Alumni News
Alumni eNews
Issue: 17October 2011

Greetings from the Alumni Association Chair 

Kristan Ash
Kristan Ash
Kristan Ash
  

Dear Fellow Alumni,

 

As the director of operations for Helping Hands Rehabilitation Services Inc. and former vice president of franchise and business development for Nurse Next Door Home Healthcare, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn first-hand about what it takes to operate a successful business.

 

Truth be told, however, a lot of that insight came from making mistakes -- or, at the very least, not quite hitting the mark. Although not fun at the time, these experiences have taught me valuable business (and life) lessons that have led to improved service, better products and, most importantly, happier customers. In the end, what I really learned is that a "good" business makes mistakes and learns from them. A "bad" business makes mistakes and doesn't.

 

As a professional (no matter what your particular field or line of work), are you taking the steps required to ensure you are conducting "good" business? In this month's In Touch e-News, we hear from a few fellow alumni on what's been working for them. We would love to hear from you too! Email us at [email protected] to share your thoughts and tips on positive business practices that have helped take your career to the next level.

 

 

All the best,

Kristan Signature

Kristan Ash

Chair, Kwantlen Polytechnic University Alumni Association

BBA, Class of 2003

 

 

P.S. A big congratulations and welcome to the nearly 300 new KPUAA members who graduated on October 6! Also, a big thank you to everyone who attended last month's Homecoming Day celebration. What a success! Check out photos from the event on Facebook.

Volunteer Opportunities

 

KPUAA Board Elections - Deadline for applications is Friday, October 21

Are you a proud Kwantlen graduate and interested in giving back in a meaningful way? You may want to consider the upcoming opportunity of serving as a director on the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Alumni Association Board. Find out more here.  

First Year Matters

Hello Alumni!  As you look back on your own first year experience, we are certain many ideas come to mind that would have improved your experience for you.  We need those ideas!  There are 9 different dimension committees that will each address this question from a slightly different lens.  Each committee will meet only 4-6 times between October and March for about 2 hours each meeting.  This is not an onerous commitment and the committee meetings will be scheduled around all members' other commitments.  A focus group of alumni will also be formed to discuss the above question.  Your voice in this process is critical.

 

If you are interested in participating either on a committee or at the focus group session, please send along your interest along with your full name and email address to [email protected]

 

KPU Foundation Golf Tournament committee

Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation is seeking two alumni representatives to serve on their 2012 Golf Tournament planning committee.  The committee meetings will be about 1-2 hours long and will meet about once a month leading up to the event. If you are interested in joining the committee to help plan and execute this event, please email [email protected] . 

 

Kwantlen Public Art Committee

The committee is responsible for making recommendations related to the acquisition, exhibition, maintenance, and storage of objects in accordance with the Public Art Policy for the university. If you have a background in the Arts and are interested in being an Alumni representative on the committee, please email [email protected] . The committe will meet about 3 times a year.

Alumni Highlight of the Month 

Michael Senger
Michael Senger

 

Name: Michael Senger

Program: Business Management Diploma

Grad Year: 1988

Job Title: CEO & Founder, StoneMass LLC 

 

Leadership Style: Which "pack" do you run with?

 

When it comes to effective leadership, think you can teach an old dog new tricks? Not according to this "hungry wolf." Since graduating from Kwantlen's Business Administration Diploma program 23 years ago, Michael Senger says he's developed a pretty good understanding of what defines a good leader in a fiercely competitive business world. And, surprisingly, it has more to do with understanding fear and embracing risk than creating security. 

 

In this economy, he says today's leaders not only need to make faster and smarter decisions in their organizations, they have to do so with fewer resources. MORE>>> 

Distinguished Alumni Awards

 

Time is running out to get your nominations in. Deadline for submissions is Friday, December 2. Click here for more info.

Tools for Success - The Four Money Basics: How to map your path to financial wellbeing

By Paul Brady, Coast Capital Savings

 

Most Canadians put in their very best efforts every day to earn a living, so why is it that so many still find themselves struggling to achieve financial well-being? The problem -- and solution -- may lie in how we approach the "Four Money Basics." MORE>>> 

Career Services: Hot JOBS!

 

Top 10 "Hot" new employment postings on Kwantlen Career Services Job Posting System: 

  1. Sales & Administrative Support - Next Environmental Inc.
  2. Application Analyst/Application Specialist - City of Surrey      
  3. Entry Level Management - Sonepar                       
  4. Systems Analyst - PRA Group                  
  5. Marketing Coordinator - Community Savings Credit Union          
  6. Technical Sales Engineer - Pacific Rim Engineered Products          
  7. Project Coordinator /Estimator - Robertson Floor Ltd.                
  8. Freezer Installation Technician - GEA Aerofreeze Systems Inc.   
  9. Mason with Carpentry Skill - Lantic Inc. (Rogers Sugar)   
  10. Risk Services Coordinator - Federated Insurance                 

 

Need help with your job search?

Providing resume review, interview preparation and labour market research, Kwantlen Career Services coordinators are available at all four Kwantlen campuses to assist you with your job search. To request an appointment or to find out about the next available resume and interview workshops, visit Career Services or contact Shelley Vidal, Kwantlen Career Services Coordinator, at 604.599.3401 or [email protected].

 

 

Upcoming Service Canada Workshops:

  • Employment Standards - Nov. 15, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Richmond Campus, Room 2515
  • Canada Student Loans - Dec. 6, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Richmond Campus, Room  2515
  • Job Search Strategies - TBA
  • Occupational Health and Safety - TBA

Register Here

 

 

The October issue of Jobpostings Magazine is now available at Kwantlen Career Services! Stop by any one of the four campus locations to pick up your free copy. In this month's issue: working in NGO's, the energy sector, architecture, accounting and more.  

Business Corner: Bad Business Mistakes

By Marc Bains, KPUAA Director

Marc Bains

Marc Bains

Class of 2007

 

Bad business is everywhere, or perhaps more accurately, bad business practices are everywhere. Too often we hear about tactics or practices such as bait and switch, corporate espionage, price gauging and stealing investor money. Let's go beyond the usual suspects and instead focus on a far more prevalent bad business practice: inadequate planning for your future.

 

We have all heard about the many get rich quick schemes in the world. Many of us have been approached by a foreign prince offering us $25 million or the latest hot tip that only requires $250 to invest in a $100 million dollar gold mine. There is always the next great venture that will allow us to be rich and retire. Don't get me wrong, ideas are an important part of the business process. However, we cannot overlook the fundamentals, the business basics and most importantly the plan. MORE>>>

Share your university experience!

 

KPUAA is seeking Kwantlen alumni to share their university experience with prospective new students and their parents at the upcoming 

ULink: The link between You, Your University & Your Future event happening Thursday, November 24, 2011 at the Surrey campus conference centre from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

 

We are looking for alumni who:  

 

  • completed their studies between 2005 and 2011
  • are currently employed
  • are willing to share their stories through casual conversation during the social/networking portions of the evening

Please RSVP here!

News, Events, & Updates

 

News

 

Events

 

KPUAA Elections and AGM

Food, prizes, guest speaker, elections, and networking for all Alums

Date: Monday, November 21, 2011

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Surrey Campus

Please RSVP by email to [email protected] 

 

*Note: You may request a proxy voting package to be mailed to you for the elections effective November 4, 2011. Please send your request by email to [email protected]

 

 

ULink: The link between You, Your University & Your Future

Date: Thursday, November 24, 2011

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Location: Surrey campus conference centre

RSVP here.  

 

SAVE THE DATE!

Distinguished Alumni Awards evening & Kwantlen's 30th Anniversary Gala

Date: Friday, March 2, 2012

 

 

To get the latest update on events, please check the KPUAA website closer to the events or get regular updates via twitter and facebook.

Tweets of the Month

 

@metaforth: How come people never get talker's block?

@GetUrOwnCoffee: My money keeps unfollowing me.

@IGotsSmarts: What part of 01001110 01101111 don't you understand?

 

KPUAA's mission is to bring together Kwantlen alumni and help them build lifelong relationships with the university and the community, increasing the institution's reputation and the impact that graduates have on Kwantlen and the world.

 

Alumni Professional Directory

Did you know KPUAA offers a free professional listing to all alumni, whether they are business owners, consultants or company employees? In addition to providing great networking opportunities, the alumni professional directory is a way for Kwantlen alumni to support one another and, in some cases, offer fellow alumni discounts on products and services. For more information, please View/Search the Kwantlen Alumni Professional Directory.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University Alumni Association
12666 72nd Avenue,
Surrey, BC V3W 2M8

[email protected]  

  

 

KPUAA welcomes story ideas and alumni written material. To submit a story or share your ideas, please email [email protected].

 

 

In This Issue
Greetings
Volunteer Opportunities
Alumni Highlight
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Tools for Success
Career Services - Hot Jobs
Business Corner with Marc Bains
Share your university experience
News, Events, & Updates
Tweets of the Month
Alumni Professional Directory

Alumni Links
Kwantlen Links