Thank you to our 2016 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.

Julie Ellis

Julie Ellis headshotJulie Ellis is a Co-Founder of Mabel’s Labels.  The company was recently acquired by CCL for its Avery Label division, but during her time there, Julie oversaw Finance, IT, Fundraising and Mabel’s Labels Retail Inc. Julie and her business partners were recognized with the RBC Women Entrepreneur Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, and ranked #17 on the Profit W100 (2013). Julie has been involved with start-ups through the Innovation Factory for over 5 years and recently became a member of Angel One.  Early stage and high growth businesses are a passion of hers.

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.

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 2016 finalists!