2021 Premier's Awards Nominees Announced
SARNIA, November 17, 2021 – Lambton College is proud to feature four notable alumni who have been nominated for this year’s province-wide Premier’s Awards.
On Thursday, November 18, Lambton College will celebrate a select group of outstanding alumni at the 2021 Premier’s Awards. A tech CEO, a passionate healthcare professional, a young business leader, and an award-winning hot sauce entrepreneur make up this year’s cohort of nominees.
At this year’s awards gala, which will take place virtually, Lambton College will celebrate Randy Dewey, Erica Chisholm, Megan Rizzo, and Joshua Lines.
“Lambton College is proud to recognize the impact this incredible group of alumni have had in their communities and in their professions,” says Rob Kardas, President & CEO, Lambton College. “These inspiring individuals have demonstrated a commitment to innovation, leadership, determination and caring, all strong Lambton College values. They have set an extraordinary example for our current students, and they are outstanding ambassadors of our College. I congratulate them on receiving this prestigious nomination.”
The Premier’s Awards are hosted by Colleges Ontario in recognition of the important contributions college graduates make to Ontario, throughout Canada, and around the world. Nominees are selected by each college based on their ongoing contributions to their fields and to their communities. The Premier’s Awards recognize one winner across six categories.
Randy Dewey is the Lambton College nominee in the Technology category. Dewey is a global CEO that has built eight companies across four countries in his career. In 2008, he entered the technology industry as the Vice Chair of Baylin Technologies and ascended to the position of President and CEO in 2015. In that role, he led the diversification of the company and propelled Baylin Technologies to the forefront of 5G, positioning the company to be an integral supplier of the base stations that will make 5G connectivity possible in areas without fibre optic, which accounts for the vast majority of the world. Dewey is also the Founder of LIFT Leadership. He studied Industrial Technology, Environmental Engineering Technology at Lambton College from 1986 to 1991.
Erica Chisholm is this year’s Health Sciences nominee. Chisholm is a Registered Nurse who has dedicated her career to going where the need is greatest. She laid the foundation of this career while attending Lambton College, driving the development of a clinic in rural Zambia, Africa, with her Enactus team and remains involved with the clinic today. Following her graduation, Chisholm became a critical care nurse, then pivoted to public health during the pandemic. Always prepared to enter high pressure situations where the impact of her healthcare skills and training can be felt most markedly, Chisholm currently works as a Critical Care Nurse with Solutions Travel Nursing. She completed her Bachelor of Science – Nursing degree through Lambton College from 2013 to 2017.
Megan Rizzo is being honoured in this year’s Recent Graduate category. Rizzo is Lambton College’s Enactus Program Coordinator and a firm believer in the power entrepreneurship has to change lives. In her role, she has helped entrepreneurs launch businesses in her local area, across Canada, and even in Zambia, Africa, where she helped farmers capture the value chain to maximize their revenue. In 2021 she is focusing on a collaborative agricultural and entrepreneurial project with First Nations communities, developing food security solutions and laying the foundation to launch two new industries and the related business, employment and educational opportunities that accompany those industries. Rizzo studied Business at Lambton College from 2015 to 2021.
Joshua Lines rounds out the nominations in the Business category. Lines is the CEO of Top Shelf Canada, producer of premium hot sauce products. As the entrepreneur behind a start-up, Lines has almost single-handedly developed and grown his business, and his efforts have paid off. His international award-winning hot sauce Front Street Heat is in more than 350 big box stores across Canada, and he is now signed on with a major Canadian distributor poised to bring his products to even broader markets. Just as importantly, he has found a way to give back to Canadians with Canada’s hot sauce through a partnership with the United Way. Lines is a graduate of both the Chemical Engineering and Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration programs at Lambton College.