A Magazine for Alumni and Friends
Phil McColeman (BA ’76) was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for the Brantford-Brant riding. First elected as the MP for Brant (since renamed Brantford-Brant) in 2008 and re-elected again in 2011, this will be McColeman’s third term in Parliament.
Marie Fanjoy (BBA ’85) is seeking her floormates from Janet Benson’s C-1 floor from 1981 for a residence reunion. Contact mariefanjoy@rogers.com.
Brian Lewis (BA ’85) was appointed chief economist and assistant deputy minister, Office of Economic Policy in the Ontario Ministry of Finance. Lewis has served a 20-year career in the Ontario Public Service in various leadership positions, including seven years as the director of the Economic Revenue Forecasting and Analysis Branch.
Thomas Pladsen (BBA ’83) has been named chief financial officer of Crystal Peak Minerals Inc. Prior to this appointment Pladsen built a 25-year career in executive and director roles in various private and public companies.
Ray Tanguay (Dip. Bus. ’83), who recently retired as chair of Toyota Canada, was named special adviser by the federal and provincial governments to help oversee and guide the Canadian auto industry.
Robert Creighton (B.Mus. ’90) wrote the music and lyrics for and starred in Cagney, a new Broadway musical based on legendary actor and dancer James Cagney. Presented by the York Theatre Company, the show ran on Broadway from May 19 – June 21.
Steve Griggs (BA’92) was named chief executive officer of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. Griggs, a member of Laurier’s OUA championship-winning men’s hockey teams in 1989 and 1990, joined the Lightning as chief operating officer in 2010 and was promoted to president in 2014. His career as a sports executive has spanned 22 years to date and previously included leadership roles with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and the NBA’s Orlando Magic.
Jeff Nugent (BBA ’95) received the Small Business of the Year award from Profit Guide Magazine for his company, Contingent Workforce Solutions. Nugent founded the company in 2008 and it is now a leader in developing automated processes for companies to manage and pay contract and freelance workers.
Sarah Au (BBA ’09) and Ryan Burella (BBA ’08) were named to Marketing Magazine’s “Top 30 Under 30” list. Au is currently brand manager, Brita with The Clorox Company of Canada, while Burella works as the manager of arts and culture sponsorships for Scotiabank.
Brad Katsuyama (BBA ’01) was the subject of the cover story of the October 2015 edition of The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine. The story, entitled “Flash forward: A year after Flash Boys made Brad Katsuyama famous, he’s still trying to save Wall Street from itself,” chronicles Katsuyama’s life since being thrust into the spotlight after being the central figure in Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt, a controversial book by author Michael Lewis – of Moneyball fame – released in April of 2014. Katsuyama was also the subject of a feature in the Winter 2014 edition of Campus.
Sarah Granke (MSW ’15) has been appointed to the newly created position of sexual violence prevention and supports specialist with the Province of Nova Scotia. In this role, Granke is leading the implementation of Nova Scotia’s first province-wide coordinated response to sexual violence.
Liz Knox (BA ’10) and Candice Styles (BA ’14) have returned for another season in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL), playing for the Brampton Thunder. Knox, a goaltender, won four OUA titles during her time at Laurier, while Styles, a defender, won three.
William Morgan (BA ’14) was awarded the Spirit of Brock medal at his Brock University Faculty of Education convocation ceremony. Morgan, who lost his vision at the age of five, was recognized for his determination and perseverance in becoming an elite athlete, competing in judo at three Paralympics and five World Championships.
Devon Skeats (BA ’15) signed a professional contract with the Buffalo Beauts of the newly formed National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL). Skeats, a three-time OUA women’s hockey champion with the Golden Hawks, became the first Canadian university player to sign in the NWHL, which is the first paid professional hockey league for women.