Thank you to our 2015 Lions for their commitment and expertise!

Cheri Chevalier

Cheri Chevalier headshotCheri Chevalier is the General Manager of the Microsoft Office Division and former Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft Canada where she has spent over 20 years in progressively senior leadership positions. She has been recognized within and beyond Microsoft, landing a spot on Marketing Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 list and receiving Microsoft’s Chairman’s Award, the highest award given to employees globally.  Cheri is passionate about enabling people and organizations to reach their potential.  She and her family are proud and active residents of the Hamilton area.

Tonia Jahshan

Tonia Jahshan headshotTonia Jahshan is the Founder and President of Steeped Tea Inc. Steeped Tea has been featured on CBC’s Dragon’s Den, and has appeared on PROFIT 500’s list of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies two years in a row. Tonia has also been recognized on Chatelaine’s W100 list three years in a row, was named one of Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneurial Winning Women, and most recently, as Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneur of the Year for 2016 by Canadian Business Magazine.

Michael Macaluso

Michael Macaluso headshotMichael Macaluso is the President of CARSTAR North America. The CARSTAR network has grown to 500+ collision and glass centres with over 5,000 employees under Michael’s leadership. He is very active in the collision industry as well as committed to the Hamilton community, sitting on the board of directors for St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation, Festitalia, TigerTown Council and Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

George McCarter

George McCarter headshotGeorge McCarter was born in Mooresville, North Carolina. While attending North Carolina State University, George began his career at Allstate Insurance. George later moved north to complete his Bachelor’s degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo. In 1986, George moved further north to Hamilton and joined Dalton Insurance. As President of Dalton Insurance, George led a successful group buyout of the shareholders.In 2006, George became President and partner at Pearson Dunn Insurance & Financial Services Inc. Two years later, he purchased the remaining shares and Pearson Dunn Insurance began a new chapter in its 100-year history. George and his wife Bernie have two dynamic children, Brittney and Jordan. The McCarter family enjoys traveling, golf and a great meal together.George is very active in the Hamilton community and is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation and previous Chair of the Hamilton Club. In past years, George has lead successful fundraising campaigns for The United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton and the McMaster Children’s Hospital. George is supportive of several local charities and encourages all his staff to volunteer in community events, whenever they can.

Mario Paron

Mario Paron headshotMario Paron is the Canadian Managing Partner, KPMG Enterprise. He’s held several leadership roles with the firm over the past 25 years, most recently the Regional Managing Partner of Eastern Canada for KPMG.  A born and raised Hamiltonian, Mario completed his Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from McMaster University.

Learn about the 2015 finalists!