Business Administration

Lakehead University MBA student helps the Underground Gym

Jordan Cash, left, presented Peter Panetta with a cheque for $1,035 on Wednesday, April 23. Cash raised the money through a scholarship from Mirabelli Corp., and donations from other MBA students and Lakehead faculty.

April 23, 2014 – Thunder Bay, ON

A scholarship from Mirabelli Corp. inspired Lakehead University student Jordan Cash to raise more than $1,000 for the Underground Gym in Thunder Bay.

Cash, a Master of Business Administration student, had planned to volunteer at the gym as a boxing instructor but didn’t have time due to his busy school schedule. Instead, he raised money for the Underground Gym in a fundraiser called MBAs Care.

“At the end of last semester I received a $200 scholarship from Mirabelli Corp. that I decided to donate to the Underground Gym, and I wanted to see if I could raise more,” Cash said.

After giving a short presentation to his MBA classmates, Cash was impressed when 15 students donated a total of approximately $400. He is also collecting donations from faculty members in Business Administration and contributing some of his own funds.

Cash, who is from Pickering, Ont., added money he won from a Proline Ticket, some stock dividends and money left over from his student loan.

“I want people to know that Lakehead MBA students care about this community. We are proud to assist the Underground Gym to help young people reach their full potential,” Cash said.

Peter Panetta, Underground Gym founder, said Cash’s donation will help keep the youth centre open.

“This is huge for us. The timing couldn’t have been better,” Panetta said, adding that the donation will also provide food for the youth.

“We usually have five or so fundraisers per year and they’re very important. These donations are much appreciated and much needed,” Panetta said.

Dr. Lifeng Geng, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Business Administration, said Cash has shown great leadership with this project.

“Jordan is a very talented MBA student. He's doing great academically and it's nice to see him make time for the local community,” Dr. Geng said. “I'm happy that he has devoted his time and energy to the well-being of kids. He clearly has a lot of potential to be a great leader.”

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Media: For more information, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by a new Strategic Plan (2013-2018), our University is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses, in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Home to Ontario’s first new Faculty of Law in 44 years (Fall 2013) and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine's West Campus, Lakehead is among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities (2014 Maclean’s University Rankings), as well as 1^st in Ontario and 2^nd in Canada for its innovative research (Re$earch Infosource). Our Orillia campus is the first in North America to be built entirely to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards. Share your Lakehead story as it relates to our Strategic Plan at www.lakeheadu.ca/presidents-office/nurturing-passion, and learn more about Lakehead at www.lakeheadu.ca.

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Lakehead University

Master of Business Administration

Lakehead University MBA student wins 2nd Prize in Focus 2040 competition

Naureen Mushfique, second from left, was presented with a cheque for $3,000 by Terry Erb, Director of Sales for Ford Motor Company of Canada (far left), Heather LoPresti, co-chair of Focus 2040 and on the far right, Julia Piccioni, co-chair of Focus 2040.

April 4, 2014 – Thunder Bay, ON

A Lakehead University Masters of Business Administration student, Naureen Mushfique, recently placed second in the Focus 2040 Competition.

This competition challenges students to evaluate what the workplace will be like in the year 2040. Students are asked to think beyond textbook principles, evaluate real world workplaces, and plan an innovative work system.

“When I first read the topic, it immediately caught my interest and my head was flooded with a plethora of ideas,” Mushfique said. “The longer I thought about it, the more developed my idea became to the point where it was no longer an option of whether or not I wanted to participate – I had toparticipate.”

Mushfique believes that in 2040 organizations will collaborate more with technology to assist the work of employees. “Data and technology will play a larger role in employee empowerment,” she said.

Mushfique competed against students from across Canada in the first round of the competition. She then moved on to excel against 25 competitors in the second round to secure a spot among the top 10 finalists.

The finalists were invited to the Degroote School of Business to present their predictions to a panel of judges. Mushfique received a cheque for $3,000 for placing second.

Focus 2040 is a nation-wide competition organized by McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business. It is a joint venture between the DeGroote School of Business (DeGroote) and the Strategic Capability Network (SCNetwork).

Mushfique learned about the competition from her professors, who suggested she participate.

"The Faculty of Business Administration at Lakehead University has always actively encouraged and supported students who want to participate in different national and international competitions,” said Dr. Naqi Sayed, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Business Administration.

“Over the years our students have successfully competed in many forums. Naureen's accomplishment is another testament to the value that this faculty adds to all its students,” Dr. Sayed said.

Mushfique chose Lakehead because she wanted to study at a university where she wouldn’t be invisible. “At Lakehead, it’s not just an education – it’s an experience. Your classmates become your best friends and your professors become your mentors,” she said.

Mushfique would like to work in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, which she says is full of potential.

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Media: For more information, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Keywords:

Lakehead University

Masters of Business Administration

Learner-Centered Student Experience

Learner-Centred Student Experience

Lakehead University Accounting students place first at GAAPS

Lakehead students L-R: Taylor Hosanna, Nick Dzikowski, Lucas Bauer and Ben Anderson.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead’s accounting students placed first at this year’s Gathering of Accounting Associates, Professionals, and Students (GAAPS) competition out of 12 undergraduate teams from across Canada.

The winning Lakehead team was comprised of fourth-year accounting students Ben Anderson, Lucas Bauer, Nick Dzikowski, and Taylor Hosanna. This isn’t the first time Lakehead’s accounting students have done well in the competition – they finished second in 2013, first in 2011 and third in 2010.

“The fact that Lakehead students excel in competitions like this time and time again really shows the quality of education we receive here,” said Hosanna.

“All of our professors provide us with the technical knowledge we need for success, but it’s more than that. The presentations, group work and extracurricular activities that our professors encourage us to participate in give us a well-rounded set of skills which prepare us for these competitions and for the working world as well,” Hosanna said.

The conference was recently hosted by the University of Manitoba, which placed second. Team Lakehead’s first-place ranking earned them a trophy and $1,500 in prize money.

"It was really great to be back this year and build on last year’s success,” said Dzikowski. “We definitely learned from mistakes made in the prior year and used our experience in the competition to our advantage.

“The cases were unique and challenging but everyone assumed their roles quickly and our presentations were well executed. We learned that the winning team isn't necessarily the one with the most detailed analysis or flashiest slideshow, but rather the one that is confident and best able to justify its conclusions to the judges,” he said.

Bauer echoed his teammate’s comments. “By using our experiences from last year, our team had a strong advantage in knowing how to work and communicate with each other effectively,” he said. “Although our team faced challenges during the competition, our comfort level was a calming influence and a key to our success.”

The annual GAAPS includes an accounting-based case competition, guest speakers and networking events.

Anderson said his favourite aspect of the competition was the networking opportunities. “The event was a chance to meet many students and even some professionals in a casual setting,” Anderson said. “If I ever decide to work in Manitoba, I'll always have access to that network."

Lakehead Associate Professor of Accounting, Dr. Camillo Lento, said the students’ success is a testament to their hard work and the quality of the University’s Business program.

“These students represented all of their peers at Lakehead University, and everyone is excited that the team placed first. It is great to see the students achieve such great results after all of their hard work.”

Lakehead was also represented by a second team consisting of third-year students Salvatore Tozzo, Meagan Ellis, Rachel Labate, and fourth-year student Justin Donaldson.

The Lakehead GAAPS Team is thankful for support from the Northwestern Ontario Chartered Accountant Association (NWOCAA). For more information about GAAPS, visit: http://asbaa.ca/gaapsconference/

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Media: For more information, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.