They crossed the border as underdogs ready to face university rivals at a bi-national case competition, but a team of Niagara College Business students had something special to declare upon their return: victory.

The team of four students from NC’s School of Business and Management (SoBM) won first place at the World Trade Centre Buffalo Niagara 2025 International Case Competition, held at the University of Buffalo on March 7. As the only college-level team participating, NC’s team faced competitors from Brock University, Canisius University, Niagara University and the University of Buffalo.

“We are incredibly proud of our students’ outstanding achievement. Against the backdrop of the current Canada-US trade environment, our talented team won a U.S.-based case competition that involved cross-border operational efficiencies in the EV market,” said Evan DiValentino, Dean, Business and Environment. “This victory – against much larger universities – highlights student and faculty member dedication and talent. It also underscores the importance of applied education and training for a changing world.”

Stefan Johnson, Professor and International Business Coordinator who coached the team, said it was a tough competition, but NC’s success showed how well the College prepares students to apply their skills to the real world beyond the classroom – what faculty refer to as, ‘Monday morning ready.’

“This international competition is a great way for students at NC to benchmark their business acumen against universities in the region,” said Johnson. “We are a medium-sized college, but we are capable of competing against the big schools in the area – certainly an accomplishment for the students and a testament to the hard work that everybody in the SoBM puts in.”

This marked the first time NC has won the annual international case competition hosted by World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara, now in its seventh year.  

The competition aims to help students develop their business skills and solve real-world challenges. Teams were given a case about an automotive battery manufacturing plant for electric vehicles in Fort Erie, that had 73% of its business in the United States and were required to find a solution to increase operational efficiency and integrate artificial intelligence.

Johnson noted that NC’s solution was robust. Students used operations management, finance, strategy, international concepts, and process design knowledge. They leveraged problem-solving, public speaking, and PowerPoint development skills, and demonstrated team cohesion, along with a sense of ownership of the event.

“In such competitions, coaches can only do so much – once the students enter the building, it is entirely on them to make the magic happen,” Johnson said.

Participating NC students included Brooklyn Balanowski (third-year Business Administration – Marketing), Nazek Kigab  (second-year Business Administration – Marketing), Andrei Melnikov (fourth-year Honours Bachelor of Business Administration – International Commerce and Global Development), and Roberto Villao (fourth-year Honours Bachelor of Business Administration – International Commerce and Global Development).

For Villao (Niagara-on-the-Lake), winning first place was meaningful, marking the culmination of his journey as a student and a defining moment in his academic career.  “As my final case competition before graduating, this victory is a testament to the skills, knowledge, and experience I have gained throughout my studies,” he said. “It leaves me on a high note and reinforces my confidence as I transition into the professional world, ready to apply these abilities in real-life business scenarios.”

Originally from Ecuador, Villao enrolled at NC to gain practical hands-on experience and build connections with expert professors. He feels the competition strengthened his ability to manage multiple responsibilities, as he balanced his academic assignments with work and intensive competition prep with the team.

“This enhanced my time management, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, all of which are critical for success in the business world,” he said. “It reinforced my confidence in making strategic decisions under pressure, a skill that will be invaluable in my professional career.”

No stranger to international competition, Villao was part of the NC team that travelled to Budapest last spring to compete in the Corvinus Undergraduate Business Experience (CUBE) and placed third overall among university-level teams from around the world. 

“After consistently making it to the podium in past competitions but not quite reaching the top, this victory felt like a long-awaited accomplishment,” he said. “It represents persistence, teamwork and continuous growth, making it even more special.”

For the College’s SoBM, the WTC competition was a training ground for CUBE in Budapest next month. Participants Melnikov and Kigab, who will compete at CUBE this year, had an opportunity to learn from their teammates who competed last year. They will be joined by students Jillian Kosior and David Dioszegi, who were recently part of a NC team that advanced to the finals at the Vanier Case Competition in Montreal.

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada’s top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

Media inquiries, please contact: 

Julie Greco  

Communications Consultant  

905-328-2532  

[email protected]

The post Niagara College students take top spot at international case competition appeared first on Niagara College.

On March 10, Niagara College (NC) officially welcomed the Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Canada (AKBSC) team to its new office space at the Welland Campus.

The company, whose lithium-ion battery separator plant will bring highly skilled, well-paying jobs to the Niagara region, is leasing office space at NC while its facility is being built in Port Colborne.

“The presence of the Asahi Kasei team at the College is a shining example of how we support the success of new and existing employers in Niagara,” said NC President Sean Kennedy. “It is a chance to connect the company with the programs, students – and nationally-recognized research and innovation work – that will support the growth and success of Asahi Kasei in Niagara.”

The leased space is the latest example of close collaboration between Niagara College and Asahi Kasei Battery Separator, a Japanese-based corporation focused on creating innovative solutions for the global battery market. The lithium-ion battery separators to be produced at its Port Colborne facility are among the most highly engineered and critical components of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and other energy storage applications.

“Since announcing plans to establish our first North American plant in Port Colborne last May, we have been incredibly grateful for the support of the local community, including Niagara College,” said Samuel A. Mills, President of Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Canada Corporation. “As we move into our new office space on campus, we are excited to further enhance this partnership – collaborating with the college to develop training initiatives and other programs that will create valuable career pathways for students and graduates, while helping us build a strong, local workforce for our new facility.”

Asahi Kasei’s offices will be located on the second floor of the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (WAMIC) – a hub for advanced manufacturing research and innovation at Canada’s top-ranked research college. WAMIC is a state-of-the-art facility at NC with leading-edge equipment and software where students, faculty, and researchers support advanced manufacturing and technology companies wishing to innovate, grow, and compete in the global marketplace.

The office – with meeting and workspace for up to 20 staff – will be the primary work location for Asahi Kasei’s administrative and business teams. Those involved directly with construction will remain at the work site in Port Colborne.

During Asahi Kasei’s site selection process for its plant, Niagara College was engaged by the Niagara Region Economic Development office to facilitate an understanding of NC’s technology and trades facilities and capabilities, and its ability to address workforce needs.

With Asahi Kasei as part of its campus, NC will deepen the partnership, providing access to the expertise of its Research & Innovation division, faculty, staff, and specialized labs in Engineering Technology and Trades programs to ensure that students and graduates are prepared for rewarding careers at the new Port Colborne facility.

“We are very pleased to welcome Asahi Kasei to Niagara College and look forward to continued collaboration,” said President Kennedy. “There will be countless opportunities for us to work together to identify specific training needs and to develop new programming to address these needs.”

About Niagara College

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada’s top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

About Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Corporation

In the spring of 2024, Asahi Kasei announced that it will construct an integrated lithium-ion battery (LIB) separator plant in Port Colborne, investing $1.56 billion in production capacity to support North American demand for clean energy and electric vehicles. Operating as Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Canada, the project is expected to create highly skilled, good paying jobs in manufacturing and construction. The start of commercial production is currently slated for 2027.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world as a diversified group of companies that operates in the Material, Homes and Health Care business sectors. Founded in Japan in 1922, Asahi Kasei has over 100 years of manufacturing experience and is a pioneer in battery-related technology. The core of its Energy Storage business is the lithium-ion battery separator – a microporous membrane that provides a barrier between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery, preventing short circuits while allowing lithium ions to pass from one side of the battery to the other. To learn more about Asahi Kasei, visit: www.asahi-kasei.com

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Media inquiries, please contact:

Jessica Torok
Communications Consultant
Niagara College
905-932-1520
[email protected]

Christian OKeefe
Asahi Kasei America Inc.
[email protected]

The post Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Canada to base administrative and business teams at NC’s Welland Campus while Port Colborne facility is built appeared first on Niagara College.

Pink boots are making a comeback at Niagara College’s Teaching Brewery, as staff and students take steps to promote inclusivity in brewing.

On the eve of International Women’s Day (IWD), the Teaching Brewery will be a hub of activity with a Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day, which will involve students, staff and alumni from the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program, while a variety of student-crafted Pink Boots beers will become available to the public.

This marks the fifth year that NC’s Teaching Brewery has been brewing up support for Pink Boots Society Canada, since hosting its first collaboration brew day on IWD in March 2020. The national non-profit organization helps women and non-binary people in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry advance their careers through education.

“I’m so proud of our brewers for ensuring we take part in initiatives like Pink Boots as it models an important example to all Brewmaster students: that building an inclusive and welcoming culture is everyone’s responsibility,” said Maija Saari, Associate Dean, School of Wine, Beer and Spirits.

“Pink Boots is an annual event that the students get behind wholeheartedly, no matter which semester they are in,” said Brewmaster Professor Jon Downing. “It is educational and reinforces the values we have in the brewery; we encourage women and non-binary students to get involved in it, and they know that we support them now and going forward in their careers.”

The Teaching Brewery’s collaboration brew day to be held on Friday, March 7 will welcome volunteer students, staff and alumni from the Brewmaster program to drop into and help brew Pink Boots Rose Thorn Ale.

The English Ale recipe was created by Brewmaster alumni and current part-time faculty member Nicola Davey. Davey was a student and an enthusiastic participant in NC’s first Pink Boots brew day in 2020 and has been jumping in with both feet each year since.

“I am so thrilled when our female brewers create their first commercial beers,” said Davey. “Their smiles, and sense of accomplishment make my day, which is why I stay involved.”

Davey chose a traditional British Ale for her Pink Boots recipe, aiming to create a light and golden bitter with notes of tart fruit and citrus. The beer was designed to highlight this year’s Yakima Chief Pink Boots hop blend and will incorporate Country Malt’s Pink Boots Malt and Escarpment Lab’s Pink Boot’s Yeast.

“The Pink Boots Society has been supporting women in brewing since 2014 by teaching and sharing brewing skills, raising money for scholarships and making the beer industry a real and constructive possibility for women,” said Davey. “The educational strength of NC’s Brewmaster program and hands-on experience of the Teaching Brewery gives our Brewmaster students the opportunity to participate in Pink Boots brew day initiatives, which brings forth an exciting opportunity to unite, recognize and appreciate the long history of female brewers.”

Davey has also been supporting Brewmaster students through their Pink Boots recipe development and is encouraging students to participate in the Collaboration Brew Day on March 7.

“I am really looking forward to spending the day brewing beer with current students, staff and alumni,” said Davey. “It is a great way to connect and reconnect in a fun and collaborative environment.”

Rose Thorn Ale, part of the Teaching Brewery’s 2025 Pink Boots series, is expected to be released in April.

New Pink Boots series brews

College faculty, Brewmaster students and alumni are behind a variety of soon-to-be-released beers from the Teaching Brewery’s 2025 Pink Boots series, which were brewed in January and February to be ready in time for IWD. This year’s Pink Boots beer releases to become available in cans on March 7 include:

• Buataisi Bandearga, an Irish Red Ale (5.7% abv), recipe developed by Brewmaster Professor Jon Downing;
• Smash the Ceiling, a single malt, single hop ‘smash beer’ (7.4% abv), recipe developed by third-semester Brewmaster students Erica Feng and Reshma Neupane;
• Gold Blush, a Pink Boots Pilsner (5.2% abv), recipe developed by Brewmaster alumna Mandy Blais;
• Onwards and Upwards, an IPA (5.2% abv), recipe developed by Brewmaster alumna Kate Buzanko; and
• Tropical Roots, a Hopped Sour (5.9% abv), recipe developed by Brewmaster alumni Melissa Blais and Lina Marcela Farfan Gonzalez.

Quick on the heels of IWD, OH!meal Stout will also be released. The recipe was developed by second-semester Brewmaster students Brie Oh and Jorja Hanes.

Smash the Ceiling, Onwards and Upwards and Tropical Roots will also be available on tap.

Kate Buzanko (St. Catharines/Bracebridge) who graduated from the Brewmaster program in 2024, jumped at the opportunity to participate with  a Pink Boots beer recipe.

“As someone who has worked in many male-dominated fields, it was important to me to be able to not just find a place but stand out and prove that it’s time for women to take back the craft,” she said. “I think it’s really important to continue inspiring other women in the program.”

This is the fourth time Buzanko has participated in Pink Boots – the first in 2023, before she applied to the Brewmaster program. “That brew day inspired me to apply to become a brewer,” she said.

Her Pink Boots IPA, Onwards and Upwards, was a similar recipe to the Project Brew beer she made as a final-term student last year.

“The name was inspired by this leap in life that I took by leaving everything I’ve ever known behind, moving to a new city alone, and diving head-first into my career,” said Buzanko, who was recently hired as a brewer at Lake of Bays Brewing Company in Baysville.

Erica Feng, who developed Smash the Ceiling with her classmate Reshma Neupane –brewed with their classmates in mid-January – noted that it was their first experience with Pink Boots and their first ever beer recipe. They tread carefully and intentionally kept their recipe simple by choosing a single malt, single hop ‘smash beer’ recipe.

“I feel excited and a bit nervous because this smash beer is the first beer I ever made and now it’s for sale,” said Yeng.

For Yeng, who followed her passion for the craft beer industry from Beijing to NC, it proved to be an opportunity to gain experience with recipe creation and beer production, while learning about the Pink Boots Society.

“I hope my beer can help to bring more attention to what the Pink Boots Society does,” said Feng. “It is meaningful … it could help women and non-binary individuals to receive more education opportunities and make this industry better, more inclusive and more fun with higher quality beers.”

Beers in the Pink Boots series will be available while supplies last at NC’s Wine Visitor + Education Centre retail store – alongside other student-crafted products from the College’s Teaching Brewery, Teaching Winery and Teaching Distillery. – located at NC’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake and online at ncteachingwinery.ca.

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada’s top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

Media inquiries, please contact: 

Julie Greco 

Communications Consultant 

905-328-2532 

[email protected] 

The post Teaching Brewery kicks up support for inclusivity with Pink Boots   appeared first on Niagara College.

For Chefs Michael and Anna Olson, the kitchen has always been at the heart of their lives – where their careers and relationship found the recipe to success. Just before Valentine’s Day, this culinary power-couple will join forces in the kitchen at Niagara College to share their story.

NC will shine a spotlight on Michael and Anna Olson on February 13 as part of its newest Benchmark restaurant dinner series, A Chef’s Journey. With a favourable forecast for the evening, the event is proceeding as planned while campus closures and class cancellations remain in effect for February 13 (ticket holders will be contacted directly).

Organized by the College’s Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies Division, each event highlights the culinary talents of one or two of its academic chefs, who curate a multi-course meal along with an evening experience to reflect their personal journeys. 

Both Michael – who has been a Chef Professor at NC since 2000 – and his wife Anna are well known in the culinary world, with 12 bestselling cookbooks between them, along with Anna’s latest release Baking Wisdom which recently earned a Taste Canada gold medal.

Michael and Anna met and fell in love in the kitchen at Inn on the Twenty in Jordan where they worked together for almost a decade. Michael moved on to the classrooms and culinary labs of NC where he has been passing along his skills and knowledge to the next generation, while Anna has been sharing her love of baking and cooking on TV and on her new YouTube channel, Oh Yum with Anna Olson – with Michael, more recently, acquiring a taste for video editing behind the scenes. Over the years, they’ve also enjoyed travelling abroad together to explore new flavours which, in turn, inspire their creations at home.

The Olsons have selected a menu to reflect their style, both individually and as a couple: casual, country-style food which they enjoy preparing.

“Some of the dishes we’re incorporating into the menu reflect our experiences from our travels, both professionally and personally, and some are reflections of what we see for the future,” said Michael. “We don’t rely on super showy or boujee ingredients … we have always concentrated on making approachable, delicious food.”

Courses will be accompanied by wines from Bachelder Niagara. Winemakers Thomas Bachelder and his wife Mary Delaney are personal friends of the Olsons who own a small family winery in Beamsville. Their daughters Esmee and Violette Delaney-Bachelder will also be involved as featured NC alumni at the event.

It promises to be a trip down memory lane for the Esmee Delaney-Bachelder, who will be involved as featured alumni at the event, along with her sister Violette. Esmee graduated from the School of Hospitality and Tourism in 2018 and is now manager of Red Ganache in Fonthill She noted that NC helped kickstart her journey in the hospitality industry.

“I appreciated and valued the hands-on learning approach that Niagara College has as well as their numerous connections they have within the industry. The co-op opportunities allowed me to explore the industry so I was well prepared to enter the workforce,” she said. “Niagara College set me up for success.”

In addition to cooking and sharing short stories with Anna in between courses, Michael looks forward to working with the team of staff and students and alumni at Benchmark for the event.  

“One of best parts about working at the College are the interpersonal connections. I love seeing how students who came from across the world will just meet each other at an event, or sit together one day, then they end up becoming best buddies for life,” he said. “Yes, we teach you how to cook, but the social aspect is a huge part of the NC experience.”

A Chef’s Journey

The dinner event with Michael and Anna Olson will mark the third in the series, which debuted at Benchmark in late 2024.

“A Chef’s Journey is a celebration of culinary artistry, community and the journeys that have shaped our talented chefs and alumni,” said Craig Youdale, Dean of Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies. “Each event promises to create meaningful connections between our College chefs, alumni, students and our community.” 

While tickets have sold out for A Chef’s Journey with the Olsons on February 13, they are still available for future events in the series with an exciting lineup of NC Chef Professors including: 

• Michelin Guide recognized chef Frank Dodd (also Executive Chef at Trius Winery Restaurant) on March 20; 
• Erin Circelli and Isa Mottiar on April 3; 
• Riley Bennett on April 24; 
• Scott Baechler on May 8; and 
• Oscar Turchi on May 22. 

Tickets are available, while supplies last, via Eventbrite:eventbrite.ca/e/a-chefs-journey-celebrating-students-tickets-1092764741759?aff=oddtdtcreator.  

All events in the dinner series will be held at Benchmark restaurant, located at NC’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The events will be supported by students and staff from the College’s Benchmark team led by Victor Oliveira and Chef Justin Downes. 

The events also support the College’s Student Experience Scholarship Fund. In lieu of leaving a gratuity for service at Benchmark or a special event, guests are encouraged to donate to the new fund which will create scholarships for students within NC’s schools of Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism, and Wine, Beer and Spirits.

Donations may be made by scanning a QR code displayed on menus or through an online donation form.

NC’s Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies division includes the schools of Culinary Arts; Wine, Beer and Spirits; and Hospitality and Tourism. The division hosts weekly pop-ups and signature academic events throughout the year. For info visit niagaracollege.ca/culinaryarts/events/. 

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 100 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is ranked Canada’s No.1 research college. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca. 

Related media releases 

New signature dinner series to celebrate NC’s academic chefs and alumni 

New scholarship fund is on the menu for NC Culinary, Tourism and Beverage students 

Media inquiries, please contact: 

Julie Greco 

Communications Consultant 

905-328-2532 

[email protected] 

The post Dynamic duo Michael and Anna Olson dish up A Chef’s Journey Feb. 13 appeared first on Niagara College.

A transformational $500,000 gift from The Canerector Foundation will help Niagara College address Ontario’s ongoing skills shortage through a scholarship program and mentorship for students in high-demand skilled trades areas.

Starting in September 2025, the Canerector Scholars Program will award scholarships to more than 50 students over five years, helping to bridge the gap for those entering the skilled trades field. The scholarships will provide financial support of $1,000 per college term, plus a $1,000 award upon graduation. In addition to financial aid, the program includes mentorship and leadership development through the Canerector Skilled TradesDean’s Council which is designed to help students grow both professionally and personally.

“The generous funding from the Canerector Foundation is much needed as the demand for skilled trades, engineering technicians and engineering technologist professionals remains at an all-time high,” said Leo Tiberi, NC’s Dean, Media, Trades, and Technology. “We know first-hand that scholarships are essential in attracting more students to our programs and helping them overcome financial barriers to pursuing exciting careers in industry. This support will enable the College to cultivate a strong and diverse workforce for the future.”

“Skilled trades are a critical contributor to the success of our overall economy,” said Amanda Hawkins, Canerector CEO and Director of the Foundation. “The Canerector Foundation is pleased to support skilled trades education, encouraging students to pursue these rewarding and in-demand careers.”

The scholarship program will benefit students enrolled in the following NC programs:

• Welding Technician (2-year program)
• Carpentry & Renovation (2-year program)
• Motive Power (2-year program)
• Construction Engineering Technology (3-year program)
• Mechanical Engineering Technology (3-year program)

Each scholarship recipient will also have the opportunity to engage in the Canerector Skilled Trades Dean’s Council, launching in Fall 2025. This Council will offer a platform for mentorship, industry engagement, and leadership development, guided by NC faculty and alumni leaders. The Council will also initiate programs such as a Women in Trades & Technology group, a Canerector Speaker Series, and high school recruitment events.

“NC students are the direct beneficiaries of this remarkably generous gift. We are deeply thankful to the Canerector Foundation for its investment in Niagara College students, who are essential to addressing the ongoing shortages in skilled trades,” said Gord Arbeau, NC’s Vice President, Advancement.

In addition to funding scholarships, the Canerector Foundation’s donation aligns with Niagara College’s broader Together campaign—a $50 million initiative that seeks to address skilled trades shortages and support other vital sectors, including healthcare and innovation.

Learn more about the important priorities of the Together campaign by visiting niagaracollege.ca/together.

About Niagara College

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 100 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is ranked Canada’s No.1 research college. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

About the Canerector Foundation

The Canerector Foundation is a registered, non-profit Canadian charitable organization founded by the Hawkins family, owners of Canerector Inc. — a group of over 50 companies that design and manufacture industrial products across a wide range of industries. Since its formal establishment in October 2019, the Canerector Foundation has donated over $20 million to Canadian-based charities that support communities across the country and around the world. To date, the foundation has focused on supporting skilled trades education, healthcare (particularly Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes), housing, and at-risk youth.

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Media inquiries, please contact:

Ana McKnight
Development Communications Specialist
Niagara College
[email protected]
905-932-5942

Sarah McCarten
Vice President, Communications
Canerector, Inc.
[email protected]
416-385-4334

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