We’re so fortunate to have such a wealth of business talent in our city.
While I’m sure no generation would say they had it easy, you have to feel for today’s up-and-coming business leaders and entrepreneurs who have risen to the top while feeling the headwinds of a three-year global pandemic.
Going forward, these leaders will face a work world that has been reshaped by COVID, a city trying to redefine itself, and an economy that continues to suffer the after-effects of the past several years.
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This is why it’s so heartening and reassuring to know that we have such great talent, knowledge, skills and determination among our business community.
The Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade are once again thrilled to celebrate a sampling of these leaders with our annual Forty Under 40 awards, which have become widely recognized as the region’s most sought-after business award for people under the age of 40.
This year, we whittled down 160 nominations to 91 finalists and from there chose our top 40 based on their business accomplishments, professional experience and community involvement.
I was privileged to support this year’s selection committee, which included Jeffrey Johnson of BDO, Robert Rheaume from the Ottawa Board of Trade, and Joelle Richardson from Richardson Wealth. OBJ publisher Michael Curran chaired the committee.
“Having passed the 25-year mark, we continue to be surprised and inspired by the nominees. Selecting recipients was a tough job in 2023,” said Curran. “I always find the diversity really interesting. Diversity in the business sector and diversity in the recipients. To me, this signals a very balanced economy where many people are contributing to our prosperity and social wellbeing.”
Greg Richards, vice-dean of graduate professional programs at the Telfer School of Management, congratulated the 2023 recipients. The Telfer Executive MBA has supported Forty Under 40 for most of its existence.
“Each of our recipients has shown tremendous professional and personal leadership abilities and strong commitment to our local community. Our objective is to support the growth of these local leaders who are helping to build a greener, healthier, happier, wealthier and more prosperous Canada from here in our nation’s capital.”
The awards gala is scheduled for Friday, June 23 at the Hilton Lac-Leamy. OBJ and the Board of Trade will continue to produce a TV show to recognize the recipients.
Forty Under 40 recipients for 2023:
Hani Al Anid, 38, Senior Director Nuclear and Environment, Calian Ltd.
Elizabeth Audette-Bourdeau, 30, Founder and CEO, Welbi
Jessica Barrow, 36, Partner, Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP
Ginger Bertrand, 39, President, Gab Group Inc.
Pavel Bogdanov, 38, CEO, Ottawa Flowers
Jacqueline Bonisteel, 38, Partner, Corporate Immigration Law Firm
Jesse Card, 39, Executive Director, Youth Ottawa
Michele Corriveau, 37, Doctor of Chiropractic, CURAVITA Health Group
Derick Cotnam, 36, Owner, My Catering Group
Bradley Crepeau, 35, CEO, Food Cycle Science
Brendan Du Vall, 39, Senior Director Ticket Sales and Service, Ottawa Senators Hockey Club
Andre Fernandez, 37, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Invert
Dave Hale, 34, CEO, Craft&Crew Corp.
Julia Heintzman, 39, Senior Associate Lawyer, Soloway Wright LLP
Matthew Henley, 38, Co-Founder and COO, AI Talos
Natasha Hope Morano, 37, President, NHM Connect
Adel Jawhary, 30, CEO, Rydel Roofing
Victoria La Valle, 32, Vice-President, Cityscape
Greg Macdonald, 32, Founder and CEO, Bathorium Inc
Jessie McAllister, 39, Dentist and Owner, McAllister Dentistry
Connor McGarry, 36, Director, Welch Capital Partners Inc.
Nitin Mehra, 38, Executive Chef and COO, East India Company
Emma Mohns, 34, Senior Legal Counsel Corporate, Kinaxis Inc.
Michael Nelson, 35, Founder, TACTIQL
Joseph Pamic, 34, Vice-President, Corporate Development, Power-Tek Group
Ryan Peatt, 39, CEO, Proxi.id Corp.
Devan Pennell, 37, Chief Strategy Officer, Flow Beverage Corp.
Kelly Rusk, 39, President, Kelly Rusk Consulting Inc.
Marc Sauvé, 39, Founding and Managing Partner, David | Sauvé LLP
Todd Shannon, 38, Chief Creative Officer, HUMANCONTACT Inc.
Mahima Sharma, 36, Vice-President Innovation, Environment and Climate Change, Forest Products Association of Canada
Candice Shaw, 37, Executive Director, Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre
Tristan Smyth, 31, Chief Impact and Strategy Officer, Warshield
Kyle Soutar, 36, Co-Founder and CFO, Better Group
Patrick Taillefer, 34, President and Partner, Taillefer Plumbing & Heating
Rohan Thakar, 39, Managing Partner, Brash Inc.
Thomas Triplet, 38, Senior Director, Head of Engineering, BluWave-ai
Adam Van Cleeff, 37, Vice-President Customer Success, Fullscript
Mary Yazdani, 38, Founder and CEO, Genesislink Consulting Services
Piriya Yoganathan, 33, Head Research and Development, Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
