The torch has been passed to a new generation of leaders at the Taggart Group of Companies, Michelle Taggart said on social media this week.
In a post on LinkedIn, Taggart announced that the third generation of leadership has taken over all five of the group’s companies following a series of executive moves, including one of her own.
“November 1st marked an important milestone for our family, our companies, and me personally,” she wrote.
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After five years as vice-president of planning and development, Taggart has stepped into the role of president of Tamarack Homes. She also recently took on the same role for another of the group’s homebuilding companies, Tartan Homes.
She is taking over the role vacated by her uncle, Chris Taggart, who served as president of Tamarack Homes for 30 years and at Tartan Homes when the group acquired the company in 2021.
Taggart will also assume the role of president at Taggart Investments.
“I have a lot to be grateful for,” Taggart wrote. “I’ve learned from a collection of mentors over the last 20+ years, each one teaching me unique skills and values that helped prepare me for this role. I have a strong network of friends, many of whom are leading businesses themselves, that I can turn to for support and advice. I have a big extended family that leans on each other to solve problems collaboratively, and a home filled with love and fun.”
Taggart said she and co-president Steve Parkes will work together.
More people on the move
Rachel Porteous has joined AI tech startup NtangledState as its new chief information officer. In a post on LinkedIn, the company said that Porteous brings three decades of experience in information management and IT, including CIO positions at the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). She also previously served as chief technology officer at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). In her new role at NtangledState, Porteous will lead efforts to scale the company’s infrastructure and strengthen its security posture.
Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN) announced last week that Sandra Cutrona has been appointed its new president and CEO. Cutrona has spent the majority of her career climbing the ladder at Ericsson, where she began as a project manager and system engineer before going on to hold roles such as North American head of information technology delivery, regional vice-president of sales, chief of staff and head of business development and sales operations, among others.
Mann Lawyers LLP announced that the lead of its business law practice, Neil Schwartz, has joined the company’s partnership effective Nov. 1. The firm said in a post on LinkedIn that Schwartz brings deep expertise and a thoughtful approach to his work, while infusing the company with new energy and ideas. Schwartz joined Mann Lawyers in 2021 as a business lawyer after gaining experience as an associate at Dentons Canada LLP and legal counsel for Canada Post and CWIM Inc. He has also been the director and co-owner of Ottawa’s Escape Manor since 2014.
After a 44-year career, including 38 years in commercial real estate, Michael Church announced that he will be retiring at the end of November. Church has held multiple positions, including 11 years with Cushman & Wakefield LePage Inc. and three as president of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce (now the Ottawa Board of Trade). In 2007, he joined Avison Young Commercial Real Estate as a principal and held the role of managing director, overseeing the company’s Ottawa office. He has been with the company since and is currently a senior broker specializing in sales and leasing.
Hats off!
The City of Ottawa celebrated the contributions of new Canadians at the Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards last week. The awards, which recognize five local entrepreneurs who have had significant impact on Ottawa’s economy, were presented Nov. 7 at TiE (The Indus Entrepreneur) Ottawa’s Entrepreneur Conference. Among this year’s recipients were Alberto Aguilar, co-founder and CEO of ag-tech company Plantaform; Marie Boursiquot, executive director of Ottawa Home Care; Roldan Pinilla Guerrero, founder and president of The TGi Group; and Victoria Xu, CEO of miRoncol Health. Also recognized was Omar Gaber, founder of Chewy Puff Cookie, who received the youth entrepreneur award.
Ottawa-based brand Bathorium has had one of its products included on Oprah’s Favourite Things holiday gift list for 2025. The list highlighted Bathorium’s My First Bath Ritual Set, which includes its little charlie Bath Soak. It’s the second time Oprah Daily, the company behind the holiday list, has recognized the Canadian bath and wellness brand. Last year, Bathorium won an Oprah Daily Bath O-ward for its Ancient Oat Hydration product. Bathorium founder and CEO Gregory Macdonald said in a news release that he’s grateful to see the company’s products “resonating beyond borders.”
