Thank you to our 2011 Lions for their commitment and expertise!

Dr. Nick Bontis

Dr. Nick Bontis is a leading expert on intellectual capital and its impact on business performance. He is ranked among the top 30 management gurus and the top 5 management keynote speakers world-wide. He is currently an award-winning professor at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University where he advises budding entrepreneurs with their latest new ventures. He was recently recognized as a 3M National Teaching Fellow, an exclusive honour only bestowed upon the top university professors in the country. He has won over a dozen teaching awards and is the only faculty member to simultaneously hold outstanding teacher and researcher of the year honours. Maclean’s Magazine has rated him as one of McMaster University’s most popular professors for six years in a row. Nick received his PhD and HBA from the Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario. He is a widely-cited author of hundreds of articles and several books including the most recently published Information Bombardment: Rising above the digital onslaught. He currently owns a consulting firm in Ancaster, and a software company in Vancouver. He is also on the Executive Board of Harvest Portfolios, an investment fund company in Oakville. His advisory services have been sought after by leading organizations such as the United Nations, Microsoft, Health Canada, Royal Bank, Telus, Accenture, Enmax, Manulife, Mitsubishi, the US Navy and IBM.

Ron Foxcroft

Ron is the Inventor of the Fox 40 Pealess Whistle which is now sold in 140 countries and is sanctioned by almost all major sports worldwide. Fox 40 International, a Canadian company, proudly dominates the world whistle industry and thousands of Fox 40 Pealess Whistles are manufactured in Canada each day. Safety professionals who are involved in air, land and water search and rescue missions also use Fox 40 Whistles worldwide. The Fox 40 product line has grown to include a wide range of items for the sports industry from mouth guards to coaching boards to marine safety products. Starting in 1982, Ron built Fluke Transport from three trucks to 126 trucks and 475 trailers; If it’s on Time, It’s a Fluke… is not just a slogan, but a guarantee. As chairman of the board at the John C. Munro International Airport, Ron has played a key role in making the Hamilton facility the largest courier/cargo airport in Canada. Ron was named by Profit Magazine as one of the “10 Top Canadian Entrepreneurs of the Decade” and was inducted into the Burlington Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Ron was named by Referee Magazine as one of the 52 most influential referees in North American officiating history. He is the only Canadian NCAA referee who also officiated over 1500 international games in 30 countries. He officiated both the Gold Medal Game in the 1976 Montreal Olympics and the 1998 NCAA Sweet 16. He is an inductee of the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, 10 other Hall of Fame, and is currently employed by the NBA to evaluate the performance of their referees. Ron received an Honorary Doctor of laws Degree from McMaster University, was named Hamilton’s 1997 “Distinguished Citizen of the Year,” and was inducted into the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction in 2005. He provides his time and advise to numerous business boards and charities (who he also provides financial support for). Ron is also a much sought after motivational speaker.

Bill Kelly

Bill Kelly has a solid background in media. He has over 30 years of broadcast experience and a wealth of market knowledge and passion that he will bring to the program daily. He has hosted a daily, nationally broadcast, interactive political talk show for 5 years on CHTV, worked as a host on CHML from 1988-1997 and was a stadium announcer for the Hamilton Tiger Cats for 13 seasons. Bill also held a council seat in Hamilton for 9 years from 1997-2005. Bill is a graduate of Mohawk College in Hamilton.

PJ Mercanti

P.J. Mercanti is the President of Carmen’s, a name synonymous in Southern Ontario with celebrity events, weddings, catering and dinner theatre. He is also a managing partner at the new C Hotel by Carmen’s. A University of Notre Dame business graduate, PJ worked for ESPN before venturing back to Hamilton. He is the founder of GenNext United Way and is involved with many community organizations such as The Charity of Hope, The Good Shepherd, and Hamilton Community Foundation. PJ is also a label executive of Rat Pack Records, a venture he co-founded with Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo. He has organized events featuring Academy Award Winners Al Pacino and Michael Douglas, U.S. Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin and Emmy Award Winners from The Sopranos.

Edward Minich

Ed retired as President and C.E.O. of Otis Canada, Inc. in 2004 after a thirty year career. He obtained his B.Sc (’72) and M.B.A. (’74) degrees from McMaster University. A Chartered Director (C. Dir. 2005), he serves on the Board of: Horizon Utilities (Chair, Audit Committee), Hamilton Utilities Corporation, Hamilton International Airport (Chair, Audit Committee), Hamilton Port Authority (Vice-Chairman), and New Oakville Hospital Campaign Cabinet. He has been a lecturer in “Strategic Management” at the DeGroote Graduate School of Business at McMaster University from 2005-2011. Currently, he is a group leader at CEO Global Network – coaching / mentoring CEOs. In 2004 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from McMaster and in 2007 was named an Honorary Governor Emeritus of McMaster, in recognition of his twelve years as a Board member, two as Chair. His interests include golf, chess and collegiate athletics. He and his wife Siân reside in Oakville. They have three children, all McMaster grads
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Lions 2011