Shannon School of Business Celebrates Research and Student Success at Atlantic Schools of Business Conference

Cape Breton University’s Shannon School of Business (SSOB) is proud to celebrate an outstanding showing at the 55^th annual Atlantic Schools of Business (ASB) Conference, held September 18-20 at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Held annually, the conference brings together researchers, educators and graduate students from across business disciplines and encourages completed research, works in progress and emerging scholarship.

SSOB representatives returned from the conference with several notable achievements, including recognition as the most prolific research institution at the conference, with the highest number of papers presented. Trang Mai-McManus, Assistant Professor of Management and Marketing, was also recognized with the conference’s Best Reviewer Award, while a four-member team of SSOB students earned second place in the ASB Business Student Case Competition.

The student team included Ella Hammond, Sammy MacDougall, Josh Vickers and Dawson Cassell, whose second-place finish demonstrates the ability of SSOB students to apply their business education to complex, real-world challenges in a competitive setting. Their presentation involved developing an economic plan to revitalize a stagnant economy on a small island facing challenges of out-migration, low employment opportunities and economic decline.

“The results from this year’s conference speak to the tremendous energy within the Shannon School of Business, in our research, in our classrooms and among our students,” says Mary Jane Morrison, Interim Dean of the Shannon School of Business. “Having such a significant body of research represented at an Atlantic conference, alongside individual recognition for our faculty and an outstanding performance by our student case team, is something our entire School can celebrate.”

The ASB Conference is a long-standing gathering of business scholars from across Atlantic Canada and provides opportunities to present research, exchange ideas and strengthen academic networks. The theme of the 2026 conference was Intelligent Business for a Sustainable Atlantic Canada, highlighting areas including artificial intelligence, analytics, digital innovation and responsible management practices.

Cape Breton University researchers contributed 14 papers associated with CBU authors, demonstrating both the breadth and interdisciplinary nature of research underway at the Shannon School of Business.

Research presented by the CBU contingent explored topics ranging from international student adjustment and business education to active aging and community engagement, sustainability compliance, organizational rhetoric and financial markets. Other work examined consumer behaviour and marketing, volunteerism and charitable engagement, product communities, artificial intelligence and analytics, machine learning and supply chain disruption and Indigenous tourism.

The breadth of the topics covered reflects SSOB’s growing research activity across areas related to business, communities and economic development in Atlantic Canada. This reinforces the School’s commitment to connecting research, teaching and experiential learning, while contributing new knowledge to issues affecting business, communities and industries throughout Atlantic Canada and beyond.