Qualifications:
BA-Honours (Saint Mary's), MBA (Saint Mary's), Ph.D. (Northcentral)
Joined MSVU: 1988
Relevant Prior Work Experience:
Dept. of Marketing, Saint Mary's University (1985-1988)
Small business columnist for The Sunday Herald (1998-2009)
Eastern Canada small business columnist for CBC Radio One (2005-2007)
Marketing research and consulting private practice (TMC The Marketing Clinic) (since 1993)
Courses taught:
Busi 2230 (Principles of Marketing), Busi 3334 (Sales Management), Busi 3336 (Direct Marketing), Busi 4430 (Marketing Research)
Research interests:
Information technology adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises, the impact of gambling-related advertising on gambling habits of adolescents, marketing orientation, managerial competencies, entrepreneurship, gender role portrayal in Canadian tourism advertising, entrepreneurial education.
Research grants (since 2000):
External Research Grants-
• Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation. (June, 2006 – Present): Nova Scotia Gambling Research Project. $75,000.00. Collaborative Research Initiative of: Prof. Karen Blotnicky (coordinator), Dr. Mallika Das, A., Dr. Fred French, Dr. Carmel French, Dr. Michael Fitzgerald, Dr. Peter Mombourquette, Dr. Deborah Norris, Dr. David Perrier (Saint Mary’s, through 2008).
Internal Research Grants-
"Marketing Orientations Among the Top 101 Atlantic Canada Firms" (2001-
2005) – Research grant: $1,500
Academic Activities and Publications (since 2000):
Books-
Pride, W.M., Ferrell, O.C., Blotnicky, K. & Grant, S. (2009). Marketing, 1st Canadian edition. Houghton-Mifflin Publishing, Toronto.
Book chapters-
Blotnicky, K.(2008). Creating Social Change Through Advertising. In Communications in Question: Canadian Perspectives on Controversial Issues in Communication Studies. Thompson-Nelson Eds. Charlene Elliot and Joshua Greenberg, Carleton, University.
Journal articles and Conference Proceedings-
1. Blayney, C. & Blotnicky, K. (2010). The impact of gender on career paths and management capability in the hotel industry in Canada. Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality and Tourism, 9(3).
2. Blayney, C. & Blotnicky, K. (2010). Leadership in the hotel industry: Evidence from Canada. Journal of Managment and Marketing Research. Recently accepted for publication. Date to be announced.
3. Blayney, C., & Blotnicky, K. (2010). Leadership in the hotel industry: Where are we? Proceedings of the Hawaii Global Conference on Business and Finance, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. This paper received the Outstanding Research Award.
4. Blotnicky, K. (February, 2009). The relevance of the marketing concept. Workplace Review. Retrieved February 2009 from: http://www.smu.ca/academic/sobey/workplacereview/feb2009/feb_marketing.pdf
5. Blotnicky, K. (November, 2006). Should there be caution tape around the office door? Tackling harmful stress in the workplace. Workplace Review. Retrieved November 2006 from: http://www.stmarys.ca/academic/sobey/workplacereview/nov2006/TacklingWorkplaceStress.pdf
6. Mombourquette, P. & Blotnicky. (October, 2008). The impact of CEO innovation on Internet technology adoption and sales in Atlantic Canadian service firms. Proceedings of the Atlantic Schools of Business Conference,. St.John’s, NL.
7. Mombourquette, P. & Blotnicky, K. (February, 2007). An evaluation of the
Entrepreneurial Skills Program (ESP). Proceedings of the American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
8. Blayney, C. & Blotnicky, K. (February, 2007). An assessment of the impact of
work-based educational programs on managerial competencies of undergraduate
tourism and hospitality management students. Proceedings of the American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
9. Mombourquette, P. & Blotnicky, K. (October, 2006). Leading the Way in EMarketing:
Atlantic Canada’s B&Bs. Proceedings of the Atlantic Schools of
Business Conference, Sackville, NB.
10. Blotnicky, K. (October, 2005). Marketing orientation and organizational
performance among Atlantic Top 101 firms. Proceedings of the Atlantic Schools
of Business Conference. Halifax, NS.
11. Blotnicky, K. (October, 2005). Taking ownership of toxic workplaces: Managerial
solutions to workplace stress. Proceedings of the Atlantic Schools of Business
Conference. Halifax, NS.
12. Blotnicky, K. (October 2004). Challenges and approaches for IT adoption among
SMEs in the tourism industry. Proceedings of the Atlantic Schools of Business
Conference. Halifax, NS.
13. Blotnicky, K. (October 2003). A chronological study of gambling in Canada.
Proceedings of the Atlantic Schools of Business Conference, Dartmouth, NS.
(Recipient of Best Paper Award for Tourism & Hospitality Management Track).
Refereed conference presentations-
1. Das, M., Blotnicky, K., Fitzgerald, M., French, F., & Norris, D. (April, 2009). Gender Differences in Gambling: Preliminary Findings from a Study on Youth Gambling in Nova Scotia, International Association of Business and Public Administration Disciplines (IABPAD), Spring Conference, April 24-26, 2009, Dallas, Texas.
2. Mombourquette, P. & Blotnicky, K. (October, 2006). An Evaluation of the Entrepreneurial Skills Program (ESP). Proceedings of the Atlantic Schools of Business Conference. Sackville, NB.
Professional Projects and Activities:
Selected Professional Reports-
1. Blayney, C., Semadeni, P., & Blotnicky, K. (2008). Accommodations and Labour Force Survey: Survey for Labour Shortages in the Halifax Regional Municipality. A collaborative research project involving Mount Saint Vincent University and Nova Scotia Community College. Completed at the request of the Hotel Association of Nova Scotia.
2. Blotnicky, K. (2004). Evaluation of the HRDC Self-Employment Benefit program.
Project prepared by The Marketing Clinic for the Colchester Regional Development
Agency (CORDA) in partnership with HRDC.
3. Blotnicky, K. (Spring/summer, 2003). Atlantic Baptist University image and market
study. Project prepared by The Marketing Clinic for Atlantic Baptist University.
4. Blotnicky, K. (Summer, 2002 and Summer 2004). HRM Report Card Study. Project
prepared by The Marketing Clinic for the Mayor Peter Kelly of HRM.
5. Blotnicky, K. (Spring, 2004). Environment Canada. Project prepared by The
Marketing Clinic for the Environment Canada (Dartmouth Office).
6. Blotnicky, K. (2003-2004). Pictou County recreation and leisure study. Project
prepared by The Marketing Clinic for the recreation associates of Pictou County and
various county towns as well as Sport Nova Scotia.
7. Blotnicky, K. and Scrimger, J. (Fall, 2003). UNIV 1101 evaluation focus group
report. Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS.
8. Blotnicky, K. (Spring, 2003). Labour force study for Colchester County. Project
prepared by The Marketing Clinic for the Colchester Regional Development Agency
(CORDA).
9. Blotnicky, K. (Summer, 2003). Agrifood and horticulture opportunities today – A
basic review of marketing and new product opportunities in the global market.
Project prepared by The Marketing Clinic for Horticulture Nova Scotia in
partnership with the Fruit Grower’s Association of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
10. Blotnicky, K. (Fall, 2003). Analysis of Issues Impacting the Prince Edward Island
Lobster Fishery. Project prepared by The Marketing Clinic for the Area 25 Lobster
Fishermen of Prince Edward Island.
11. Blotnicky, K. (Fall, 2002). Brier Island Tourism Impact Study. Project prepared by
The Marketing Clinic for Brier Island Chamber of Commerce.
Personal reflections:
Karen has three grown children and two grandchildren. She and her husband live in Hammonds Plains, NS., with two grown daughters, one grandchild, and three dogs. She and her husband are partners in life and in business, having operated TMC The Marketing Clinic, a family-owned marketing research business, since 1993.