Celebrating business excellence among alumni at the Halifax Business Awards

Dave O’Connor, winner of the Gold Award for Business Leader of the Year

Saint Mary’s University is celebrating the success of the Saint Mary’s alumni and business leaders who were a part of the 2018 Halifax Business Awards.

Joe Metlege (left) receives the Silver Award for Business Leader of the Year

The sold-out award ceremony from the Halifax Chamber of Commerce took place in the brand new Halifax Convention Centre. It was a spectacular night of entertainment, prestige, and celebration, recognizing risk takers and the success of Halifax’s thriving business community.

It was a particularly spectacular night for Saint Mary’s University alumni. Saint Mary’s University is pleased to congratulate Christopher Webb, BA’97, and Dave O’Connor, BComm’92, who both took home top prizes. Mr. Webb is the Co-owner of PAVIA Gallery – Espresso Bar & Café. PAVIA won the 2018 Gold Award for Business of the Year. Mr. O’Connor is the President of GLOW The Event Store and was the recipient of the Gold Award for Business Leader of the Year.

The University is also celebrating:

• Joseph (Joe) Metlege, EMBA'12, President, JONO Developments Limited & Templeton Properties Ltd., who was the recipient of the Silver Award for Business Leader of the Year;
• Leah Skerry, BComm'09, CEO, Squiggle Park, who won the Silver Award for Innovative Business of the Year; and
• Jean Paul (JP) Furey, Bcomm'03, CEO, BlueLight Analytics, who won the Silver Award for Export Business of the Year and the Bronze Award for Innovative Business of the Year.

Jean Paul Furey (left) receives the Silver Award for Export Business of the Year

Also worthy of praise are the contributions of the Santamarians whose business acumen was recognized by being nominated.

Congratulations to:

• Ross Argante, BA’01, a Partner with Integrated Staffing Limited, who was nominated for Business Leader of the Year;
• Chris Robertson, Bcomm'02, Owner, Home Instead Senior Care Cape Breton, nominated for Business of the Year;
• Steve Davies, EMBA'98, President, Third Wave Consulting Inc., nominated for Innovative Business of the Year;
• Jeff Farwell; BComm'00, Owner, J Farwell Sailing, nominated for New Business of the Year; and
• the great group of Santamarians at B4Checkin, nominated for Export Business of the Year, that includes:
• Martin Mackinnon, MBA'88, CFO and Co-Founder
• Steve Miles, Bcomm'84, Vice President – Operations; and
• Greg Thompson, EMBA'04, VP - Customer Relations

Sobey School of Business MBA program recognized for quality

QS, a global career and education network, has released its worldwide ranking of the top MBA programs. Saint Mary’s University’s Sobey School of Business MBA program ranked #10 in Canada and in the top 200 internationally.

QS rankings are based on three surveys: a global academic survey, a global employer survey and a survey completed by universities. Institutions are rated on performance in categories of Employability, ROI, Entrepreneurship and Alumni Outcomes, Thought Leadership and Diversity. Learn more about their methodology here. 

Sobey scored 3rd in diversity, 6th in ROI and 9th in entrepreneurship and alumni success in the Canadian list. The school ranked 44th in the world for diversity. Other universities on the list include Toronto, Western, McGill, York, Queen’s, HEC Montreal, UBC, University of Alberta and Simon Fraser.

Dean Patricia Bradshaw

“We are proud that the Sobey School of Business offers world-class education, and we remain committed to making an impact with purpose,” said Dean Patricia Bradshaw. “We are particularly proud of this recognition of our diversity.”

“One of our key strengths is our faculty members’ diversity and the way they set the tone for international and domestic students working together, collaboratively and inclusively.”

The Sobey MBA program, redesigned in 2015, incorporates immersive experiences such as local service and an international trip that offers students cross-cultural opportunities to experience and learn global business up close. The well-respected program has been graduating students for more than 40 years.

QS is a global organization that links students with higher education institutions. They host well-attended and known MBA recruitment events, and have staff offices throughout the world.

ACOA Invests $300k into business growth and startup programming

See the original story at http://www.smu.ca/academics/sobey/bdc-funding-announcement-2017.html

Two students recognized with inaugural Fred and Nali George Scholarships

Fred George, Mariah Williams, Nali George, Susan Summerby-Murray, Jake Arsenault, Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray

Students at Saint Mary’s University are already benefiting from a generous gift from Dr. Fred and Mrs. Nali George. Fred George received an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from Saint Mary’s in 2011 and is the recipient of a Saint Mary’s Distinguished Community Service Award. He and his wife, Nali, are dedicated philanthropists who share the University’s commitment to global awareness and social responsibility.

Jake Arsenault

“I am very grateful to be the inaugural recipient of the Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Entrepreneurship,” said fourth year Bachelor of Commerce student, Jake Arsenault. “It’s a great honour to be acknowledged by such an accomplished and generous family. This award will certainly alleviate some of the financial stress I experience as a full-time student with my own business.” 

A 5th generation woodworker who was born and raised in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Arsenault launched a business while taking a Sobey School of Business course called Structuring the Startup. His company, Creative Urban Timber, is focused on repurposing Nova Scotian trees into beautiful tables and other unique creations.

Mariah Williams

As the inaugural recipient of the Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Geology/Business Studies, fourth year Geology major Mariah Williams is also the beneficiary of the George family’s generosity. “I am extremely grateful for the George family’s philanthropy and support and very honoured to see my hard work rewarded in this way,” said Williams. “In addition to helping me balance a heavy academic workload with part time employment as a research assistant, this award will afford me the time to engage in co-curricular activities and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.”

In addition to maintaining top marks in her Bachelor of Science program, Williams serves as Vice-President of the Saint Mary’s University D. Hope Simpson Geology Society. Last summer she worked as a Geo technician in the Yukon on the exploration site at Triumph Gold: an experience she hopes to use as the basis for her Honours project in deposit exploration.

“I am delighted to see these new endowed scholarships having an impact on such promising young people,” said Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “Fred and Nali George are valued members of the Saint Mary’s community. Thanks to their generosity, our students will go on to do remarkable things.”

The Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Entrepreneurship is awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student in the Sobey School of Business who has declared a major in either Entrepreneurship or Global Business Management. The Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Geology/Business Studies is awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student who is enrolled at Saint Mary's University in a major or honours program in Geology, with preference given to students in the BSc combined Geology and Business Program.

Sobey School Business Development Centre offers coaching to help Atlantic companies grow and succeed

See the orginal story at http://www.smu.ca/academics/sobey/growth-coaching-program-announced.html

Retail innovation focus of new Saint Mary’s University partnership

Vince Kennedy and Ryan Jackson, co-founders of BluShll

Innovation and the future of the retail sector were the focus of an event at the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market. 

“Encouraging innovation is fundamental to the change our province needs,” said Labi Kousoulis, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education. “It is important for our entrepreneurs to have the supports in place to help take their ideas to the next level, and that we celebrate these successes.”

The event, held during National Retail Week, celebrates some of the early results of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Saint Mary’s University and the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market. The agreement established a retail space at the market called The Shelf, representing the first outpost of the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services’ Retail Imagination Lab.

“We established The Shelf to support our local producers and artisans,” said Julie Chaisson, executive director of the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market. “This partnership will allow us to extend our support into new areas of innovation and technology that may not otherwise have been possible.”

Retail innovations range widely, from data-informed store layouts to video shelf talkers and robot sales associates, to virtual reality online and interactive digital environments. The Shelf will provide a setting to carry out pilot projects in a controlled space, with researchers there to observe, record and analyze the results.

“Studying consumer behavior in a real retail setting is a daunting task, but our professors and students embrace this challenge,” said Saint Mary’s University president Robert Summerby-Murray. “Through our partnership with the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, we combine exceptional researchers with experts on local businesses in the retail sector to create an environment where innovation can take shape.”

BluShll, a student-led business from Saint Mary’s that helps shoppers quickly and easily learn more about the products they buy, recently tested their product at The Shelf.  BluShll helps to satisfy the desire of the socially-conscious consumer for more information about where products are sourced and to learn more about the company that sells them.

“The Shelf was an amazing venue for us to test our product and hear directly from consumers,” said Ryan Jackson, co-founder of BluShll. “We received some great feedback from people visiting the market that will be instrumental in taking our product to the next level as we prepare to develop it to enter the market.”

Saint Mary’s launches new Innovative, Creative and Entrepreneurial Mindsets Fund, calls for proposals

Saint Mary’s University invites faculty, students and staff to develop activities, events, research and teaching to enhance creative, innovative and entrepreneurial thinking.

Successful proposals will be supported through the new Innovative, Creative and Entrepreneurial Mindsets Fund.

The learning outcomes that we aspire to have all students graduate with and that this fund will help develop are:

1. Development of critical thinking skills and good judgement/discernment
2. Ability to identify problems and seek opportunities through discovery and design thinking
3. Capacity to cultivate new ideas and solve problems
4. Courage to take a risk and resilience to deal with failure
5. Aptitude to move to action and take advantage of opportunities/create social and economic value
6. Self-reflection and ability to learn from both mistakes and successes
7. Understanding of alternative ways of organizing (e.g. cooperatives, collectives, nonprofits, social enterprises, for-profits, start-ups)

Call for Proposals

Proposals are invited from individual Saint Mary's faculty, students and staff as well as from Departments, Programs, Societies and groups of individuals. The primary applicant must be a member of the Saint Mary’s University community. Applicants will provide a detailed plan including a budget (normally expected to be in the range of $1,000 to $5,000 to a maximum of $10,000/per application) with expected outcomes and agree to share what they learned in a seminar, published article and/or workshop. Applicants are encouraged to be creative in their approach and to wisely use the money they apply for. The budget is not to be used for course releases or for curriculum development activities that are a normal part of faculty teaching responsibilities.

Possible projects include everything from design thinking workshops for staff and students across the university to pitch competitions for IP that can be commercialized or a community of practice using critical thinking to address wicked problems. Note that this not funding for a start-up.

Submission of Applications for Funding and Deadline

Applications for funding are to be submitted electronically to donna.filek@smu.ca and must be received by 4 p.m. on October 31, 2017.

More information and application form (PDF)

New Sobey School program helps entrepreneurs and companies expand to international markets

See the original story at http://www.smu.ca/academics/sobey/sell-beyond-borders-launches.html.

Retail Innovation Centre and Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market look to the future

Sobey School of Business student Drew Blair at The Shelf in the Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market

What will retail look like in 25 years?

By this fall, a new partnership aims to have a retail space in the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market offer a glimpse into that innovative future.

“Saint Mary’s University is committed to lifelong learning, supporting innovation and engaging with community, and this project, I am pleased to say, reflects all these commitments.”

— Dr. Malcolm Butler, Vice President Academic and Research, Saint Mary’s University

This morning, representatives of the Market and Saint Mary’s University signed an MoU establishing the Seaport Market’s retail space called The Shelf as the first outpost of the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services’ Retail Imagination Lab.

Overlooking the harbour from the Galley on the second floor of the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, Executive Director Julie Chaisson pointed out that this event was steeped in history: Canada’s oldest continuously operating farmers’ market partnering with one of the country’s oldest universities, along with a research centre and business school named for one of Canada’s outstanding historic retail families, the Sobeys. “But this is not about the past—today, we look to the future.”

Retail innovations range widely, from data-informed store layouts, to video shelf talkers and robot sales associates, to virtual reality online and interactive digital environments. Which technology innovation should a retailer invest in? And how can the ROI be measured?

“This partnership will allow us to extend our support into new areas of innovation and technology that may not otherwise have been possible.”

— Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market Executive Director Julie Chaisson

These are the kind of questions that fires the imagination of researchers and retail analysts alike, and the Retail Imagination Lab will provide a setting to carry out pilot projects in a controlled space, with researchers there to observe, record and analyse results.

The David Sobey Centre will provide the experiments and innovation, and the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market will provide space, data access and other support through The Shelf. Students from Saint Mary’s University’s Sobey School of Business have been hired to establish the first set of innovations later this summer.

Julie Chaisson, Executive Director of the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, Executive Director and Dr. Malcolm Butler, Vice President Academic and Research, Saint Mary’s University