NOVA awards recognize rising stars

THUNDER BAY – Saturday’s NOVA awards honoured 20 “rising stars” in business and community service from throughout northwestern Ontario. The awards, held every two years, are hosted by SHIFT, a Thunder Bay young professionals network.

Over 300 people attended the ceremony at the Valhalla Inn Saturday evening, where the winners were announced from amongst over 50 nominees. Categories recognize leadership, professional achievement, volunteerism, civic pride, and more amongst those under 40 years of age.

“The 2020 winners have proven that they are invested in their communities and their industries,” said SHIFT President Hannah Gladstone. “There is remarkable under-forty talent all around us and we’re honoured to be able to send the message that their work matters and is valued.”

The winners are as follows:

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)

Rising Star NOVA

• Jocelyn Bel - PhD Candidate, Lakehead University (Thunder Bay)

Civic Pride NOVA

• Joshua Donald Hewitt - Founder, StandUp4CleanUp (Thunder Bay)

SHIFT Disturber NOVA

• Jason Veltri - Chair, Thunder Pride Association (Thunder Bay)

People’s Choice NOVA

• Masoud Manzouri - President, Lakehead University Student Union (Thunder Bay)

SuperNOVA

• Al Bourbouhakis and Nancy Shaw - Founders, Heartbeat Hot Sauce Co. (Thunder Bay)