ISSUE 32 • 2014
Hospitality Grad Heads Disney Food and Beverage
Mahmud Dhanani (Page 6) IN SID E :
Downtown Campus Grand Opening (Page 4) Distinguished Alumni Awards (Page 9) Canada’s Country Superstar: Deric Ruttan (Page 18)
Table of Contents: Publication Date: June 2014 Fanshawe College Alumni News Executive Editor
Catherine Finlayson
Managing Editor
Joanne Wallace
Graphic Design Fanshawe Photographers
Downtown Campus Grand Opening ............................. 4
Si Design John Sing Agata Lesnik
Alumni PERKS
Tim Ambrose
Alumni Associate
Renee Crowe
A Happy Ending for Mahmud Dhanani at Disney’s Magic Kingdom ................................................ 6 Meet our 2013 Distinguished Alumni ........................... 9 4
Fanshawe College Alumni Association Board of Directors: Gail Malcolm (President), John Yandreski (Past President), Colleen Breen (Vice President), Jon Aristone, Veronica Barahona, Mandy Bennett, Colleen Douglas, Joseph DunlopAddley, Catherine Finlayson, Brenda Fontana, Kacey German, Adam Gourlay, Jordan Hobbs, Vaughan Scriver, Tim Wharton.
Deric Ruttan: Canada’s Country Music Superstar ........ 18 Fanshawe PERKS! .......................................................... 22 18
Alumni News is published twice a year by the Fanshawe College Alumni Association and the Fanshawe College Office of Advancement & Alumni. 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.
Alumni Profile: Meagan Needles, Game of Thrones Location Coordinator ..................... 24 A New Look for Fanshawe ........................................... 27 Alumni at Work: North America Construction (1933) Ltd./NAC Constructors Ltd........... 28 2013 Alumni Survey Results ......................................... 29
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Keep in Touch ................................................................ 30
About our Contributors:
No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s written consent. Fanshawe College Alumni Association Room K1011, 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P. O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, Canada N5Y 5R6 Tel: 519-452-4285 Out-of-town: 800-661-ALUM Fax: 519-452-1051 E-mail: alumni@fanshawec.ca Website: www.fanshaweforever.ca Mailed under Publications Mail Agreement Number 40063557
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Fashion Students Mentored by One of Canada’s Greats ............................................... 17
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Joanne Wallace is an award-winning copywriter and editor whose client list includes the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, the Universities of Toronto and Waterloo, and many organizations in the not-forprofit and charitable sectors.
Tim Ambrose is a graduate of Fanshawe’s Corporate Communication and Public Relations program, and also holds a BA in Communications Studies from Brock University. He has served as Fanshawe’s Alumni Outreach Coordinator since 2012.
Nancy Delorey is a graduate of Fanshawe’s Broadcast Journalism and Corporate Communication and Public Relations programs, and currently serves as the College’s Alumni Relations and Communication Coordinator.
Philip Wong is principal of Si Design, a boutique agency he launched in 2000 to serve Southwestern Ontario’s growing business community. Philip is passionate about his clients’ products, and committed to producing only the highest quality work.
F R O M YO U R ALU MNI OFFI CE
A “Remarkable” New Campaign, and a Celebration of Excellence At press time, we’ve just launched the public phase of an historic $100 million campaign to renew and expand your alma mater. Dubbed “Remarkable – the Campaign for Fanshawe College,” the campaign has already raised $75 million during its quiet phase, and will eventually fund new learning spaces, resources and research, effectively transforming Fanshawe into the province’s premier post-secondary institution for applied arts and technology. In our next issue we’ll update you on the campaign’s progress, and share how you can get involved. In this issue we’re proud to introduce you to the recent winners of our Distinguished Alumni Awards. These are graduates who’ve used their skills to improve themselves, their career fields, and their communities, and of whom we are enormously proud. This year’s award winners were recognized at a gala event in February, and it was a wonderful homecoming for all. In the following pages you’ll also meet some other alumni of whom we’re equally proud. These include Canada’s Grammy Award-nominated country music superstar, Deric Ruttan, and a young woman who’s been making her living since graduation working for HBO’s popular Game of Thrones series. Finally, you’ll find the results of our alumni survey, see some pictures from the grand opening of our new downtown campus, and get a look at Fanshawe’s new logo and branding. As always, we’re grateful for the hard work and dedication of our Alumni Board volunteers who give so generously of their time on behalf of all graduates – and for you, for your continued engagement with and support of your Alumni Association. Until next time, Catherine Finlayson
Executive Director Advancement and Alumni
Stay in touch! • Email us at alumni@fanshawec.ca • Call us at 519-452-4285 • Update your address and submit a class note at www.fanshawec.ca/alumni @fanshawealumni facebook.com/fanshawealumni Are you a writer? We’re accepting story pitches!
FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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Downtown Campus Grand Opening March 21st marked the official opening of our newest campus: a state-of-the-art downtown London facility housing some of our most creative programs.
By Nancy Delorey
Programs Housed n Interactive Media Design and Production n 3D Animation and Character Design n Game Development (Advanced Programming) n Interactive Media Specialist n Theatre Arts (Acting) n Theatre Arts (Technical Production) n Technical Costume Studies
President Peter Devlin addresses opening celebration.
March 21 was a special day as we celebrated the official grand opening of Fanshawe’s new Centre for Digital and Performance Arts. This 50,000-square-foot building is located on Dundas Street right next to Covent Garden Market, and houses our digital media and gaming programs, as well as our theatre arts school. The building represents an exciting investment, both in Fanshawe itself and in downtown London. The new theatre adds a dynamic performance space to London’s growing entertainment district, while students in the digital media and gaming programs will bring energy to London’s red-hot technology sector. The influx of 400-plus students and faculty is also expected to boost the local economy. The expansion into downtown London isn’t complete yet – the College hopes to acquire more space in the next few years. Stay tuned!
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We’re thrilled to help bring Fanshawe into the heart of London – James Good
Good Foundation Inc. President James Good (Centre) at the official naming of the Good Foundation Theatre with President Emeritus Dr. Howard Rundle (L) and Fanshawe President Peter Devlin (R). Pictured to the left, James and Eva Good.
New Theatre Named for Generous Donor
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The theatre housed in our new Centre for Digital and Performance Arts has been named Good Foundation Theatre, in honour of a generous $500,000 gift.
storeys rooms
86 2,353 185 400+
ft2 theatre space computer terminals
Good Foundation Inc. is a small private Canadian foundation supporting charitable organizations in the Kitchener-Waterloo and London areas, primarily in the arts and culture sector. This is the largest gift the Foundation has ever made in the London area. The versatile theatre is equipped with state-of-the art sound and lighting equipment, and will showcase work from Fanshawe’s Theatre Arts program. A unique design feature allows the theatre to open a wall adjacent to Market Lane, creating an indoor/outdoor performance space perfect for local celebrations and street festivals.
students, staff FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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A Happy Ending for Mahmud Dhanani at Disney’s Magic Kingdom
By Joanne Wallace
From riches to rags and back again, Mahmud Dhanani’s life reads like a modern-day fairy tale. Which makes sense, since the hospitality grad now heads up food-and-beverage at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
It’s easy to give up and hard to get where you want to go. But when you set your mind on it, you really can do anything.
Mahmud Dhanani and his brother Farid grew up like princes. Sons of a wealthy and successful Congolese businessman, they had chauffeurs to drive them to the swimming pool, maids to clean their rooms, and cooks to prepare their favourite foods. Looking back, Mahmud shakes his head. “It was an incredibly opulent lifestyle – I was like that old comic-book character, Richie Rich.” The source of this wealth was Mahmud’s father and his extraordinary business sense. He built five successful businesses, ranging from retail to shipping and export. Mahmud’s favourite was the family restaurant. He remembers playing in the kitchen as a small boy, watching his mother, one of the restaurant’s star chefs.
Mahmud Dhanani, Hotel Management, 1982, now serves as Vice President, Food and Beverage Business Optimization for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
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“It never seemed like a place of work to me. It was more like an extension of home, where my parents threw a party for friends and neighbours every night.” It was a vision of hospitality that would eventually shape Mahmud’s
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own career, but not before the privileged little boy learned some tough lessons about the value of hard work. Family starts over with nothing, builds new life in Canada The political climate in 1970s Congo/Zaire was both unstable and violent. By 1974 it was clear to Mahmud’s father that his family was no longer safe, so he made the difficult decision to move them to a new home in Canada. Unfortunately, this meant leaving everything behind. “We arrived as refugees in Toronto with one large suitcase. That was it,” Mahmud remembers. Both parents took night-shift jobs in grimy factories, working long shifts to put food on the table. At 13, the boy who had been chauffeured to the swimming pool got a job delivering hundreds of newspapers to four high-rise buildings in Don Mills, Ontario. His meager salary helped support the family, where sometimes dinner was one MacDonald’s hamburger and a large box of fries – split four ways.
Eventually Mahmud’s parents saved enough to buy a dry-cleaning business. With more dedication and sacrifice, they turned that investment into a chain of dry-cleaning shops, and the family fortunes were on the mend. But the lessons in hard work weren’t over.
for hospitality to ever-more senior positions with Disney. Today he is the chief food-andbeverage strategist for the entire organization, serving as Vice President of Food and Beverage Business Optimization.
also built restaurants capable of transforming from high-volume lunch service to formal sit-down dinner environments. And Mahmud constantly pushes for improved quality in everything served on Disney property.
During his 19 years with Disney, Mahmud has seen many changes in the hospitality industry – more discriminating customers, increased use of technology, shrinking margins and higher expectations. But the boy who watched his father build a new life from nothing doesn’t shrink from challenge.
Grateful for the journey
Mahmud’s father fell ill, and the young teen spent much of his high school career running the family business. “The economic climate was still pretty tough then,” he remembers. “There were times I had to drive from store to store, gathering cash from all the registers, just to make payroll.” It wasn’t pretty. But by the time Mahmud finished high school, he had developed a business acumen far beyond his years. From Fanshawe to Disney When it came time to pick a career of his own, Mahmud had plenty of choice. He had been accepted at McGill for medicine and U of T for law, but in the end he decided to build a career around what he truly loved: hospitality. He headed for Fanshawe, where he completed the Hotel Management program, and spent 10 years working in hotels across North America. By 1995 his work had attracted the attention of Disney, who offered him the opportunity to open their first off-site resort in Florida. Since then he’s brought his hard-won business sense and passion
Instead, he was changed the face of Disney’s restaurant landscape by introducing a multitude of ethnic foods, and moving away from the old world of hamburgers and chicken nuggets. His teams have won awards for designing restaurants that use wrist band and mobileapplication technology to speed customers through what used to be long line-ups. They’ve
Why does he love it so much? Maybe it goes back to those days in Africa, when he watched his parents throw open their restaurant doors, making everyone feel warm and welcome. And even though things have changed for the boy who once came to Canada with nothing, Mahmud is grateful for every step of his journey. “I don’t share this story all that often, but I tell it to show that you need incredible resilience. Life is a journey of many lessons, and we must take advantage of each experience, and use those learnings to help develop others. “It’s easy to give up and hard to get where you want to go. But when you set your mind on it, you really can do anything.”
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OPENING DOORS
to employment and training.
Career Services Let us help you find the best employees
With more than 17,000 full-time students and over 159,000 alumni worldwide, Fanshawe’s Career Services can connect you with the highly trained employment candidates that your organization seeks. Through experiential learning, field and clinical placements, and co-operative education, our students and graduates have the education and experience needed to benefit your organization. • Learn about our programs
• Promote your company on-campus
• Talk to a career consultant
• Interview on-campus
• Free online job postings
To learn more, contact us at: 519-452-4294
fanshawec.ca/careerservices
Co-operative Education Educating your future workforce
Fanshawe is training our students to become the highly valued employees organizations are seeking. With your help, we can train them to become more skilled and enthusiastic about being a part of your industry.
How does co-operative education work?
Co-operative education integrates classroom study with on-the-job work experience by alternating periods of paid employment with in-college study. Students fill positions that connect actual job duties and responsibilities with their academic training.
What are the benefits for employers?
Through co-operative education, your organization has an opportunity to assess potential employees without any obligation. Eligible employers may qualify for the Co-operative Education Tax Credit which will reimburse your organization 25 to 30 per cent of eligible costs, up to $3,000 for each co-operative education work term.
To learn more, contact us at: 519-452-4294
fanshawec.ca/coop
Community Employment Services Employers looking to hire ... we can help!
If you are an employer in the London and Middlesex area recruiting new staff , we can help you: • Post your employment opportunities on our website and at the college • Attract and recruit employees with the skills you need • Arrange staffing interviews and job fairs • Refer clients pre-screened to meet your requirements • Assess candidate abilities/skills with our Job Trial option • Access potential wage subsidy assistance • Learn about tax credits and grants available to employers who offer apprenticeships • Best of all, our services are FREE
To learn more, contact us at:
Nelson Park Plaza (Trafalgar St. & Clarke Rd.): 519-432-1220 Citi Plaza (downtown): 519-432-1751
fanshawec.ca/ces
The Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrate alumni who have used their skills to improve themselves, their career fields, their communities and their world. Fanshawe College and your Alumni Association are pleased to recognize the 2013 recipients for their leadership, innovation and success. This year’s recipients were honoured at a gala awards dinner in February, 2014.
Larry Myny
HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD Larry Myny, Vice President and Senior Investment Advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy The new Honorary Alumni Award recognizes those who, in addition to excellence in both career and community life, have made particular contributions to Fanshawe College and its students. Larry Myny is the perfect choice for the inaugural presentation of this award. Well-known in London for his work as Senior Investment Advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy as well as his extensive volunteer commitments, Larry is also founder of and major donor to the Larry Myny Mentorship Program at Fanshawe College. This innovative program matches volunteer mentors with students, helping them develop the insight and self-awareness needed to balance their personal and professional lives with their core values.
Proudly Presented by:
FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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HEALTH SCIENCES
Kathryn Burrill
Kathryn Burrill, Vice President, St. Joseph’s Health Care London Recreation Leadership, 1979
Kathy Burrill is an example of where a solid Fanshawe education can lead. Graduating from the Recreation Leadership program in 1979, Kathy has built a career across a range of health care leadership roles. She is currently Vice President, Communication and Public Affairs at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, as well as Vice President, Marketing and Communication for St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation. In her work, Kathy has built strong relationships with health care partners, particularly as hospitals in London navigated restructuring and change over the past 15 years. She volunteers as a mentor to Fanshawe students through the Larry Myny Mentorship Program, and presents regularly to professional and student groups. Kathy credits Fanshawe and her many mentors and colleagues for her career journey.
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Sponsored by:
NEW GRADUATE
Caroline Cameron
Caroline Cameron, Sportsnet Reporter Broadcast Journalism, 2012
Caroline Cameron is enjoying a jet-powered sports-broadcasting career, landing her first job with Rogers Sportsnet three days after completing her broadcast journalism program at Fanshawe. After working in Toronto as a Sportsnet reporter and anchor, weekend sports anchor and tennis writer, Caroline was appointed co-anchor of Sportnet’s Vancouver-based national morning broadcast show, Sportsnet Connected. Caroline holds the 2011 Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award from the London Youth Council and Pillar Nonprofit for her work with Rogers TV in London, and was named 2010’s most promising news writer by AM980. She also maintained a spot on the Fanshawe College Dean’s Honour Roll for students holding a G.P.A. of 3.9 or higher.
Sponsored by:
FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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BUSINESS
Mahmud Dhanani
Mahmud Dhanani, Vice President, Food and Beverage Business Optimization, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Hotel Management, 1982
With a Fanshawe diploma in Hotel Management, Mahmud Dhanani began his career managing hotels and inns across Canada and the US. In 1995 he accepted a position as Food and Beverage Manager for Disney’s new Vacation Club Vero Beach Resort. Since then Mahmud has climbed steadily through the Disney ranks, and is now Vice President of Food and Beverage Business Optimization. In this position he leads a team focusing on the business intelligence needed to support the high-quality customer experience at Disney operations across North America.
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Sponsored by:
Emm Gryner
CREATIVE ARTS AND DESIGN Emm Gryner, Singer/Songwriter Music Industry Arts, 1995
Emm Gryner is one of Canada’s best-known singer-songwriters, with 10 albums, three Juno nominations, and an independent record label to her credit. After releasing her first album shortly after graduating in 1995, Emm went on to write and record nine more albums (two of which were nominated for Best Pop Album of the Year Junos), play and tour with David Bowie, and sign several important artists to her own Dead Daisy Record label, including Royal Wood and In-Flight Safety. Along the way she made her acting debut in the Canadian indie film One Week, and co-hosted the CBC radio show Under the Covers. In 2012 Emm founded Trent Severn, a Canadian folk-roots trio, with fellow songstresses Dayna Manning and Laura C. Bates. Last summer she made international headlines collaborating with astronaut Chris Hadfield on his thrilling space-station version of Bowie’s Space Oddity.
Sponsored by:
FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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TECHNOLOGY
Joe Liberatore
Joe Liberatore, Owner/President Con-wall Concrete Construction Technician, 1972
Joe Liberatore owns and operates Con-wall Concrete, a leading London concrete formwork business. Con-wall has been part of many high-profile construction projects, including London Health Sciences Centre, the Biotron and Windee projects at Western University, and both major residences at Fanshawe. It has also helped build many heavy industrial and treatment plants and high-rise residential projects throughout Ontario. Joe volunteers with a number of professional associations to advance safety, labour relations and sound business practices in the construction industry. His extensive volunteer portfolio includes work with the Local Apprenticeship Committee (LAC), the Labourer’s International Union of North America (LiUNA), the London and District Concrete Forming Contractor’s Association and the Ontario Formwork Association.
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Sponsored by:
Michelle Palmer
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Michelle Palmer, Executive Director, Community Living London Developmental Services Worker, 1983
Michelle Palmer is Executive Director of Community Living London, the same organization where she began her career 30 years ago as a part-time support worker. Community Living (CL) offers support and advocacy to people with intellectual disabilities, as well as their families, and Michelle has dedicated her career to furthering this mission. In addition to running CL, Michelle volunteers extensively in the social-service sector. She currently chairs the Provincial Network on Developmental Services, and is Past Board Chair for the Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities. She serves on Fanshawe’s Developmental Service Worker advisory committee and on Community Living Ontario’s government relations committee. Throughout her adult life Michelle has remained true to the spirit of compassion and caring that first attracted her to a career in social services, and to the Developmental Services Worker program at Fanshawe. Sponsored by:
FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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Thank You! Thank you to all the sponsors of this year’s President’s Dinner fortheir generous support. Proceeds from the February 6, 2014, event supportstudent awards… allowing us to cultivate the next generation of extraordinary alumni!
Our sponsors influence student success.
Thanks to our Award Sponsors
Thanks to our Event Sponsors Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Presented by
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Dessert Sponsor
Program Sponsor
Hotel Sponsor
Reception Sponsor
Fashion Students Mentored by One of Canada’s Greats 2014 fashion design grads enjoyed one-on-one help from Canadian designer David Dixon in creating their final collections, thanks to a unique mentoring agreement between Dixon and Fanshawe.
Third-year fashion design student Megan Shepherd was in love with fringe. “I wanted it to be the main focus of my final collection,” she says, referring to the 5-garment couture collection designed and constructed by graduating students as their final capstone project. Lucky for Megan, she showed her preliminary sketches to Canadian designer David Dixon during a one-on-one mentoring session last fall. Fringe, he said, was all over the runways for spring 2014. By the time her spring/summer 2015 collection came out, fringe would be dead. Megan went back to the drawing board, re-designing to take David’s feedback into consideration. It was an experience that marked her transition from sheltered student to one who’d experienced fashion-market reality. Invaluable feedback This kind of feedback is invaluable for students, says program coordinator Leigh-Ann Waller. She approached Dixon last year about mentorship, looking for a way to help London-based students build stronger connections in Toronto, Canada’s fashion mecca. The mentorship agreement had Dixon reviewing designs, accompanying students on a buying trip to New York’s fabric district, and attending final fittings. “I learned so much from David, right to the end,” says student Ciairya Deshane, who found herself removing sleeves from a garment in its final fitting at David’s suggestion. “As soon as we took the sleeves off, the piece looked much fresher and more youthful,” says Ciairya.
Student Sebastian Guarin benefited from Dixon’s advice about fabric choice, ultimately choosing much finer and more costly fabrics than he would have chosen on his own. “It was great to know he understood my vision, and felt it could be brought up a notch or two,” says Sebastian. Sebastian’s work, featuring a grid-like effect worked in lamb leather, won Dixon’s award for Best Collection.
Judges praise student collections as “strongest in years” All the students had similar stories, says professor Loren Carriere, who praises Dixon for bringing his artistry, professionalism and editorial eye to a group of hard-working and talented students. She and Waller both see the mentorship experience as a resounding success, one that exposed students to the real world of Canadian fashion design, and encouraged them to be accountable to someone outside the classroom. It also inspired them to up their game. Judges for this spring’s Unbound fashion show praised the collections for their creative edge, as well as their superior fit and construction. “This group of students is well prepared for life beyond Fanshawe, thanks to David’s hands-on mentoring,” says Carriere. “We couldn’t be more pleased, and hope very much that he’ll be back.” FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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DERIC RUTTAN:
CANADA’S COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR
By Joanne Wallace
Music Industry Arts grad’s so-called “overnight success” followed a decade of tough slogging in Nashville. But for Deric Ruttan, it makes today’s success that much sweeter. 18
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Deric Ruttan wrote his first song when he was 10 years old. Holed up in an ice-fishing hut he and his buddies used as a fort during the long, hot Bracebridge summers, Deric and his cousin wrote a verse and a chorus and figured they were done. “It was so good we were like ‘man, we don’t even need a second verse. We’re geniuses,’ ” laughs Deric today. The young songwriters were soon horrified to hear “their” song on an episode of the sitcom Happy Days, and to realize they’d ripped off the entire melody. What they’d actually written was the Everly Brothers’ All I Have to Do Is Dream. But it didn’t matter. Deric tossed the song out and started over. He didn’t know it, but he’d just taken the first steps on a road leading to the 2014 Grammy Awards, where one of his songs would be nominated as Best Country Song of the year. Inspired by ‘60s classic rock Deric grew up the oldest of three brothers in Bracebridge, the small town anchoring Ontario’s Muskoka district. His dad worked for the local hydro utility while his mom stayed home to raise the boys. It wasn’t an overly musical home, but Deric was fascinated by music from an early age. He cut his teeth on his parents’ extensive record collection, which was mostly ’60s classic rock, with a bit of country on the side. He loved it all, but the record that made the biggest impression on him was CCR’s Cosmo’s Factory. “That was the record where I first understood the little name in brackets under the song title was the writer – when it first occurred to me that songs had to be written.” Captivated by the idea of writing and performing this music he loved, Deric asked for a guitar the Christmas he was 12. By high school he was gigging
around town with a CCR tribute band called The Bad Moons, and realized this was what he wanted to do with his life. Storytelling appeal of “New Country” At the same time, Deric’s musical tastes were evolving. With The Bad Moons he’d been playing a mix of CCR, Eagles and Stones, along with some contemporary work by John Mellencamp, Tom Petty and the like. Then one day a friend gave him Steve Earle’s Copperhead Road and said, “I think you’ll really dig this.” “I spent my lunch hour walking around town listening to that record on an old Sony Walkman,” Deric remembers. “When I came back – I was a fan.”
Ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert – in anything. Deric began researching what else was coming out of Nashville, and discovered he wasn’t the only rockster checking out the country scene. This was the late ‘80s, and both pop and rock had recently been eclipsed by the “New Country” revolution, led by Garth Brooks. Brooks paved the way for a new generation of hip, young country artists who oozed sex appeal while simultaneously remaining true to country’s songwriting roots. Deric started listening to bands like the Pirates of the Mississippi and the Kentucky Headhunters. He soon knew this new-country blend of strong storytelling, simple melody and rock ‘n roll was where he belonged.
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Fanshawe MIA program first choice Now that he’d found his musical genre, Deric wanted to know more about the business of music. Hearing about Fanshawe’s Music Industry Arts (MIA) program from one of his Bad Moon bandmates, he decided to apply. “I remember my high-school guidance counsellor giving me hell because I wouldn’t pick any other college or university for second or third choice,” says Deric. “But I knew if I didn’t get into Fanshawe, I didn’t want to go anywhere else.” Happily, Deric was accepted into the program, and spent the next few years learning everything he could about both country music and the music industry in general.
The boy from Bracebridge quickly settled in and started writing songs. He performed them at songwriters’ nights in local bars and cafes, just like hundreds of others who’d come to Nashville seeking the same dream. He moved furniture and painted houses to make ends meet. Eventually he landed a publishing deal, but over the years there were still days he’d come home to find the lights off, because he and wife Margaret (also a songwriter) had to decide between buying food for the kids or paying the hydro bill.
After graduation he spent another year playing bars and small venues across Ontario, but in the back of his mind was this idea that just wouldn’t go away: he needed to go to Nashville. “Finally I realized if I didn’t do something, twenty years would go by and I’d still be playing these ba rs.” And that was it. He packed his car and headed south. 10,000 hours of songwriting practice Today Deric has two offices; one at home and one on Nashville’s iconic Music Row. In each office hangs a quote from Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell’s meditation on success and what it takes to get there. Gladwell famously posited the 10,000 hour rule, which holds that 10,000 hours is the amount of practice required to achieve true mastery of any field. Today Deric says his arrival in Nashville marked the beginning of his 10,000 hours of songwriting practice. “When I moved to Nashville I’d probably written 50 or 60 songs in my life. And to me that was a lot. Now I write that in a year – because that’s what it takes to get a number one hit on the radio.”
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During this time Deric was also following the best advice he’d heard from Fanshawe Professor Terry McManus: network, network and network some more. He threw himself into Nashville’s uniquely collegial songwriting scene, making friends and contacts all over town. He began co-writing with folks he met at songwriters’ nights. He sought advice from those he’d seen succeed. He began looking at his own work with a practiced, critical eye – making slight changes to bring it up to the level of excellence he found all around him. “Be prepared to win or die in this business” The hard work and dedication finally paid off with a number one song in 2003 (What Was I Thinking, co-written with and recorded by Dierks Bentley), the same year Deric released his self-titled debut album.
Since then he’s written or co-written dozens of hit songs and released four more albums, each more successful than the last. His work has been recorded by Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Tim McGraw, Gary Alan, Jason Blaine, Doc Walker and many others, and been recognized by both Canadian and American music industries with a variety of award nominations, culminating in the 2014 Grammy nomination for best country song.
Deric Ruttan: Milestones 1972
Born, Bracebridge ON
1993
Graduates Fanshawe MIA Program
1994
Moves to Nashville
2003
Debut album, Deric Ruttan
So, was there ever a time he thought ‘it’s not worth it – this is too hard?’
While building his songwriting and recording career in Nashville, Grammy-nominated songwriter Deric Ruttan never forgot the best advice he learned at Fanshawe: “Network, network, and network some more.”
“Never. I knew it was going to be hard. It took almost a decade for me to have a number one song, and if I’d decided just to give it five years I’d have gone home empty-handed. You’ve got to be prepared to win or die in this business.”
And that’s the number-one piece of advice he’d give aspiring singer-songwriters today: be prepared to work harder than anyone else, learn from people who are better than you, and never give up.
What Was I Thinking (Dierks Bentley) tops US Country Charts 2004
My Way (Aaron Pritchett) most-played Canadian country song of the year
2005
Lot Of Leavin’ Left To Do (Dierks Bentley) reaches #3 in Billboard’s Hot Country chart and holds at #1 in Canada for 5 weeks
2007
Wins CCMA Songwriter Of The Year for Hold My Beer (Aaron Pritchett). Guys Like Me (Eric Church) is Top 20 on the American Billboard charts
2008
2nd album, First Time in a Long Time garners 4 CCMA nominations
2010
3rd album, Sunshine, gains Juno nomination for Country Album of the Year 3 CCMA nominations for hit single That’s How I Wanna Go
And what about the Grammys? As it happened, the song in question (Mine Would Be You, co-written with Jessi Alexander and Connie Harrington; recorded by Blake Shelton) didn’t nab the top award. But for Deric, that’s ok. Aside from the huge honour of being nominated, he’s truly adopted the Nashville mindset of never resting on his laurels. The Grammys were great, but that was yesterday. Right now, there’s a song to be written.
Visit Deric at www.dericruttan.net, for upcoming tour dates and to buy his latest album, Take The Week Off.
CCMA songwriter of the year nomination. Hell Of The Heart (Eric Church) is a US Top 10 single 2012
4th Album, Up All Night – Deric Ruttan Live
2013
5th album, Take the Week Off
2014
Mine Would Be You (Blake Shelton) gains Grammy nomination for best country song and Academy of Country Music nomination for song of the year
FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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ey e on siv m clu ve ex ts! Sa ith un w sco
di
Looking for summer fun? Look no further than your Fanshawe PERKS As a Fanshawe alum, you’re entitled to exclusive money-saving discounts, including these awesome summertime activities: Bingeman’s Park Budweiser Gardens Canada’s Wonderland Fallsview Indoor Waterpark Great Wolf Lodge Hamilton Tiger-Cats Honda Indy Toronto London Majors Marine Land
Ontario Science Centre Rogers Cup Royal Ontario Museum Stratford Shakespeare Festival Toronto Argonauts Toronto FC VIA Rail Wild Water Kingdom
ROAD TRIP? Take advantage of your PERKS membership today!
A PORTION OF YOUR PERKS PURCHASE CAN SUPPORT TODAY’S STUDENTS Tim Ambrose Alumni Outreach Coordinator Corporate Communication and Public Relations ‘05
When you access certain PERKS offers, a portion of your purchase is given back to Fanshawe College by that particular partner. At the moment, those partners include Johnson, Manulife, MBNA, Advantage InTravel, ADT and Zomaron. Those funds support awards and bursaries, student and alumni events, and other Fanshawe activities. So you get a great deal, and today’s students get your caring support. Thank you! Not signed up yet? Get your PERKS card today at www.fanshaweforever.ca
For a complete listing of Alumni PERKS, please visit: http://www.fanshawec.ca/alumni/benefits-services/perks
FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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ALU MNI PROFI LE
By Tim Ambrose
Meagan Needles
By Tim Ambrose
Locations Coordinator, HBO Game of Thrones
Photo courtesy of Robert Boake
Meagan Needles • Age 26 • Corporate Communication and Public Relations, Fanshawe, 2012 • Speech Communication, University of Waterloo, 2011 • Locations Coordinator, HBO Game of Thrones • Portfolio includes coordinating preparation, shoot and strike of 13 locations in Northern Ireland
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ISSUE-32 2014 FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS
Watching a big open field being transformed into a mass murder scene and battlefield is pretty amazing.
Q: How did you end up working for Game of Thrones?
Q: What are the biggest challenges in your role?
A: Two days after I finished at Fanshawe I moved to Northern Ireland to travel and work. Shortly after relocating I was hired as nanny for the costume supervisor’s children. After a few weeks they asked me if I wanted to join the GOT team as a fulltime staff member. I was assisting the costume coordinator with ordering in materials and auditing the budget through the filming of Season Three.
A: The biggest challenges are usually the ones we cannot plan for. This year we had a lot of flooding at the Castleblack location. Making sure it was dry enough to shoot the scene without interrupting the process was not always easy.
Q: Can you talk about your role? What is a typical day like? A: After completing Season Three I was asked back to coordinate the locations department for Season Four. This was a great opportunity with more responsibility and a chance to interact with nearly every department. At the beginning of that season most of my time and energy was spent prepping locations for shoot and communicating with other departments about facilities, locations and regulations. For every episode of the season we spent a day with the Supervising Manager of locations, directors, producers and the head of departments. We went around to each outdoor location in the episode and every department determined what work needed to be done to prepare for the shoot (fences removed, trees cut down, etc.). Q: What is the most interesting thing you’ve done so far in your role? A: I think my favourite part of my job was watching the directors plan the layout of a scene. The opportunity to witness a location being brought to life was a unique experience that I was lucky to be a part of. It is a long process, but watching a big open field being transformed into a mass murder scene and battlefield is pretty amazing.
Another difficulty is that we have a limited amount of time to spend on any given location. We need to make sure we prepare, shoot and strike the property within those time restrictions, and sometimes that isn’t easy. With 13 locations in Northern Ireland alone, we go through several hectic months. Unfortunately, we cannot plan for weather and in Belfast there is a lot of rain! Q: Are you a fan? If so, how does that influence you in your role? A: I hadn’t watched the show prior to my employment, but quickly became a fan. The show has all the elements you need to be hooked; blood, sex, betrayal and Kit Harington! Q: What’s next for you? A: I have just moved to Melbourne, and am here for a few months. I loved working with Thrones and will never forget the opportunity I was given, but will not be working on Season Five. I hope to continue in the film industr y, and for now, my plan is to balance that out with a bit more traveling.
Do you have an interesting job you’d like to share with your fellow alumni? We’d love to feature you in an upcoming issue! Please contact Tim Ambrose 519.452.4430 x 3940, or t_ambrose@fanshawec.ca
FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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Plan your next move Visit ONTransfer.ca and learn how to transfer your credits in Ontario’s postsecondary system.
ONTransfer.ca is funded by the Government of Ontario and maintained by the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer.
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Cette information est aussi disponible en français.
ISSUE-32 2014 FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS
@ONTransfer | #pathways
A New Look for Fanshawe Our new logo and brand promise capture Fanshawe’s commitment to help students, staff, alumni and community partners reach full potential. Earlier this spring Fanshawe unveiled a new logo and brand identity. The four Fs of the old logo – originally symbolizing the four counties served by Fanshawe campuses – have been turned outward in the new image, forming a stylized star. The star shape is no accident, according to Executive Director of Reputation and Brand Management Tony Frost. In fact, Fanshawe’s team has dubbed the new image “NorthStar.”
work can be shared seamlessly. The teaching space is laid out in a horseshoe, encouraging collaboration and idea exchange. “Students are excited, engaged and empowered in that room,” says Frost. “We want this to happen everywhere in the College, and for every one of our constituents to reach their true potential.”
“Just as the real north star has served to guide travellers and adventurers for centuries, so we intend Fanshawe to guide today’s students in the pathways they choose for success,” says Frost. New brand promise: To educate, engage, empower and excite Frost also says the logo itself is secondary to its accompanying brand promise, which is to educate, engage, empower and excite.
President Peter Devlin raises new Fanshawe flag.
First brand upgrade in 23 years
“Today’s educational landscape has changed, and colleges have to grow to make sure they’re delivering what students, businesses and communities want and need. This new brand promise is our ‘guiding star’ to ensuring we meet those expectations.”
This is the first rebranding exercise Fanshawe has undertaken since 1981. It began last summer, gathering input through a series of online and in-person surveys, workshops and interviews.
Frost envisions a future where the brand promise will inform everything the college does, from curriculum design to building construction. As an example, he cites a new classroom currently in the planning and design phase. Instead of the static teacher-in-front, students-in-rows-of-desks design, IT and Facilities Management teams are putting the brand promise into action.
More than 6,000 responses were received from College audiences, including students, staff, alumni, business and academic leaders, government, and community partners. Part of the process involved an online survey asking participants to rate four logos. More than 2,500 individuals took part in the survey, and NorthStar was preferred by a margin of 2-1, even over the well-loved existing logo.
They’ve filled the new space with Apple TVs and tablets. Student consoles are wirelessly connected to the teacher’s display screen, so
Watch for the new image to roll out over the next twelve months. More information available at www.fanshawec.ca/brandstory. FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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CAS T OF FALCONS
North America Construction (1933) Ltd./ NAC Constructors Ltd. Founded and managed by Fanshawe grads, NAC is the “Master Builder” behind hundreds of massive infrastructure projects across Canada. of owners vs. contractors. The company’s impressive portfolio includes everything from waste water treatment plants to hydro-electric dams, and they provide service to the civil, municipal, biofuels, energy, mining and industrial sectors.
Fanshawe grads and NAC senior execs, from left: Scott McPherson, President; Don White, VP Estimating; Mike Montroy, Head of Civil Estimating; and Mike Moylan, Project Manager.
Back in the late 1980s, construction engineering grads Denis Gagnon and Gord Lindsay were hard at work in the local construction industr y, building a future for themselves. Or so they thought. And then one day, one of their bosses said “If you’re looking for a piece of this company, forget it. You’re not part of the family.” Sadly, it was too true. Real success in Canada’s building sector often stays in the hands of those who own the company. Undaunted, Denis and Gord simply summoned up the old Falcon spirit, and set out to build a company of their own. A new kind of company, built on loyalty and trust That was the beginning of NAC, known as both NAC Constructors Ltd. and North America Construction (1933) Ltd. Twenty-odd years later, NAC is one of Canada’s most successful builders of large-scale infrastructure projects, and the company has offices in British Columbia, Alberta and Northern Ontario, in addition to its headquarters in Morriston, Ontario. Denis and Gord have built NAC’s success on their “master builder” approach to project management, which eliminates the traditionally adversarial roles 28
ISSUE-32 2014 FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS
Not only that, but five years after forming the company, Denis and Gord restructured it so they could share their success with the people who worked for them. Today about 85 employees own shares in NAC, taking an active part in the company’s financial success. “We truly believe in treating all our employees like part of our extended family,” says current President Scott McPherson. “Our success is entirely due to their hard work and dedication, and we wouldn’t be where we are without them.” Strong Fanshawe ties When they were forming NAC, Denis and Scott reached out to Fanshawe, contacting now-retired construction professor Dave Tustin and asking for referrals to the best and brightest students. Today the company employs close to 30 Fanshawe grads, including the entire senior management team. Not only that, but NAC supports the College through the annual North America Construction Award – $1,000 presented each year to the graduating student who has achieved the highest marks in the Construction Engineering Technology (Management) program. Thank you NAC for your steadfast support, and a special thanks to Nikki Middleton for arranging our visit to NAC headquarters in Morriston. We’re so proud to include NAC as part of our alumni family!
2013 Alumni Survey Results Last year hundreds of you were kind enough to respond to our alumni survey. Here’s what you told us about how connected you feel to Fanshawe, and what we can do to serve you better.
How Can Your Alumni Association Best Serve You? You want alumni connections that highlight:
You want your events: 3
Mentoring
Close to home To present networking opportunities To present career opportunities
PERKS 4
Career + Job
2
1
Social events
How Connected Do you Feel? Age makes a difference in how connected you feel to your Alumni Association. 18-24
25-34
Very connected
Not connected
Your Charitable Giving?
35-54
55+
Somewhat Remotely connected connected
75% of you support charities. WOW!
You Support: At Fanshawe you’d like to support:
51%
Health
Poverty
Animal Education Welfare
51% would donate to Fanshawe if asked
#1
Scholarships + Bursaries
#2
Mentorships
#3
Academic Programs
Thanks for your input!
FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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K E E P I N TOU C H
What’s new with you? We’d love to hear from you with anything you’d like to share with your former classmates.
s age
rri
ma
moves
career changes
new jo
bs
children
travels
Keep in touch with us and please send in any address updates! Web: E-mail: Phone: Toll Free: Mail:
www.fanshaweforever.ca alumni@fanshawec.ca 519-452-4285 1-800-661-ALUM 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
Lai Fong Serena Leung (Secretarial Arts 85) has retired and now become an author. She has written three titles, one non-fiction and two fiction. Janice Gibson, Sheila DeKeyserLock, Heather Gowanlock, Delores Schwartzentruber, Mary Ann Nichol, Sue Stafford and Sara Pilkey (Dental Hygiene 83) The class celebrated its 30th graduation anniversary in October, 2013 with a mini reunion at Amberley Beach on Lake Huron. The group plans to reunite in another five years. Shawna Kressler (Broadcast Journalism 03, Television News 04) Shawna started her career at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and has now jumped over to the team at Molson Coors as their Sponsorship and Event Coordinator.
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David Murray (Graphic Design 06) Together with wife Lynnsey (another Graphic Design grad) owns and operates marketing company Blackcat Concepts. They also employ three Fanshawe Alumni as contract workers. The business is flourishing in its 7th year. Sean Cunningham (Motive Power Technician 08, Business 10) Sean is a fairly recent graduate but fondly remembers his team championship titles with varsity cross-country, and loves the challenge of his new position with McCabe Promotional. Sean is newly engaged to fellow varsity cross-country team member Nancy Delorey. Jeff Burnett (Landscape Design 98) Jeff is now president and owner of Deck Dreams, a full service deck design/build firm in London. Jeff also teaches in the program he once graduated from and loves every minute.
ISSUE-32 2014 FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS
Stephanie Jarick (Fine Art 07) After graduation, Stephanie taught art at Synergy Performing Arts Academy in Brampton. She also worked with Bill Hodgson to make the metal trees in downtown London. Since 2007 she has been working for the Grand Theatre as a scenic artist and props builder. Stephanie has also worked for Soulpepper Theatre and the Stratford Festival. Ziyad Ali (Advanced Computer Support 94) has been Editor-in-Chief for the English section of Arabic/ English newspaper Albilad for the past 13 years. Albilad is published in London and distributed in many major cities in Ontario.
Alumni Board welcoming Peter Devlin
Front row: Back row:
John Yandreski, Colleen Breen, Peter Devlin (Fanshawe President), Gail Malcolm (Alumni President), Tim Wharton, Kacey German, Jon Aristone Vaughan Scriver, Jordan Hobbs, Catherine Finlayson, Joseph Dunlop-Addley, Brenda Fontana, Colleen Douglas.
Absent from photo: Veronica Barahona, Mandy Bennett, Adam Gourlay
Join the conversation and stay in touch • Follow us on Twitter @ twitter.com/fanshawealumni • Become a fan on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/ fanshawealumni
• Share the latest issue of AlumniNews online @ http://issuu.com/fanshawealumni • Update your address at www.fanshaweforever.ca
For more information on the board and on volunteering, contact Timothy Ambrose at t_ambrose@fanshawec.ca or 519-452-4430 x 4711.
FANSHAWE COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS ISSUE-32 2014
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Alumni! Please send in your address changes: www.fanshawec.ca/alumni If undeliverable, please return to: Fanshawe College Alumni Office 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., Room K1011, P. O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, Canada N5Y 5R6