Michiko Ozaki, BCom, shares that after graduating from Smith, she returned to her home country of Japan and started working in asset management. She has spent the last 12 years in equity investment, eight of those in her current job as a portfolio manager with JP Morgan Asset Management. Michiko and her husband, Kento, Artsci’09, met during their frosh year at Queen’s. They married in 2013 and have two children.
Alumni Notes
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Published in: Fall 2021
Sameer Parekh (AMBA) got 2009 off to a great start by taking part in his second Bike4Life Challenge in support of Focus Humanitarian Assistance, paying his own expenses for the trip to and through India. With some of his pledges coming from AMBA classmates and professors, Sameer raised close to $10,000. His first international Bike4LifeChallenge took place in 2002 while he was studying in Vienna. Biking 438 km in five days along the Nile River in Egypt, he raised $5,500 for Focus. During the latest challenge, bikers withstood temperatures of 30 to 40 degrees C., riding at sea level and coping with many long hills as they pedaled from 8:30 am till 5:30 pm for six days for 550km, from Mumbai to Goa. On New Year’s Eve, Sameer writes, they stopped early and played soccer on the beach, with three Canadian goals “putting the Brits to shame.” Other memories: seeing his first Bollywood film and driving in Mumbai traffic so heavy he was stuck at one traffic light for 24 minutes. Off his bike, Sameer is a Part-Owner and Manager of a European food and deli store: The Family Gourmet Deli in North Vancouver, BC.
Published in: Summer 2009
Simon Pek, BCom, MIB’11, and two of his fellow Queen’s alumni, Adam Cronkright, ArtSci’09, and Jeffrey Kennedy, ArtSci’10, recently launched an internationally collaborative non-profit organization called Democracy In Practice, which is dedicated to democratic innovation, experimentation and capacity-building. The organization seeks to develop and experiment with progressive approaches to governance that are more representative and inclusive, and that lead to more effective decision-making. They have been working with several student governments in Bolivia, and hope to soon expand to other communities and organizations. democracyinpractice.org
Published in: Summer 2016
Ben Rodier (AMBA) Attention QSBAlumni was profiled in Marketing Magazine’s “2008 Ones to Watch,” an annual series that highlights the work of Canada’s top marketing professionals under the age of 30. His innovative approach to media for an awareness campaign for the Government of Canada earned him the industry's nod. He is currently managing new business development and advertising partnerships at Canwest’s broadcast division in Montréal.
Published in: Summer 2009
Mike Small, EMBA’09, has joined Akkodis, a global digital engineering, IT and research and development consultancy and solutions provider. Mike is leading the organization’s North American footprint.
Published in: Fall 2022
Katie Sokalsky, BCom, has joined XpertSea as president and COO, and will accelerate the Canadian company’s growth in Latin America and support its expansion to Southeast Asia and India.
Published in: Spring 2021
Zach Sonnleitner (MBA) and Chantelle welcomed Xavier Isaac on Aug. 14. The family continues to reside in Calgary. Email: zach.sonnleitner@hotmail.com
Published in: Winter 2013
Kristi Soomer, AMBA, wrote to let us know that she’s continuing to expand her ethical fashion e-commerce brand, Encircled, which she launched in 2012. She now has more than 10 employees, and a studio in the Junction area of Toronto. Kristi says her clothing is entirely sewn in Canada and has been featured in Fashion magazine, Apartment Therapy and other publications.
Published in: Summer 2018
Kristi Soomer (AMBA) recently joined ThoughtWorks as the lead Retail Consultant for Canada. She is working within the retail vertical to identify strategic opportunities to leverage emerging technology to create engaging and differentiated customer experiences, whether online, in-store or through mobile devices.
Published in: Summer 2014
Kristi Soomer (AMBA) recently left management consulting to concentrate on her fashion start-up, Encircled. With no formal fashion training, Kristi launched her line of versatile travel apparel for women, sewn locally in Toronto from sustainable fabrics. Encircled has been featured in The Globe & Mail and National Post, on CityTV Breakfast TV, and Cameron Diazâs Body Book blog, and elsewhere. Kristi also plans to coach other retail start-ups on the side. Visit www.encircled.ca to find out more.
Published in: Winter 2015