Alumni Notes

Ramana (Ram) Balachandra passed away tragically on April 26, 2014 in his hometown of Winnipeg. Ram graduated with first class honours in Commerce in 2002, after which he received his CA and CBV designations. In addition to being a loving brother, son and uncle, Ram was a beloved friend to countless people at Queen’s. He had a beaming smile and infectious laugh that drew people in. His intellect was unmatched and his huge heart endeared him to all who knew him. Ram lived at “The Theme”, a house with an eclectic decor that served as a hub where he and his roommates’ friends could gather. Ram always knew how to get the party started – no one was left out when he was in the room. He brought out the best in the people around him. After graduation, Ram met up regularly with his Commerce pals, attending the weddings of Keith Mills and Jeremy Chan in Toronto. He was to be a groomsman at Scott Dalgleish’s wedding this August in Muskoka. Ram travelled through various parts of Canada with his good buds and Com’02 classmates Christian (Cbass) Rankin and Scott Dalgleish several times over the years. Together they traversed the salty cliffs of Cape Breton Island and hiked the Rocky Mountains. These epic trips provided a lifetime of memories for the three friends. Ram had a sharp analytical mind, but he truly loved music, the arts and film in particular. His depth of character and affectionate personality left a lasting impression on all who knew him. He was deeply loved and will be sorely missed. Donations in Ram’s memory can be made to the Psychiatry Unit of Victoria General Hospital in Winnipeg (vgh.mb.ca/foundation).

Andrew Brunton, BCom, has been named to the Top 40 Under 40 in Kelowna, BC by that city’s Chamber of Commerce and newspaper, the Okanagan Edge. Andrew is a business and real estate lawyer and partner in the law firm of Pushor Mitchell. He moved to Kelowna in 2008 with his wife, Simone Brunton, BCom’02, who is a CBV with Grant Thornton. Simone and Andrew have two children, Cooper (7) and Peyton (4).

Catherine Bell (EMBA) and Carolyn Duckworth (PHE’95, EMBA’01) recently joined forces with Shahauna Siddiqui and Bryan Arthur to create a new company called BluEra – Beyond Executive Search. BluEra is a boutique retained executive search and team building firm located in Calgary. It evaluates, creates, and builds high-performing teams, drawing on its founders’ professional and personal networks and their deep knowledge of the renewable energy, oil and gas, and retail industries. They are “passionate” about working with companies who share their belief in making a positive difference in the world. Also believing in the power of teams, they work closely with their clients, customizing their services and combining their talents to help client companies grow and develop their human capital. “BluEra is guided by values such as honesty, intellectual challenge, and a positive attitude,” say its founders, “and, since every search is a journey, we value finding fun along the way.” Catherine and Carolyn thank all their professors at QSB for giving them the necessary skills to launch this endeavor. Despite starting in September, one of the rockiest times in the economic history of Canada, they already have a full book of business.

Clara Chan (BCom) and Marco Lui (BSc’02) are proud to announce the birth of their son, Preston Lui, on Nov. 5 in Hong Kong, where they live. More photos can be found on Clara's Facebook page.

Chris Conway (EMBA) has been named Executive Vice-President and Chief Staff Officer of the Building Owners and Managers Association of the Greater Toronto Area (BOMA Toronto). Chris has nearly 15 years experience in government, government relations and commercial real estate industry associations. BOMA Toronto’s goal is to actively and responsibly represent and promote the interests of the commercial real estate industry through effective leadership and advocacy, through the collection, analysis and dissemination of information, and through professional development. It represents some 700 members in the GTA who provide a product or service to the commercial real estate industry.