{"id":57787,"date":"2019-05-01T15:35:08","date_gmt":"2019-05-01T19:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=57787"},"modified":"2019-05-02T11:24:19","modified_gmt":"2019-05-02T15:24:19","slug":"brock-staff-alumni-among-40-under-forty-recipients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2019\/05\/brock-staff-alumni-among-40-under-forty-recipients\/","title":{"rendered":"Brock staff, alumni among 40 Under Forty recipients"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than a dozen Brock University alumni and staff have made the list of Niagara\u2019s top young business professionals.<\/p>\n

Business Link Media Group announced the recipients of the 16th Annual 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Awards, which\u00a0celebrate and honour 40 individuals under the age of 40 who greatly contribute to Niagara\u2019s growth and development.<\/p>\n

Of the 15 Brock community members named, three are Brock University staff members: Emily Allan (BPhEd \u201905, MEd \u201913), Associate Director, Brock Sports; Joshua Tonnos, Associate Vice-President, Financial Services; and Dr. Stephanie Yurkewich, Medical Doctor with Brock Student Health Services.<\/p>\n

“I’m honoured to receive the award,\u201d said Allan. “I feel as though I\u2019m receiving this at the beginning stages of my development as a leader, especially being in a new role, so it was definitely unexpected.”<\/p>\n

As the Associate Director, Brock Sports, Allan oversees 33 varsity teams and their coaches, as well as Brock Sports staff members who work together to deliver an exceptional competitive athletic opportunity and university experience for approximately 900 student-athletes.<\/p>\n

In addition to a steady advancement in her career, Allan was chosen as one of this year\u2019s 40 Under Forty recipients for her community engagement and fundraising efforts for Cystic Fibrosis Canada<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For Tonnos, winning the award is as much a personal accomplishment as a team success.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing I have done in my career was done alone,\u201d he said. \u201cEverything required collaboration from a team of intelligent and dedicated colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a Chartered Professional Accountant, Tonnos provides leadership and oversight for Brock University\u2019s budgetary, audit, tax and regulatory financial compliance, investment, procurement and student financial account functions. His past experience includes roles with top local employers Canadian Tire Financial Services and the Niagara Region.<\/p>\n

Tonnos is thankful for the mentorship he has received at Brock and feels it plays a significant role in achieving professional success.<\/p>\n

\u201cHelping those around you succeed is the best way to have a successful and rewarding career,\u201d he said. \u201cI have been blessed with mentorship from truly outstanding leaders at Brock. Leadership filters through the entire ranks and you can feel the energy every day at Brock.\u201d<\/p>\n

The University\u2019s third staff recipient is a physician with Student Health Services.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoctors are expected to help people, so being granted this award demonstrates how much our community really values the impact we are able to make,\u201d said Yurkewich.<\/p>\n

\u201cI find it rewarding to help University students stay healthy, both physically and mentally, and to support them through difficult times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yurkewich values giving back to the community. She continues to help educate future medical students and residents. She and a friend also recently created Charity Gals, a not-for-profit organization that supports local charities through annual fundraising events. The organization\u2019s inaugural event, Stay the Night, raised $10,000 last year for the Canadian Mental Health Association Niagara\u2019s Safe Beds program.<\/p>\n

Allan, Tonnos and Yurkewich will celebrate their accomplishments alongside 12 Brock alumni at an awards ceremony Thursday, May 23 at the Holiday Inn and Suites, Parkway Convention Centre in St. Catharines. Tickets<\/a> are $95 each or $900 for a table of 10.<\/p>\n

Brock\u2019s three staff members agree the 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Awards are important to the Niagara region.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey create a network for young professionals and build the reputation of Niagara as a place to learn, work, live and grow,\u201d said Tonnos. \u201cThey also demonstrate the valuable employment opportunities available to the workforce, which play a role in attracting students, families and businesses to our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe awards show gratitude to individuals who help the region grow and flourish,\u201d said Yurkewich. \u201cI hope they inspire young people to keep chasing their dreams and to get involved in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese awards affirm that we\u2019re all moving in the right direction and making a positive impact,\u201d Allan added.<\/p>\n

Brock University community recipients of the 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Awards 2019:<\/strong><\/p>\n