Ross Bayus, BA 79, president of Montreal-based Canadian operations for Valero Energy. | Photo courtesy: Ross Bayus
High-precision global positioning systems and cutting-edge supercomputers are examples of what budding Concordia geographers will have access to, thanks to a $50,000 gift from Valero Energy to the university’s Department of Geography, Planning and Environment to fund new equipment.
“As a graduate, this is special for me,” says Bayus, president of Montreal-based Canadian operations for Valero, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. “I’m giving back to where I came from, a value shared by Valero, with its focus on education.”
Bayus entered retail marketing after graduation. He notes his Concordia education contributed to his success. He has worked for British Petroleum, Petro Canada and Ultramar, which was purchased by Valero in 2001.
“Many markets and businesses are, in essence, about managing space and resources over time — a concept found in economics and geography,” says Bayus.
Valero’s gift shows appreciation for the department and those who have passed through, says Bayus. “There’s been a tremendous amount of success among graduates.”
Bayus tries to stay in touch with his cohort. He attended the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment’s 50th anniversary reunion in April 2014.
His love of geography runs in the family. Bayus’s youngest son Daniel, now in commercial sales and marketing with CN Rail, graduated from Concordia with a BA in geography in 2009.