Avenue's annual Top 40 Under 40 issue is quickly becoming a small industrial complex. Hundreds of submissions are carefully reviewed, re-reviewed and eventually whittled down into a yearly list of Calgary's premiere young citizens. With such a daunting task laying siege upon the majority of our staff for the better part of two calendar seasons, it is important (mostly to our fatigued minds) that the panel of judges selecting the final Top 40 Under 40 list get things right. Fortunately for us - and more importantly for all the friends, colleagues and family members who have nominated a candidate for Avenue's consideration - this year's panel of judges possess all the necessary ingredients to make patently sound decisions.
The Big Wigs - George Bookman, Gary Davies, Linda Southern Heathcott
George Bookman's impact can be seen in many different areas of Calgary's economy. Bookman is the chief executive of Western Canadian Industries Group and has amassed great wealth from his involvement in West Canadian Digital, Commonwealth Legal, and Vistek-West Camera and Photo. The savvy entrepreneur won the 2008 Distinguished Business Leader Award from the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and the Haskayne School of Business and has spent years volunteering with many Calgary-based projects including the Calgary Stampede and the 1988 Winter Games.
Gary Davies oversees the operations of all RedPoint products and he also serves as publisher of Avenue (Calgary) magazine, up! magazine, West magazine and Wine Access magazine. Gary serves as president of the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Calgary International Film Festival and he serves on the Communications Committee of the United Way (Calgary). You can get an inside look at Gary's life by reading the Publisher's Blog.
Linda Southern-Heathcott is a Top 40 alumni and the current president and CEO of Spruce Meadows. Southern-Heathcott is no stranger to excellence having competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and her father Ron Southern started a small company called ATCO in 1947.
On The Scene - Terry Rock, Käthe Lemon
Dr. Terry Rock is the current president and CEO of Calgary Arts Development. Rock holds a PhD in Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Texas Tech and a Bachelor of Commerce (with Distinction) in Marketing from the University of Saskatchewan. Rock was formerly the president of AIESEC Canada Inc.
Käthe Lemon has been the editor of Avenue magazine for three years. She has worked at a variety of travel, business and trade publications and has been a magazine editor for more than a decade. Her writing and editing work has garnered her accolades from the Western Magazine Awards and National Magazine Awards. In addition, she teaches communications studies through Athabasca University.
Organizers - Laurel Benson, Lois Mitchell
Laurel Benson is the president and CEO of Volunteer Calgary. She has worked in fund development to support numerous organizations including "Hull Child and Family Services, SAIT, Mount Royal University, Prince George Public Library, Grande Prairie Museum and the Melbourne Zoo. Her experience includes working with organizations throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Australia." (VolunterCalgary.ab.ca)
Lois Mitchell is President of Amherst Consultants Ltd., a strategic marketing firm. "Lois is currently on the Board of Directors of The Chamber of Commerce and also serves on the Human Resources Committee of The Chamber. She previously was the board liaison on the Tourism Committee and chaired the "Salute to Excellence" Gala for 3 years." (CalgaryChamber.com)
Legal Representation - Joseph Lougheed
Joe Lougheed is a partner in the corporate and private equity group of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, a national business law firm with offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and New York. Joe is also a Director of the Heritage Park Foundation, the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Society and the Lougheed House Conservation Society, which operates the "Lougheed House" National Historic Site in Calgary. Joe is also a Director of Pteragen Canada Inc., a wind power development company and Icore (a Government of Alberta high tech R&D funding agency) and is active in various other charities. (CalgaryChamber.com)
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