in January, and I am currently assistant coach with the Pronghorns men's hockey team."

Matthew Berrigan BEd/BA '06
Lethbridge College announced their 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients and recognized U of L alumnus Matthew Berrigan with the Rising Star Award. Since completing his education degree, Berrigan's rise as a teacher has been meteoric. Named best new teacher by the Foothills School Division for his work in Cayley, Berrigan is now a lead teacher in Turner Valley. The success of his teaching is reflected in his students' achievement results.

Angela Kastelic BN '06
"I am currently pursuing a Master of Nursing (Family/All Ages) with intent to become a family nurse practitioner."

Keely (Kavanagh) Semenuik BEd/BA '09
Following graduation in April 2009, Semenuik was married and travelled to France. She is now excited to begin her teaching career with École St. Mary School in Lethbridge, teaching French immersion kindergarten.

Kinley passes on the inspiration
After attending a presentation by guest speaker John Carr from Pixar, Brad Kinley (BFA '04) remembers telling a friend that the talk was life-changing.

"Seeing what he does and his approach to the whole process of character animation crystallized what I wanted to do," says Kinley.

Now, after being a key player in the design of Mass Effect 2, one of the most popular and highly rated games ever made for the Xbox platform, Kinley returned to the U of L this spring and gave a presentation to the next generation of new media students.

"I know how influential my exposure was to somebody actually working in the business," he says. "If I can lend a little knowledge or inspiration to someone else, hopefully it will help them the way it helped me."

Congratulations
Daniel Wong (BFA '03), Mary-Anne McTrowe (BFA '98) and Robyn Moody (BFA '00) have made the long list (Prairies and North region) for the 2010 Sobey Art Award.

Munton & Co. chartered accountants recently announced that Curtis Michaelis (BMgt '03) and Michael Quinton (BMgt '04) have been admitted to partnership.

Susie Martin (BEd '81), Judy Lynn Miller (BA '91, BEd '93), Matthew Berrigan (BA/BEd '06) and Tracy Inaba (BEd '92) were among 23 outstanding Alberta teachers selected to receive the prestigious 2010 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Sports Hall of Fame

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chinooks women's basketball team (1970/1971) was inducted into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame at this year's celebration. The team won the provincial and national championships and represented Lethbridge with pride.

Members of the team included: (Back row, L-R) Wilma Winter (coach), Dixie Dow, Linda Dogterom, Leona Voth, Minnie Van Dieren and Sharon Giduk (BA '73, BEd '75). (Front row, L-R) Marge Moore, Linda Voth, Rosemary Brodrick, Joan Cannady and Linda Dow (BEd '71).

Andrea Hlady (BEd'93) and Sharon Chmielewski (BEd'75) were also inducted at this year's celebration. Hlady was recognized in the athletes category. She was a two-time All-Canadian basketball player with the U of L Pronghorns. Chmielewski, recognized in the builder category, was honoured for building high school and high-level curling in Lethbridge with her work as an official, instructor and coach.

To view the entire issue of SAM in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Thomas Latta

Co-op, connecting students with business for 20 years

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Alma Matters

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