Shannon Ferguson, the co-founder and CEO of FanSaves, has started a new role with Invest Ottawa.
In a LinkedIn post this week, Ferguson said she is joining the organization as senior manager of early-stage programs.
“Helping other startup founders and entrepreneurs has always been a passion of mine but last May I dug in deeper and I became increasingly energized and inspired by sharing lessons I’ve learned, helping founders avoid common pitfalls, and celebrating their wins,” she wrote.
In the new role, she said she’s looking forward to working alongside early-stage founders to accelerate their growth and help strengthen Ottawa’s startup economy.
Ferguson co-founded FanSaves, a digital couponing platform for sports fans, in 2017. Since then, the company has grown across North America, working with more than 80 teams, with discounts from 1,600 brands and businesses.
Ferguson said she’ll be continuing her work with FanSaves.
“For those invested in my FanSaves journey, rest assured that our company continues to thrive and we have been making big moves over the past year but as those big moves were taking place, something in me also began to shift,” she said. “Building a company is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done but it has also been one of the loneliest. Having people in your corner who understand the challenges can make all the difference.”
For Ferguson, joining Invest Ottawa is a full-circle moment.
“The incredible alignment is that I have been involved in the IO ecosystem as a founder for eight years, so not only does it feel completely natural but it also feels like home,” she said. “What a way to give back to a place that has given me and my company so much!”
More people on the move
Brett Merriman has left his role as CEO of TryCycle Data Systems to join Dominion Dynamics, a defence-tech company based in Ottawa. In a LinkedIn post, Merriman said he’s joining the company as business development manager of defence. He added that, after three-and-a-half years, he’s “passing the CEO baton” at TryCycle to former CEO and founder John MacBeth, who left the role in 2024. In addition to the CEO role, Merriman also previously served as the company’s chief financial officer. Throughout his career, he has worked with a variety of companies as a virtual CFO and chief operating officer, running his own consulting firm since 2024. Prior to joining TryCycle, he spent a year as COO of Insider Edge Properties and more than two years as CFO of RBR Ltd.
The Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation has appointed Allen Leblanc as its new CEO. Leblanc, who most recently served as chief philanthropy officer at the Ottawa Cancer Foundation, replaces David Gourlay, who left the organization last year. Meighan Hartley, who held the CEO position in the interim, has moved into a new senior leadership position as the foundation’s chief development officer.
Computing systems company J-Squared Technologies has brought on Jimmy Kelland as its new business development manager for defence. In a LinkedIn post this week, Kelland said he will bring more than 11 years of experience in engineering services to the new role. He most recently worked as business development manager at aerospace component manufacturer Aversan. Before that, he held the same role for more than a decade at engineering design house Syntronic. Outside of engineering services, Kelland is also a business owner, operating marketing firm Brando Promotions since 1993.
Med-tech company Realize Medical has added Andrew Waitman to its board of directors. In a press release this week, Waitman said he’ll be drawing on his 30 years of experience scaling high-growth tech companies to support the team as it expands its global reach. Waitman is the founder of ContxtMatters, as well as executive chairman and co-founder of supply chain software company Assent, which he previously led as CEO.
Veronica Farmer has been appointed to the Kanata North Business Association’s board of directors. As the chief marketing officer of Wesley Clover International, Farmer brings 20 years of leadership experience in tech, innovation and entrepreneurship, specializing in strategic communications and community engagement. She has also played an active role in shaping the Kanata North business park, holding previous roles with the University of Ottawa’s Kanata North Campus and the KNBA.
Hats off!
Ottawa non-profit iSisters, which offers free mentoring to disadvantaged women and girls, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. In a press release, the organization said that, since its launch, iSisters has served 5,200 learners through multilingual digital skills and employment programs. In its last fiscal year, the organization ran 32 programs, including its one-on-one counselling practice. In a labour market shaped by AI, it added that digital literacy and employment supports are more important than ever.
Hazlo Law is marking its 15th anniversary. The boutique business law firm, which is based in the National Capital Region, was launched in 2011 by founder and CEO Hugues Boisvert. A former OBJ Fastest Growing Companies recipient, the firm provides services in the areas of business, tax litigation and international law.
Mechanical and electrical consulting firm GWAL is celebrating its 70th anniversary later this month. Originally founded in 1956, the organization now has a team of licensed personnel across the country, working with a range of public- and private-sector clients. The company is marking the occasion on June 17 with an event at Rogers Centre Ottawa.
