alumni report spring 2012
DESCRIPTION
Highlights of DeGroote School of Business Alumni activities and eventsTRANSCRIPT
Alumni Reportw
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Also in this issue:Giving a voice to the expanding force of contract workers Distinguished Alumni Award recipient David Williamson
DeGroote celebrates
The Alumni Report is a publication of the DeGroote School of Business and is managed by the External Relations Office.
Editor: Leah Rosenthal
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40063416
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:DeGroote School of Business,McMaster University1280 Main Street West, DSB-116Hamilton, ON L8S 4M4E-mail: [email protected]: degroote.mcmaster.ca
ALUMNI OFFICER MESSAGE ........3
EVENTS CALENDAR .......................4
DEAN ON DECK ..............................5
DEGROOTE NEwS ..........................6
MAIN STORy ...................................8
ALUMNI PROFILES .......................11
RESEARCh @ DEGROOTE ...........13
ALUMNI COLUMN ........................15
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Faculty of Business meeting
Alumni profiles
Are you or do you know another alumni member who has taken a ‘road less traveled’? Someone who has carved out an interesting career off the beaten path? Did your professional adventures take you to one of the far-flung corners of the world? Please contact Leah Rosenthal [email protected] to share the details of where you’ve found yourself since you graduated.
Keep in touch
In the flurry of all the details to keep track of when you move or change jobs, you may not think to connect with DeGroote to let us know about your address, business or email changes. Please drop us a quick email and we will update your information so you won’t have to worry about missing an Alumni Report, event invitation or e-newsletter. Email Kellie Rabak [email protected] to make any updates.
Help! There’s a hole on our wall!
Help! Our Commerce 1996 class composite is MIA! Under the cover of darkness, someone has absconded with the class photo! If you are a member of that class and would like to loan your copy, we can scan it and return it unharmed. We would be most grateful to display it on our ‘wall of fame’. For more information, please contact Kellie Rabak [email protected].
Get Involved
Construction on the new DeGroote School of Business building in 1991. The building officially opened on April 13, 1992.
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12 3
2012 is a very exciting year for the
DeGroote School of Business and
McMaster University. Did you know that
this year marks the 125th anniversary
of the University? On March 15, 1887, a
bill was introduced to unite the Toronto
Baptist College and Woodstock College and
incorporate them as McMaster University.
Originally located in Toronto – the current
site of the Royal Conservatory of Music – it
would be more than 40 years before the
campus made Hamilton its permanent home.
Since that time our campus has continued
to grow and has become a dynamic location
where academic careers has launched, life-
long friendships are forged and indelible
memories are made.
At the School of Business we are
thrilled to celebrate several of our own
important anniversaries this year. For our
MBA alumni, it is the 50th anniversary of
the program! We are looking forward to
wonderful gala in September with a recep-
tion and dinner (dancing too!). Mark your
calendar for Friday, Sept. 28 and be part of
the celebration. If you’re interested in being
part of the planning committee or assisting
with outreach to your classmates, please
send me an email. It’s going to be a great
event!
It’s also the 20th anniversary of our
DeGroote building and our Faculty as a
named business school. We are so grateful
for the generosity of Michael G. DeGroote
who supported our building and gave us
the privilege of associating his name with
McMaster’s Faculty of Business. Many of
our alumni will recall classes held in vari-
ous areas of the campus - the basement
of Kenneth Taylor Hall seems to come
to mind for many. In 1992, our faculty
finally had its own building to call home.
Our doors officially opened in April of
that year, and students who started the
MBA and Commerce programs in the fall
enjoyed brand new facilities and were the
first of the classes who graduated from the
DeGroote School of Business.
Our growth continued over the years
with the addition of our state-of-the-art
Gould Trading Floor in 1990 and the open-
ing of our AIC Wing in 2002. And of course
in 2010 our Burlington campus, the Ron
Joyce Centre, became a reality. A special
thank you to all of our donors whose
significant support made these expansions
possible.
It’s a great time to be part of the
DeGroote community. We have continued
to grow and have so much to celebrate!
We have world-class alumni who are
our valued ambassadors who proudly
promote the School both professionally and
personally. Our amazing students personify
energy and pride and continually strive
for and achieve success in their initiatives.
Thank you to each and every one of you –
we celebrate you! n
Kellie Rabak, Hons. BA ‘90
Alumni Officer, DeGroote School of Business
905-525-9140 ext. 26971
Alumni Of f icer Message
The DeGroote community gathers to participate in a panel discusion
Events Calendar
Cup o’ Joe with Alumni
There are various opportunities throughout the spring for DeGroote alumni to come and speak to current MBA students in an informal setting. Enjoy a light breakfast and a cup o’ joe!
Please contact [email protected] for more details.
MBA Spring Open House
Thinking about taking your MBA? Come experience the DeGroote MBA firsthand diriving our ‘MBA for a day’ event. Ron Joyce Centre
For more information contact [email protected]
May at Mac
Learn about the diverse undergraduate programs offered at McMaster University. McMaster University
For more information visit http://bit.ly/AoE3pe or email [email protected]
Commerce Class Reunions 1987, 1992 and 2002
McMaster University Reception: 6 p.m. Dinner: 7 p.m.
For more information or to register, please contact Kellie Rabak: [email protected]
Convocation
Hamilton Place
For more information contact [email protected]
MBA Gala Reception and Dinner
Oakville Conference Centre 6:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Dancing to follow dinner.
For more information or to register, please contact Kellie Rabak: [email protected]
New Product ManagementPeter Vilks
Human Resources: The First 100 DaysFiorella Callocchia
Social Media Bootcamp for ExecutivesAlex Sevigny
Human Resource EssentialsFiorella Callocchia
Executive Leadership Brand in a 2.0 WorldDianne Carmichael
Women’s Breakfast SeriesTeal McAteer
Disney’s Approach to Business Excellence
Execution Management: Key Success FactorsMark Baboolal
Aligning Marketing and Sales for GrowthBrian Meagher
4 DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12
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Executive Education at DeGroote School of BusinessUpcoming Programs in Spring 2012!Executive Education at DeGroote School of Business offers a number of programs designed to provide managers and business leaders with the skills, capabilities, and a network to improve their skills and reach their professional goals!
For more information, or to register for an upcoming program, contact Danielle Farronato, Program Manager at 905-525-9140 ext. 23917 or [email protected] execed.degroote.mcmaster.ca
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12 5
Dean’s Message
Take pride in your part of history
At DeGroote, we speak with pride about
the accomplishments of our students and
alumni. We talk about how our commerce
students are in the 95th percentile in North
America on the Major Field Test, how
our MBA students on average see a 99%
increase in salary when they graduate,
how our PhD program has grown from 21
students 10 years ago to 56 students today
and how our alumni are shaping business
in Canada and around the world.
This year, we will have many opportu-
nities to show our pride in DeGroote as
we celebrate several important milestones
in the School’s history, most notably the
50th anniversary of the MBA program and
the 20th anniversary of the naming of the
DeGroote School of Business.
All members of the DeGroote com-
munity – alumni and students, staff and
faculty, donors and employers – are part
of this history.
For some, your memories of the
School of Business predate its time
as “DeGroote.” You may remember
connecting with students and faculty in
the hallways and classrooms of Kenneth
Taylor Hall. For other more recent
graduates, your memories of DeGroote
are filled with hours spent in the Gould
Trading Floor.
Whatever our own personal experi-
ences, we are all part of the whole that
is the DeGroote School of Business. The
DeGroote community is comprised of
16,000 alumni, more than 3,000 students,
employers – including some of the most
recognizable corporate names, staff, facul-
ty and numerous other partners. Together,
it is our responsibility to tell the story of
DeGroote and show our pride.
Anniversaries are a time to look back
and remember. They are also a time to
look ahead.
The MBA program of 50 years ago is
not the same as the program today, and
50 years from now the program will be
different again. Likewise, when McMaster
announced in January 1992 that the
Faculty of Business would henceforth
be known as the DeGroote School of
Business, the business environment was
vastly different from that of 2012.
The future of the DeGroote School of
Business holds new programs and new
people. Over the next year, the University
will announce a new dean for the busi-
ness school. In September, approximately
750 new students will begin their studies
at DeGroote, following in the path of so
many alumni who have come before.
To all of the members of the DeGroote
community, I thank you for the part you
have played in the history of this School.
And I challenge you to continue to be
involved in building the future of the De-
Groote School of Business. n
Bob McNutt, Acting Dean
Construction on the new DeGroote School of Business building in 1991. The building officially opened on April 13, 1992.
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DeGroote News
6 DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12
Social mediaDo you have an account on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter?
So does the DeGroote School of Business! Join the con-
versation and stay engaged with the DeGroote community.
Share your experiences and network with other alumni.
Stay up-to-date on DeGroote news and events.
n Become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/degrootebiz
n Join the official LinkedIn group at www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=44151
n Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/degrootebiz
Connect with DeGroote and each other today.
“News of Edison’s or Bell’s death would have travelled slowly…In today’s world, we are so socially connected
24/7, and Steve Jobs is so fundamental to that.”
Nick Bontis, discussing the passing of Apple visionary Steve Jobs in The Toronto Star
“Some of the most important decisions are made by a group and we do that because we think the group will make better
decisions. But that only happens if there is some conflict – as there will be if everyone is contributing and not being
complacent and just going along with the majority.”
Catherine Connelly, discussing the value of constructive conflict within group work in The National Post
“If you want to make a decision to be a strategic philanthropist…it has to be something you’re deeply passionate about. It’s not sustainable unless you’re in it for your emotional connection.”
Maria Antonakos, discussing the DeGroote School of Business’ philanthropy and leadership course and the role of corporate philanthropy in The Globe and Mail
“Workplace bullies are often hard to identify. They can be socially manipulative, targeting weaker employees and kissing up to those they need to be in the good graces of at work. Thus, an upper-level manager may say, ‘That person seems to get me.’”
Aaron Schat, discussing workplace bullying and offering anti-bullying tips in The Globe and Mail
“[The Occupy movement has] resonated with people and created awareness of the difficult economic inequality of the middle class….however, the banks and financial institutions are focused on their stakeholders. Leadership won’t come from the financial industry; leadership will come from political institutions.”
Giri Kanagaretnam, discussing the political significance of the worldwide Occupy protests in The Hamilton Spectator
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Alumni speaker seriesThe fall 2011 DeGroote Alumni Speaker Series was proud to showcase a dynamic group of guest speak-ers that included: Ed Minich ‘72, MBA ‘74 speaking on “Lessons from the Trenches”, Adam Felesky ‘99 speaking on “Corporate Leadership” and Robert A. Donaldson B. Com. ‘61 speaking on “Creating a New Business from Scratch to a Successful Publicly Listed Company.” The upcoming Alumni Speaker Series for spring 2012 is set to deliver a similarly influ-ential roster, including Red wilson ‘62 on March 14 discussing the topic “Compete to Win.”
Quarter century club inducteesOn Nov. 14, 2011, five DeGroote faculty members were inducted into The Quarter Century Club. The club recognizes McMaster employees and faculty who have achieved 25 years of service with the University. DeGroote is proud to recognize its new inductees:
• Yufei Yuan, professor of information systems • Lilian Chan, professor and chair of accounting and finan-
cial management services• Rick D. Hackett, professor and Canada research chair of
human resources management• Mahmut Parlar, professor of operations management• Wayne Taylor, professor of strategic market leadership
and health services management
Top 100 femalesFor the ninth consecutive year, The Women’s Executive Network (WXN) has launched its Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards, recognizing the highest achieving female leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. In December 2011, DeGroote MBA alumni Janet Holder ‘83 and Leslie Gales ‘80 received the esteemed award. Holder was appointed to executive vice-president of Enbridge Inc. in September and is the first woman to hold the position of president in the company’s long-spanning history. Gales is president and chief investment officer of the Midland Group of Companies and is very active in the community, sitting on the boards of the AGO Foundation, the United Way To-ronto and Mount Sinai Hospital among others.
MBA gamesOn Jan. 8, 2012, the DeGroote School of Business came in first place at the MBA Games national competition in Ed-monton, Alberta, ahead of its closest competitor by nearly 20 points. After finishing in the 7th spot in 2011 and having last won in 2007, the DeGroote team was determined to domi-nate in 2012. DeGroote claimed first place in all three divisions of the competi-tion: spirit, athletics and academics. Since the winning school typically has the honour of hosting the Games in the following year, the 2013 competition will be held at DeGroote with more than 600 people expected to attend.
n Become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/degrootebiz
n Join the official LinkedIn group at www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=44151
n Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/degrootebiz
Connect with DeGroote and each other today.
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12 7
DeGroote News
“I don’t think it’s good for the organization. Usually when you hire a new CEO, there is an opportunity for you to make significant changes in the first 18 months of that person’s career. Having the old CEO hang around advising can quite often dampen that initiative to make big changes.”
Wayne Taylor, discussing Hamilton Health Science’s decision to pay two CEO salaries until the former CEO retires in The Hamilton Spectator
“Everybody is looking to distinguish themselves somehow and this [international experience] adds an element that becomes a little hard to beat because it requires you to put yourself out there [and] invest extra effort, time and money and take some calculated risks.”
Mandeep Malik, discussing the value of DeGroote’s BizX international exchange program in The Globe and Mail
“Set-ups like Jigsee’s are a growing model among Canadian start-ups. Such ‘transnational enterprises’ are out to capture the market
potential abroad while preserving the advantages of home.”
Benson Honig, discussing start-up business ventures in foreign markets in Maclean’s
“They need to once again find themselves among the top technology firms. Until they do that, they would have to keep
Goldman Sachs on their pay roster for a long time.”
Anna Danielova, discussing Hewlett-Packard’s hiring of Goldman Sachs to ward off threatening investors in IBTimes
“Pursuing a traditional MBA would have adequately equipped me in achieving my mission but the MBA co-op program at
the DeGroote School of Business was a better option.”
Gloria So, MBA, discussing her pursuit of work in the non-profit sector and the fit she found with DeGroote’s MBA program in The National Post
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Alumni who recruited for January 2012 Diamond Hill-Watson, ‘94, William Osler Health System
Scott Sherwood, ’10, Teva Canada
Rosalee Lahaie, ’10, Ontario Renal Network
Mark Bleiwas, ’01, CresaPartners
Mike Heenan, ’08, and Angie Yeung, ’11, The Credit Valley Hospital
Aman Dhaliwal, ’07, Hamilton Health Sciences
Lesley Moody, ‘10, Royal Victoria Hospital
Gia Marasco, ’05, William Osler Health System
John Nashid, ’10, St. Joseph’s Home Care
Bryan Herechuk, ’09, St. Joseph’s Healthcare
Martin Beraldo, ’07, Mercer Consulting
Nick Lal, ’05, Britt Haddy, ’11, Deanna Heroux, ’04, Jamie Barnes, ’08, KPMG Advisory
Rhonda Chou, ’95, TELUS Health and Financial Solutions
Beena Tharakan, ’03, Deloitte Canada
Neil Shah, ’07, St. Michael’s Hospital
Julie Nicholls, ’02, Grand River Hospital
Peter Brenders, ’91, BIOTECanada
CA/DeGroote centre for the promotion of accounting education and research A joint venture between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (ICAO) and McMaster University was announced on Nov. 1, 2011. A newly-planned research centre at the DeGroote School of Business will encourage research, scholarly development and professional activities in the field of accounting in order to advance the profession.
Zonta international scholarship for women in business Zonta International’s Jane M. Klausman scholarship is awarded annually to women pursuing a business or business-related degree and who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field. Scholarships of US$750 each are given at the club level, US$1,000 each at the district level and twelve scholarships of US$5,000 each at the international level. DeGroote MBA students Nida Jabrani and Vivian Trinh were both awarded the club-level schol-arship in October, 2011, and Vivian was also the recipient of the district-level and international-level awards.
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Main Story
8 DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12
McMaster opens the Michael G. DeGroote School
of Business building
McMaster’s Faculty of Business is renamed the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business and becomes
the first named business school in Canada
McMaster breaks ground for the $10 million new home for the School of Business
The Faculty of Business is established
The Faculty moves from its quarters in Gilmour Hall
to Kenneth Taylor Hall
First year of the PhD program
Co-op MBA begins at McMaster
McMaster offers a variety of courses, such as distribution, business organization, corporate finance, accounting, trade & commercial law within the Department of Political Economy
Courses in commerce as a set curriculum are offered at the undergraduate level in the Department of Economics
First year of the MBA program
Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Michael G. DeGroote gives $3 million to the McMaster Faculty of Business
1930s April 13 1992
1950s JAN. 1992
1962 SepT. 1990
1968 1987
1971 1974
1973
Main Story
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12 9
Looking back on his academic and profes-
sional career, Lloyd Smith, MBA ‘63
would most certainly be considered a
pioneer. Born in Toronto in 1918, Lloyd
has forged a fascinating path for himself
like no other. After graduating from high
school, he joined the RCAF Auxiliary with
110 Army Cooperation Squadron in To-
ronto and was assigned as a photographer
in the fall of 1938. One year later, war was
declared and Lloyd was called to active
duty in both Canada and England where he
served for the next six years.
A notable experience during his time
overseas, Lloyd was among the first to
learn to develop colour film outside of a
Kodak lab as a Warrant Officer in charge
of all base photographic units. “For night
bombing, the cameras were set with some
time exposure. To assist with the images, a
magnesium illumination flare was dropped
with the bomb load,” Lloyd explains. “To
separate the view of the flares from the
fires that were started by the dropped
bombs, we took one colour photo to iden-
tify the fares and another to identify the
destruction.” A pioneer in a time of war,
Lloyd and his photographs remain a part of
our Canadian history.
Upon returning to Canada at the end of
the war, Lloyd focused on his academics
by upgrading his high school courses at
Ryerson College and then enrolling in the
Engineering Physics program at the Univer-
sity of Toronto. There were approximately
2,000 students registered in the class im-
mediately following the war, with only 13
of them women. As he was completing his
undergraduate degree, Lloyd met his future
wife, Margit, who was one of these few en-
gineering women. They were married after
graduation on May 26, 1951.
Lloyd accepted a position at then-named
Steel Company of Canada (later renamed to
Stelco), and he and Margit moved to Hamil-
ton. Lloyd launched his engineering career
in metallurgy with a gradual progression
to industrial engineering. During his time
at Stelco, Lloyd became a pioneer in data
tabulation using an IBM 607 card program
calculator. Setting the bar high, compet-
ing industrial companies came to Stelco to
learn from Lloyd on his processes. In 1955,
Lloyd traveled to IBM’s Watson Research
Centre in New York City for training where
he saw the biggest computers in the world
and witnessed the early stages of computer
technology.
In 1957, Lloyd began taking part-time
MBA courses at the University of Toronto.
By Leah Rosenthal ‘07
A pioneers’ legacy
In 1992 the School of Business
expanded due to the generous support
of Canadian entrepreneur Michael
G. DeGroote. Thanks to his support,
McMaster became home to the first
named business school in Ontario.
Our benefactor’s financial leadership,
along with that of other major support-
ers, ensures that the DeGroote School
of Business continues to be recognized
as an international leader in innovative
approaches to teaching, learning and
service to the business community.
As the DeGroote and McMaster
community celebrates the anniversary
of the naming of the business school,
the future of the DeGroote School of
Business, its faculty, staff and students
remains bright.
Celebrating 20 years as the DeGroote School of Business
City of Burlington and McMaster announce their intention to enter into discussions aimed at
bringing a post-secondary campus to Burlington
DeGroote opens the Allen H. Gould Trading Floor, at that time just the second such facility in Canada
CIBC donates $1.4 million to fund the CIBC Chair in Financial Markets, along with the supporting the educational trading centre and a Trader in Residence program
Milli Gould donates $500,000 towards the educational trading centre in the new School of Business. The donation is in memory of her husband Allen H. Gould, a self-taught investor who was passionate about the stock market
AIC announces a $5 million gift to create the AIC Institute for Strategic Business Studies
in the DeGroote School of Business
Construction begins on the AIC wing at the DeGroote School of Business
McMaster opens new AIC wing. The addition adds three floors, 17,000 square feet, four new classrooms, 19 new offices, open graduate and shared work spaces and a plethora of state-of-the-art equipment to the University
Conference Board of Canada and the DeGroote School of Business announce The Directors College, the first corporate governance initiative of its kind in Canada
DeGroote benefactor Michael G. DeGroote gives McMaster $105 million. The donation is the largest single cash gift in Canadian history
DeGroote’s first Canada Research Chair is announced. The CRC in Organizational Behaviour & Performance is held by professor Rick Hackett
April 2004
DeC. 17 2003
July 29 2004
MAr. 3 2003
1999
OCT. 9 2002
JuNe 17 1999
OCT. 2001
JuNe 26 2001
1998
10 DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12
It was a small class comprised primarily of
students who were working full-time. They
gathered in Hamilton and, unique to the
time, the professor from Toronto commut-
ed to Hamilton to provide instruction. As it
happened, the University of Toronto’s sen-
ate subsequently discontinued the Master’s
degree program and that is when Lloyd’s
ties to McMaster University began.
McMaster University agreed to honour
the U of T credits earned by the students
working toward their MBA and Lloyd grad-
uated with his 15 classmates in 1963. As
one of the earliest members of McMaster’s
MBA graduating class, Lloyd is considered
a pioneer in the field of graduate education
that came out of McMaster University. This
was the second MBA class to graduate from
McMaster which followed the inaugural
class in the spring of 1962 which had only
one graduate.
Much like today, earning his degree
was a balancing act at its finest, as Lloyd
worked towards his MBA while working
full-time and raising two young boys with
his wife Margit. When he completed his
MBA degree, Lloyd’s eldest son Tom was
11 years of age and his youngest son Peter
was eight.
“While I had no expectations of what
an MBA would get me professionally,”
recalls Lloyd reflecting back on his time
at McMaster, “I have dedicated my life to
continually learning. The MBA program at
McMaster satisfied my appetite for personal
and professional growth and opened many
doors for me upon graduation.”
His quest for continual learning led to
another pioneered move in Lloyd’s life.
In September 1963 he left Stelco for a
teaching master position at the Hamilton
Institute of Technology which is now Mo-
hawk College. Graduating with his MBA
from McMaster University opened the door
for this teaching opportunity which lasted
almost 30 years.
Lloyd taught industrial management
courses which later evolved into the com-
puter studies program and did so until his
retirement in 1983 at the age of 65. Lloyd
continued to instruct part-time until 1990.
He also pioneered the Saltfleet campus
computer lab and taught manpower retrain-
ing programs at the Mohawk campus in
Brantford, Ontario. Through these experi-
ences, he witnessed tremendous growth
in Hamilton, McMaster University and at
Mohawk College.
It is said that engineers are born, not
made. Lloyd and his wife Margit contin-
ued that legacy as both of their sons, Tom
and Peter, followed in their footsteps and
became engineers. And like his father,
Peter graduated with his MBA in 1987 from
McMaster University. Similar to the path
forged by his father, Peter worked part-time
towards his degree with a wife and two
young children at home. Upon graduation,
his family expanded and they welcomed
two more children.
“I was of a similar mind-set as my father
as I had no real expectations about what
I would get from my MBA,” recalls Peter,
managing partner, The Meaford Group.
“However, I understood that there was a
gap in my knowledge. I recognized that
I needed to upgrade my skills and learn
about general management and become
more familiar with accounting, marketing,
and people management. My MBA at Mc-
Master University provided me with exactly
that.”
The legacy of the Smith family as engi-
neers continues with Tom’s daughter who
has also graduated with a degree in engi-
neering and Peter’s son who is currently
completing his engineering degree . The
legacy that began back in 1918 with the
birth of a pioneer continues. n
The DeGroote School of Business at
McMaster University is excited to host a
gala reception and dinner to celebrate
the occasion of the 50th anniversary
of our MBA program on September 28,
2012 in Oakville, Ontario. For more
information please contact Kellie Rabak,
alumni officer, [email protected]
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Ron Joyce donates $10 million to McMaster Burlington campus
DeGroote alumnus John Marinucci ’80, former President and CEO of bus manufacturer New Flyer Industries Canada, and family donate $1 million to
fund the Marinucci Family Auditorium at the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington
DeGroote alumna Teresa Cascioli ’83, former CEO of Lakeport, donates $1 million to fund the Teresa
Cascioli Chair in Entrepreneurial Leadership
Investment executive Russell C. Boychuk donates $500,000 to DeGroote to support the continued delivery of market data to the School’s Allen H. Gould Trading Floor
McMaster announces the DeGroote School of Business will have a major presence at the Burlington campus
McMaster earns accreditation from AACSB International – The Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Burlington council invests $5 million in McMaster plan
Halton Region invests $5 million in McMaster plan
McMaster begins construction on DeGroote School of Business in Burlington
Classes begin at the DeGroote School of Business Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington
Celebrating 20th Anniversary as the DeGroote School of Business and 50th Anniversary of the MBA
Program and looking ahead to a bright future
JAN. 27 2006
JuNe 18 2007
April 18 2006
DeC. 11 2007
NOv. 16 2005
SepT. 2010
2012
JAN. 21 2009
JuNe 17 2009
JuNe 21 2010
OCT. 21 2008
Alumni Profile
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12 11
As iconic as the Tilley Hat has become
for adventure-seekers across the globe, so
too has DeGroote graduate Mary Coleen
Shanahan ’76 become a symbol of Tilley
Endurables. As the president and CEO of
Tilley, she has been able to expand upon
founder Alex Tilley’s vision for the brand
and add her own passion to the company.
Shanahan points to a strong foundation
from McMaster and her diverse professional
background as key components of her
success.
Tilley Endurables is one of the leading
manufacturers and retailers of high-quality
hats and travel clothing in Canada and
across the globe. Created by avid traveller
and sailor Alex Tilley in 1980, the Tilley
team has been designing and manufactur-
ing functional and stylish apparel in Canada
for more than 30 years, appealing to globe-
trotters and backyard adventurers alike.
Shanahan, originally from Winnipeg,
came to McMaster for her second year of
undergraduate study after her father was
transferred to Hamilton for work. She
became president of the Commerce Society
and helped introduce the idea for a Com-
merce Society business directory to help
members keep connected in the future.
This continual connection to McMaster
remains especially important to Shanahan.
After graduating from McMaster, Shana-
han received her chartered accountant and
certified management accountant designa-
tions and worked as an audit partner for
KPMG before transitioning into marketing.
Portfolio diversification is something that
Shanahan strongly encourages for current
undergraduate and graduate students, as
her own path to senior management in-
cluded unexpected opportunities.
“My commerce degree gave me the busi-
ness basics upon which I built my career,
and further studies and work experience
provided me with insights into Canadian
and international businesses both large and
small. All this varied experience gave me
key skills and insights which are essential
in my current role as president of Tilley
Endurables.”
A retired KPMG coworker introduced
Shanahan to Alex Tilley in 1998. She was
first brought on as CFO of Tilley Endur-
ables Inc. and ultimately took on the role
of president and CEO. Because sales are
vital for a consumer-based company, her
marketing experience from KPMG helps
her with sales initiatives for Tilley. Shana-
han also notes that it is important for those
in senior positions to have strong financial
knowledge in order to understand why
they are getting certain results. As a past
audit partner, Shanahan is well equipped
with the tools to understand the details of
her company’s finances.
Aside from the skills within her diverse
portfolio, Shanahan states that the strong
foundation she gained from DeGroote
constantly re-emerges in her work. For
example, she uses concepts from cost
accounting classes on a regular basis,
returning to the basics she learned during
her undergraduate degree frequently in her
professional career.
As her early business directory initiatives
predicted, Shanahan values her continued
connection to the DeGroote School of
Business. She says that this sentiment stems
from her father’s ongoing relationship with
the University of New Brunswick, from
which he graduated in 1948. He continues
to attend all reunions and remains in con-
tact with his university roommate.
“I’m proud to be a Mac grad,” Shanahan
states. “I often meet McMaster graduates
and we instantly share a common bond. If
I can give back to the business school by
helping today’s students, then I am pleased
to share my experience and point of view.”
Shanahan has generously given back to
the school and recommends the Executive
Education programs at DeGroote to keep
skills current. Her advice to students is to
take every opportunity they can. “Seek
the transferable skills you need to achieve
for the future in every role you take on,
whether that is in a formal working envi-
ronment or volunteering in the communi-
ty,” she notes. “These experiences will give
you new skills and hone others, and will
allow you the flexibility with your career to
work anywhere with anyone.” n
By Kim Wojtczak
Wearing many hats to find the perfect fit
Alumni Profile
On March 1, 2012, the DeGroote School of
Business hosted an Evening of Accolades
and presented its 13th consecutive Wayne
C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award to
David williamson ‘83.
Reflecting upon his time at McMaster
University, Williamson recalls it was an eye-
opening experience. “I was exposed to a
whole new world of ideas, experiences and
people,” says Williamson. “The business
school curriculum required me to study
subjects beyond just numbers, such as
psychology, politics and astronomy. These,
and other topics, which I hadn’t focused
on before, acted to expand and open my
mind. My time at McMaster set the tone for
my career and for my life.”
“I did well academically at McMaster
which increased my confidence. But I also
became acutely aware of having gaps. I
had summer jobs at Stelco, a farm, and at a
golf course, which were all interesting but
they provided very little practical knowl-
edge about business. Also, growing up in
Burlington and going to university next
door in Hamilton hadn’t resulted in a great
breadth of life experiences.”
After graduating in 1983, Williamson
did two things. He traveled to Europe and
earned his CA designation knowing that
both would help fill the gaps he had identi-
fied. Travelling across Europe with two
other McMaster graduates gave Williamson
the life experiences he was looking for and
his CA designation exposed him to busi-
ness. Both ventures would merge in 1986
when he joined PriceWaterhouseCooper’s
United Kingdom audit office which led to
a successful career providing advice on
financial risk management as a consultant
to European based banks.
After working in the UK and in Swit-
zerland, Williamson came back to Canada
in 1990 as a financial services consultant.
Shortly thereafter he joined Derlan Indus-
tries, a highly diversified manufacturing
company with operations in Canada, Mexi-
co, the US and Germany. “Derlan presented
a substantial learning experience. I started
in a fairly junior finance position and over
time took more senior roles eventually
becoming the President and CEO of the
company.” Derlan also provided William-
son with his first exposure to M&A related
activity as he had a leading role in the
sale of 11 companies and the acquisition
of aerospace assets during an 18 month
period when Derlan was transformed into
a more focused aerospace based manufac-
turer.
Williamson then became the executive
vice president and CFO of Clarica Life
Insurance. “It was a fascinating time to join
as a change in financial services legisla-
tion was being introduced which permitted
mergers within the insurance sector.” In ad-
dition to being CFO, Williamson managed a
process which led to Clarica’s merger with
Sun Life. This appointment was followed
by Williamson having an executive role
at Canada Life where he led the team that
responded to an unsolicited bid and com-
pleted a successful merger with Great West
Life. Thereafter Williamson became the
President and CEO of Atlas Cold Storage
the second largest cold storage and logistics
company in North America. “Atlas was a
great company that had run into financial
and operational difficulties. Over a two
year period we got the company turned
around and back on very solid footing.”
Williamson joined CIBC in 2008 as the
CFO and was recently appointed the group
head of retail and business banking. Wil-
liamson is responsible for CIBC’s Personal
and Business Banking operations, which
serve more than 10 million clients across
the country through a team of approxi-
mately 22,000 employees.
Upon acknowledgement of winning
DeGroote’s Distinguished Alumni Award,
Williamson had two pieces of advice for
students, young professionals and alumni.
“First, make choices that add branches to
your tree. Always look for those opportuni-
ties that will give you more experience and
more options in the future. Second, and
most importantly, value your reputation. It
is your most valuable asset and you need
to increase its value through your actions,
who you associate with and what work you
do.” n
By Leah Rosenthal ‘07
DeGroote’s Distinguished Alumni Award winner
12 DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12
Research@DeGroote
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12 13
Although non-standard employment and
contract work is on the rise, there remains
a lack of research that has been done
on this segment of the workforce. This
is where McMaster graduate and current
DeGroote associate professor Catherine
Connelly comes in. Connelly teaches orga-
nizational behaviour and human resources
management at the DeGroote School of
Business, and she has a passion for the
contingent worker’s experience.
Often treated in employment studies as
permanent workers, non-standard employ-
ees and their distinct experiences have
been often overlooked. Connelly hopes
to shed light on the challenges as well as
benefits to their work, along with their in-
dividual attitudes and conduct. Her current
research includes a study on the workplace
behaviours of non-standard employees
entitled Predicting temporary workers’ be-
haviors: Justice, volition, and spillover.
In her study, Connelly states that contin-
gent workers are frequently treated differ-
ently than permanent employees. “Depend-
ing where they work, contingent workers
may find that they are excluded from office
social events, don’t receive appropriate
safety training, or aren’t provided with the
information that they need to do their jobs
properly,” she states. She explores how
both agency and employer treatment can
influence employee behaviours and cause
spillover effects.
However, Connelly also finds that many
see value in non-standard work, pointing
to newcomers testing the waters or older
employees exiting the workforce and seek-
ing flexibility.
Connelly is particularly interested in
cross-cultural differences among percep-
tions of contingent workers. In North
America, she notes that temporary work-
ers are often stereotyped as evading office
duties, while in parts of Europe they are
viewed as the hardest working, most
dedicated employees. Connelly remains
devoted to researching contingent workers
in any way she can, and her forthcoming
follow-up study will compare independent
contractor experiences in Sweden and
North America. n
The full article on Catherine
Connelly’s contingent employment
research can be found in the latest
issue of Research @ DeGroote.
Catherine Connelly Associate professor of organizational behaviour and human resource management
Giving a voice to the expanding force of contract workers
1
v o l u m e 2 | j a n . 2 0 1 2
I N S I D E
Faculty Profi les
PhD Profi le
14 What’s new @ Innis?
15 Publications17 Conference Proceedings &
Presentations
21 Research Grants22 Awards & Recognitions
23 Appointments 24 Books & Chapters
24 PhD Defenses
CJAS Profi le
3Giving a voice to the
expanding force of contract workers
Catherine Connelly
4The art of behaviour
and fi nanceRichard Deaves
5Protecting the rights of participants
Brian Detlor 7Do the Big 4 increase the
value of your privately-owned business?
Justin Jin
8Newfound research
focus a result of sabbaticalChristopher Longo
9The importance of
being on time counts in
supply chain scheduling
George Steiner
11Strong governance
structures make for strong
shareholder relationsUmar Butt
12Advanced Theory
and Practice at the DeGroote School
of Business Strong governance
structures make for
strong shareholder
relations
Do the Big 4
increase the value
of your privately-
owned business?
Giving a voice to
the expanding
force of contract
workers
117
3
V o l u m e 2 | J a n . 2 0 1 2
The 2012 issue of Research @ DeGroote
features profiles of studies on research
ethics at McMaster, the significance of
supply chain scheduling, behavioural
finance and temporary employment.
A closer look is taken at the effects
sabbaticals have on research focus, along
with “Big 4” auditors and their influence
on private companies.
The issue includes publications, books/
chapters, conference proceedings, re-
search grants, PhD defenses, awards and
recognitions of DeGroote faculty for the
2011 year.
Research @ DeGroote can be found at:
http://degroote.mcmaster.ca/faculty/rad.html
Alum
ni R
epor
t •
Sprin
g 20
12
14 DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12
Alumni Column
On June 28, 2011, an honorary doctor-
ate degree (LL.D.) was conferred upon
Luke Chan, professor of finance, DeGroote
School of Business and also an associate
vice president of international affairs at
McMaster.
The honorary degree was granted by the
Chinese State Council and awarded by the
Beijing Language and Culture University
(BLCU).
This was far from just another ordinary
event, both for Chan and for BLCU. For
BLCU, this was the first ever doctoral
degree that they had ever conferred upon
anyone in 49 years of the university’s
history.
In China, the decision to grant an honor-
ary degree is not an internal or simple
matter within the institution but requires
the approval of the State Council Academic
Degrees Committee and is subjected to
some very rigid and stringent criteria. An
honorary doctorate from a university is a
very special distinction, usually reserved for
those who have a long record of service
and progressive values to higher education,
research and promoting cultural under-
standing and bringing communities of dif-
ferent people together.
BLCU was first established in 1962
and later designated as Beijing Language
Institute in 2002 to become the Beijing
Language and Cultural University. BLCU is
affectionately called the “Little United Na-
tions” as it is the only university of its kind
in China that promotes Chinese culture and
language all over the world and receives
over 14,000 international students.
In December 2008, the Confucius
Institute was established at McMaster
University with BLCU. The Confucius
Institute at McMaster University for
culture, language and business provides
instruction and support to academic
interests in the areas of Chinese language,
history, cultural diversity, artistic traditions,
business practices, social and business
environments.
As for Chan, he said, “this for me is
a great honor and symbolizes what I
have been able to achieve in promoting
Canada-China relationships.” The award
ceremony was followed by dinner at the
Summer Palace at Yun-Ming Yuun Park
and at the Beijing Fenghelou Cultural
Development Center restaurant. There
were approximately 60 high-profile guests
including Dr. Lingtan Kong from the
University of Science and Technology
Beijing (USTB) who is the 76th descendant
of Confucius. Chan was further honored
by an oil portrait of himself by the artist
Xhang Yum (artist who painted the
famous painting of Mao in Tiananmen
Square) which was presented to him at the
reception by the artist’s family.
Honorary degrees are symbolic
moments of institution building and
honor both the grantee and the spirit of
the institution. They serve to bring the
university community together through the
celebration of shared goals and values. n
Chinese University confers honorary doctorate on McMaster University professor By Tamia hakim
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Spring ‘12 15
Woody Allen said, “90% of everything is
just showing up,” one of the most famous
references to never giving up, but when
you are frustrated, failing or just doing
something you don’t want to do, these
words can sound simplistic. In spite of this,
I quote him all the time because I have
observed countless people prevail in dif-
ficult circumstances by applying this simple
principle. More often than not, the prize
goes to those who just keep moving and
refuse to quit.
Tying efforts to goals that are energiz-
ing or especially worthwhile has a lot to
do with success too, especially for longer
or more difficult challenges. When I coach
people, I will almost always ask “what do
you want or what does success look like
to you?” If someone is struggling, they
often can’t answer this question right away.
When I took my first golf lesson, the first
thing I learned was to pick the spot you
want the ball to go. Not only does this
focus your efforts, but when people know
what you want they can help you and,
perhaps more important, you can recognize
and manage opportunities and hurdles
because you see them.
One of the secrets that top achievers
know is that no one does it by themselves.
It is critical that you have at least a few
trusted people who can help you gain and
maintain perspective, provide you with
feedback and kick your butt when you
need it. It is almost impossible to be totally
objective with yourself, especially in tough
times. A good mentor or coach is often a
game changer.
Finally, chunk big tasks down, prioritize
and reward yourself for small wins. It is
well known that most successful people
identify the critical tasks and generally do
them first. However, it is equally important
to create some time to recharge, reflect on
progress and create many small wins that
add up to the big ones.
Building a robust career is not easy, but
it is vitally important in light of the fast
changing work environment we live in.
What distinguishes top performers is that
they develop the habits of clarifying and
committing to their goals, cultivating a
support system and maintain tools to help
them be effective. I will still suggest though
that the most formidable competitors are
not the smartest, strongest or even the most
skilled, but the one who have a system and
simply will not give up. n
Jim Matthews B.Com ‘91, MBA ‘96, is
senior director of demand management, at
Research in Motion (RIM). Jim builds on
many years of senior customer, operational
and supply chain responsibility, primar-
ily in high tech (IBM, Celestica, RIM). He
brings a passion for the customer and prag-
matism to complex business solutions. He
is a graduate of McMaster University, and
is a member of various volunteer boards.
Jim will be writing a series of articles for the
DeGroote School of Business website.
Building robustness in your career
Alumni Column
By Jim Matthews ‘96
Executive Education at the DeGroote School of Businesswelcomes Disney Institute to
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