Alumni News: VIU Magazine Winter 2017-18

January 5, 2018 - 2:30pm

Where are they now? VIU alumni share how their education helped them get where they are today. Stories are organized by graduating year. 

1990s

A lot of people would be thrilled to simply meet Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam, let alone work with him and the band on an animated music video. In 1998, Terence Fitzgerald (Diploma of Fine Arts – Visual Arts ’92; Diploma of Applied Arts – Graphics ’91) was lucky enough to produce the “Do The Evolution” music video for Pearl Jam, which made Spin magazine’s Top 10 Videos of All Time and MTV’s Top 20 Music Videos of All Time. A new art book coming out in February — Pearl Jam: Art of Do the Evolution — features never-before-seen concept artwork, personal stories and photographs, as well as scanned cells from the actual production. Check it out on amazon.ca!

 

Laura Anne Passarello (Diploma of Applied Arts – Graphics ’93) started drawing and painting at a young age with her mother, who is also an artist. Now she creates artwork for clients around the globe, including T-shirt designs, art for software development companies, illustrative logos, airbrushed murals, tattoo designs, book covers and posters. Check out her illustrations and designs at laura-anne.com.

 

Sabrina Goh (Hospitality Management Diploma ’97) and her husband Chef Sebastian Ng recently opened a new restaurant called Venue by Sebastian in Singapore. Sabrina manages the 80-seat casual restaurant, which serves contemporary European cuisine with Asian influences.

 

For Brock Bowes (Culinary Arts ’98), his chef training was his ticket to exploring the world. After graduation, he worked at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler for two years. Then he packed his bags to travel throughout Canada, the United States and Europe, working in some of the best restaurants in the world. On June 27, 2015, he blew away his competition on Chopped Canada and captured the grand prize of $10,000, part of which he donated to his local SPCA branch. Bowes now runs three restaurants in the Kelowna region of the Okanagan — RauDZ Regional Table, a farm-to-table operation; Micro Bar & Bites, a 36-seat tapas-style bar; and Terrafina at Hester Creek Estate Winery.

 

2000s
A desire to expand her knowledge and skills in journalism, media studies and creative writing led writer, editor and now published author Julie Chadwick (Exploratory Studies) to VIU. After a stint as editor of The Navigator, VIU’s student newspaper, Chadwick went on to work as a journalist and editor with the Nanaimo Daily News. In May, she published her first book — The Man Who Carried Cash — with Dundurn Press. The book is about the relationship between Johnny Cash and his Canadian manager, Saul Holiff.

 

Once Ruth Wigman (Culinary Arts ’01) got a taste for cooking competitions, she never stopped. While at the Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda, she placed second in the Escoffier Cup and helped them become the first AAA five-star-rated restaurant in the Caribbean. After relocating to Newfoundland with her husband Matt, who is also a chef, Wigman competed in a number of other competitions, including Gold Metal Plates, at which she’s taken home both gold and silver medals, and Top Chef Canada. She recently left her job as Executive Chef of the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland to return to British Columbia, where she now works as a private chef in the Vancouver area.

 

Pam Smith (Hospitality Management Diploma ’01) and her husband Joel Pollock have opened up a new restaurant on Blanshard Street in Victoria called Yalla, which translates to “let’s go.” Smith, a trained sommelier and CPA, and Pollock, a trained chef who has worked in restaurants ranging from Eden at The Rimrock Hotel in Banff to Sooke Harbour House and Stage Wine Bar, offer a menu of fresh and inspired Middle Eastern street food at Yalla.

 

One of the Top 20 Under 40 Business & Community Achievement Award winners for Vancouver Island for 2016, Tim Mawdsley (Bachelor of Arts ’02, Major in Business Finance; Associate of Commerce ’00) is Past-President of the VIU Alumni Association board and a current board member. A Branch Manager with Island Savings in Nanaimo for the past five years, Mawdsley recently embarked on a new journey to work full-time with his wife Kylie Mawdsley on her business — Kylie M Interiors (kylieminteriors.ca).

 

After playing a key part in the restructuring of Tourism Tofino into a non-profit society when she was Executive Director, Kirsten Soder (Bachelor of Tourism Management ’04; Diploma in Tourism Studies ’01) is the new Executive Manager of Destination Marketing for Tourism Campbell River & Region with Destination Think!

 

Greg Phillips (Bachelor of Arts ’06, Major in English) recently became a partner at Johnston Franklin Bishop Lawyers in Nanaimo. Phillips is a noted trial lawyer and advocate whose cases become important precedents used by other lawyers across BC. A Top 20 Under 40 Business & Community Achievement Award recipient on Vancouver Island for 2016, he is highly involved in the community, serving as Chair of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, Governor of the Trial Lawyers Association of BC, Past-President of the Nanaimo North Rotary Club, and is on the Nanaimo Ladysmith Schools Foundation board.

 

2010s 

Amy Pye (Bachelor of Arts ’10; Diploma in Information Technology and Systems ’05; Diploma in Applied Arts ’04) is the owner and operator of Pye Design, an award-winning agency that provides everything from advertising and design, to Internet marketing and public relations. In her spare time, the Top 20 Under 40 finalist has also joined the Naval Reserves and is training to be a Maritime Surface and Sub-Surface Officer. Check out her new website at artbyamy.ca.

 

Julie McManus (Bachelor of Arts ’10, Major in Creative Writing) credits an internship she participated in as part of her degree program at VIU, as well as supportive professors, for steering her towards her current career path. The internship at Point One Media, a Nanaimo-based trade magazine publisher, turned into a full-time gig, which then led her to work at Nanaimo-based Maximum Yield Publications — first as Assistant Editor, then Associate Editor then Web Editor and now Communications Co-ordinator/Web Writer for the City of Surrey.

 

Multiple requests for cakes from family and friends motivated Caitlin McGarrigle (Culinary Arts ’11) to make homemade cheesecakes, cakes and cupcakes for her loved ones. Her full-time gig is as a sous chef at the Hilltop Bistro, where she’s enjoying learning from Chef Ryan Zuvich, who just won bronze at October’s Gold Medal Plates in Victoria. 

 

Lori Shwydky (Bachelor of Arts ’16, Major Creative Writing) wasted no time putting what she learned to use after graduating — she immediately created Rebel Mountain Press in her hometown of Nanoose Bay. Since its launch, the business has produced several anthologies. For a full list, visit rebelmountainpress.com

 

A passion for lifelong learning motivated Brian Dickinson (Bachelor of Arts ’15; Associate of Arts Degree ’99) to return to VIU to complete his Bachelor of Arts after a long career in telecommunications, including working at the Port Alberni Undersea Cable Station, Lake Cowichan Satellite Earth Station and all over BC with the Canadian Department of Transport.

 

After more than six years together, Chris Sorensen (Bachelor of Arts ’15) and his partner Paige tied the knot on April 22, 2017. Shortly afterwards, the newlyweds set out to explore Rome and Croatia for a few weeks on their honeymoon.

 

After graduating from VIU, Alexandra Dawley (Bachelor of Arts ’13, Major in Global Studies) was selected to become a Rotary Ambassador Scholar. On full scholarship, she pursued a Social Development Master of Arts degree at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. As part of her dissertation, Dawley analyzed the formal and informal education programs available to urban refugee youth in Jordan. When she came back to Canada, Dawley managed individual refugee cases within the Canadian Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. Later, she worked for the Federal Resettlement Assistance Program, where she delivered immediate and essential resettlement assistance to Government-Assisted Refugees at the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria. Dawley currently lives in Budapest, Hungary, where she is an evaluation intern with the United Nations Refugee Agency.

 

Sarah Dion (Bachelor of Business Administration ’16) tested her limits in the Spartan Race this past spring. She ran, climbed and crawled through challenging obstacles that tested her overall strength, balance, and mental tenacity and endurance, and finished with a fiery leap of victory. By day, Sarah works at Island Savings in cash management.

 

On Wednesday, June 7, 2017, Justice (Zheng) Gong (Diploma in Hospitality Management ’17) proposed at his graduation reception to Constance (Jiali) Long (Master of Business Administration ’16) and the VIU Alumni Association was there to capture the moment! Gong and Long both work for mobile phone companies.

 

Aditya (Adi) Kulkarni (Master of Business Administration ’17) is planning to pursue a career as an IT Consultant. He also has a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and five years’ experience in IT service management with tech giants such as Fujitsu and Tech Mahindra. 

ALUMNI BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: 460 COMMUNICATIONS

It’s a VIU family affair at 460 Communications:

Senior director Andrea van Rossum (Bachelor of Arts ’06, Major in Business Management; Diploma in Business Management ’04; Diploma in Recreation and Sport Management ’02) is passionate about sharing stories that connect people. With more than 16 years’ experience in communications and marketing, she has the luxury of making her passion her career.

Graphic Designer Scott Booth (Diploma in Applied Arts ’07) was drawn into the design field by a passion for illustration. 

Booth brings a broad skill set and a craftsman’s attention to detail to the team. 

Megan Beauregard (Bachelor of Tourism Management ’05; Diploma in Tourism Studies ’02) rounds out the team as the company’s Marketing & Social Media Manager. A career in this fast-paced industry is truly a dream come true for Beauregard, who is never seen without her phone.

 


ALUMNI BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: ARRAY WEB + CREATIVE

Array Web + Creative is a Nanaimo-based agency in love with marketing, web and design. This close-knit team of nine includes a whopping seven VIU alumni and current students, many of whom were classmates!

Sarah Bromley (Internet Production Diploma ’09; Internet Production Certificate ’07) is Array’s Technical Director and one of its original three founding members. Bromley is an ambitious lifelong learner who is passionate about tech and community — she also founded the Central Vancouver Island chapter of Ladies Learning Code. 

Senior Developer Suttasinee Chansirinthorn (Bachelor of Science ’10) is a true “full stack” developer with proven skills in all stages of software development, a deep understanding of programming architecture and fluency in more than six different programming languages.

Content Strategist Carrie Brisson (Bachelor of Arts ’15) double minored in Business and Digital Media. Her skills and interests range from marketing, search engine optimization, social media and writing. 

Digital Media grad Andrew Powell (Bachelor of Arts ’17) does double duty at Array as the Support Specialist and Developer. Powell has a natural way of putting people at ease and is always happy to jump in wherever his skills are needed.

Daelen Berg (Bachelor of Arts) started as a part-time programming intern, and has worked his way up to Production Manager. Berg’s enthusiasm for new, innovative technologies combined with his keen visual eye help him create beautiful, intuitive user interfaces. 

Jessica Pirson (Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design) has been in love with art and design since before she could walk, so the Graphic Design program at VIU was a natural fit. Pirson, who loves being able to translate a client’s vision into gorgeous, functional visual communication, will graduate in 2018. 

Calleigh Lim (Bachelor of Arts) is the newest member of the Array team, working as a Developer while she completes her degree in Digital Media.  Eager to share her knowledge with others, she mentors with Ladies Learning Code, works in VIU’s Media Lab and leads a class at the University of Victoria. 

The Array team has had an incredible year so far, winning four Hermes Creative Awards, one Summit Creative Award and one Muse Creative Award. Congratulations!

*This article originally appeared in the Winter 2017/18 edition of VIU Magazine. Check out more stories on the VIU Magazine webpage.


Tags: VIU Magazine


Sign up for our VIU news and experts email