ICBA endows Hochstein fellowship at SFU’s Beedie School of Business

The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) has committed nearly one million dollars to Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business

The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) has committed nearly one million dollars to Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business to create a new Philip Hochstein Fellowship at the school. The gift will provide resources to support the study of free trade, open markets and economic growth by researchers, academics and students.

The endowment will provide funding for the newly created Philip Hochstein Fellowship, named in honour of the ICBA’s former president, which will recognize a member of SFU Beedie’s faculty who has had significant achievements in the study and research of these ideas. In addition, funding will be available for related programming activities.

“This generous gift will provide resources for our faculty to carry out valuable research into the effects of policies on job creation and economic growth,” says Ali Dastmalchian, Dean of SFU Beedie. “Our work at SFU Beedie is underpinned by world-class research, and the additional resources provided by ICBA will help us to continue developing knowledge in these important areas of economic theory.”

For more than 40 years, the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) has been the voice of BC’s construction industry. Today, ICBA represents more than 2,000 members and clients employing over 50,000 British Columbians.  ICBA is also one of the largest independent providers of group health and retirement benefits in British Columbia and the single largest sponsor of trades apprentices in the province.

Philip Hochstein, after whom the new fellowship is named, was ICBA’s president for 30 years. When he walked in the door as ICBA’s lone employee in 1986, he worked out of a basement suite and the organization’s bank account was empty. By the end of his tenure in 2017, he had grown ICBA into a dynamic public policy advocacy and training organization that has nearly 40 employees.

“Philip’s contributions to building BC are immeasurable. His vision, conviction and courage helped transform the construction industry and established ICBA as a powerful voice for jobs, investment and opportunity in this province,” said Chris Gardner, president of ICBA. “We have endowed the Philip Hochstein Fellowship to ensure Philip’s legacy continues.  We want to support future generations of business leaders and the opportunities that flow from a strong economy.”