Thunder Bay’s young professionals network SHIFT put leaders and entrepreneurs in the spotlight with last night’s NOVAs.
20 people were honoured at the 5th Northwestern Ontario Visionary Awards for professionals under 40.
The SuperNOVA award went to Al Bourbouhakis and Nancy Shaw, the Founders of Heartbeat Hot Sauce Co. They were chosen for the “international recognition” the company has received.
Thunder Pride’s Chair Jason Veltri got the SHIFT Disturber NOVA, which goes to those who are “unafraid to challenge the norm.” LUSU President Masoud Manzouri won the People’s Choice NOVA.
Joshua Donald Hewitt, the Founder of Stand Up for Clean Up won the Civic Pride NOVA. That award goes to someone who “shows the most ‘heart’ for their community”.
The Rising Star NOVA for an up-and-coming person under age 30 was handed out to Lakehead University PhD candidate Jocelyn Bel.
You can read the winners of the Business and Professional Achievement, Community Champion, and Leadership categories below.
Business and Professional Achievement Category
- Dr. Derval Clarke – Dentist, Sovereign Dental (Nipigon)
- Patrick Trevisanutto – General Manager and Partner, Halfway Motors Group (Thunder Bay)
- Katie Simoneau – Vice President, Manroc Developments Inc (Manitouwadge)
- Richard Togman – Founder and Owner, Rent Panda (Thunder Bay)
- Peter Marchl – Certified Financial Planner, Normaxx Financial (Thunder Bay)
Community Champion Category
- Hafsa Siddiqui – Founder and Owner, Do or Diabetes (Thunder Bay)
- Adetunde Ogunberu – Founder and Owner, MTC Immigration (Thunder Bay)
- Jamie Lee Yawney – Project Manager, Origin (Thunder Bay)
- Linda Kelly – Chief Executive Officer and Registered Social Worker, Kelly Mental Health (Thunder Bay)
- Albert Tjong – Wealth Advisor and Financial Planner, RBC (Thunder Bay)
Leadership Category
- Jacquelyn Forbes-Dyck – Program Developer, Lead Facilitator, and Thunder Bay Chapter Leader, One Woman One Girl (Thunder Bay)
- Jamie Sitar – Physician Recruitment Specialist, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (Thunder Bay)
- Dayna Bobrowski-Lowndes – Operations Manager, Spadoni Motors Marathon (Marathon)
- Tamara Bernard – Founder and Owner, Tamara Kwe (Thunder Bay District)
- Stephanie Pesheau – Electrical Designer, TBT Engineering (Thunder Bay)
