ON CAMPUS: Biotechnology grads
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Loyalist College led two Biotechnology graduates to careers in brewing success.
Denise Morin earned her diploma in 2014, while Zach Wold graduated last June with a dual diploma in Biotechnology and Environmental Technology. The pair attained their respective positions at Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company in Vankleek Hill, near Ottawa, as a result of their final semester placements. Since 2006, Beau’s has been brewing popular beers like Lug Tread Lagered Ale, using fresh ingredients and local spring water. The award-winning brewery creates certified organic craft beer.
The family-run business approaches each decision with mindfulness of its environmental impact, including everything from its innovative enviro-friendly packaging to 100% post-consumer posters, brochures and coasters. Beau’s is a Certified Benefit Corporation, which means it meets third party standards, social sustainability and environmental performance for requirements.
Denise, 28, was promoted to a salaried post at Beau’s after her summer job had come to an end in August 2014. Zach, 27, was hired for the summer of 2015 as an intern. He is hopeful that, like Denise, he will join the Beau’s family full-time later this fall.
She is from Kincardine, located on the shores of Lake Huron. He is from Manotick, a small village south of Ottawa. They were classmates for two years while studying Biotechnology at Loyalist.
As Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) Lab Technicians at Beau’s, the two Loyalist graduates ensure the brewery’s yeast population reaches the right levels during the fermentation process. Recently, Denise has also taken over all the microbiology-related quality controls to prevent contamination — or “beer spoiler” — by sampling Beau’s brews as they move along the chain of production.
Both Denise and Zach conduct analytical work, like distillation, to determine the percentage of alcohol, monitor the beer colour with a spectrophotometer to make sure it’s on spec, and measure the bitterness in the beer.
“We are in the process of building the QA program here,” she said. “It was pretty small when I started and it’s grown significantly in the past year.”
Denise came to Loyalist in 2012 after earning a degree in Biotechnology and Biochemistry from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. Despite having a degree, she found that employers were seeking candidates who had more practical experience. She decided to enrol at Loyalist for a hands-on education.
Taking Loyalist’s fermentation and toxicology courses, as part of the Biotechnology curriculum, sparked Denise’s interest in beer making. She is thankful that faculty guided her in finding the right on-the-job placement. She was first introduced to Beau’s after she contacted Campbellford–based Church-Key Brewing Company to inquire about placement opportunities.
“Church-Key said they were a little bit too small for what I wanted, but offered to pass on my information to breweries in Ottawa and Toronto,” she said. “This is how I earned my five-day placement at Beau’s, which was like my interview.”
Denise is certain she could not have earned her position at Beau’s had she not studied at Loyalist. From the College’s practical approach to its final-year field placement, the Biotechnology program put her to work.
“It was because I did that quality assurance and quality control placement,” she added. “Had I not done the fermentation courses, I would not have known how much I actually like it. I got to do a whole lot more practical work as opposed to theoretical. It was an opportunity for me to showcase my skills.”
Zach opted to enrol at Loyalist after a “disappointing” first semester at another college, also in Biotechnology. His brother Dave, a 2009 Loyalist Environmental Technologist grad who works as Process Technologist for the City of Ottawa, also played a role in his decision.
“I heard nothing but great things about Dave’s experience,” he said. “He had so many positive stories to tell about the professors and the lab, which encouraged me in wanting to do the same thing.”
Zach enrolled in Biotechnology in the fall of 2011. He “breezed through” the first year, at which point he decided to add another string to his bow by earning a dual diploma. He was introduced to Beau’s through his classmate Denise.
“I did my placement here in March (2015) and it was great!” he added. “The lab work they do relates to many of the Loyalist courses. There is a bit of microbiology and a bit of analytical work. A lot of the skills that I learned at Loyalist are used broadly in the lab here.”
As the brewery begins to examine how much wastewater the facility discharges, Zach knows his Environmental Technician diploma will be put to good use.
“Then, my second diploma could prove to be as valuable as my Biotechnology diploma,” he said.
Twice the credentials in just three years means more Loyalist grads, like Zach, are entering the workforce with dual diplomas on their résumés, reducing their post-secondary costs, broadening their education and expanding their career prospects. Sample program pairings include Biotechnology and Environmental Technology, Business Administration and Accounting, Civil Engineering Technician and Survey Technician, and Fitness and Health Promotion and Recreation and Leisure Services.
For more information on dual diplomas at Loyalist, admission requirements and/or to apply to the College’s more than 60 programs, visit loyalistcollege.com.