Volume 3 • Issue 3 • Summer 2009 Contact The Alumni Newsletter of the John Molson School of Business n Building the John Molson School of Business n JMSB continues to prevail at student competitions n Alumni Corner: What’s your story? n Upcoming JMSB events JMSBNEWS Message from the president Fellow Alumni: n An invitation will be extended to all to come and tour the am pleased to report that since new facilities! the spring issue of Contact, your I Alumni Chapter executive and But don’t wait until the fall to dedicated volunteers have been reach out to fellow alumni. Join working hard to develop a five- the official JMSB Linked-In and year vision: To be the most active, Facebook groups by visiting our strongly connected business school website at alumni.concordia. alumni group in Canada by 2014. ca/chapters/faculty/JM/. You’ll become part of a dynamic network It’s an exciting time for JMSB grads of fellow alumni from around to re-connect with the school and the world. And you’ll continue to university. In September, the entire receive the latest updates about JMSB community will celebrate the alumni events, programs and other grand opening of its new home— initiatives. the JMSB building—on the corner of Guy Street and De Maisonneuve I would also like to welcome the Boulevard in Montreal. newest addition to our executive team, Vanessa Segovia (BComm This fall, the JMSB Alumni Chapter 2004), who has recently accepted will provide you with several opportunities to take part in the the position of VP-Events. A media strategist at Marketel/McCann festivities and meet former classmates and professors: Erickson, Vanessa has extensive experience in the marketing, communications and event planning sectors. Her mandate will n The JMSB Alumni Chapter has joined forces with the Loyola include expanding the roster of events and opportunities for Alumni Association to host the first Annual Concordia JMSB alumni to network with each other and keep in touch with Alumni Golf Tournament on September 10, 2009, at Club Concordia. de Golf Islesmere, to benefit student bursaries and fund I would like to extend my our Alumni Room in the new “The brand new JMSB building sincerest congratulations to all JMSB building. JMSB students who graduated represents a dream come true” this month. On behalf of the n An Alumni Recognition Chapter, I wish you much Cocktail will recognize the success in this new phase of generous contributions of our alumni towards the new your lives and a warm welcome as the newest members of our Alumni Room. vibrant alumni community. Have a great summer! n n A reunion of CASA and CGSA present and past executive Sandrine Van Eyck members (including member associations). President, JMSB Alumni Chapter Women in Business Conference he John Molson Women Day. Participants were inspired in Business Club hosted by speeches and presentations Tin early March its first by guest speakers from various Women in Business Conference industries. Speakers included to mark International Women’s Concordia President and Vice-Chancellor Judith Bombardier Aerospace. MBA Woodsworth; Deborah student Ana Marinescu, who Bridgman, Young Adult organized the event, said she Division president of Hope was pleased with the large Women in Business Club & Cope at the Jewish General turnout and hopes to feature From left to right: Kathy Stanczyk Thibault, Lorna J. Telfer, Hospital; and Mairead Lavery, more women-in-business Mairead Lavery, Ana Marinescu, Dr. Judith Woodsworth vice-president, Strategy and success stories at future Business Development at conferences. n Hire a JMSB Co-op Student hile the economy is sluggish, our Co-op students can be your pathway to success for tomorrow. With recent Wstatistics predicting a labour shortage in the not-so- distant future, the JMSB Co-op Program offers a way to start looking at tomorrow’s employees today by employing them for a semester in their major fields of study. This can reduce your recruitment costs and help you see how our students fit into the culture of your organization. There is also a government subsidy for this program. Many of our Co-op employers have found our students so outstanding that they offer them jobs upon graduation. The JMSB Co-op Program works in partnership with students, faculty, staff and employers to provide the highest quality and Left to right: Manager Patrick Décarie, Abdullah Husen, comprehensive education through career development and Pierre-André Cyr, Pooja Kapoor, Sinyoung Seo, Celine Lam, experiential learning opportunities that equip our students with Joseph Wahba Marcos, Bruno Bergeron-Quirion. Missing from the knowledge, skills and experience they need to lead successful the photo: Stephen Lopes. professional lives. We accept only our best students into one of our seven achieve relatively high grades and that their learning at work is Co-ops in Accountancy, Finance, Human Resource Management, both productive and developmental. n International Business, Management Information Systems, Marketing and Supply Chain Operations Management. If this program interests you, please contact us at 514-848-2424, ext. 3950, or at [email protected]. You may also visit The program requires six academic terms and three work terms in johnmolson.concordia.ca/en/undergrad/co-op-education for the student’s major area of study. We do provide structure to help more details. Prospective employers are also invited to visit enhance the experiences for both students and employers. co-op.concordia.ca and click on the Employers tab. We monitor students’ academic performances to ensure they JMSB Advisory Board aims to build the John Molson School of Business MSB students are studying at the best business school in Canada,” according to Craig Shannon, chair of the “J JMSB Advisory Board and managing director and head of the Real Estate Investment Banking Group for National Bank Financial. “JMSB is naturally competitive. We have a multi-lingual, multi-cultural and global entrepreneurial focus. JMSB grads are attractive because they usually speak at least two languages and they have a cultural upbringing that is valuable to the business world. We have a much better product than people are aware of,” adds Shannon, who has been actively involved with the business school for the past 10 years. Speaking to the opening of the new JMSB building in September, Shannon says, “The primary goal is to achieve a successful launch. We want to use the opening of the LEED TD Silver certified building as a tool to enhance the reputation of the school within the community.” The JMSB Advisory Board has pledged more than $25,000 toward a 30-seat classroom of the new building’s second floor. Georges Paulez, chair of the JSMB Advisory Board’s nominating committee, says the JMSB’s new home is the start of a new chapter in the evolution of both the business school and Concordia. “It’s exciting because there’s a physical location we can point to—it will be a hub for the Concordia community and Anna Gunaratnam the city. The building is a state-of-the-art facility that will allow The new John Molson School of Business is located at 1450 Guy students to focus on greater learning opportunities and the JMSB St., at the corner of Guy St. and De Maisonneuve Blvd. in the to attract the best and brightest,” says Paulez, who is managing heart of the Quartier Concordia. director of Mirabaud Canada Inc. Craig Shannon is chair of the Georges Paulez is chair of Peter Hall is a past president Robert Frances is a past JMSB Advisory Board and the nominating committee of the Advisory Board and president of the Advisory managing director and head for the JMSB Advisory Board vice-president and managing Board and president of Peak of the Real Estate Investment and managing director of director of Giffels Partnership Financial Group Inc. Banking Group, National Bank Mirabaud Canada Inc. Solutions Inc. Financial Inc. Alumni Corner: What’s your story? Josh Redler he JMSB has been more knowledge to the test and a commerce student, president (BComm 08) than just class lectures, constantly challenge myself of the John Molson Marketing Ttests and projects; it has in real-life scenarios. In 2008, Association and VP Human [email protected] given me opportunity. It has I turned a class project about Resources for the Commerce provided a great environment finding food that fits each and Administration Students’ that has made it possible individual’s dietary needs into Association have helped me for me to put my practical reality. The skills I acquired as start and grow my company. I also continue to organize and take part in JMSB events. Last year, two friends and I spent five days outside for a charity event called “5 Days for the Homeless.” This year, as an alumnus, I spearheaded the “5 Days Montreal” campaign and spent another five days on the streets in front of Concordia University. I was so deeply touched by the generosity of the Montreal community during last year’s campaign that I wanted to help make it a success for Dans la Anna Gunaratnam Rue once again. n Josh Redler lived on the streets outside the GM building for five days and five nights in March to raise much-needed funds for local charity Dans La Rue. For more information, visit 5days.ca continued from page 4 A joint faculty and advisory board committee was initiated last believe in the education JMSB provides and I’ve seen that the fall to help plan the launch of the new building. The committee students from Concordia have great success in competitions and is now working on finding sponsors for advertising, says Paulez, in the real world when they graduate.” whose two sons will start at Concordia, one at the JMSB, this fall.