Algoma U BBA Graduates: Graduate Employers and Testimonials

Department of Business and Economics

Overview

Who Employs Our Graduates?

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program creates progressive and creative thinkers for today’s fast-paced world of business. As a testament to the program, many of our students are being guaranteed jobs before they graduate. Our graduates have been hired at many well-known institutions, including:
 


Research In Motion (RIM)
IBM
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG)
 

Brookfield Power Corporation
TD Waterhouse
Algoma Steel Incorporated (ASI)
 

Revenue Canada
Department of Foreign Affairs
Ontario Ministry of Finance
 

RBC Securities
 
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
 
KPMG LLP Chartered Accountants
 

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation
 
St. Michael's Hospital
BDO Dunwoody LLP Chartered Accountants

Sault Area Hospital
 
Tenaris Tubes
 
Sault Ste. Marie Airport
 

Grant Thornton LLP
 
Sault Ste. Marie Public Utilities Commission
Upper Lakes Environmental Research Network (ULERN)
 

S.S.M. Economic Development Corporation
 
City of Sault Ste. Marie
BP Investment Holdings

CIBC
 
Edward Jones
 
DuPont Canada
 

TD Canada Trust
 
Community First Credit Union
 
Rocky Canada Inc.
 

Agawa Energy
 
Citibank
 
Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)
 

Northern Credit Union
 
Group Health Centre
 
Coca Cola Canada
 

Flakeboard Sault Ste. Marie
 
TD Bank
 
Suburu Canada
 

 

Testimonials - Our Graduates Speak Out!

Michael Gekas, BBA, CMA
Michael graduated with a BBA Honours degree in 2002, and accepted a position with IBM. He is now the Program Financial Consultant for St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, and oversees nearly $200 million in expenses. Here are his thoughts on our program:

“The case-focused BBA program at Algoma U assisted me greatly in preparing for the CMA (Certified Management Accountants) entrance examination. The professors teach a thorough methodology for case analysis that provides a framework for solid recommendations. In addition, the presentation skills I acquired at Algoma U have proven to be invaluable in the business world. The small class sizes in the BBA program provide ample opportunity for public-speaking, and for receiving constructive feedback to hone these skills. Choosing Algoma U has been one of the best decisions of my life, and has opened many doors for me.”

 

Nadia Lapointe-Mills, BBA, CMA
Nadia graduated with a BBA Honours degree in 2003, including a Specialization in Accounting. She is now a Financial Analyst with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Office of the Comptroller General, Financial Management and Analysis Sector. The following summarizes her view of our program:

“Through my BBA studies at Algoma U, I was very well-prepared for the CMA (Certified Management Accountants) entrance examination. The professors ensured that I had the business case writing skills, and the business and accounting knowledge, to successfully write the two-day exam and complete the two-year CMA Leadership Course. I was also well-equipped for the Treasury Board Secretariat’s FORD/IARD (Financial Officer Recruitment and Development) program. This program offered an unparalleled opportunity to obtain a full-time, entry-level position in the federal public service along with top-notch training and career development in the world of government finance and audit.”

 

Eric Maxfield, BBA
Eric graduated from Algoma U in 2006 with a BBA Honours degree and a Specialization in Accounting. He now works as a Treasury Analyst for Tenaris Tubular Technologies, a world-leader in tubular products and technologies. Eric is a strong advocate of Algoma U`s program, and has provided some valuable insights into why our program is so successful. Here is Eric`s testimonial in its entirety:

"Very few people will care how talented and brilliant you are if you cannot communicate these traits to them effectively during the interview and on the job. The most important thing my BBA has taught me is not from a textbook; it is the communication and presentation skills necessary to speak confidently during the job interview and on the job site. The countless business presentations required during my time at Algoma U provided the necessary practise to master these critical skills.

"Things change quickly. Often you will encounter something new where there is little or no guidance on how to proceed. You must know how to adapt and learn new things. Despite my lack of knowledge and experience in some areas, I have demonstrated through earning my BBA that I have the ability to concurrently learn a wide variety of subjects in a very short amount of time. Business case writing was also an extremely important contributory factor to the ability to learn, because of the free-form analysis, which so closely mimics the real world analysis I now perform.

"A strong foundation of knowledge provides a necessary level of expertise, with which to build upon for the rest of your life. The knowledge gained during classes at Algoma U has now become almost instinctual and I often find my decisions influenced by it. The terminology I learned through my studies has also proven invaluable to my ability to communicate effectively with my colleagues and superiors. Using the wrong vocabulary will confuse the message regardless of the underlying concept.

"A BBA is one of the best investments you can make in yourself. The potential return is limitless. I am amazed at how much I was able to learn at Algoma U in a few short years. Prospective students have a worthy goal in achieving a BBA, and should be very proud upon completion. It shows a high level of endurance, knowledge, intelligence, and just about every other trait you could hope to achieve in life to distinguish yourself as a person of quality.

"Algoma U’s BBA program is truly world class and can compete with similar programs offered by institutions around the world. Soon after earning my degree, I was offered a position with a company called Tenaris (locally known as Algoma Tubes). Shortly after being hired, I was sent to Argentina to spend a month with 60 other colleagues from our offices in countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Italy, Romania, Uruguay, and Japan. Armed with only a Bachelor’s degree from Algoma U, and no experience whatsoever, I found that I could compete easily with my colleagues during the sometimes bizarre competitive exercises and projects we encountered during our training, by using the case analysis, presentation, and group work skills I had acquired during my studies at Algoma U."

 

Andrew Ross, BBA
Andrew is a 2004 BBA graduate and the Acting co-General Manager, and Youth Development Coordinator, for Enterprise Centre Sault Ste. Marie, which is a division of the Economic Development Corporation. His main areas of responsibility include client development, program delivery, business plan analysis, and funding application reviews. Here are Andrew`s reasons for choosing Algoma U:

"I chose to return to Algoma U for my BBA because I knew that I would have close contact with my professors and a more intimate learning environment. I also knew that the quality of the program and the faculty were such that I would be receiving the best education possible, without having to leave Sault Ste. Marie. The skills and techniques I learned have helped to propel me through the world of Economic Development, and I feel that Algoma U’s BBA program has armed me with the knowledge and abilities I need to continue to excel in my field. I would recommend the BBA program to anyone interested in a career in business who also wishes to have the opportunity to excel and advance in their chosen field."