Community News (V14-I42)

Syed Hasan named finalist to the entrepreneur of the year award

Syed Hasan, President and CEO of ResponseTek, a Vancouver-based, global leader in Customer Experience Management (CEM) software solutions, has been named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Finalist in Information Technology. Entrepreneur Of The Year shines the spotlight on game-changing entrepreneurs who continue to drive sustainable growth and job creation.

Syed has achieved this distinction as a pioneer in the customer experience industry. Having founded ResponseTek in 1999 in Vancouver at a time when product support did not exist, Syed has remained true to his vision. Today, customer experience management is a multi-million dollar industry and he leads a market-leading company with enterprise clients across telecoms, financial services, retail and travel in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

“It is an honour to be selected as a finalist for Entrepreneur Of The Year,” states Syed. “ResponseTek has been a leader in Customer Experience Management software for over 10 years and I am extremely proud that the leadership and innovation our company is known for around the world is being recognized by our peers in the business community. I have a strong team that has been with me for a long time, and I am very proud to share this recognition with them.”

Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates the contribution and spirit of entrepreneurs everywhere. The Canadian program is in its 19th year of honouring the country’s most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business. Award finalists are chosen based on their vision, leadership, financial success and social responsibility.

“This year’s Pacific Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists are true leaders in their fields and champions in their communities,” says Ron Voyer, Pacific Director of Entrepreneur Of The Year. “At Ernst & Young we’re proud to recognize the contributions of these business leaders in Canada and around the world.”

Towhid Noman honored with alumni award

TORONTO– Towhid Noman came to Canada as a 22 year old foreign student with limited English and little money from Bangladesh in 1982. After several years of struggle, he was admitted to  the University of Western Ontario, where he completed a degree in math and statistics. As a student he supported himself and helped his family in Bangladesh by working at two jobs 35 hours every weekend. He spent much of his scarce free time helping others in his immigrant community.

Noman went on to complete teacher training at the University of Windsor, eventually joining the Toronto District School Board in 1994, where he is now a special needs teacher. He continues to volunteer, this time in Toronto’s south Asian community, and gives his time as a tutor, counselor, mentor, advocate and organizer.

Among the many young people Noman has supported and mentored is Araf Khaled, who won the prestigious TD Canada Trust Community Leadership Scholarship in 2011.

On  Sept. 28th his wife and he joined UWO Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Amit Chakma attending the 38th Annual Awards Diner to receive his 2012 UWO Alumni Awards of Merit for outstanding community servces. Noman is the first Bangladeshi Canadian to receive Academic Award of Merit for Outstanding Community Services. Noman credits his mother and his wife and children as his inspiration.

University of Alaska gets its MSA

ANCHORAGE–Muslim students at the University of Alaska now have their own students association which is open to all. Our club is open to all students, no matter the religion, race or gender. It’s a good way to get together and enjoy our time on campus,” said Romal Safi, MSA club president and biological sciences student to the Northern Light newspaper.

Though MSA is a place where Muslim students can bond, pray and grow together, the ultimate mission is to bridge the gap with the other faiths and beliefs on campus.

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