Vega founder Charles Chang among Impact Award winners at BASS Banquet

Beedie School of Business BBA alumnus and founder of Vega, Charles Chang was one of three winners of Impact Awards at the 15^th annual BASS Banquet.

Chang joined BBA alumna Pam Hernandez and current BBA student Loretta Yang as winners of this year’s Impact Awards, which honour winners for their contributions to advancing the Beedie School of Business community.

The BASS (Business Administration Student Society) Banquet, held this year on February 23 at the Sheraton Wall Centre in downtown Vancouver, is the Beedie School of Business’ signature undergraduate networking event.

Organized entirely by members of BASS, each year the event brings together members of the Beedie and Vancouver community to celebrate the success of individuals that have contributed to the growth of the School and its students.

Chang took home the Corporate Impact Award, recognizing a Canadian business leader who not only excels in their area of expertise, but also shows extraordinary commitment to their community.

Chang is the founder and former President of Vega, a premium brand of plant-based nutrition products. He founded the company in 2004 from his basement, financing the operation with a second mortgage on his house and four credit cards. The company was sold in 2015 to White Wave Foods for USD $550 million, after which he founded Lyra Growth Partners, offering mentorship and venture capital to accelerate growth within startups.

“I am very honoured to be an SFU business alumnus and to be chosen for this award by the students,” said Chang in a fireside chat at the BASS Banquet with 2010 Student Impact Award winner, Ashish Gurung.

“I’m so impressed with the students I have met here – my friend Ryan Beedie won this award last year, so I told him that we are now part of the club. I learned through my studies at SFU that you have to work hard, and there is no cutting corners. I am very thankful for that and have taken it with me ever since.”

Hernandez was this year’s recipient of the Alumni Impact Award, presented to a Beedie undergraduate alumnus or alumna who has made an exceptional contribution that inspires and benefits both Beedie students and alumni.

Since graduating, Hernandez has coached numerous Beedie teams to success in case competitions, most recently acting as head coach of the 2015 JDC West team. She has acted as mentor for both the SFU chapter of Young Women in Business and the Beedie Career Management Centre, and sits on the SFU Alumni Association Board of Directors.

The Student Impact Award this year went to Loretta Yang for her dedication to inspiring the Beedie community through academics, school involvement, and humanitarian work.

Yang has been involved in BASS for several years, and has held the titles of President, and Banquet Chair and VP of Events. As President, she forged a stronger partnership with the Beedie Student Engagement Office, increasing the capacity of BASS events and programs, and positioning the organization as a hub for student involvement.

For more information on the BASS Banquet, visit banquet.beediebass.com/