I entered Niagara College as a post graduate from Western University. Niagara was offering the FITT program which was appealing to me, as I had just returned from backpacking overseas and was interested to meet and learn from other business-minded students from all over the world.
After graduating from Western University, Eric Ballance did what many recent grads do, travel the world. Backpacking around the world provided Ballance the opportunity to experience different cultures where he would take interest in how business was conducted in these cultures. Shortly after returning Ballance would enrol in the International Business program at Niagara College.
Adding to his lived experience, the applied learning at Niagara College would help Eric find his calling as an entrepreneur. Earlier in life Ballance got a taste of entrepreneurship having run his own business at the age of 19 operating a DD transportation business to cottagers and resort staff. After graduating Ballance gave entrepreneurship another go and would strike success starting two new businesses, Ballance Design & Ballance Container Homes.
Ballance Design would be the first business launched, which would offer solutions for large scale events. Further down the road Eric would diversify and launch Ballance Homes which would offer unique shipping container homes, cottages and accessory buildings.
When asked about his experience at Niagara Ballance recalled some of his professors, “The FITT program was new to Niagara College at the time and it was interesting to learn from Canadian foreign diplomats teaching the program. A quick shout out to Ray Guy!”