March 8, 2016

Regional entrepreneur and philanthropist Ken MacPhail will be honoured as Business Person of the Year at the Medicine Hat College (MHC) Connecting Students to Business Dinner on March 23, 2016 at the Medicine Hat Lodge.

MacPhail has had numerous business interests in his career but recently divested his main business, Gateway Agra Services Ltd. which he operated for 25 years. He continues, however to invest and consult in the field of agriculture.  He has held positions on numerous board of directors including private and publicly traded companies. In addition, he has served and volunteered on a variety of public service committees and boards.

According to Darren Howes, department chair for the Division of Arts, Education and Business as well as a member of the selection committee, MacPhail was chosen for this award due to his years of experience and demonstrated resiliency and innovation in business; his role as a board member, volunteer and financial supporter for numerous community organizations and initiatives; as well as his commitment to sharing his knowledge and skills through mentorship.

“Ken has owned and operated several successful businesses. He’s been influential in industries like agriculture and energy, an advocate for education and continues to support students in discovering the arts. Ken also plays a very active role in the sports community,” says Howes. “We are excited about our decision and know he will be a great role model for our students.”

The Connecting Students to Business Dinner is organized by the Business Ambassador Students (BAS) with support from a committee of MHC staff and faculty. The dinner is an annual event that invites business people in the community to connect and network with students.

“Tickets are now on sale and we really encourage local businesses to buy a table. It not only provides you an opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise with our students who are excited about entering the workforce and eager to make connections in our community,” says Howes.

Tickets are $60 per person which includes networking, supper and entertainment. To purchase your tickets visit www.mhc.ab.ca/connectingstudents.  

Register for Connecting Students to Business