Algoma Visionary Awards Recognizes Region's Best and Brightest Young Professionals

Algoma Visionary Awards Recognizes Region's Best and Brightest Young Professionals

Sault Ste. Marie, ON – On Friday evening, Strive: Young Professionals Group (Strive YPG) hosted its seventh annual Algoma Visionary Awards, a spectacular awards gala presented by SooToday/Village Media, celebrating the outstanding contributions of young professionals in Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma District. The event, attended by 185 guests, featured 59 nominees and 15 award recipients.

Strive YPG Chair Haroon Naseer Butt expressed that the evening was a celebration of the exceptional individuals whose passion, leadership, and dedication make our community an outstanding place to live, work, and play. Derek Jackson, President of Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce highlighted the significance of young professionals in the community, emphasizing the importance of leadership and encouraging attendees to consider becoming Strive members.

Strive introduced the Young ATHENA award for the first time this year, sponsored by past ATHENA recipients and was presented by Karen Bird and La-Na Fragomeni. The award recognizes emerging leaders aged 19-40, who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their respective fields, providing valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in the Sault Ste Marie/Algoma Region. The Strive executive committee facilitated nominations and formed the judging committee, which was comprised of 18 industry, business, and community leaders.

The Algoma Visionary Awards winners for 2024 include outstanding individuals from various industries, each sponsored by dedicated organizations committed to recognizing excellence.  

The following is a list of this year's Algoma Visionary Awards winners:  

Arts, Music & Culture Industry Award sponsored by Skeggs Paciocco Lawyers – Taylor Jolin 

Business Administration Industry Award sponsored by Lallemand Plant Care – Ashley Valela 

Consumer & Retail Industry Award sponsored by The Community Development Corporation of 

Sault Ste. Marie – Connie Carello 

Environment & Natural Resources Industry Award sponsored by BrandHNB Consulting Inc. – 

Emily Cormier 

Health Sciences Industry Award sponsored by Health & Safety Professionals Inc. – Ashley Irwin 

Hospitality & Tourism Industry Award sponsored by Destination Northern Ontario – Julia Bungay 

Lifestyle & Wellness Industry Award sponsored by Dr. Floreani, O'Toole & Dool Orthodontists- 

Maria Coccimiglio 

Public & Social Services Industry Award sponsored by Stone’s Office Supply Inc.  – Samantha Boyer 

Trades & Labour Industry Award sponsored by PUC Services – Krishna Bharatia 

Business Professional Development Achievement sponsored by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber 

of Commerce – Spencer Hogan 

Community Champion and Civic Pride presented by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming 

Corporation (OLG) – Erica Hogan 

Excellence in Entrepreneurship sponsored by Rogers Sports and Media – Brittany Kennedy 

Leadership sponsored by the Algoma Workforce Investment Corporation – Piyush Shukla 

Young ATHENA presented by the 2000 – 2023 ATHENA Recipients – Erica Hogan 

Young Professional of the Year sponsored by Algoma University – Ashley Irwin 

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About Strive Young Professionals Group

Developed in 2012 by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, Strive was established to address the representation gap for individuals between the ages of 19 to 40. This subcommittee of the Sault’s Chamber of Commerce has an elected executive, rotated annually based on active membership’s votes, working to provide networking events, learning development opportunities, and community involvement initiatives in collaboration with various community stakeholders.

For more information on how to become a member, please click here.