Jeff Elgie, Partner
Lucidia Ltd. Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Jeff Elgie is the founding partner of Lucidia Ltd., a nine-year-old Interactive Agency located in Sault Ste. Marie. Prior to founding Lucidia Ltd. Jeff also founded and managed Lucidia Technologies Ltd. (formerly Next Generation Consulting Inc.), an IT services and support firm.

Jeff has been involved in various business and entrepreneurial activities since the age of 15, and has a bachelor’s degree in administrative and commercial studies from the University of Western Ontario.

He and Lucidia have been acknowledged with numerous business, entrepreneurial and community awards over the past ten years.

Jeff currently lives in Sault Ste. Marie with his wife Dionne and their two children.

Tom Fortin, Director
Ontrak Control Systems, Sudbury, ON

Tom Fortin, director of Ontrak Control Systems in Sudbury, has been manufacturing electronic control devices for industrial automation, medical and retail applications for more than 25 years. A strong advocate of young entrepreneurs, he established The Fortin Foundation in 2006 to provide funding for equipment and supplies to schools to enlighten students about opportunities in manufacturing. Tom is a proponent of sustainable living as his home is one of the few off-grid, low-voltage homes in Canada. He will be starting a new Sudbury company within the next year to manufacture many of the "bits and pieces" required to build homes that operate on low-voltage solar power.

Louise Thomas , Curator
Ahnisnabae Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, ON

Louise Thomas is the curator and owner of Thunder Bay's Ahnisnabae Art Gallery and the keeper of the memory of her late husband and celebrated Aboriginal artist, the late Roy Thomas.

Best known for the symbolic imagery of the Ojibway Woodland style, Thomas produced thousands of paintings that are featured today in international exhibitions and dozens of collections and museums in Canada and globally. Her husband's studio is now a gallery that showcases the work of 140 Aboriginal artists from across Northern Ontario. Louise is a self-taught entrepreneur who handles the gallery's online sales and ships prints to customers as far away as Europe, Russia and Australia.

Jennifer Twigg , President
Twiggs Coffee Company, North Bay, ON

Jennifer Twigg has been a Canadian entrepreneur for more than 30 years. She founded North Bay's landmark Twiggs Coffee Company almost 15 years ago and she is recognized as one of North Bay's business leaders.

For six years, Jennifer was president of the Nipissing First Nation Economic Development Corporation, working with community-owned companies. The corporation brought the businesses to profitability and returned them to the authority of the band council.

Most recently, Jennifer's efforts have been directed towards the expansion of Twiggs and its charitable efforts. The original Twiggs location in downtown North Bay, roasts Fair Trade organic coffee and supplies health conscious tea and food. Twiggs second location is at One Kids Place, with a third location open on McKeown Avenue in North Bay.

She won the First Nation Business Award of Excellence at the 2008 Northern Ontario Business Awards in North Bay.

Jacqueline Savoie, Director of Development
Science North, Sudbury, ON

Jacqueline joined Science North as the Director of Development in January 2010. She leads a development team and works with community volunteers to raise funds for Science North, a registered charitable organization. Jacqueline works with existing and new partners to develop mutually beneficial partnerships. They create fundraising vehicles, such as annual campaigns, the organization's Endowment Fund and planned gift giving to ensure Science North’s long-term sustainability and continued renewal for the benefit of its visitors and Northern Ontarians.

Prior to joining Science North, Jacqueline spent six years as the Director of Development at Collège Boréal where she played a key role in various highly successful fundraising campaigns.

Born and raised in Northern Ontario, Savoie did not always work in the fundraising field. After 20 years of distinguishing herself in various sales positions, she yearned for new challenges that would allow her to use her skills while contributing to the community.

Jacqueline started her fundraising career in 2003 as the Special Events Coordinator at the United Way where she spearheaded the inaugural “Be A Goddess” event, which has now been adopted in many cities across Canada.

Jacqueline continues to be involved with her community. Through the years, she has been a strong supporter of the Sudbury Food Bank, Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce and she has sat on the board of directors for Junior Achievement and the board of governors of the Sudbury Theatre Centre. She has received several nominations and awards of distinction and excellence, including the 2008 Top 40 Under Forty Award.