2006-2007

News Release

REF NO.: 147

SUBJECT: Celebrating business leaders

DATE: April 4, 2007

Local business leaders were recognized and Memorial University’s Faculty of Business and Administration marked a significant milestone last night at the annual Partners Dinner. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first graduates from the bachelor of commerce undergraduate degree.
In 1957 Harold Wareham and Clarence Keeping were the first graduates of Memorial’s commerce program. Looking back over five decades of growth and changes, a celebration was in order.
“Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the first commerce graduating class was appropriate at Partners Dinner, as this event celebrates the partnerships that contribute to our continued success. Over the years, the Faculty of Business has become known as a leader in management education, due to an exceptional record of student and alumni success, the continued growth and development of programs, and outstanding faculty research,” Dr. Gary Gorman, dean of the Faculty of Business, explained.
In addition to the anniversary celebration, the faculty also honoured two members of the local business community with prestigious awards.
Ken Marshall, president of the Atlantic region for Rogers Cable, was awarded the Alumni Honour Award in recognition of his accomplishments and the contributions he makes to the faculty.

Mr. Marshall, B.Comm. (co-op) (hons.) ’84, has been a long time supporter of the Faculty of Business. As a student in the faculty, he was class valedictorian, Dean’s Award recipient, and played on the varsity soccer and hockey teams. After earning his MBA at Dalhousie in 1985, Mr. Marshall returned to Memorial to work as a lecturer in the Faculty of Business. He is a member of the Faculty of Business Advisory Board, and has been a great supporter of students within the Faculty of Business. For over 10 years he has been volunteering regularly to judge student case competitions as teams prepare for competition.

Leonard Pecore of Genoa Design International was honoured with the P.J. Gardiner Institute’s 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Mr. Pecore started Genoa Design International after graduating from the Marine Institute’s diploma in naval architecture technology in 1995. Since that time, Genoa has grown into an internationally recognized organization with 20 employees. Genoa Design International provides detail production design and drafting, 3D modeling, lofting and nesting to the shipbuilding and offshore industries across the United States and Canada. This Newfoundland-based company has worked on major projects, including the production design for New York City’s Staten Island ferries.

Dr. Gorman commended the award winners. “Both award winners have been extremely successful in their pursuits, and it is with great pleasure that the Faculty of Business recognizes their accomplishments,” he said. “Our annual Partners Dinner is a celebration of the relationship between Memorial’s Faculty of Business Administration and the business community. While these awards highlight individual successes, they also focus our attention on the accomplishments of local firms that are impacting business across the country and around the world.”
              Pictures of the event available upon request.

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