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Ian Schnoor: He’s created a “marquee” name no matter how you spell it
By GERRY POSNER This is a story worth reading (not that all of my articles are not worth reading). From the depths of the Maples and Garden City has emerged a young man now running what looks to be a very significant business in Toronto and, in fact, well beyond the limits of the city and province.
Have you ever heard of a company called the Marquee Group? Ian Schnoor created the company paying homage to the street where he grew up (in The Maples): Marquis Crescent. There is one major difference besides the spelling. A crescent is shaped in a circular form with no direction except in a spiral. That no doubt is the shape of Marquis Crescent to this day. On the other hand, the Marquee of Ian Schnoor is like a canopy – extending almost without limit. You could say that Schnoor’s business had taken on the form of the name of the company- upwards and onwards.
Schnoor, the son of the late Jack Schnoor and mother Judy Schnoor, is a graduate of Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate. Ian attributes a chunk of his success to his time there, in particular to the influence his former classmate, the late Adam Anhang, had on him.
Adam helped to generate Ian’s interest in finance and indeed, later in teaching. It started simply enough. Following high school and a year of Arts, Ian ended up in the predecessor to the Asper School of Business (School of Commerce) at the University of Manitoba.
After graduation, Ian sent out over 100 letters seeking employment in Toronto. He got back five letters of interest and out of that emerged a job as an investment banker at BMO. He was there for over four years, then headed to CITI Bank. 9/11 and the collapse of the markets ended his work at that bank, but it triggered a major move for Schnoor.
In 2002 he started up the Marquee brand and it is fair to say he has never looked back. The business he established was based on what he perceived as a gap in the marketplace for financial training. The best term to apply to the business is “financial modelling”.. What this means in part at least is the way of adapting what is taught in the business schools to the real world.
Schnoor puts it this way:” I kept thinking it would all end eventually (referring to the fallout from 9/11), until I realized I was bridging the gap between what people were learning in business schools and the hands-on technical skills companies were seeking in new hires.”
It was not long before Schnoor had lined up an array of business schools that wanted him badly. Schnoor says that all the bright lights from Ivey, Queen’s, U of T’s Schulich Schoolk, McGill, Laurier are all clients of his (oddly, the one school missing from his catalogue is the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business, whose predecessor is the very place from where Schnoor graduated years ago).
Aside from this group, other key components of the Marquee portfolio are all of the major Canadian banks, as well as some global banks in Canada.
What Marquee provides is a level of training previously unknown to any of the clients served by Schnoor and his team. That team has grown in size to over 25 people, some part time and others full time. Schnoor took it upon himself to train all of his hires the way to teach. What the group does and does well is to use spreadsheets, then forecast what lies ahead for his clients based on various assumptions, all of which can be changed easily. This is a skill and, of course, what makers it so helpful is when you have a guy like Ian Schnoor leading the way. He is first and foremost a teacher and he loves to do that. As Ian puts it, “When I teach, I learn”. He is so well thought of he was recently awarded the “Professor of the Year” award for the course he teaches in the Master of Finance Programme at Queen’s University.
In retrospect, Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate was a great start for Ian with the rigours of the double programme (Hebrew and English). Adam Anhang was an inspiration, but clearly what Schnoor had going for him more than anything was sheer determination to succeed and that he has done in spades. Happily, his father Jack who died in 2011, was alive to see his son’s career take off. And now, Schnoor, married and father to three daughters, 18, 15 and 13 – all students in the Jewish School programme in Toronto, is still very busy building his already very demanding business.
His formula for building that business is to be sure his course content is comprehensive and to be sure his associates have mastered the content and the method of teaching. Ian is confident that this format of business model will only expand as the skills taught are crucial for any business anywhere in the world. So, from Marquis to Marquee, the one thing that has never changed is Ian Schnoor.
Features
5 Ways to Carve Out Gym Time in Your Life
From rewriting your brain and sticking to a disciplined workout regime, find the top 5 ways to carve out adequate gym time in your daily routine.
A Brief Introduction
It can be a hassle to find the time to work out if you are busy with everyday responsibilities. By incorporating a few practical strategies into your daily life, you can start being consistent with your gym routine.
- Remember Your Motivation to Prioritize
If you’re trying to be consistent, you need to know why you started out. People may have different reasons to commit their time to the gym. Be it to build muscles, lose weight, deal with stress, or improve overall health, having a clear vision of your goal will help you stick to it. With your reason to start always on your mind, you will now have a reason to keep showing up, day in and day out. This helps cut out excuses and prioritize your wellbeing.
- Reduce Your Barrier to Start
The more hurdles you keep on your way to start, the harder it will be to continue with your habit. The easy solution is to cut down on the effort it takes to get started. Pick an accessible gym over a fancier one that you would need to go out of your way to visit. By picking a gym along the route of your daily routine, you can seamlessly incorporate working out as part of your day. Be it near your workplace or your home, the location makes hitting the gym convenient.
It also helps if you plan ahead. Be it your preworkout, your protein shake, or other health supplements from flexpharma.is, make sure you are restocking before you run out. Anabolic steroids are possibly one of the most popular items that have methandrostenolone. Injectables, fat burners, and fusion steroids are some of the trending fitness products that have been creating a buzz across the world.
Keep your gym bag ready to go and lay out your workout gear ahead of time so that you are left with no excuses.
- Get a Gym Buddy for Accountability
Nothing helps drive athletes more than having a sense of community and camaraderie. People interested in weight training already know about the importance of a spotter. Having a friend, a partner, or a peer in the gym will help keep you on track to consistency. This also provides a sense of community, making it more rewarding to attend workout sessions regularly and push each other towards breaking new personal records.
- Incorporate Workouts in Your Daily Activities
It is impossible to make it to the gym every day without fail, be it due to work, family, or other responsibilities. For those days, make it a habit to not skip your workouts. There are many home workout videos and apps available that offer a range of exercise options with little to no equipment. You can start with mini-workouts like planks or squats during short breaks. It can even be as simple as going for a quick stroll for five minutes while stuck at work if you are pressed for time. The easiest way to increase your fitness and stamina is through Sermorelin, Semaglutide, and other cutting-edge peptides to start with.
- Rewire Your Brain
Science talks about neuroplasticity and the power of the positive feedback loop. Without having to learn more about cognitive sciences, you can still make use of these hacks to trick your brain into enjoying training. For every achievement, celebrate yourself. Be it a happy shout of victory on breaking a personal record or getting a new flavor of protein bar, with every celebratory action, you reinforce the positive effect of being consistent at the gym. By creating a positive experience, you make it easier for your brain to stay engaged and consistent at the gym.
Conclusion
It takes careful planning to commit to gym life. While hard work is always rewarded in the gym, in order to get to the gym day in and day out, you also need to work smart. By removing the common hurdles and being dedicated, you can make sure you reach your personal wellness goal.
Features
When will we most likely see an NFL expansion team from Canada?
It’s currently the middle of August, meaning that the biggest sporting show in North America doesn’t start for another three weeks. On September 5, the curtain will come down on the new NFL season as the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs hosts Baltimore Ravens at Arrowfield Stadium.
It’s not just Americans that love football though, the game and in particular the NFL is hugely popular north of the border here in Canada. Every week millions of Canadians tune in to cheer on their favourite teams and keep refresh their phones to find out the latest NFL standings.
What though, are the chances of Canadian NFL fans checking their phones to see how a Canadian team is doing in the standings? Read on to find out.
The History of NFL Expansion into Canada
Broadly there are two camps in Canada when it comes to NFL expansion. Those on one side of the debate claim that they don’t need an NFL team and that having one would cause harm to their own domestic competition.
On the other side of the battlefield are those who claim that the NFL is more popular in Canada than its own domestic league and that it is baffling that millions of Canadians are forced to support American teams when they could be supporting one of their own in the NFL.
Traditionally the second camp has been winning the argument, but only just. Which explains why many attempts for an NFL expansion into the country have failed, as the physical barriers to overcome have been, at times, overshadowed by the ideological ones.
From around 1975 to 2015, there have been numerous attempts to set up a franchise in Canada – particularly in Toronto – but none have taken hold. The closest that we have gotten to NFL action north of the border was when the Buffalo Bills played six regular season games at the Rogers Centre between 2008 to 2013.
(The fans might have loved the Toronto series, but it’s safe to say the Bill’s players didn’t particularly enjoy it.)
What’s Stopping Expansion?
Currently the argument for expansion is gaining momentum, but despite that there are still substantial obstacles to overcome. The key one is that there is no current suitable venue that the NFL see as being able to sustain a franchise.
In terms of supporter numbers, Toronto is the only feasible location for an NFL franchise. With a metropolitan population in excess of 6 million and an estimated football viewing audience of just under a million, it is by far and away the standout contender to host an NFL team.
Unfortunately, The Rogers Centre has since been turned into an exclusively baseball venue since being used as a temporary home for the Bills back in 2013. The next alternative in Toronto is BMO Field, the home of MLS side Toronto FC.
Whilst the 31,000 seater stadium is perfectly serviceable for MLS, its capacity puts it at below half of the average capacity of an NFL stadium (70,000).
What the Future Holds for Canadian NFL Expansion
There are three possibilities for a Canadian NFL expansion. The first is that the 18,000 seat expansion to BMO field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup satisfies the NFL. That would bring the total capacity at the stadium to just under 50,000, which would still make it the smallest stadium in the NFL but only by around 10,000 seats.
Or, that the stadium can be further expanded to bring it into line with other NFL venues and thus remove one huge obstacle to expansion. The other alternative is that work begins on a purpose built venue with the backing of local businessman and American entrepreneurs who are keen to see NFL played regularly in Canada.
Potential Timeframes
If the first two stadium possibilities are possible then we could see a Toronto based NFL team at the end of the decade. That’s a best case scenario. The most likely however is that BMO Field is deemed unsuitable for the NFL, leaving another venue to be found.
Unfortunately, 70,000 seater stadiums aren’t cheap and finding someone to finance a project of that size without the guarantee of an NFL franchise is highly unlikely. Until then, it looks like we’ll have to continue backing our own domestic league and enjoying the NFL from afar…
Features
Common Online Casino Mistakes To Avoid
Online casino games can be a brilliant way to bring excitement to life in your spare time. These games have become hugely popular in recent years, but you will find that people often make the same mistakes. These mistakes can lead to financial losses, cybercrime, and an inferior experience, so it is important to be aware of what these mistakes are so that they can be avoided. This post will outline a few of the most common mistakes people make when playing online casino games and explain how to avoid falling into the same trap. Interested? Keep reading to find out more.
Ignoring Terms & Conditions
One of the biggest mistakes players make with online casino games is ignoring the terms and conditions. You should always take the time to read through these, paying close attention to things like the conditions of bonuses and restrictions in withdrawals. This will help you avoid any nasty surprises when playing games.
Not Researching Casinos
Another common mistake people make is not researching casinos. There are endless options for online casinos, but not all are equal, and there are even many that are unlicensed. Therefore, you need to research casinos and find one that is fully licensed and has positive reviews. The best casinos will have a massive selection of games to choose from, including blackjack online. A wide selection of games means it is hard to get bored, and you can always find something to play.
Chasing Losses
One of the most dangerous mistakes people make is chasing losses. This is where players will attempt to win back the money they have lost, which often means betting larger sums. This is a dangerous tactic and a slippery slope, so it is important to be aware of it and take measures to protect against it. The best way to avoid chasing losses is to set a budget before each session – if you spend that amount, you need to be able to walk away.
Not Understanding Games
It is always important to have a strong understanding of the game that you are playing. This will boost your chances of winning and your gaming experience. Therefore, you should always read the instructions when playing a game for the first time. For strategic games like poker, there is a lot of information online that will help you get to grips with the basics and learn strategies to use.
Weak Passwords
Cybersecurity needs to be a top priority when it comes to online casino games. The top casinos will have strong cybersecurity measures in place, but you also have a role to play. It is important to use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication to prevent hackers. It is also smart to avoid having large sums held in your online account in case someone hacks your account.
These are the most common mistakes that you will want to avoid when it comes to online casino games. By avoiding these mistakes, you can improve your experience and enjoy the excitement that these games can bring.
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