Three new graduate certificate programs are on the roster of choices for prospective Niagara College students this year – and they’re right in step with current times and an increasing demand for talented professionals.

The College’s School of Business and Management, based at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, has launched Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics programs, while the School of Media Studies, based in Welland, is now offering a program perfect for the digital age: Social Media Management.

Supply Chain Management

As supply chain issues continue to dominate headlines in early 2022, NC’s School of Business and Management is ready to welcome its first class of Supply Chain Management students this spring.

The one-year graduate certificate program will prepare students to work in an industry that influences the purchasing, production, warehousing and distribution of goods.

“Supply chains, as we have come to learn during the pandemic, underpin the functioning of commerce. Something that was previously almost invisible or unacknowledged by many is now the stuff of headline news,” said Adam Weaver, Associate Dean of Business and Management. “Demand for talented supply chain managers is definitely increasing.”

Program coordinator Rob Shepherd acknowledged that launching the program in supply chain management has never been timelier.

“I have never seen this much of a buzz regarding sector trends and ways the global supply chains operate. They are critical to commerce and society and support our basic way of life,” he said. “Think about the process of making an online purchase. You go to a website, order what you require, pay for it, and in a day or two, the item arrives at your doorstep. That is the dynamic and the reality of today’s supply chains.”

Graduates of NC’s Supply Chain Management program will receive advanced standing toward a Certified Supply Chain Management Professional (SCC-CSCMP) designation – the highest and most recognized professional designation in the field of supply chain management in Canada – thanks to the program’s credit transfer articulation agreement with Supply Chain Canada (SCC). Known as the voice of the industry in Canada, SCC sets the standards for excellence and ethics and is the principal source of professional accreditation in Canadian supply chain management.

Because the new program will be affiliated with the SAP University Alliance, it will deliver a curriculum in SAP enterprise resource planning systems.

“SAP is used by many, many organizations worldwide as their operational business platform,” said Shepherd. “The competencies students acquire are directly transferable to the world of work.”

Shepherd noted that the program will help address a shortage in talent within the sector. DHL, a global leader in the logistics and supply chain management industry, estimated that the demand for supply chain professionals exceeds its supply by a ratio of six to one, and the U.S Bureau of Labor estimated that jobs in the sector will grow by 26%.

“Opportunities are and will continue to grow as global supply chains advance and evolve,” said Shepherd.

The first Supply Chain Management class will begin in May. Visit niagaracollege.ca/business/program/supply-chain-management.

Business Analytics

What do the movies you watch, ads you view, items you purchase and decisions your favourite sports team makes all have in common? They’re all driven by analytics!

Designed to prepare learners for high-demand roles in data management, students will learn how to pull meaningful insights from large complex data sets to support data-driven decision-making. Students will use industry-standard software and tools to create visualizations and interpret data in this hands-on, lab-based program. In a capstone course, they will also create a final project to solve a real-world problem. In addition to its technical components, the program will also address data ethics, security and management decisions.

“Business analytics demonstrates that decision-making is becoming the product of more elaborate forms of evaluation and calculation. What is considered data – and what can be analyzed for the sake of identifying significant, valuable patterns – has expanded considerably in our digital age,” said Weaver. “Business analytics speaks to the importance of uncovering sometimes previously unrecognized relationships, and sourcing data – often creatively – that helps to highlight those relationships.”

Program Coordinator Nick Farnell noted that there has been a positive response to courses introduced over the past few years by the School of Business and Management focused on data and analytics. The program was launched in response to a need for skilled professionals in data and analytics. A market report from the Government of Canada (Canadian Occupational Projections System) gave its highest rating – good— to job prospects for data analysts in Ontario over the next three years, and noted that projected labour demand in Canada is expected to exceed supply during the 2019-2028 period, with 18,000 new job openings and 16,700 new job seekers.

“Analytics has made its way into every industry,” he said. “There is a growing demand for professionals to understand analytics and be comfortable using data to help make decisions.”

The program is geared to students from a variety of backgrounds – from business and HR to marketing, sports and more – who seek to add a layer of applied analytical problem solving to their area of expertise. It offers flexible, hybrid learning options and is available in a condensed eight-month format, designed to appeal to a variety of learners, including those already in the workforce who seek to upgrade their credentials.

NC will welcome its inaugural Business Analytics class in September 2022. Visit niagaracollege.ca/business/program/analytics.

Social Media Management

NC’s Social Media Management program was designed to prepare students for a modern, in-demand career in the emerging field of social media management. The comprehensive program covers the various aspects of social media – from analytics and strategies, and business and marketing, to content creation and management.

“NC’s program stands out because we will offer students an understanding of all the main pillars of social media, which will equip them with the tools they need to succeed as effective social media managers,” said Charles Kopun, Associate Dean, School of Media Studies.

The new program was launched in response to the increasing demand for social media professionals, not only within the traditional media landscape but across many different fields.

“Integrated into the fabric of traditional media, social media has evolved with technology and now cuts through every swath of media out there,” said Kopun. “CEOs everywhere are embracing data, the importance of understanding their audience and reaching them in a digital environment.”

“The sector is exploding. There isn’t an industry or business or not-for-profit that can survive without social media strategies and implementation,” said Susan Pedler, School of Media Professor. “Our students will be trained in how to use each of the various social media platforms effectively, how to create and curate focused content, how to target specific audiences and how to do comprehensive analytics.”

Students in the program will receive hands-on, in-depth training in social media management platforms, website hosting, LMS management, analytics and dashboards. With a focus on applied learning, the program offers students valuable built-in opportunities to gain experience working with real clients on social media projects before they graduate. In fact, students will be required to complete a capstone course focused on planning and leading a social media campaign for a community client.

“I’m most excited about our capstone classes. Students will be working with community clients to create effective social media campaigns for their businesses or non-profits,” said Pedler. “They’ll use analytics tools to measure their success. You can’t beat that kind of real-world experience.”

In addition to building their hard skills, such as business and marketing and content creation, students will hone their soft skills as they liaise with clients, collaborate with their team, and expand their professional network.

A newly designed content studio lab will become a hub for the program at the Welland Campus, featuring new cameras and technology, space for live interviews, content creation, video editing and livestreaming. Designed flex space in the lab will allow it to become a boardroom for strategy sessions and client meetings. Students will also have access to new mobile equipment when moving on location for livestreamed events.

The program is expected to draw a mix of those who are already in the workforce and hope to build on their social media knowledge, as well as postsecondary graduates interested in launching a social media career. It will be delivered four days a week over two terms.

NC will welcome its first class in Social Media Management in September. Visit niagaracollege.ca/media/program/social-media-management/.

 

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

 

Julie Greco

Corporate Communications Consultant

Cell: 905-328-2532

[email protected]

 

Michael Wales

Director, Communications

Cell: 905-328-4101

[email protected]

 

 

Niagara College is ready to help job seekers click with potential employers at its upcoming Virtual Career Fair.

Open to NC students and alumni, as well as community residents, the Virtual Career Fair will be held on February 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This will be NC’s second annual Virtual Career Fair, hosted by NC’s Career Services and Community Employment Services divisions. Similar to the College’s popular in-person events, which were held on campus prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virtual Career Fair offers a one-stop online shop for job seekers to explore opportunities in their area of expertise, and interact with employers online. More than 60 employers have registered to participate in this year’s virtual event.

“Our virtual career fair creates real opportunities for our students, graduates and community residents,” said Director of Student Services Lianne Gagnon. “Our team from Career Services and our colleagues from Community Employment Services are dedicated to facilitating connections between job seekers and employers through this online event.”

NC’s Virtual Career Fair aims to assist job seekers and employers alike.

“For job seekers, it provides an opportunity to connect with employers from all over Canada virtually through one-on-one chats, group sessions, and by networking within their program area. If job seekers are looking for work or wanting to find out more about their desired career, this will give them the opportunity to do that,” said NC Career Consultant Marsha Fiorino. “For employers, it provides a platform to reach out to current students, recent graduates and members of the community.”

NC’s Employer Relations Consultant Julie Stuart pointed out that many students have been facing challenges when it comes to seeking employment during the pandemic. Employers who are recovering have been trying to ensure their permanent staff complement is working at capacity prior to hiring students. At the same time, many students are still hesitant, yet anxious for work opportunities, and many have been finding it difficult to get a sense of a company’s culture during a remote interview process.

“Student positions are competitive as many employers who typically host students have not been able to due to lockdowns or economic impacts that the pandemic has had on the business,” said Stuart. “The Virtual Career Fair provides students with a direct opportunity to connect with employers that are hiring students, to network and learn more about various organizations, and encourages them to be prepared – resumes and applications need to be ready.”

While virtual job applications have been the norm for many years, virtual interviews have become an essential tool for employers more recently.

“A virtual interview really allows the employer the opportunity to meet with the student, share company information, and highlight health and safety protocols,” said Stuart, who noted that some employers have implemented protocols for on-site second interviews following virtual first interviews. “Overall, students have indicated that they have appreciated the virtual interviewing as less intimidating and they can be in an area of comfort and familiarity.”

Employers from Niagara, Ontario, and across Canada have registered to participate in the College’s 2022 Virtual Career Fair. They represent a variety of industries including brewery, distillery, winery and viticulture; culinary, hospitality and tourism; sports and fitness; community and social services; health care; environmental; trades and technology; policing, security and justice; greenhouse, horticulture and landscape; information and technology; business and management; spa services; and more.

Niagara Falls-based Canadian Niagara Hotels Inc., the largest entertainment resort in the country, will return to NC’s Virtual Career Fair for the second consecutive year, seeking to fill more than 400 hospitality positions – from guest services and housekeeping, to food and beverage and waterpark.

“Canadian Niagara Hotels has always enjoyed hiring students from Niagara College as they come polished, well prepared with appropriate skills, and excitement to do the job,” said Laura Massi, Manager, Employee Services at Canadian Niagara Hotels Inc. “By participating in the job fair, we get the advantage of hiring talented students early for our spring/summer season.”

This will be the first NC Virtual Career Fair for Royal Botanical Gardens, and the company will be hiring for more than 45 positions in Hamilton and Burlington. RBG Human Resources Generalist Neil Parle noted that they have established a strong working relationship with NC over many years, as students from the College’s horticulture programs have provided essential support to its team of professional gardeners during the spring and summer months. At this year’s Career Fair, they will be recruiting for numerous gardening positions as well as summer and permanent positions in their new food and beverage operations.

“The food and beverage sector throughout the province has been decimated due to pandemic restrictions and a significant number of people have taken the opportunity to explore more stable opportunities,” said Parle. “Our food and beverage operation is now being managed by RBG, so this is the first year we have an opportunity to reach students, introduce RBG as an employer and establish a relationship equal to the one with horticultural students.”

For a complete list of participating employers, visit careerfair.niagaracollege.ca/employerlist/.

 

Register for NC’s Virtual Career Fair

Event registration will open for job seekers on February 10 at  careerfair.niagaracollege.ca/registration/jobseekers/. Job seekers register by creating a profile and uploading their resumes to be viewed by employers. Once they are registered, they may browse employers’ virtual booths and sign up for one-on-one time slots or group sessions with employers to be held on February 16. Job seekers are strongly encouraged to book in advance, as time slots are limited. Sessions may also be booked on the day of the Virtual Career Fair if they remain available.

For information about NC’s Virtual Career Fair visit careerfair.niagaracollege.ca.

 

Career and Employment Services

NC’s Career Services department offers a variety of resources for students, including one-on-one appointments with Career and Co-op Consultants, and year-round access to the College’s MyCareer Portal for job listings. Team members support students with application documents, interview preparation, and industry-specific knowledge and connections to assist with networking and a targeted job search approach. Visit niagaracollege.ca/studentlife/eac/.

NC’s Community Employment Services offers services and resources for community job seekers and employers alike, including COVID-19 specific help. Visit niagaracollege.ca/ces/.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

 

Media inquires, please contact:

 

Julie Greco

Corporate Communications Consultant

Cell: 905-328-2532

[email protected]

 

Michael Wales

Director, Communications

Cell: 905-328-4101

[email protected]

For the seventh year in a row, Niagara College has earned the honour of being in the top 10 colleges in the country for research funding.

What’s more, based on the annual ranking released on January 27 by Research Infosource, Niagara College landed in the top 3 for the 2020 study year, based on total research funding. The national study, entitled “Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges,” shows a steady placement of seven years in a row in the top 10 – including No. 1 in the 2018 funding year – since NC earned spot No. 10 in the 2014 research funding year.

“We are delighted to see this continued recognition as one of Canada’s top colleges in research funding. Research and innovation continues as a key priority for NC, as we deliver value to our community, to industry, to students and our faculty,” said Niagara College President Sean Kennedy. “Our funders see this dedication to innovation at work year after year – and throughout the pandemic – and they continue to invest in us.”

Looking at colleges with applied research funding in Canada, NC earned the No. 3 spot by having attracted $13.9 million in funding to conduct innovative projects involving industry partners in the food and beverage, advanced manufacturing, precision agriculture, and related environmental technologies sectors.

Of all the medium-sized colleges across the country, NC also earned the No. 1 spot in industry research income, as well as No. 1 in industry research income as a percentage of the total research income, at 70.3% or $9.79 million.

For the number of interactions with industry – small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) who turn to colleges for expertise and resources to innovate – NC’s total research partnerships was 188, making it No. 3 for medium-sized colleges in Canada. And by completing 278 projects during the study year, NC is No. 2 in that category.

Further, even with the challenges of the remote work and learning during the pandemic, the College managed to earn a No. 5 spot in paid student researchers, with a total of 90 on the payroll.

Marc Nantel, PhD, Vice-President, Research & External Relations, noted that NC’s long-standing place in the top 10 research colleges for the country is an ongoing source of pride for the Research & Innovation division. “Our strong industry-education connections help support the applied research needs of industry and, at the same time, link our students and the expertise of our faculty to local business,” said Nantel. “In the past decade, we have significantly increased our specialized equipment and leading-edge lab spaces to attract new partnerships and funding, and it’s paying off for SMEs in our region and beyond.”

Research funding allows the College to partner with SMEs in the region to conduct projects and services, which provide innovative solutions for industry. These include producing and testing prototypes, evaluating new technologies, and developing new or improved products and processes. NC Research & Innovation conducts applied research, technical services and business and commercialization solutions with industry partners through its Agriculture & Environment Innovation Centre, Business & Commercialization Solutions Centre, Canadian Food & Wine Institute Innovation Centre, and Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre.

Niagara College also administers the funding for two multi-institutional research networks, including the award-winning Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI), and the Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN).

The College’s innovative solutions have helped one company commercialize Canada’s first non-alcoholic gin product following a product development research project with NC’s Canadian Food & Wine Institute (CFWI) Innovation Centre and industry partner DistillX Beverages Inc. Now sold in more than 20 stores, as well as online, Sobrii Ø-Gin (zero gin) has since received praise in national print, TV and radio media. In fact, the company found itself in the national spotlight in November when it secured a deal to take the product to the next level with a successful pitch on CBC’s Dragons’ Den. What’s more, DistillX is now a repeat NC industry partner. More recently, the company worked with the CFWI Innovation Centre team on a non-alcoholic tequila.

“Expertise from Niagara College’s Research & Innovation division was instrumental to being able to sell a product that was not only superior tasting, but something I can commercially scale and replicate safely,” said DistillX President Bob Huitema. “I think it’s important to support local academic and manufacturing resources as this is a ‘made-in-Canada’ initiative.”

View news from Research Infosource Inc. here.

TOP PHOTO: Research students Myranda Amendola (left) and Alison Wong (centre), conduct applied research work in the beverage lab of the Canadian Food & Wine Institute Innovation Centre, at NC’s Daniel J Patterson Campus, under the expert eye of Ana Cristina Vega-Lugo, PhD, scientific manager of the centre.

 

Research Infosource annually compiles listings of the Top 50 research universities, corporate R&D spenders, and research hospitals. This is the eighth year a list has been released for the Top 50 research colleges in Canada. For more information on the Top 50 list, visit researchinfosource.com.

NC’s award-winning Research & Innovation division administers research funding support from various regional, provincial and federal agencies. Students and graduates are hired to work alongside faculty researchers and assist industry partners with leaping forward in the marketplace. Students come from a variety of the College’s programs, such as Mechanical Engineering Technology, Culinary Innovation and Food Technology, Business Administration – Marketing, and Computer Programmer.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

 

Media inquires, please contact:

 

Julie Greco

Corporate Communications Consultant

Cell: 905-328-2532

[email protected]

 

Michael Wales

Director, Communications

Cell: 905-328-4101

[email protected]

 

When it comes to Ontario spirit and leadership, Niagara College shines in the spotlight.

Niagara College staff members have won two Awards of Excellence from the Minister of Colleges and Universities. A team from the College’s Research & Innovation division was presented with an award in the Everyday Heroes category, for making a difference during the pandemic and the 2020-2021 academic year, while College Brewmaster Jon Downing was honoured with an Innovation and Entrepreneurship award for working with industry and business to drive economic development.

“Faculty, staff and graduate students across Ontario’s postsecondary sector rose to the challenge of helping students during these truly unprecedented times,” said Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop. “The real winners are Ontario’s students and communities who truly benefit from the incredible work being done at our institutions across the province.”

Niagara College’s two awards were among 30 selected for the second annual Minister’s Awards of Excellence, out of approximately 675 nominations received.

Everyday Heroes: Amal Driouich and Gordon Maretzki (Research & Innovation PPE Team)

During the onset of the pandemic, when frontline workers were facing a critical shortage and an urgent need for PPE, a team of staff, co-op students and alumni volunteers from the College’s Research & Innovation division responded with their own made-in-Niagara solution. They began to design and produce face shields at the College’s Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (WAMIC), located at NC’s Welland Campus.

From March to September 2020, the PPE team – led by WAMIC Centre Manager Gordon Maretzki and Research Program Manager Amal Driouich – produced 36,500 COVID-19 face shields. More than 17,000 were donated to Niagara area hospitals and emergency responders during the first six months of the pandemic alone.

“At the time, the PPE supply chain was greatly disrupted, so even the relatively simple project of designing, licensing and manufacturing basic face shields made a difference to front-line workers and their patients,” said Marc Nantel, NC’s Vice President, Research and External Relations, who nominated the PPE team for the award.

“We have resources – expertise, equipment, funding – so it was incumbent on us to chip in any way we could. The community needed us to step up, and we’re glad to have been able to do so.”

Almost 10,000 face shields were also donated to long-term care homes in the Niagara region.

The initiative was supported by Niagara College-led Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) through FedDev Ontario contributions.

The WAMIC team received approval for a Medical Device Establishment Licence (MDEL Class 1) to produce Health Canada-classified face shields. In addition to responding to local healthcare organizations, about 20,000 units assembled at the WAMIC were donated outside of the Niagara region.

Maretzki worked with Niagara Health System to develop a face shield that was quick and inexpensive to manufacture, and sourced raw materials from suppliers. Shields were fabricated in the College labs and lenses were laser cut. As they scaled up production, he worked with a supplier to develop die cut tooling that accelerated the cutting of the lenses, allowing the team to make more than 350 shields per day at peak production.

“We are grateful that the talents and resources of the R&I team could be quickly leveraged to mitigate the supply chain crisis of PPE and help those at the frontlines do their work safely,” said Maretzki, who was delighted and surprised to receive the Award of Excellence. “Responding to the pandemic and the needs of the community was simply a natural response by our team in the battle against Covid-19.”

The daily production of face shields was managed by Driouich, who was also responsible for licensing and regulatory compliance to ensure they were manufactured and distributed per applicable codes and standards.

“I am immensely thankful and truly honoured to receive the Minister’s Award of Excellence,” said Driouich. “It is a great pleasure to see the team’s effort being recognized by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities – that memorable team of co-op students, grad students and staff from Niagara College’s Research & Innovation Division who stepped up and worked tirelessly to support Ontario’s front line workers in their fight against COVID 19 when access to PPE was challenging and almost impossible.”

The PPE team included Research Associates Brock Husak, Tyler Winger, Rafael Almeida and Brian Klassen (NC alumni); Research Assistants Liliana McIntosh, Scott Leuty and Dat Do (NC students), and staff volunteers Elizabeth Best, Rachel Brown, Janice Rowe and Andrea Campbell.

The NC team’s Award of Excellence in the Everyday Heroes category was among eight presented to recipients from postsecondary institutions across Ontario.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Jon Downing (Brewmaster)

It’s been almost 12 years since Niagara College launched its trailblazing Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program, which made history as the first in Canada. The program responded to an identified need for education and higher quality product in Ontario’s brewing industry, and the impact it has had on the growing industry for more than the past decade has been unrivalled.

College Brewmaster Jon Downing has been a part of it from the very beginning. In recognition of his key role in developing the program, and its major impact on helping to grow the industry, he was presented with a Minister’s Award in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“Our brewing program at Niagara College has been instrumental in supporting the incredible growth of craft brewing in Ontario. Our Brewmaster Jon Downing has been at the lead of our NC Teaching Brewery since its inception over a decade ago and we are proud of his mentorship and support for the future brewers of Canada,” said Craig Youdale, Dean of NC’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute who nominated Downing for the award.

“Jon is not only supportive of our students, but also of the entire brewing community, by ensuring the growth and development of the industry that he loves. Our entire division is proud to have Jon on our team and we look forward to his direction to many more future brewers to come.”

Under Downing’s leadership, NC Brewmaster students have been gaining extensive hands-on training preparing them for employment in the expanding brewery, microbrewery and brewpub industries since 2010. The College’s Teaching Brewery has won numerous provincial, national and international awards for its student-crafted brews.

In 2012, NC’s first class of Brewmaster graduates set forth as pioneers in the province’s emerging craft beer scene – which has since grown from fewer than 100 breweries when the program was established, to 288 new start-ups (more than 320 breweries) by 2019.

“As we come up to the 10-year anniversary of the graduation of the first class of students, they and those that followed are the ones who have made the impact on the industry – some starting their own companies, and others working in breweries of all sizes, as brewers, head brewers and brewmasters of some of the top breweries in Ontario, leading the incredible growth we have seen in the last decade,” said Downing. “To have been a part of this all has been my pleasure, to be recognized for the part I played is awesome.”

Before Downing arrived at the College, he spent 20 years of his career opening more than 100 breweries around the world. It was his involvement with opening Ontario’s first brewpub in Welland, which led him to move to Canada from England in 1985.

Receiving a provincial award for his efforts was “totally unexpected” for Downing.

“I am honoured and deeply humbled that people think this much about what we have done to put me forward for the award, let alone to be chosen as the recipient,” he said.

For Downing, being selected for the award validates the faith that College leaders had in him when he first met with them almost 15 years ago about launching the program.

“Their support and that of many others at the College, and in industry, is what has led to our success,” he said.

Downing’s Award of Excellence in Innovation and Entrepreneurship was among seven presented to faculty and staff from postsecondary institutions across Ontario.

Minister’s Awards of Excellence

The Minister’s Awards of Excellence were introduced in 2020 to recognize the incredible work of Ontario’s faculty and staff during the early stages of the pandemic. The ministry decided to continue the tradition annually, and new categories were added this year to highlight more positive work being done at Ontario’s postsecondary institutions.

This year’s winners received a certificate signed by Minister Dunlop and were honoured at a congratulatory virtual meeting on the morning of January 21.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

Julie Greco

Corporate Communications Consultant

Cell: 905-328-2532

[email protected]

 

Michael Wales

Director, Corporate Communications

Cell: 905-328-4101

[email protected]

 

 

They studied, prepared and competed virtually, but students from Niagara College’s School of Business and Management will soon have a very tangible souvenir to display on campus from their recent success at the Ontario College Marketing Competition: a trophy from their second place overall win.

After months of preparation, a team of 16 NC students from the Business – Sales and Marketing and Business Administration – Marketing (co-op) programs catapulted out of their comfort zones and took on the intense, pressure-cooker challenge against the best and brightest marketing students from 10 other colleges across the province. Held on November 25-26, it was the first time the annual event has taken place since the onset of the pandemic – following its cancellation in 2020 – and was presented as an online competition hosted by Humber College.

“I am tremendously proud of our NC team for their outstanding results on the provincial stage,” said Alan Unwin, Dean of Business, Tourism and Environment. “Their success is a testament to their willingness to commit to several months of intense training, the quality education they receive from our College’s School of Business, and the steadfast support of our faculty member coaches who are dedicated to helping students achieve their dreams.”

The NC team earned their second place overall title from cumulative points scored during multiple individual events at the competition, where students competed in pairs, individually or in teams of four. They also won hardware with four podium finishes in several events, including first place in the International Marketing Case, second place in Entrepreneurship Case, and third in the Retail Case and Marketing Case.

“We were thrilled with the results from this year, particularly since all the training and coaching occurred virtually,” said Sales and Marketing Program Coordinator Terri Champion who was among a team of faculty coaches for OCMC 2021. “We are looking forward to adding our second place overall trophy to our trophy case in the School of Business.”

Champion, who has been coaching OCMC teams at NC for 19 years, noted that while it is exciting to see students win awards at OCMC, she finds more lasting meaning in the impact that the overall experience has on the students. She has witnessed firsthand how students gain confidence as they learn how to improve their analytical and problem-solving skills, enhance their communication skills and learn how to adapt and perform in high-pressure situations. She also sees how competing has been a springboard to success for many students who have landed job offers from contacts made at the event, and moved on to successful careers after graduation.

“The OCMC changes lives. The growth students experience is remarkable. From the beginning of the coaching process to the actual ‘game day’ performance, the whole experience is transformational for them,” Champion said. “They also have the opportunity to connect with industry professionals and other high performing students from colleges across Ontario which is why it is much like the Olympics for marketing students.”

Second-year Business – Sales and Marketing students Jonathan Hufana and Veronica Meza Mandujano, who are both international students – from the Philippines and Mexico, respectively – were thrilled to capture first place in the International Marketing Case.

“I feel happy and proud to be able to represent Niagara College and bring recognition to our school,” said Hufana. “The experience and knowledge I have reaped from the training sessions with our coach, analyzing several real-life business cases, and the countless presentation practices will surely help me in my future career in sales and marketing – particularly in identifying business problems, analyzing situations, and implementing sales and marketing action plans.

Hufana found the training sessions and analyzing real-life business cases most rewarding, as it exposed him to what he will face in the workforce.

“This experience is a testament to Niagara College’s effort to make the students as work-ready as possible, hence their motto ‘applied dreams,’” he said.

Meza Mandujano values the experience she gained, which she believes will help her as she pursues her career.

“These months were not only a preparation, but also a fantastic opportunity to learn, live together, share emotions, happiness, nostalgia, and stress, all concluding in a wonderful reward,” she said. “It was unquestionably a fantastic experience.”

Long-time Niagara Falls resident John Stamatakos who is also a second-year Business – Sales and Marketing student, was interested in participating in OCMC as an opportunity to step outside of his comfort zone, enhance his presentation and critical thinking skills. The experience did not disappoint.  All of his hard work paid off when he and his teammate Marcus Woodward placed second in the Entrepreneurship Case.

“It was a very challenging yet highly rewarding experience. I absolutely believe it has made me a more receptive learner and critical thinker,” said Stamatakos. “I can also confidently say I’ve learned and acquired many skills that I will carry with me for the rest of my academic and non-academic career.”

Students applied to be a part of NC’s OCMC team in Winter2021 and final selections were made during the Spring term. They began training for the event in September coached by a team of faculty members including Terri Champion, Malcolm Howe, Chris Treschak, David Pasterik, Monique Finley and John Sustersic.

NC students have been participating in OCMC competitions since 2002. This was the fifth time a team from NC won second place overall at the OCMC (the last time was in 2011). Niagara College hosted the OCMC in Niagara Falls in 2019.

For details about OCMC 2021, visit ocmc.ca.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

Top photo: A collage of individual photos of the NC student team for OCMC 2021 (missing: Rob Mantini).

NC Results from OCMC 2021

International Marketing Case (first place): Veronica Meza and Jonathan Hufana

Entrepreneurship Case (second place): Marcus Woodward and John Stamatakos

Retail Case (third place): James Field and Daniela Chacon

Marketing Case (third place): Jenny Richardson and Cyleste Hannah

Market Research Event (fourth place): Riley Mitchell and Jenny Richardson

Direct Marketing Case (fourth place): Mackenzie Katsmar and Tien Than

Prospect Pitch (fourth place): Rob Mantini and Oliver Breen

Sales Presentation (fifth place): Oliver Breen

Quiz Bowl: Madilyn Kilts, Cyleste Hannah, Johnny Stamatakos and Tien Than

Integrated Marketing Communications Case participants: Esteban Navarro, Ryan Paldus

 

Media inquiries, please contact:

 

Julie Greco

Corporate Communications Consultant

Cell: 905-328-2532

[email protected]

 

Michael Wales

Manager, Corporate Communications

Cell: 905-328-4101

[email protected]