Business: Charity providing shelter, furnishings and community to refugees and those transitioning to permanent housing.
Born: Toronto
Biggest business achievement: Turned around a local charity that was struggling financially.
OBJ360 (Sponsored)
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Ottawa’s growth is at an inflection point
One thing the Welch LLP Business Growth Survey taught us this year is most of the business community thinks we’re on track, but have a ways to go.
![uOttawa Faculty of Engineering](https://assets.obj.ca/2024/06/Engineering-20240624_114812_0000-300x169.jpg)
uOttawa’s Faculty of Engineering is filling skill gaps in the tech industry
University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Engineering has been preparing for this moment for years, proactively adapting its curriculum to meet the evolving demands of the technology sector and the Ottawa
Biggest obstacle overcome: Increased donors by 162 per cent and donations by 168 per cent in 2020, even as more than two-thirds of charities nationwide saw a decline in donations amid the pandemic.
Biggest lesson learned during COVID-19: Don’t base your decisions on other people’s assumptions. Early on in the pandemic, I kept hearing that “the timing wasn’t right to fundraise for charity” as “everyone” was struggling. I took a different approach and invited people to support the important work we are doing at Matthew House Ottawa, and we saw a significant increase in donors and donations during the pandemic.
Charitable involvement: Matthew House Ottawa
First job: Selling poultry and eggs at a market
Advice I’d give the younger me: Listen well. Be open-minded, and learn as much as you can. Be confident enough to think for yourself.
Favourite pastime: Reading