Business Leaders

Maushum Basu is a visionary leader who inspires his team with a clear, compelling purpose. Unafraid to take calculated risks, he understands that growth often stems from change and innovation. His deep commitment to both Airia Brands, Inc.

When speaking with Martin Paquette, one thing is immediately apparent: he’s honest. His transparency is refreshing. While many shy away from such vulnerability, Paquette sees it as a force to reckon with. The incredible emotional intelligence speaks to years of looking within—it’s also what allows him to acknowledge his mistakes gracefully and use them as opportunities to innovate.

Marina Charriere, CEO of Star Drug Testing Services, Star Drug Testing Services (Windsor Park), and First Defence Face Masks go hand in hand. Star is a drug and alcohol testing facility, and First D F M is a face mask company.

Lejjy Gafour, CEO, CULT Food Science Corp. Lejjy is a self-taught entrepreneur and experienced company operator who made his start creating opportunities at the young age of 14, and he has been working, leading, and building businesses ever since.

Jonathan Kolber is someone who likes to think outside of the box. He is usually ten steps ahead of the industry and is ready to change directions if the situation requires. Customer service has always been a core value at the International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC), as well as integrity and a focus on the students’ experience.

John Moakler, the President of Moakler Wealth Management Inc., stands out as a visionary leader in the financial planning industry. His unique background in mathematics and computer science has significantly influenced his approach to financial planning and wealth management, providing a solid numerical and process-oriented foundation.

Joan Kanigan, CEO of the Western Development Museum (WDM), took an extraordinarily unique yet bold step as a leader in 2021. She initiated a 360o Performance Assessment to better understand how she was performing and where she needed to improve—all through an honest and critical feedback system to know where she was standing as a leader and a manager.

Today oil and gas producers face severe regulatory and public relations obstacles due to the concern with greenhouse gases and resource depletion. Calgary-based start-up, Advanced Upstream (“AU”), has been disrupting the oil and gas industry with simple and reliable innovative technologies.

David Duplisea took the reins at the Saint John Board of Trade just about ten years ago. Previous boards of Directors had discussed the possibility of partnering with the region’s Chambers and business associations to create a single organization.

Colin Moreland, CEO, brings a passion for technological innovation and customer service to MPP Software Solutions. He can quickly visualize what a software product would look like that addresses customers’ needs and he understands what work and people are required to make it happen.