Fanshawe College Alumni News Winter 2012

Vito Frijia:President of Southside Group brings Lightning to London

FANSHAWE COLLEGE

WINTER 2012

Distinguished Alumni Awards: Six recipients honoured at Awards Gala (Page 8)

Health Sciences: High-tech mannequins enhance student training (4)

Larry Myny: Student Mentoring Program gets a boost from community leader (Page 22)

3D Animation & Character Design: Bringing video games to life (Page 24)

INSIDE:

2 WINTER 2012 FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS

Cover Feature: Vito Frijia .................................................... 5 - 7

2011 Distinguished Alumni Recipients ............................. 8 - 13

Mannequins enhance health care training ....................... 14 -15

Alumni Feature: Bob Armstrong ............................................. 17

Retiree Feature: Gerhard Gedies ..................................... 18 - 19

Interior Design: Design Matrix Inc. ................................. 20 - 21

Larry Myny Student Mentoring Program ......................... 22 - 23

3D Animation brings video games to life ........................ 24 - 25

Alumni Feature: John Yandreski ...................................... 26 - 27

Music Industry Arts - Serin Hong ........................................... 29

Fanshawe Connections: Fleetwood Auto Salon .............. 30 - 31

PERKS – Discounts and Deals for Alumni ....................... 33 - 34

Keep in Touch and In Memoriam ............................................ 35

John Sing (Audiovisual Technician 79) is corporate photographer for Fanshawe College, a role he has held for more than 25 years.

Kevin Glew (Corporate Communications & Public Relations 97) is an award-winning sports writer and freelance business writer based in London, Ontario.

John Huff is a freelance copywriter and journalist, who has written extensively for Fanshawe, as well as a wide variety of clients and publications in Ontario and beyond.

Michael Wickett (Music Industry Arts 04 / General Arts and Science 02) is Alumni Officer for Fanshawe College and Managing Editor of Alumni News.

Simone Graham is a communications professional and she has been the editor of the AlumniNews magazine since 1996.

Kacey German (Corporate Communications & Public Relations 08 / Radio Broadcasting 98) is Development Associate - Alumni Giving, Fanshawe College.

Fanshawe College Alumni News

Managing Editor Michael WickettEditor Simone GrahamGraphic Design Si DesignFanshawe Photographer John SingAlumni Associate Melantha Walters

Fanshawe College Alumni Association

Board of Directors:John Yandreski (President), Jon Aristone (Past President), Gail Malcolm (Vice President), Joe Morrison (Treasurer), Eileen Armstrong, Veronica Barahona (FSU President), Colleen Breen, Mandy Bennett, Glenda Cumming, Joseph Dunlop-Addley, Catherine Finlayson, Brenda Fontana, Kacey German, Julie Yagi-Fornos, Tim Wharton, and Michael Wickett (Alumni Officer).

Alumni News is published twice a year by the Fanshawe College Alumni Association and the Fanshawe College Development and Alumni Department. It is distributed free to Fanshawe College alumni. Others may subscribe for $10 per year, plus HST. This publication is available in an alternate format. For information, please contact the Alumni Office.

Publication of information about individuals, organizations or companies does not imply endorsement by Fanshawe College or the Fanshawe College Alumni Association. We welcome, but cannot be held responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, or artwork. Please enclose a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage for return.

Submission deadlines are January 1 and July 1. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s written consent.

Fanshawe College Alumni AssociationRoom K1011, 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P. O. Box 7005London, Ontario, Canada N5Y 5R6 Tel: 519-452-4285Out-of-town: 800-661-ALUM Fax: 519-452-1051E-mail: [email protected]: www.fanshawec.ca/alumni

Mailed under Publications Mail Agreement Number 40063557

5

18

20

26

About our Contributors:

Table of Contents:

FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS WINTER 2012 3

Kit Guo loved London from the moment she came to live in the city and she chose to study in the Computer Programmer Analyst program because her research showed her there were jobs in that field. She was introduced to her current employer while still attending Fanshawe when she did a summer job placement with them.

“Having that door open for me while I was still a student was a tremendous step-up,” remembers Kit, who was thrilled when that summer job turned into an offer of full-time employment when she graduated in 2003.

Eight years later, she is still with the London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) in London, Ontario having worked her way up from Systems Analyst to become Manager of Information Development. In this role, Kit works closely with team members to design and implement the needs of LEDC websites and to provide ongoing improvements to the system of information delivery to the wide range of LEDC clients.

“Getting a steady job right out of college was a crucial element in getting settled and staying here in Canada,” says Kit, who is now a Canadian Citizen. “Fanshawe prepared me very well for the world of work and I find my job very fulfilling. There are new challenges every day as we seek innovative ways to enhance the visual look, the functionality, and the interactive nature of our website and our communications.”

Kit says she was also thrilled last year to purchase her own home and she has been enjoying decorating it and making it her own. As a water colour enthusiast in her free time, Kit’s artwork hangs in both her home and at the LEDC offices – reminding everyone who sees these beautiful images of the balance between creativity and work, and of dreams that have come true.

While growing up in Shanghai,

Yun (Kit) Guo (Computer

Programmer Analyst 03) did not

know where her life would take her

but she had big dreams. She was an

artistic young woman, with drive and

determination, and her decision to

attend Fanshawe College in the year

2000 turned out to be one of the best

decisions she ever made.

Living and working in Canada: A dream come true

FCAA_HA_7.18x9.5_CMYK_Oct11_FINAL.ai 1 31/10/11 4:52 PM


When Vito Frijia attended Fanshawe College, he worked for a few different construction companies but he chose to go with Southside when he graduated because it was smaller than some of the others.

“I figured I could gain broader experience with a smaller company, and it worked out that way,” he remembers. “I did contract negotiations, worked as a construction estimator and construction manager, and dealt with tenders, all kinds of things - getting experience with all the basics that I had learned at Fanshawe.”

Three years later, when he was just 25-years-old, Vito bought the company from the owner who was older and wanted to get out of the business. Southside was doing about $4 million in construction projects each year at the time.

Since then, under Vito’s leadership and with the help of the loyal workforce he assembled, Southside has gone on to complete more than $2 billion worth of development projects, including some of South-western Ontario’s most prominent buildings.

In addition to constructing eight buildings at the London campus of Fanshawe, Southside has also developed about 15 buildings at The University of Western Ontario, about 25 schools across south-western Ontario, plus many other facilities, hospitals, and commercial buildings.

Vito still loves basketball as much as ever.

The Canadian championship team members

got together in 2005 for a 25-year reunion

celebration which included a pick-up game

on the court. Taken as part of that celebration

in 2005, here Vito advances down the court

past John Hayden.

Building memories from the ground upVito Frijia (Construction Engineering Technology 82)

learned his trade at Fanshawe College but on the basketball

court, his lessons were just as valuable if not more so. It was

at the gym that he learned the value of teamwork and how

to take pride and respect in all that one does. Today Vito is

a community builder with a strong competitive spirit and he

was recently honoured as a Distinguished Alumni for 2011.


Becoming Canadian Champions in basketball

Vito’s passion for sports that was present as a child ignited even further when he started playing collegiate-level basketball at Fanshawe. Vito and his teammates remember fondly the 1980 and 1981 Canadian championship games that solidified their friendships for life and built their characters and competitive spirits.

Ernie Durocher was the trainer with those teams and is still with the Athletics Office today at Fanshawe. He remembers that no one expected the Fanshawe Falcons to win the first year.

“Winning the provincials was the first step and it paved the way to nationals,” Ernie says of the trip the Fanshawe men’s basketball team took to Truro, Nova Scotia, in 1980. “It was an incredible welcome back when the boys returned to London as Canadian Champions. Then that second year, 1981 in Burnaby, BC, the guys had a bit more confidence but the competition was still really stiff.”

Both seasons were made up mostly of young men from London and from a few smaller towns in South-western Ontario. Vito was Athlete of the Year in 1981 and inducted into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2007.

The dismantling of a dream

With such close personal memories of his College days, you can only imagine his emotions when Southside was selected to take down the B-Gym at Fanshawe’s London campus and construct what is now T-Building. (This is the first Fanshawe building you see now as you are driving east on Oxford Street coming from Highbury.)

The day that the wrecking team had to take down the walls of B-Gym was bitter-sweet for Vito. He knew it was all part of the progress that had to happen and that the new J-Gyms had already been built to house athletics, but it was still an experience he would never forget.

Fortunately though, being part of the dismantling of the B-Gym gave Vito a unique chance to save a portion of his dream for posterity. He carefully made sure the construction team lifted the heavy wooden floor of the old B-Gym out in sections, so he could preserve some of it.

He wanted to use a piece of the gym floor to make a heavy plaque for himself and have enough floor pieces to make identical plaques to give to each of his teammates and the athletic staff members who were involved in his championship basketball days. Vito keeps his own plaque at his office as a treasured reminder of his Fanshawe experiences.


The impact of Southside Group

Vito continues to put this same passion and hard work ethic into all he touches and it shows. Today Southside is one of the largest construction and development companies in the province of Ontario, and has several different divisions that have contributed to its overall success. He has a very loyal employee base at Southside with about 100 on staff, some of them going back to his original workforce from the 1980s.

The company develops commercial properties and owns about 2 million square feet at this time. Some of its biggest tenants are Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, TD Canada Trust, Royal Bank, The Beer Store, Michaels, and Staples, just to name a few.

Other aspects under the umbrella at Southside include huge residential development projects, such as Talbot Village for example. In these cases, Southside is involved in developing all elements of the infrastructure needed to transform acres of land into lots that are ready for homebuilders to use.

Southside is also one of the largest processors of stone and gravel in south-western Ontario, operating this division as Thames Valley Aggregates. Aggregate forms the base for most of what is built of concrete and asphalt.

Lightning strikes in London

Balancing this company growth with his passion for sports and community development, Vito was instrumental in establishing a National Basketball League in Canada and bringing a newly formed team called the London Lightning to London, Ontario to play at the John Labatt Centre.

“Canada is one of the few countries that does not have its own professional basketball league, so we felt it was time,” says Vito, who spent several years organizing and advocating for a National Basketball League for Canada. “We are starting with just seven teams, but it will grow and I am thrilled our Lightning are in on the ground floor.”

“It is our goal to enhance the basketball experience across Canada and build a franchise that our young Canadian athletes can aspire to - without having to leave Canada when they want to continue playing basketball at a high caliber as young adults,” explains Vito.

He is convinced that London has the depth and passion to support a team at this level, which

very much depends on corporate support as well as ticket sales to the public. Vito’s connections from his lifelong career at Southside are among the first shoulders he has tapped.

“Through Southside, I personally know business leaders in more than 30 homebuilding firms, and we deal closely every day with more than 100 suppliers and contractors, as well as having good relationships with another 150 or so commercial tenants,” says Vito, who is not shy in promoting this team and appealing for support at all levels in London.

Still building a legacy in so many ways

After all, Vito is not asking anyone else to do what he himself has not already done. Vito personally coaches high school basketball in London and supports all kinds of other charitable causes related to healthcare, education, culture, and sport in the city, including a soft spot for Fanshawe.

As a graduate, employer and supporter, Vito sees every day the impact the College has on its students, graduates and the community. He is currently serving as a Campaign Vice-chair with the Fanshawe Foundation, pleased to take a leadership role in this important cause.

He is understandably proud of his city. “It is a great place to raise a family. Homes don’t all cost $1 million so it is affordable to live here. You can drive to work and take in a big show and watch professional level sports – what more could you want?”

Three decades later, Vito Frijia still loves his job and comes to work with the same passion and drive. “It’s an amazing experience, starting with a blank sheet of paper and ending up with a living, breathing building.”

Now that his eldest son Michael has completed post-secondary and joined the company, Vito feels an even bigger push to keep building Southside and his basketball dreams – both of which are proof that London, Ontario is indeed a great place to live, work, build, and play.

One: Vito and Barbara Frijia were pleased to be on hand at the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Gala when Dr. Howard Rundle made the presentation of Vito’s award.

Two: Vito Frijia and Bill Sewell played basketball at Fanshawe together for two years in the early 1980s. Now Bill’s son, Pat Sewell, who studied at Fanshawe and at the University of Toronto, has been named to the new London Lightning basketball team. Pictured are: Vito, Pat and Bill taken at Fanshawe’s J-Gym just before an intersquad game to introduce the new

team to London.

ONE

TWO


Vito Frijia is passionate about many things: his family and friends, his work, basketball, and of course, London, Ontario. He is a community builder and supporter of many causes, and he was among the six honoured recipients who were chosen as Fanshawe College Distinguished Alumni in 2011.

Vito believes that for a city to be able to keep its young people after post-secondary, there has to be jobs, development, culture, sports and a quality of life that all these things bring. His company, Southside Group, has been building capacity in London since 1979 contributing in many ways to the rich fabric of life enjoyed by our citizens.

Vito adopted London as his hometown when he moved here as an 8-year-old boy with his family from Italy. Even in high school, Vito was fascinated with both the construction and development industry and his sport of choice: basketball. More than 30 years later, these passions continue to define him.

“I always craved the competition both on the basketball court and in business,” Vito explains. “I learned so much through sport - how you have to earn the respect of your teammates, just the same way you have to earn the respect of your customers and your employees. To excel at sports, you have to have the right attitude and the right chemistry and focus on what is best for the team, and it is the same in building a successful business.”

2011 Recipient – TechnologyConstruction Engineering Technology 82

Vito Frijia

The Distinguished

Alumni Awards program

recognizes exemplary

alumni who have used

their skills to improve

themselves, their career

field, their community,

and their world. The

Alumni Association

was pleased to honour

six recipients for their

leadership, innovation

and success at a gala

awards evening in

November 2011:

Vito Frijia, John Kobarda,

Theresa Carriere, Les

Stroud, Tim Berthiaume,

and Adrianna St. George.


John Kobarda

John Kobarda knows that firefighting is about protecting public safety, but his job is also about running an effective and efficient organization. As London’s Fire Chief and Director of Paramedic Services, he manages a $50-million annual budget and an organization with more than 400 staff at stations and offices across the city.

After gaining valuable experience for 10 years with London Machinery, a local mobile equipment manufacturing firm, John decided to join the London Fire Department. He became a fire fighter because he wanted a career that would allow him to make a positive impact on people’s lives. He got involved in the London Professional Fire Fighters Association in 1993 and served as president from 1997 to 1999. In 1999, he was named Deputy Fire Chief and in 2004, he was appointed to the top job he holds now.

Known as being tough but fair, John took on this leadership role with a refreshing perspective. He was one of the first leaders to encourage employee participation, especially in the procurement of new technology, because he knew fire fighters are the ones who use the equipment daily.

In addition to his Fanshawe credentials in technology, management and human resources, he later went to study and graduate from the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. John is an avid reader, especially books about leadership and personal development, since he knows there are always new ways to improve ourselves, and in turn, improve our organizations and society.

2011 Recipient – BusinessMechanical Engineering Technology 80 / Industrial Management 86 / Human Resources Management 94


Theresa Carriere

Through completing two incredible 100 kilometre runs, Theresa Carriere turned her passion for fitness and health into more than $380,000 in charitable giving. Theresa wears many hats: mother, wife, coach, fitness trainer, cancer survivor, and of course a proud and accomplished athlete from her Fanshawe College days. She currently runs the employee fitness program at London Life and serves as a trainer for GoodLife Fitness.

In June 2010, her one-day 100 km run from London to Sarnia raised more than $180,000 in support of breast cancer research. In June 2011, she increased her base by inspiring thousands of young people in more than 100 schools. Collectively, through donations from across the region, more than $200,000 was raised in 2011. Theresa hastens to add that she was helped

immensely by her support team, her extended family, and the many community donors who believed in her.

These runs came about in response to her own fight with breast cancer. Diagnosed in April 2007, she fought back with a double mastectomy and won, buoyed by her own determination, her faith and the love of family.

Once again healthy, Theresa set out her goals for the first run, summoning the same competitive spirit from her collegiate basketball days. Theresa was twice named Female Athlete of the Year at Fanshawe (1985 and 1986), and in 2005, she was inducted into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Hall of Fame. She also coached women’s basketball at Fanshawe for seven years after she graduated.

2011 Recipient – Health SciencesPhysical Fitness Instructor 86

Ph

oto

by:

Pau

l Arm

stro

ng

Ph

oto

gra

ph

y


Les Stroud

While testing himself to the ultimate limits, Les Stroud has survived alone in some of world’s most treacherous and harshest environments. He strongly believes that survival comes down to four elements – knowledge, luck, the kit you have with you, and the will to survive. He is living proof that it can be done, and his life is an inspiration to others.

Influenced by his Fanshawe education in Music Industry Arts and his wilderness training with some of the world’s best adventurers, Les combines these passions into a unique and celebrated career.

His hit TV show, Survivorman, became the highest rated show in the history of both Outdoor Life Network (OLN) Canada and the Science Channel US, and is now licensed for broadcast in more than 120 countries. His most recent Discovery Channel series,

Les Stroud Beyond Survival, earned top ratings on Discovery and OLN in 2010, and earned Les his 10th Gemini nomination.

There is a Survivorman special in the works, and a new series with Discovery Channel. Les is also planning a world film and music tour with Irving Azoff management. As an author, he has written two bestselling books: “Survive!–Essential Skills and Tactics to Get You Out of Anywhere–Alive!” and “Will to Live”.

In his personal life, Les contributes to dozens of charities and benefits, including Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation, which helps guide teenagers and children. Les recently worked with the Wiraqocha Foundation which is a non-profit organization promoting a philosophy of life harmony with the natural world.

2011 Recipient – Creative Arts & DesignMusic Industry Arts, Recorded Music Production 83


Tim Berthiaume

In Grade 8, Tim Berthiaume and his schoolmates buried a time capsule and his prediction was that he would become a police officer. Just over 10 years later, that dream came true when he was hired as a young cadet in his own hometown of Amherstburg, Ontario.

Tim soon moved from cadet to uniformed Police Constable, and 11 years later, he made Sergeant. Four years after that he moved up to Staff Sergeant. Then in early 2010, he took on the duties of Deputy Chief, with plans in place to succeed the current Chief upon retirement. When that happened within the year, Tim Berthiaume became one of the youngest Chiefs of Police in any municipality across Canada.

The path to this dream job has been one of service and life-long learning. Since earning his Fanshawe diploma, he has gone on to complete dozens of training programs, including earning a Masters Certificate in Municipal Management in 2009.

Over the years, his hometown has grown up many ways. Despite being a border town to the USA, Statistics Canada has listed Amherstburg has the 6th safest community in all of Canada. The Police Services takes obvious pride in its role which makes this possible.

Today as Chief of Police, Tim’s main duties are administrative, but he is also an active community leader. For more than 20 years he has been a Knights of Columbus member, and he was also a key organizer and volunteer of an athletic club serving the needs of adults with intellectual disabilities.

2011 Recipient – Community ServiceLaw and Security Administration 95


Adrianna St. George

When Adrianna St. George entered the RCMP Cadet Training Academy, it was an incredibly happy day. Her dream was coming true, but it still took six intense months in Regina, Saskatchewan, before she proudly graduated as a Constable in March 2009.

Adrianna’s journey began at Fanshawe College when she attended both Woodstock and London campuses taking Police Foundations for two years. Now she has a demanding role in community policing, having been posted to the RCMP detachment in Cranbrook, BC.

She enjoys all aspects of this career path and still finds time to support the Cops For Kids Charitable Foundation, which raises money for local children suffering with medical, physical or mental trauma. As a 2011 rider on the 1,000 km 10-day bicycle ride, she fundraised more than $3,000 for the cause.

Adrianna gladly volunteers for community duties such as giving talks and presentations to elementary school children. For the last three years, she has participated with the annual GREAT conferences (Girls Reaching For Esteem and Trust) which help young women in Grade 9 who are transitioning to high school. She helps them understand issues such as cyber bullying and relationship safety.

In her free time, Adrianna has trained and competed with her 3-year-old horse in four archery competitions. She is an avid hiker and has climbed Mount Fisher twice (the highest mountain in the Kootenays). She looks forward to the rest of her career and hopes that other police candidates will challenge themselves to become members of the RCMP.

2011 Recipient – Recent GraduatePolice Foundations 08


Mannequins add reality to health care training at Fanshawe

Everyone knows practice makes perfect, but how do you practice when a simple mistake can mean life or death?

For students in many of Fanshawe’s Health Sciences and Nursing programs, learning to communicate with patients and learning treatments and techniques can be challenging sometimes because the best way to learn would be with an actual patient – which is not very practical.

Fortunately, the college has a growing collection of volunteers who are not only willing to help, but feel absolutely no pain. They are high-tech mannequins, and they are changing the way aspiring health care professionals learn at Fanshawe.

The current superstar in Fanshawe’s line-up is a state-of-the-art mannequin known affectionately as “John Sim.” John is used extensively in a variety of clinical simulations for students in Nursing, Practical Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Anesthesia Assistant, Medical Resonance Imaging, Advanced Care Paramedic, and other programs.

John weighs 180 pounds and this mannequin comes with a variety of features including a programmable pulse, sophisticated breath and bowel sounds, a jaw that can be adjusted for intubation practice, and the ability to sweat, cry, and blink.

It’s the next best thing to the

real thing – high-tech simulation

mannequins that are programmed to

act and react as close to a real person

as possible. It’s kind of disconcerting

at first but students soon adjust to the

enhanced learning opportunities that

these new friends are delivering!

By John Huff


He can also be hooked up to a monitor and can even receive medications. He can converse with the students through a separate computer with voice changing software so the manneguin can actually answer appropriately to the student’s questions and actions.

Carol Butler, Coordinator of Simulated Clinical Learning at Fanshawe, says the mannequins help make simulation a big part of the learning process for Health Sciences and Nursing students. Fanshawe has been using this technology for the past five years.

“Simulation lets students give care on their own,” she explains. “We make it as realistic as possible, with all of the supplies, medications, charts and that kind of thing. Then the students can go in and make their own decisions and think on their feet. If they make a mistake it’s okay because there’s no harm done. That’s probably the biggest feature. They learn more from their mistakes than anything.”

John Sim and the rest of his family – including several children and even a female mannequin that gives birth – participated in more than 500 simulations last year alone.

In a typical year, about 2,000 Fanshawe students work

with these mannequins, dealing with scenarios involving everything from shortness of breath to surgical situations and complications from a tracheostomy. Students assume different roles in the simulations, often playing family members or other non-medical roles, all of which help them become more skilled and more sympathetic practitioners.

John Sim was purchased with help from a donation of $35,000 by the London-based Plunkett Foundation. Steve Plunkett, Foundation president, says his organization is happy to support programs that benefit Fanshawe students and serve the greater community.

“When we make a donation, we look at how many people that donation will affect,” he says. “This technology is incredible and very realistic, and it’s a perfect way for these young people to train. The training they will get will affect the lives of thousands of people. It has a very broad reach.”

Fanshawe and the Plunkett Foundation will soon announce the details of a second donation that will help add another member to the college’s sim family. The college is also planning to purchase a high fidelity female mannequin in the near future.

Steve Plunkett

“This [simulation] technology is incredible and very realistic, and it’s a perfect way for these young people to train. The training they will get will affect the lives of thousands of people. It has a very broad reach.” – Steve Plunkett, Founder, The Plunkett Foundation,

which has helped supply two high-tech mannequins at Fanshawe.

16 WINTER 2012 FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWSGet where the world is going

BusinessTechnologyHealth

bachelor’s

DU classes.

Complete a

with just 10

We Honor Your Credits Toward a Degree Complete your bachelor’s degree in 1–2 years! Davenport has a partnership with Fanshawe College that allow you to transfer credits toward a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Many graduates with a three-year diploma can complete a bachelor’s degree with as few as 10 DU classes.

Get your degree online• No visas. Earn your degree completely online.

• Classes 24/7. Take classes any time to fit your schedule.

• Reduced tuition. 25% partnership discount or $6,000 scholarships available!

• Transfer Friendly. Credits from your diploma can completely transfer toward a Davenport degree. www.davenport.edu/capartners | 800-686-1600


Bob Armstrong inducted into OCAA Sports Hall of Fame

Like many 9-year-old boys in Canada, Bob Armstrong (Business-Marketing 89) was still dreaming

of becoming a professional hockey player when he threw his first curling stone. Since then,

he’s spent lots of time with stones and stores – building career success along the way.

By: Kevin Glew

In his hometown of Forest, Ontario, the curling rink just happened to be connected to the arena. So after his hockey practices, Bob Armstrong would lug his equipment over to the curling rink where his parents were taking lessons.

“After they were done curling, while I was waiting for them to finish socializing, I’d go out and throw rocks,” recalls Bob. Little did he know that tossing those stones would one day lead to his induction into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Sports Hall of Fame!

As a teenager, Bob attended North Lambton Secondary School and then obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo, before enrolling at Fanshawe College. By this time, he was quite an accomplished curler and looked forward to combining ice time with his college studies.

In his first year at Fanshawe, Bob skipped the mixed curling team to an OCAA gold medal. He topped that the following year when he skipped the men’s team – that also included Dan Durst, Curtis Cassidy and Paul Kaempf – to both OCAA gold and a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) title.

For his efforts, he garnered a CCAA Fair Play Award and was named Fanshawe’s Male Athlete of the Year. In his graduating year, he skipped the men’s team to an OCAA bronze medal.

In recognition of his unparalleled success on the rink, he was inducted into the OCAA Sports Hall of Fame in May 2011.

“Bob’s leadership and technical experience in curling enabled him to captain two teams and gain national and provincial recognition for Fanshawe,” says Mike Lindsay, the Manager of Athletics at Fanshawe College.

Before graduating in 1989, Bob was already employed by Kmart, where he would work for 10 years, before moving on to managerial roles at Zellers and the Bay.

In 2004, he became the manager and owner of the Giant Tiger store in Ingersoll, Ontario. In May 2011, he moved on from there to become the owner/operator of a new Giant Tiger store in Woodstock, Ontario.

He lives now in Ingersoll with his wife, Pam, and is still active in his beloved sport, serving currently as the president of the Ingersoll & District Curling Club. Over the past two years, he has started to curl competitively again with Curtis Cassidy, one of his former Fanshawe teammates. In fact, he’s still in touch with all of his teammates that won CCAA gold in 1988.

“We all got along. We all still get along. We’re all still in touch. It’s awesome,” says Bob, who treasures the life long memories and friendships made on the ice during his Fanshawe days.

Get where the world is going

BusinessTechnologyHealth

bachelor’s

DU classes.

Complete a

with just 10

We Honor Your Credits Toward a Degree Complete your bachelor’s degree in 1–2 years! Davenport has a partnership with Fanshawe College that allow you to transfer credits toward a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Many graduates with a three-year diploma can complete a bachelor’s degree with as few as 10 DU classes.

Get your degree online• No visas. Earn your degree completely online.

• Classes 24/7. Take classes any time to fit your schedule.

• Reduced tuition. 25% partnership discount or $6,000 scholarships available!

• Transfer Friendly. Credits from your diploma can completely transfer toward a Davenport degree. www.davenport.edu/capartners | 800-686-1600


Dorchester woodlotbrings peace in the face of loss

Throughout his lifelong career at Fanshawe College, Gerhard Gedies mentored hundreds of young men and women in their pursuit of a career in motive power. Since retirement, he has gone on to nurture more than 10,000 tiny trees in their efforts to reach for the skies.

In the process, Gerhard has gained strength to face heart-breaking loss and arrive at a modicum of peace in the answers he has found, while surrounded by the naturally beautiful setting he has created in his own backyard.

His sage advice – delivered to fresh-faced students at Fanshawe for more than 30 years – still rings true: “There’s no substitute for hard work

and commitment. If you have passion and commitment, you’ll never be unemployed. Employers aren’t fools. They don’t mind paying for people who have passion and commitment and pride in workmanship.”

Gerhard retired 16 years ago, but he generously shared this wisdom during a recent stroll on his picturesque, 32-acre lot near Dorchester, Ontario. The beautiful setting includes more than 10,000 spruce trees that he and his wife, Beryl, planted in 1995 and 1996.

Gerhard started as an instructor of motive power technology in 1964 before the school was even named Fanshawe. In 1967, Gerhard stayed on at the newly-named community college

on Oxford Street in London, and rose through the ranks to become the Chair of Motive Power for 22 years. Along the way, he also served as the Acting Dean of Technology for two years and as the college’s Apprenticeship Coordinator for more than two decades.

In 1971, Gerhard spearheaded the launch of the two-year Motive Power Technician programs for diesel and automotive at Fanshawe, which were the first of their kind in Ontario. The innovative programs, which teach students human relations and financial skills on top of technical skills, became the gold standard across the province.

“It’s no coincidence that many of the leading service managers and general

Gerhard Gedies is a patient and determined man in all he does. He is a father, teacher,

administrator, leader, and now a woodsman too! He inspired a generation of motive

power alumni to discover the best in themselves, and in his own quiet way, he

embarked on a personal path of discovery that has taken some rather unexpected turns.

By: Kevin Glew


managers in the industry have been through our technician programs,” says Gerhard, who certainly shares the credit for this with the many dedicated colleagues and staff members he worked with over the years.

This sterling reputation is also the reason GM decided to start an apprenticeship program with Fanshawe that’s now been operating for more than 20 years. Through his efforts in establishing an Agricultural Equipment Technician program, Gerhard also played an integral role in the college being selected for a similar apprenticeship program with John Deere.

In addition to breaking new ground in many areas, Gerhard is also proud of the work his department did to help students facing financial challenges. “We were the first to set up an industry supported contribution to help students in need, so they didn’t have to go through the loan process,” he explains.

And Gerhard still beams when he talks about his staff members who always put the interests of students first.

“Throughout the respective years at the college, I was most proud of our collective ability in optimizing available resources to respond effectively to changing student learning challenges, government mandates, and industry expectations,” says Gerhard.

As a pioneering administrator, Gerhard taught for 24 of his 31 years at the college and many of his teaching methodologies are still employed today.

“With Gerhard, it all came down to developing and operating quality programs, and that’s what people see. They see the quality of the programs at Fanshawe and that’s Gerhard’s legacy,” says Rod Cameron, a former Dean of Technology at the college.

Sadly in August 1993, Gerhard’s son, Scott, collapsed and died suddenly in a pick-up hockey game at the Thompson Arena in Dorchester. The fact that no one could explain why his seemingly healthy 20-year-old son had passed away would add to Gerhard’s anguish. Needing answers, the highly respected educator decided to retire in August 1995 and dedicate more time to finding an explanation.

“I became heavily involved with the Bereaved Families of Ontario (Southwest Region) and I met so many parents that lost a child for incomprehensible reasons,” says Gerhard. “It certainly helped us in the first few years to be able to participate and we’re still involved but not to the extent we were.”

After nine years of relentless research into what could have led to Scott’s death, Gerhard found out that his daughter Ingrid’s son, Ethan, was born with myotonic muscular dystrophy. A largely genetic disorder, myotonic muscular dystrophy weakens muscles and often doesn’t materialize until teenage or adult years.

This devastating disease has no cure and can vary in severity, but some of the symptoms include muscle weakness in the face, lower legs, forearms, hands and neck. It can also lead to heart problems. Further testing of Gerhard’s family in 2002 confirmed that the disease was indeed genetic. Looking back now, Gerhard recognizes that Scott had some of these same symptoms, but they seemed mild and no one suspected this kind of thing during Scott’s teenage years.

Since his retirement, Gerhard also became a sought-after consultant in the automotive, agricultural, educational, and employee training fields. From 1995 to 2007, he traveled across Canada and to the U.S. to make presentations and train professionals in many different vocations.

He hasn’t been on the road as much in recent years, and these days you’re likely to find this trailblazing administrator blazing trails for his grandchildren on the 32-acre wooded wonderland that he and Beryl created. Their son, Grant, lives in Toronto and their daughter, Ingrid and her husband, Bryce, and their two children, Ethan (9) and Skylar (3), reside in Cambridge.

On top of maintaining his scenic woodlands, Gerhard works out at the YMCA every day and still maintains a healthy interest in education.

“I’ll never be disengaged,” says Gerhard. “People ask me if I’m enjoying my retirement, wondering if I’m putting my feet up. And I say, ‘Well to me, that’s being inactive and that’s just not part of my makeup.’”

Gerhard and Beryl Gedies return to the Faculty of Technology awards at Fanshawe College each year to present the Scott Gedies Memorial Award to two students that have overcome significant personal challenges to succeed in the motive power programs. He also presents the G.W. Gedies Leadership Award to a student that demonstrates exceptional leadership. Gerhard and Beryl are shown above with award recipients Edwin Mena and Robert Cornelius.


Taking Interior Design to the world!Nadia Kuhni knows that interior design is about more than just aesthetics.

It’s about developing creative design solutions that also support the health,

safety and well being of the individuals who work and live in those spaces,

and ultimately finding the best ways to enhance the quality of their lives.

The team from Design Matrix:

Carrie Dawson Intern ARIDO, IDC (Interior Design 07)

Tania Ramao-Readings Intern ARIDO, IDC (Interior Design 08)

Nadia Kuhni IDC, ARIDO (Design - Interior 79)

Annette (Goossens) Albright IDC, ARIDO (Interior Design 85)

Paula Burns IDC, ARIDO (Interior Design 94)

Wendy (Pole) Scott Intern ARIDO, IDC (Hotel Management 02 / Interior Design 08)

Photos courtesy of Jackie Noble Photography, with thanks also to Mary Read and Wendy Scott for their assistance.

Since Nadia Kuhni (Design Interior 79) founded her own interior design firm in 1995 with her husband Gunter, she has built her business through personalized service, creative design, and ensuring the team at Design Matrix Inc. has the right attitude. This formula works because today Design Matrix Inc. is a leading design firm in Ontario with a broad client base and a strong creative team.

“I make a point to hire people for attitude as well as skills, so our team has the right mix of strengths, talent and experience but also each member can be counted on to bring a can-do attitude to every project we take on,” says Nadia. “I like to spend time with them when they first come on board, so I can show them by example what our standards are. Their capability quickly shows through and before long, I see them take the lead on their own projects. It is a great feeling – it’s like Christmas when I see my designers excel in this field.”

Nadia is a natural teacher and it is one aspect of her job she really loves, working with new interior designers and helping them grow into the professionals they wish to become. She has taught at Fanshawe in the same program she graduated from and enjoyed the classroom interaction very much. She hires Fanshawe students whenever she can, sponsors a student award each year, and has been a program advisor for Interior Design. She enjoys being active in the industry in many ways.

“Becoming a professional is a mix of natural talent combined with what you first learn in school and then what you learn on the job,” she explains. “We are very fortunate to have vibrant and progressive professional associations that I have had the privilege of being a part of for many years, IDC (Interior Designer of Canada) and ARIDO (Association of Registered Designers of Ontario). It is a good way to keep our skills up


to date and advocate for the profession.”Having served for three years as

president of the Western Ontario Chapter of ARIDO, Nadia is well known as a leader in her field. She is also accredited through IDC. She is often asked to speak to groups and make comments in the media, and in trade publications. Other members of her team are highlighted too when their projects are featured. In addition to completing design projects, the team at Design Matrix Inc participates at tradeshows, home and life style shows, both with displays and presentations.

She has even taken her design skills overseas through a mission that she participated in with IDC. She was one of 12 Canadian interior designers chosen to travel on a 2011 trade mission to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The groups that the trade mission participants met with discussed large scale projects in healthcare, hospitality and housing development. These were all areas of expertise for Nadia and she enjoyed sharing her experience with other professionals.

Back at home, the client list for Design Matrix Inc. is diverse and represents companies across Canada in various categories: seniors’ housing, hospitality and foodservice, medical, dental and healthcare offices, corporate and commercial settings, retail showrooms, apartments and leased residential buildings, marketing centers, model homes and residential projects.

The Design Matrix team recently refreshed its own offices on Main Street in Lambeth, Ontario and they continue to enjoy lending their skills to community projects. Currently, they are working with the LHBA (London Home Builders Association) and fellow members on the Cancer Survivor Garden fundraiser. Over the years, they have helped out Bethany’s House of Hope (Bethany’s Hope Foundation for MLD); the Hospice of Windsor; and Dream and Fantasy Home lotteries which raise money for local hospitals and schools.

There are always challenges in any field and interior design is no exception. Nadia and her team work continuously to balance their client’s wishes and budget realities. Taking into account ever-changing government regulations, building codes, insurance concerns, heritage protection requirements, and health and safety issues, just to name a few. It all adds up to an exciting career path.

“I love this industry, it is ever-growing, ever-changing. When I think of how far we have come, it is just amazing,” says Nadia. “Even compared to when I started my company, there is far greater awareness of the value of design, aesthetics and visual marketing than ever before.”

“We are constantly challenged to stay in the lead with all the latest products developments, ecologically responsible resources and inclusive design – it makes us excited to come to work every day.” – Nadia Kuhni


“Mentors are important to career success because they share wisdom, connections, and advice that you just can’t get anywhere else,” says Larry Myny, who has been mentor to dozens of younger professionals in his field over the years, in his role as Vice President and Investment Advisor at CIBC Wood Gundy.

“I strongly believe that this mentoring program offers a critical point of success to new graduates – at a critical time in their career development. I hope with my support that more Fanshawe alumni who are already established in their careers and indeed business leaders in London will consider becoming mentors to the next generation,” added Larry.

Larry Myny leads by example because he uses his own time, insight, and resources to positively affect countless lives in the London community. His own professional career path has been focused in financial markets where he progressed from the position of commodity broker with Merrill Lynch to that of Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy.

In both his professional and personal

philosophies, Larry upholds the adage, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Fanshawe’s Alumni Association has taken a lead role in mentorship not only in London, but across the country. Since establishing its mentoring program five years ago, more than a dozen other organizations have contacted Fanshawe to ask for advice in how to set up similar style mentoring programs at their institutions.

Fanshawe now operates a thriving mentoring program which guides students and graduates as they make the transition from school to work. With this important and generous donation from Larry Myny, the mentoring program is now expanding further, providing new opportunities for a greater number of the 130,000 alumni to join in as mentors and help out. Fanshawe is also welcoming any business leaders from London and area to assist as mentors, whether they graduated from Fanshawe or not.

Further information about the Alumni Mentoring for Success program is available online at www.mentoringforsuccess.ca.

Mentor and Investment Advisor Larry Myny invests in Fanshawe College

Supporting a cause very close to his heart, Larry Myny made a

personal commitment to the future success of Fanshawe College

graduates in December 2011. His donation of $50,000 over five years

was earmarked for the Alumni Mentoring for Success program.

CALL FOR MENTORS

Derek Collins-Newman is the Mentoring Program Coordinator at Fanshawe College. He is also a part-time instructor at Fanshawe and comes to us from Sudbury, Ontario, where he previously worked as a counselor for at-risk youth. Fanshawe is pleased to welcome new mentors willing to volunteer for this program. We will match you with a current student or recent graduate who can benefit from your advice and encouragement. The commitment we ask mentors for is about two hours a month that they can be available to chat with their match, either in person, via phone or email, over a four to six month period. More information can be found at our website at www.mentoringforsuccess.ca.To learn more about the program, please contact Derek at the Alumni Office @ 519-452-4430 ext. 4764 or email: [email protected].


“Having a mentor has been a defining influence in my own career and I feel it is important to share these insights and my own experiences in turn. I am grateful to those who have invested in me and hope to be a supportive and positive resource to Paul and others who are developing their careers. Being a mentor makes you look at yourself more closely and examine your own strengths and direction. I am frequently inspired by Paul. His vision and enthusiasm is contagious. Being a mentor couldn’t be more rewarding!”

Mentors are people who share their years of expertise with someone else,

usually someone who is younger and just starting out in a certain career

direction. Here are two sets of mentor-mentees who have had long-lasting

benefits from being involved with the program.

What is a Mentor? How do they help?

“The biggest growth moments in my life, I would say, have been when my aspirations have been supported. I have been fortunate to have Erin Pollett as a mentor and I thank her for being so courageous and generous in her support of me; she has invested her time and energy into me while I am still malleable and coming into my own being. I found that with her support, I felt much more confident and able to put forward full positive efforts towards my goals. Her interest in me made me feel worthwhile and competent; she has already had many accomplishments in her own life and she looked at me and said: “You will make it too someday.” I feel I have accomplished so much of what I first set out to do, and I am very thankful to my mentor, Erin, for her assistance in making it happen.”

“The Mentoring for Success program has helped me identify the skills I have, what I have done with them, and what have been results. I’d like to thank Christine for all the coaching she’s given me. Her help and the program have really provided me with a clear focus and I have achieved positive results.”

“As a former student of the Human Resource Management Program at Fanshawe College, I felt so privileged when Ingrid asked me to be her Mentor. Mentoring Ingrid has been a positive and fun experience for both of us. Each and every person has something to give, either as a Mentor or a Mentee. It becomes an all-around learning experience for everyone involved. No matter what field your knowledge or experience is in – it is always a valuable asset to be shared. Either Mentor or Mentee, invest in a student, invest in yourself.”

Christine Holtzhauer (Human Resources Management 06), Program Assistant, Tillsonburg Campus, Fanshawe College:

In the words of mentor Erin Pollett:

In the words of Paul Andrusiak:

In the words of Ingrid Vermeeren:

In the words of mentor Christine Holtzhauer:

Erin Pollett volunteered as a mentor to Fanshawe student Paul Andrusiak in 2010 when he was pursuing his certificate in marketing and she was already established in her career working in marketing communications. Both of them have benefited from the match and continue to network and learn from each other.

Fanshawe alumnae Christine Holtzhauer volunteered as a mentor to Fanshawe student Ingrid Vermeeren in 2009-2010 when Ingrid was studying business. Each of them really enjoyed the experience and were pleased to share their experiences with others.


“One of the benefits of working for a small company is that I get to have my finger in all kinds of different pots. It’s good for me because that’s what

I like to do, and Antic has given me a pretty big opportunity.” – Chris Butts

About 30 students have graduated from the course since its inception in 2009 says Dan Rickard who is the core professor in the 3D Animation and Character Design program.

“In addition to students from Ontario, we’re also getting international students. We’re seeing some Fanshawe graduates, but the majority of our students are coming from outside the college,” notes Rickard.

Within the curriculum, students begin by conceptualizing their own 3D characters, using newly learned skills to model, texture, rig and animate their creations. As they master more advanced techniques, their characters continue to visually evolve. A certain emphasis is also placed on “soft” skills such as strategic

planning, project management and workplace efficiency. “The goal is to prepare the students for work as best as I can in the time that I have them.” says Rickard.

With 12 years experience in the video game industry, Rickard teaches the practical skills that the students will need to succeed.

Of course, one of the challenges to operating a program like this is the speed at which technology changes.

“We’re getting new software programs on an annual basis. There are new techniques that come out every couple of months,” says Rickard. “So that means everyone who teaches in this program has to keep up with all these new skills as well, which means we’re more relevant to the students.”

London is fast becoming a hotspot for video game development and this is

good news for graduates of Fanshawe’s 3D Animation and Character Design

program. The one-year, post-graduate certificate program teaches students

the skills they need to break into this growing industry.

3D animation brings video games to life

Chris Butts (3D Animation and Character Design 11)

After working for several different companies over the past decade, Chris Butts has finally found a job that he loves.

While completing the 3D Animation and Character Design program, this ambitious grad connected with Jeff Evans, the creative director at Antic Entertainment in London. Jeff was one of the local professionals that helped the students create a one-minute short film in 12 hours as part of the program.


Jamie Boylan (Graphic Design 05, 3D Animation and Character Design 10)

In 2007, Jamie Boylan had a job interview with Big Blue Bubble, a video game development company in London, but he didn’t have experience working with 3D, so he wasn’t hired.

That’s why when Jamie saw that Fanshawe was starting up a 3D Animation and Character Design program in 2009, he jumped at the opportunity to apply.

While in the program, Jamie remained in contact with Big Blue Bubble and three weeks before the course finished, he was offered a job with the London firm.

“The last day of class would’ve been a Friday and I started the Monday morning after that,” he said.

Now with Big Blue Bubble for more than 18 months, he has worked on several exciting assignments, including an Android project for DreamWorks and a 3D iPhone game for Lego.

“When I went into the program at Fanshawe, I had no 3D experience of any kind. I had never touched any 3D platforms and when I got to Big Blue Bubble, the fact that I had 2D and 3D has given me some really great projects to work on,” explains Jamie.

“Getting to be the lead on the Lego project was a pretty big deal and wouldn’t have happened without the Fanshawe program. That was one of the first entirely 3D games that Big Blue Bubble has done for the iPhone.”

“Getting to be the lead on the Lego project was a pretty big deal and wouldn’t have happened without the Fanshawe program. That was one of the first entirely 3D games that Big Blue Bubble has done for the iPhone.” – Jamie Boylan

This year, for example, rather than have students create a short film that showcases their 3D character for their final project, the students will design a character for a video game engine.

“We really thought that bringing things even more so into the gaming side, rather than film, will help the students secure jobs a little bit quicker,” explains Rickard. “Alternatively, students would still have the option to engage in film projects as the majority of the skill set learned is completely transferable within both industries.”

Some graduates are already employed in the local video game industry, and Rickard hopes that the program will continue to grow in the future.

Chris was later interviewed by Jeff and started in his role as a junior game designer at Antic shortly after completing his Fanshawe certificate program. Over the past few months, Chris has done 2D and 3D work on a popular online game called Platoonz (www.platoonz.com).

“One of the benefits of working for a small company is that I get to have my finger in all kinds of different pots,” says Chris. “It’s good for me because that’s what I like to do, and Antic has given me a pretty big opportunity.”

Chris highly recommends the Fanshawe course. “The professors were fantastic,” he says. “The amount of experience they threw out every day was incredible and anybody who was really paying attention to that, would feed off of it like crazy.”



As Director Operations, John Yandreski visits each of his 14 stores every 2 to 3 weeks to provide leadership and direction to the store operators. He has five key areas of continuous improvement that he looks at with them: store operating conditions; customer service; financial results; local marketing initiatives; and talent acquisition and development (finding, training and retaining staff).

“I absolutely enjoy what I do, from working with veteran store operators to developing up-and-coming talent – newer recruits who are looking for guidance to achieve their career and personal goals,” explains John. “My experience in operations, marketing and category management allows me to oversee the bigger picture for store operators, so each of them can focus on the day-to-day management of their store.”

Sobeys Inc. has 97,000 employees and franchise affiliates and operates more than 1,300 stores across Canada with retail banners that include: Sobeys, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Price Chopper and Thrifty Foods. The company also operates Lawtons Drug stores in Atlantic Canada.

When John walks into one of his Sobeys stores, he is looking to see that they have achieved the right balance of efficiency and aesthetics. Like any coach, he takes pride in watching stores meet their targets and helps steer them back on track when needed.

His hands-on and strategic approach to his job has proven successful. He is very proud of his team and all of their accomplishments. He was particularly thrilled when two of his store operators recently won prestigious awards at Sobeys’

annual conference: Retailer of the Year Award and the Core Value Award for “Always Placing the Customer First”.

While customers come first at Sobeys, community comes a close second, and John knows how important this is – both professionally and personally. He exemplifies Sobeys’ core values by being involved with dozens of charitable events through his work and Sobeys also encourages its employees to be community-minded at home.

For 10 years, John coached community sports, but his most recent volunteer role was one that he took on in May 2008 for different reasons. That year, he joined the Fanshawe College Alumni Board.

“I wanted to give something back to the College that provided me with a foundation of knowledge and understanding that started me down my career path,” explains John. “Fanshawe opened doors for me I never knew existed.”

After a few years on the board, John agreed to serve as Vice President. He took on the President’s position at the Annual General Meeting in May 2011, and since then, he has been leading this Board progressively forward. With a range of backgrounds and expertise, Alumni Board members are active on various committees and they participate in graduations, campus events, and awards ceremonies, while forging new ground for Alumni.

“My focus has been to find new ways to increase engagement among Alumni and add value to a membership that I already know is priceless,” says John. “Our alumni belong to a prestigious group – 143,000 strong and growing each year. As Board

John Yandreski:

Passionate about people and progressStart with a man who is a coach at heart and a strategist by training.

Then add in a “can-do attitude” and a broad smile – and who do you get?

John Yandreski (Business Marketing 85). Following his true nature, he has

built his career in retail on hard work and determination. Today, he is in a

job he loves as Director Operations for Sobeys South-western Ontario.


members, we want to give each and every graduate a compelling reason to stay connected to Fanshawe College and we are doing it.”

Among the many initiatives, the College has recently struck a new and beneficial relationship with the UWO Alumni Relations team in an effort to offer collaborative programs, such as travel incentives for alumni and joint involvement in community events.

Notwithstanding his career successes, John is quick to emphasize that his three children are really the biggest shining stars in his life. They all followed his footsteps to Fanshawe College and they are continuing to follow their dreams.

His daughter, Melissa, graduated from Fanshawe in 2011 from Office Administration Medical and is working now in Mexico as a Patient Facilitator for Stetic Implant and Dental Centres. She is learning Spanish and loving her job.

His twin sons are Brandon and Chris. Brandon started off studying HR but is now enrolled at Fanshawe in Business Marketing having found his niche. Chris graduated from the St. Thomas-Elgin Campus of Fanshawe College from the Millwright program, but after a year, he shifted gears to his first love which is nursing. He graduated from pre-Nursing at Lambton College and is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing in Windsor, Ontario.

As you can see, John has every reason to smile and love life, plus he is very excited about the potential at Fanshawe College. “With the recent announcement of the downtown performing and applied arts campus and the continuous expansion of new programs at all campuses, there could not be a better time to be involved with Fanshawe College.”


“I absolutely enjoy what I do, from working with veteran store operators to developing up-and-coming talent.” - John Yandreski

THANK YOU2011 FANSHAWE COLLEGE GOLF CLASSIC SPONSORS

HASTINGS & AZIZ LTD

All proceeds from the Fanshawe College Golf Classic support student success

www.fanshawec.ca/foundationRegistered Charity # 82194 2168 RR0001


Serin Hong came to Fanshawe because his sister had studied here before him, but he soon found his own place – and one where he could excel. He attended Fanshawe for three years, first taking English as a Second Language for a year, before he applied for the two-year Music Industry Arts diploma program.

While studying within that program, Serin was a guest performer on several stages in London, Canada and Toronto, sharing his unique musical talents on the Korean flute ‘Dae Keum’ and percussion. Serin also gained valuable Canadian work experience while assisting the International Offices at Fanshawe with several special projects.

He completed his program with distinction, but before he could even attend graduation, he returned home to Korea in spring 2011, to take on a dream job. He landed a position as a Project Manager and Composer with Studio DOMA, one of Korea’s top audio production studios specializing in original composition, sound design, background music and popular music.

“The experience I got at Fanshawe allowed me to compete against highly-experienced candidates for the job I have now with DOMA,” says Serin. His current job is a perfect match for his musicianship and the many technical skills that he practiced and perfected while studying at Fanshawe. He creates original compositions using digital technology and customizes them for use in films, games, and animation projects.

His professors while at Fanshawe were very impressed with both his work ethic and his accomplishments as a musician. “Serin was a tremendous asset to our program during his studies,” says Steve Malison, MIA Program Coordinator at Fanshawe. “It is great now to have him as an ambassador for Fanshawe in Korea. We are definitely gaining more interest from international students who are seeking out our Music Industry Arts program which is world-class.”

Musician makes his career dreams come true

Serin Hong (Music Industry Arts 11) was already an accomplished musician

when he came to Fanshawe College with a wish to expand his skills in the digital

recording music industry. The training and experience gained while in Canada

helped earn him his dream job in his home country of Korea.

Serin recently had the chance to revisit Fanshawe College in London, Canada, while he was in the country for a music performance he was giving with a group in Toronto. Serin is pictured here with Steve Malison, MIA Program Coordinator.


Steve Plunkett is a car-enthusiast and philanthropist who knows Fanshawe College well. He works closely with several motive power alumni who help him care for his elite fleet of vintage vehicles and Steve was also pleased to attend the opening of the new CATT building – the Centre for Applied Transportation Technologies – in May 2011, along with his technicians.

In 2009, Steve opened a beautiful showplace called The Fleetwood Auto Salon on his property located just west of London, Ontario. It serves as home for his beloved vintage vehicles and is a fan favorite for thousands of car-lovers who attend the annual Fleetwood Country Cruize-In. This Cruize-In, hosted by Steve Plunkett each year in early June, is a two-day automotive extravaganza like no other, drawing car enthusiasts from across North America

and featuring more than 3,000 classic cars, hot rods and specialty vehicles.

This event also raises money for charity each year. Supporting worthwhile causes is also a lifelong passion of Steve’s. In fact, he has been a donor to the Fanshawe Foundation, and dozens of other non-profits, since establishing The Plunkett Foundation as a legacy to his parents, Dr. Earl Plunkett and Corinne Plunkett in 1997. Dr. Plunkett was an internationally respected physician, fertility authority and teacher. (For more details on what Steve has supported at Fanshawe, see pages 14-15).

The Auto Salon that Steve Plunkett built is really a show-stopper: 55 feet wide by 130 feet long. It has an elegant exterior resembling a French-country coach house while the interior represents an entirely different era: it

is a complete recreation of the opulent showrooms during the golden era of Cadillac in the 1930s.

In those days, the new V16 Cadillacs were unveiled to the public in the Grand Ballrooms of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, parked on Persian rugs laid on parquet floors. Visitors to the Fleetwood Auto Salon are transported back to these grand days when they enter the foyer. Inside there are 12-foot high impressed tin ceilings, chandeliers everywhere, wall sconces on pillars, terrazzo floors, and an upper mezzanine overlooking the showroom.

If you’d like to visit this showroom, consider attending the annual Fleetwood Country Cruize-In: visit: www.fleetwoodcountrycruizein.com

Fanshawe technicians at home at Fleetwood Auto SalonThe love of cars is a powerful emotion and it’s shared by many with Fanshawe College credentials

and connections. Four men in our area gather just about every morning over breakfast and coffee at

The Little Beaver Restaurant in Komoka, Ontario and this is their story.

Golden Era

Al Way has a way with cars Al Way (Auto Body 72) is never happier than when he’s working on a car or two

or three. Over the years, he specialized in auto body and some 40 years later, he particularly enjoys restoring vehicles to their original glory.

Al has worked with Steve Plunkett for the last seven years and he takes care of the major maintenance of the fleet for him, focusing on body work. Al still remembers the chair and the professors at the College who helped him get his start and learn his trade so well including Gerhard Gedies, Bill Peddie, Tom Hagerty, and Gerry Heggarty, along with Reg Chavis, who came along later in the early 1980s and who still coordinates the auto body programs at Fanshawe.

Many vintage car enthusiasts enjoy having older model cars to admire, but keeping them road worthy takes considerably more work and attention. Although Steve’s fleet is not on the road daily, he does pride himself on the fact that they are all “drivers” and with the help of his technicians, he is able to take each of them out in the sunshine for a tour at least once or twice a year.

Meet Jerry Dejaegher – “Mr. Oldsmobile” Jerry Dejaegher (Motive Power 74) started out his career in his hometown of

Tillsonburg, Ontario, at Pearce Motors. After five years there, he went on to work at a Cadillac dealership, a Ford dealership, and a GM dealership, before working at London Motor Products from 1989 to 1993.

Throughout his career, he loved old cars and began travelling to Tennessee to bring back older model Oldsmobiles and fix them up to sell them. “Knowing where to get the parts is a bit of a science itself – but I got very good at it over the years,” explains Jerry. “I feel like I can find just about anything any car might need; the Internet is really a great source but you just have to know where to start looking.” He has his own list of favourite reliable sources for many of the parts he wishes to find.

About six years ago, Jerry met Steve Plunkett at the Little Beaver Restaurant and they got talking about cars and parts. “My specialty over the years has been carburetors and electrical systems, and that was something Steve was looking for, someone who knew the classic cars and could keep them humming along,” says Jerry.

Along the way, Jerry raced at Delaware for 18 years from 1989 to 2009. He raced a car in the Enduro Series for 12 years and a truck in the Cascar Series for four years.

While it’s hard to pick favourites, Jerry owns two 1968 Cutlass cars (one convertible and one 2-door) and he has a very sweet Cutlass in restoration right now from 1972.

Dan VanDurmen – Klassic Dan the Transmission ManWhat Dan VanDurmen (Motive Power 74) doesn’t know about transmissions probably

isn’t worth knowing. He has tinkered with cars his whole life and naturally majored in automotive when he was in high school in Tillsonburg, Ontario. He was happy because it gave him a step-up when he attended Fanshawe College in the early 1970s, by cutting one year off his further education requirements on the way to becoming a licensed mechanic.

He worked primarily in two dealerships in London throughout his career: Central Chev Olds and London Motor Products. He enjoyed his career and while he knows his way around just about any aspect of cars, he became a specialist in transmissions which are still near and dear to his heart.

“About 20 years ago, I began taking on an occasional personal restoration project here and there and I prefer the ones that are a challenge,” says Dan. “One of my personal favourites is a Chev Pick-up from the early 1950s. Some projects might take a year or more depending on what all needs to be done to fully restore them.”

He met Steve Plunkett about six years ago through car shows that they both attended. Two of Dan’s favourite cars from his own collection are a 1971 Chevelle and a 1975 Chevrolet Pick-up.

Since meeting Steve, Dan works on a number of vehicles each year for Steve, helping to keep the fleet drivable, including keeping a close eye on Steve’s winter beater (a 1972 Buick) that takes a certain amount of engine and transmission work each year to keep it going.

Celebrating Fanshawe College Connections

New beginnings for your future

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company

Underwritten by:

The Fanshawe College Alumni Association is pleased to announce that you can now take advantage of affordable insurance products through Manulife Financial.

For more information about the Alumni Insurance Plans, please visit: manulife.com/fanshawe or call 1-888-913-6333.

ALUMNI INSURANCE PLANS

Term Life n Major Accident Protection n Health & Dental n Income Protection n Critical Illness n Child Life & Accident


Visit our website for complete details of each PERK. www.fanshawec.ca/alumni/perks

As a member of the Alumni Association,

you’re entitled to discounts on all kinds of great products and services. This is our top 10 list, but don’t forget to visit www.fanshawec.ca/ alumni/perks for the full listing of more than 50 great discounts!

ORDER YOUR PERKS CARD TODAY – online or by phone: 519-452-4285.

1 Kelsey’s Restaurants in London – Show your PERKS card and receive 15% off your meal. www.kelseys.ca

2 CAA – One year memberships with the Canadian Automobile Association – Basic $67.32, Plus $109.12, Premium $143.03 including tax! Call Andrew at 1-800-341-2226

3 Fanshawe College Continuing Education – Register for a course with your PERKS card and receive 10% off tuition (up to $50).

4 SoftMoc – Get 15% off all purchases online or in store. Use code FCAA at checkout for online discount. www.softmoc.com

5 National Car Rentals – Quote contract ID# 3816862 for Fanshawe Alumni discount rate. www.nationalcar.ca

6 Advantage Intravel – Enjoy extra discounted rates on travel when you register and book your next vacation package. (see next page for further details)

7 Fanshawe College Community Fitness Centre – Alumni Memberships $32/month.

8 Fanshawe Library and Media Services – Borrower’s cards are free for Fanshawe alumni.

9 Johnson Insurance Inc. – Preferred rates on home, auto and medical travel insurance. Contact Johnson for a quote - 1-800-563-0677 or www.johnson.ca/fanshawealumni

10 Direct Energy – Two great offers from Direct Energy to get you ready for Winter. Please call DIRECT ENERGY at 1-866-281-7473 for more information and quote code “FANSHAWE”. (see next page for more details)


Receive up to $1,000* when you buy a new furnace and AC from us.

1-866-281-7473

Heating Protection Plan ($8.99/mo)1 Furnace Parts & Labour coverage Members pay no parts costs, no deductible and labour fees on eligible parts. No pre-inspection required.

We take the hassle out of buying a home comfort system.• In-depth consultation and recommendation of the best system for your

home and your budget.

• Flexible payment options - installment loans, credit card, monthly rental, cash, and cheque.

• Installation by the best technicians to the highest safety and quality standards.

• Recycling** of your old equipment safely and properly.

Please call DIRECT ENERGY at 1-866-281-7473 for more information and quote code “FANSHAWE”.

*Amount of discount is $500 each per furnace and air conditioner. Offer ends December 31, 2012. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer only available in Ontario. Program subject to change without notice at any time, ask for details. **To keep as much waste out of the landfill as possible, Direct Energy will remove your old furnace and take it to a recycling facility where they recycle the metal, the plastic venting pipe and the circuit boards. 1Offer ends April 30th, 2012. The price of $8.99/month + HST reflects a $6/month discount for the first twelve (12) months on the Plan after which time the monthly charge will automatically increase to $14.99/month + HST. Must sign up for a one-year commitment, regardless of method of payment and will be renewed on a yearly basis. You may cancel your Plan without penalty by providing notice within 10 days after your Protection Plan renewal date. Coverage is subject to the exceptions in the Plan Terms and Conditions. Prices are subject to change as set out in the Plan Terms and Conditions. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer not available to existing customers with Heating Protection Plan. New customers only. ™Direct Energy and the Lightning Bolt design are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Direct Energy Marketing Limited in the United States and/or Canada. Use of such trademarks has been licensed by Direct Energy Marketing Limited to its various subsidiaries and affiliates.

Watch for Alumni PERKS moving to a new format, with a new website, and many new discounts just for you!

Coming to Fanshawe College in 2012.

marriages moves

career

changes new jobschildren

travels

Reunion: Corporate Communication & Public Relations – All Years April 19th, 2012

Sending a call out to all CC&PR Alumni: Watch the Alumni events page at www.fanshawec.ca/alumni/events for details of our upcoming 15-year reunion on April 19, 2012, or contact Jackie Westelaken for more information: [email protected].

Everyone welcome! Student Research and Innovation Day: April 4th, 2012

On April 4th, 2012, the Applied Research and Innovation department at Fanshawe College will host the First Annual Student Research and Innovation Day. Students from across the college will be invited to submit their research and innovation projects that afternoon. Capstone projects, team projects, degree assignments or course assignments will be on display. This event showcases student work for both the college community and the public, particularly community corporate and industrial sector partners and potential partners. For more information, please contact Otte Rosencrantz: [email protected].

What’s new with you? We’d love to hear from you with anything

you’d like to share with your former classmates.

Keep in touch with us and please send in any address updates!

Web: www.fanshawec.ca/alumniEmail: [email protected] Phone: 519-452-4285Toll Free: 1-800-661-ALUMMail: Fanshawe College Alumni Office

K-1011, 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London Ontario Canada, N5Y 5R6

Follow us: facebook.com/fanshawealumni twitter.com/fanshawealumni

KEEP IN TOUCH

• Follow us on Twitter @ twitter.com/fanshawealumni

• Become a fan on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/fanshawealumni

• Share the latest issue of AlumniNews online @ http://issuu.com/fanshawealumni

• Update your address at www.fanshawec.ca/alumni

Quick stuff to remember:

Your Alumni Board:1st row: John Yandreski (President), Jon Aristone (Past President), Gail Malcolm (Vice President), Joe Morrison

(Treasurer), Eileen Armstrong, Veronica Barahona (FSU President), Colleen Breen, Mandy Bennett. 2nd row: Joseph Dunlop-Addley, Catherine Finlayson, Brenda Fontana, Kacey German, Tim Wharton,

Michael Wickett (Alumni Officer), Julie Yagi-Fornos. Board Members (not shown): Glenda Cumming.

Brought to you by… Your Alumni Board!

Jean Brooks, February 2011 – Retiree - Book Store.

Larry Costello, September 2011 – Retired Professor, School of Human Services.

Lee Mashinter, November 2011 – Technician, MAC Team, School of Contemporary Media.

Jack Richardson, May 2011 – Honorary Alumni, Canadian music icon, and retired faculty member, Music Industry Arts.

Al Riddell, June 2011 – Part-time Instructor, Lawrence Kinlin School of Business.

Norma Stevenson, October 2011 – Retiree - Executive Assistant to three College Presidents.

Alumni! Please send in your address changes: www.fanshawec.ca/alumni

If undeliverable, please return to:Fanshawe College Alumni Office1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., Room K1011, P. O. Box 7005,London, Ontario, Canada N5Y 5R6

FCAA_HA.MEDOC_8.25x8_Oct11_FINAL.ai 1 31/10/11 4:54 PM

Fanshawe College Alumni News Winter 2012

Documents

Transcript of Fanshawe College Alumni News Winter 2012