2004-2005
News Release
REF NO.: 293
SUBJECT:
DATE: April 14, 2005
From rising stars to rising crust pizza, Memorial’s Faculty of Business Administration honoured two businessmen who have a penchant for leadership and the local business community. Alumni Karl Smith, president and CEO of Newfoundland Power Inc., and Noel O’Dea, president and founder of Target Marketing and Communications Inc., were both recognized at the 21st annual Partners Dinner for their business acumen and accomplishments.
Karl Smith, B.Comm. (Co-op) ’81, received the faculty’s 2004 Alumni Honour Award. With a focus on finance, Mr. Smith has served in a number of positions at the vice-president level within the Fortis group of companies before becoming president and CEO of Newfoundland Power Inc. He is also a long-time supporter of the Faculty of Business Administration and serves on its advisory board.
"It is truly an honour to be recognized by Memorial University’s Faculty of Business Administration,” said Mr. Smith. “I believe the strong foundation and educational experience I received at MUN has allowed me to advance my career. As an alumnus, I am very proud to celebrate and promote the valuable contributions that our university has made to our province and the development of our people."
Noel O’Dea, B.Comm. ’73, received the 2005 Newfoundlandand Labrador Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the faculty’s P. J. Gardiner Institute for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. Mr. O’Dea is founder, president and director of Strategic and Creative Planning of Target Marketing and Communications Inc., one of Canada’s top advertising and brand architecture firms. Located in St. John’s, Target employs 45 advertising and marketing professionals, represents blue-chip clients like Air Canada, Jazz, Unilever, CHC, McCain and Irving, and has won hundreds of prestigious awards for creative excellence and advertising effectiveness.
“Creativity is a powerful business tool,” remarked Noel O’Dea. “And is there any place in the world more creative or more inspiring than Newfoundland? I get a lot of satisfaction from knowing that with every successful campaign we create, every new brand we build, and every award we win, we are helping to shred the negative stereotypes of this place we proudly call home.”
“It’s an honour to have two such dynamic and dedicated leaders affiliated with the Faculty of Business Administration,” said Dean Gary Gorman. “Mr. Smith and Mr. O’Dea shared their stories about being from small communities and both have inspired us to dream big. As Mr. O’Dea said last night great ideas can come from anywhere and I am so proud of the great ideas being generated in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The awards were presented during the 21st Annual Partners Dinner held at the Fairmont Newfoundland on April 12.
REF NO.: 293
SUBJECT:
DATE: April 14, 2005
From rising stars to rising crust pizza, Memorial’s Faculty of Business Administration honoured two businessmen who have a penchant for leadership and the local business community. Alumni Karl Smith, president and CEO of Newfoundland Power Inc., and Noel O’Dea, president and founder of Target Marketing and Communications Inc., were both recognized at the 21st annual Partners Dinner for their business acumen and accomplishments.
Karl Smith, B.Comm. (Co-op) ’81, received the faculty’s 2004 Alumni Honour Award. With a focus on finance, Mr. Smith has served in a number of positions at the vice-president level within the Fortis group of companies before becoming president and CEO of Newfoundland Power Inc. He is also a long-time supporter of the Faculty of Business Administration and serves on its advisory board.
"It is truly an honour to be recognized by Memorial University’s Faculty of Business Administration,” said Mr. Smith. “I believe the strong foundation and educational experience I received at MUN has allowed me to advance my career. As an alumnus, I am very proud to celebrate and promote the valuable contributions that our university has made to our province and the development of our people."
Noel O’Dea, B.Comm. ’73, received the 2005 Newfoundlandand Labrador Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the faculty’s P. J. Gardiner Institute for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. Mr. O’Dea is founder, president and director of Strategic and Creative Planning of Target Marketing and Communications Inc., one of Canada’s top advertising and brand architecture firms. Located in St. John’s, Target employs 45 advertising and marketing professionals, represents blue-chip clients like Air Canada, Jazz, Unilever, CHC, McCain and Irving, and has won hundreds of prestigious awards for creative excellence and advertising effectiveness.
“Creativity is a powerful business tool,” remarked Noel O’Dea. “And is there any place in the world more creative or more inspiring than Newfoundland? I get a lot of satisfaction from knowing that with every successful campaign we create, every new brand we build, and every award we win, we are helping to shred the negative stereotypes of this place we proudly call home.”
“It’s an honour to have two such dynamic and dedicated leaders affiliated with the Faculty of Business Administration,” said Dean Gary Gorman. “Mr. Smith and Mr. O’Dea shared their stories about being from small communities and both have inspired us to dream big. As Mr. O’Dea said last night great ideas can come from anywhere and I am so proud of the great ideas being generated in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The awards were presented during the 21st Annual Partners Dinner held at the Fairmont Newfoundland on April 12.
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