Annual Report Brock University Alumni Association
2021 – 2022 1
Table of Contents Joint Letter to Alumni
03
About the BUAA
04
BUAA Board Committees
05
Alumni Population at a Glance
06
Alumni Engagement Stats
07
Badgers to Badgers
08
Alumni Awards & Recognition
10-12
BUAA Committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
13
Preferred Partners
14
Development & Alumni Relations Office Brock University 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada 905 688 5550 x 4190 alumni@brocku.ca brocku.ca/alumni
FACEBOOK-SQUARE twitter instagram youtube 2
A Letter to Our Alumni The past year brought a new definition to the “digital age” for the Alumni Association as we continued to focus our efforts online with new programming for graduates, a support system for alumni owned and operated businesses and look internally as an organization. After another round of virtual convocations, an online Homecoming celebration and several webinars, we hosted our first in-person event in two years: a sold-out event at the Toronto Blue Jays game. The response was met with overwhelming excitement and support with over 130 alumni and friends in attendance. It was great to see the smiling faces of our alumni friends in 3D. With a pause on travelling and in-person events, the board also looked at building the foundation for the BUAA of tomorrow. We reviewed our governance processes, revised the BUAA Handbook and, most importantly, took time to reflect on how the board can become more diverse, inclusive and representative of more voices within our alumni family. All alumni board members and staff participated in diversity training through the office of Human Rights and Equity Services at Brock University. We’d like to thank Trecia McLennon for providing the training and for helping us all be more mindful and inclusive. As we turn the page on another year, we’d like to thank Erin Mathany, James O’Brien, and Anthony Marotta for their valued service to the board and their many contributions to enriching our alumni community. At the same time, we’re excited to welcome Allie Hughes, Chris Ventura, Lauren Swindley, and Jayne Morrish to the BUAA executive next year. We know the BUAA is in good hands for the next chapter. Surgite!
Greg Plata (BSM ‘08)
Terry Cockerline (BA ‘97)
President, Brock University Alumni Association
Director, Alumni Relations, Brock University
3
About the Brock University Alumni Association The Brock University Alumni Association (BUAA) is an autonomous organization championed and governed by a volunteer board of directors and operates in accordance with its Constitution and bylaws. The Alumni Association represents the interests of all Brock alumni and acts as an advocate on their behalf, creates opportunities for alumni to stay engaged with the Brock community and recognizes our collective successes. Our mission is to foster and recognize a tradition of excellence by working together to advance the value and reputation of the Brock degree and experience. The BUAA is guided by the values of advocacy, collaboration, commitment, integrity and leadership.
2021-2022 Board of Directors • • • • • • • •
Allie Hughes (BA ’09) Anthony Marotta (BBA ’15) Erin Mathany (BSM ’05)** Jayne Morrish (MA ’12) James O’Brien (BA ’07)* Greg Plata (BSM ’08) Lauren Swindley (BA ’07) Chris Ventura (BA ’12, MEd ’17)
* Representative to the Brock University Senate ** Representative to the Brock University Board of Trustees
4
BUAA Board Committees Student and Young Alumni (NEW)
Nominating
The Student and Young Alumni Committee advises the Alumni Relations office on programming to engage alumni and students, and collaborates with student service departments at Brock University to identify student engagement opportunities.
The Nominating Committee has two primary responsibilities, developing a slate of candidates for openings on the board of directors and guiding the BUAA executive selection through the recruitment, vetting, and receipt of all potential applications.
Community Engagement
Governance
The Community Engagement Committee is responsible for identifying alumni making a difference in their community, for supporting community initiatives of interest to alumni and for providing alumni with community engagement opportunities.
The Governance ad-hoc Committee is dedicated to improving the BUAA Board of Directors handbook and training materials, monitoring revisions to the Constitution and ensuring the board continues to meet its constitutional obligations.
Recognition of Excellence
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) (NEW)
The Recognition of Excellence Committee is a way for the BUAA to recognize Brock University graduates whose actions and achievements demonstrate the values held by the BUAA and profile the accomplishments of the alumni community.
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) ad-hoc Committee was struck to help identify and support a clear and tangible commitment to authentic EDI across the BUAA Board of Directors.
Outreach and Sponsorship The Outreach and Sponsorship Committee supports the promotion of activities that will help promote the BUAA’s mission. 5
Brock Alumni Population at a Glance Our alumni are deeply woven into the fabric of the Brock University community. They work hard in their personal and professional lives, advance the institutional reputation of their alma mater, and generously lend their time and talent to help Brock students and fellow graduates excel in their personal, professional, and academic endeavours. While we have graduates living all over the world, the vast majority of our contactable alumni population resides in Canada, with a significant density in the following regions in Ontario:
33,295
18,444
Niagara
Hamilton/Burlington
25,053
1,901
GTA
National Capital Region
96%
Alumni in Canada
1.3%
Alumni in the USA
1.95%
Alumni in all other countries 6
83,321
Contactable Alumni
The number of contactable alumni accounts for 74% of our total living alumni population. We communicate important updates, university news, social and professional development opportunities and more via phone, email or mail.
Brock Alumni Blue Jays Event a Home Run On April 26, 2022, 130 alumni and friends filled the Brock alumni section at the Rogers Centre in Toronto for the first in-person alumni event in over two years. The Blue Jays brought home an exciting win after tying things up in the bottom of the ninth. FUN FACT:
This event sold out in less than 24 hours!
8.6%
8.2% 7.8% 7.4%
7.6%
Philanthropy Volunteers – 101 Alumni Donors – 740 Alumni Gifts – 1,396 Funds Raised – $544,128.21
Alumni made up 58.8% of our total donors during this fiscal year.
7.4%
7.2%
• New Alumni Members – 463 • Introductions – 7,036
• • • •
8.0% 7.6%
Ten Thousand Coffees
• Events Hosted – 52 • Event Attendees – 740 • Business Entries – 53
8.8% 8.4%
• Address Updates – 1,714 • Social Media Followers – 17,194
Participation
Alumni Engagement Index 8.6%
BrockU Connection
7.0% 6.8% 2019–2020
2020–2021
2021–2022
The Alumni Engagement Index represents the percentage of alumni engaged at Brock University each year. Initiatives involving Alumni Relations and the Alumni Association are captured consistently with input from campus stakeholders. Alumni Relations continues to work with Faculties, Departments and non-academic units to capture these alumni touchpoints.
Over
7,000
Alumni Engagements
7
Badgers to Badgers When the pandemic brought in-person programming to a sudden halt, the BUAA Outreach and Sponsorship Committee (OSC) was left with no student events or initiatives to support. Determined to keep going, the Committee decided to reimagine how their work could support students and alumni who were most impacted by ongoing public health lockdowns and financial hardship, marking the early beginnings of the Badgers to Badgers program. OSC redirected funds that would have been allocated to sponsoring in-person events to the procurement of gift cards from local restaurants owned and operated by Brock University alumni. Those gift cards were then given to students in need who were still on campus and unable to return to their homes because of travel restrictions. By leveraging the online alumni business directory, OSC regularly reviews and identifies potential 8
matches for the Badgers to Badgers program and purchases gift cards to pass on to students throughout the year. While Badgers to Badgers was developed as a pandemic recovery effort, the OSC sees the program evolving in a post-pandemic environment. “I think this program has so much potential,” says Chris Ventura (BA ’12, MEd ’17), BUAA board member and founder of Badgers to Badgers. “We’ve already begun expanding the criteria and scope of the program to support more businesses and continue to evaluate opportunities for support.” Since its pilot in 2021, Badgers to Badgers has supported 10 alumni businesses and 43 students. Alumni interested in being considered for this initiative are invited to apply to the alumni business directory online at brocku.ca/alumni/business-directory for free.
Explore more than 100 Badger businesses online
brocku.ca/alumni/ business-directory 9
10
Alumni Awards & Recognition The BUAA takes pride in recognizing and celebrating the outstanding achievements of our fellow alumni. Presented annually by the BUAA, alumni award nominations are reviewed by the BUAA Recognition of Excellence Committee and recipients are selected based on the criteria of each award. The BUAA also collaborates with Faculty Deans and the Co-op, Career, and Experiential Education team to endorse their faculty and program specific awards. Mike Pilato (BAcc ’98) 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient After graduating from Brock, Pilato’s career led him into the consumer goods industry, working for global companies such as Playtex Products, Kraft Foods, The Clorox Company. Now as President and CEO for Jamieson Wellness, Pilato is focused on building a positive organizational culture that drives results.
Brennor Jacobs (BA ’19) 2021 Outstanding Young Alumni Award Recipient After graduating from Brock in 2019, Jacobs had the idea to create a small resource booklet on lacrosse, a sport that has deep roots in many Indigenous cultures and within Jacob’s own family and community. His 437-page book, Akhwatsirehko:wa My Big Family, explores how lacrosse has impacted people emotionally, intellectually and spiritually and has received international recognition.
Mario De Divitiis (BA ’06, MA ’08) 2021 Community Engagement Award Recipient Throughout his professional career, De Divitiis has chosen paid and volunteer roles that have provided him opportunities to help the greater good and has built a track record of elevating organizations to new heights.
About the Awards
The Distinguished Alumni Award honours one Brock University graduate who has earned prominence as a result of their exceptional professional achievements and/or service to society through volunteerism or philanthropy. The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes a Brock University graduate under 35 years of age in the first decade of their career who has made a significant impact in their chosen field. The Community Engagement Award honours one extraordinary graduate who has set a high standard for community service and who has made a significant contribution as a volunteer to their community. The Alumni Co-op Employer Award recognizes alumni who have been instrumental in developing quality opportunities for Brock co-op students and contributing to the growth and success of Brock’s co-op program.
11
Darryl Moyers (BBA ’11) and Tyler Stark (BBA ’11) 2022 Brock Alumni Co-op Employer Award Recipients Since 2016, Moyers & Stark Consulting has regularly recruited talent from Brock’s co-op programs. Through their leadership, students have been given meaningful realworld projects to work on and problems to solve, preparing them for full-time employment with the firm—or with their clients—upon graduation.
Distinguished Faculty Graduate Awards The Distinguished Faculty Graduate Awards celebrate individual faculty alumni who have earned prominence as a result of their exceptional professional achievements and/or service to society. Elisabeth Walker-Young (BPhEd ’02) 2021 Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Distinguished Graduate Award Walker-Young is a four-time Paralympian in swimming and an advocate for Paralympic athletes. She received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for her contributions to the Paralympic movement and was made an Officer to the Order of Canada for her contributions to the inclusion and accessibility for Canadians.
Chase Blodgett (BEd ’09, BPhEd ’09) 2021 Faculty of Education Distinguished Graduate Award Blodgett is a gender and sexuality advocate, educator, speaker and consultant. He has been recognized for his extraordinary commitment to advancing human rights for transgender, two-spirit and non-binary individuals and their immediate supports. His advocacy and leadership is credited as a driving force behind the Yukon Territory’s transformation into a national leader in gender diversity and inclusion.
12
Shawn Rubel (BA ’04) 2021 Faculty of Humanities Distinguished Graduate Award Rubel is an internet entrepreneur who, recognizing a need, applied his passion for design and started Eezy, a successful online company that provides stock photos and resources for designers.
Johann (Hans) Matthews (BSc ’84) 2021 Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences Distinguished Graduate Award Matthews is a geologist and award-winning consultant specializing in helping mining companies collaborate with Indigenous communities. His reputation for environmental stewardship has allowed him to work on many of Canada’s most challenging environmental issues.
Angela Salvatore (BA ’02) 2021 Faculty of Social Sciences Distinguished Graduate Award Salvatore is an established lawyer and the first woman to become Chair of the Ontario Bar Association Taxation Law Section. She is also actively involved in educating and advocating for women in leadership.
Cheryl Brandon (BBA ’04) 2021 Goodman School of Business Distinguished Graduate Award Brandon is a senior executive and partner with Waterton Global Resource Management and was recently named to Bloomberg’s Top 40 Under 40 in Canada list. She has established herself as one of the country’s leading executives in investment management and is a founder of the Giving 2 Girls initiative, which supports girls in developing nations.
BUAA Committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion In 2021, the BUAA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) ad-hoc committee was struck to help identify and support a clear and tangible commitment to authentic EDI efforts across the BUAA Board of Directors through training, committee initiatives and board activities. Additionally, the EDI ad-hoc committee was created to support the BUAA Board of Directors in understanding key concepts and actions related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. To date, all members of the BUAA Board of Directors and Alumni Relations staff have completed the first module of the Intercultural Awareness and Competence training at Brock University and are expected to complete the remaining two modules in the summer of 2022.
13
Take Advantage of Your Alumni Benefits Members of the Brock alumni family have exclusive access to competitive rates and special offers through our preferred partners.
TD Insurance Meloche
Manulife
As a trusted partner, the TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Program is dedicated to helping Brock University alumni get access to preferred insurance rates on car, home, condo and tenant coverage. For more information or to get a quote visit www.tdinsurance.com/BROCKU
Manulife offers alumni and their families one of the most comprehensive selections of insurance coverage available, at a price that’s hard to beat. These competitive plans can help you look after the most important things in life...your health, your family and your income.
MBNA
Manulife Bank
With the MBNA Rewards® Mastercard® credit card, you could get the flexibility to earn and redeem points for what you want, when you want.
Your hard-earned money could be working harder. Enjoy the flexibility to bank the way you choose, including online and mobile banking with no monthly account fee.
The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ®MBNA and other trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
14
6,644
Contiki Holidays From quick breaks to epic journeys, Contiki is dedicated to making every moment count. Contiki is pleased to offer special pricing for Brock alumni 35 years of age and under.
Alumni Participating in Affinity Programs
Grow your network with Ten Thousand Coffees
Connect with fellow alumni, mentor students, and attend networking events. Join the community today brocku.ca/alumni/ten-thousand-coffees
15
Being a Badger has its perks Members of the Brock alumni family have exclusive access to a growing number of benefits, opportunities and resources to support them throughout their life after university.
Events
Business Directory
Exclusive Rates and Discounts
16
Networking
Professional Development
Discover more at brocku.ca/alumni/welcome