CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Conestoga alumni nominated for Greater K-W Chamber of Commerce awards

Alumni nominations for the Young Professional of the Year award include Luke Schulz, graduate of the Broadcast -- Radio program and reporter and anchor at CityNews 570; Conestoga employee Kathy Dapal, graduate of both the Public Relations -- Integrated Communications program and Event Management program; and Business Administration -- Management graduate Monica Caudle, a human resources and marketing manager at Caudle's Catch Seafood.

Alumni-owned and led companies also earned nominations. AET Group Inc., founded by managing director and CEO Scott Freiburger, a graduate of the Environmental Engineering Applications program, is nominated in the Health and Wellness in the Workplace category. Cass Construction & Renovation Inc., founded by Renovation Technician graduate Jon Cassaubon, is nominated for Business of the Year (11-50 employees) and Bookmytherapy.ca, created by Neha Juwale, a Sustainable Business Management graduate and Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective alumna is nominated for New Business of the Year.

"We are very proud to see this group of nominees excelling in their professions. The categories they are recognized in speaks to the many ways Conestoga graduates are shaping and having a positive impact in the communities where they work and live," said Melissa Kelly, associate director, Alumni Experience.

According to the 2023 Conestoga: Adapting for Prosperity report, Conestoga's graduates contribute more than $6.2 billion to the provincial economy annually, and nearly 7,800 entrepreneurs in Ontario are part of our alumni community. Conestoga's alumni contribute over $6.2 billion to the provincial economy annually, with over 50 per cent of graduates living in Waterloo Region, contributing to the well-being of the community.

The Conestoga Talent Hub is also nominated in the Community Builder of the Year category for providing life-long talent development support to Conestoga students and alumni, community job seekers and employers.

The winners will be announced at a gala event on March 20.

Conestoga's alumni network is over 225,000 strong, with graduates from across the region and around the world using their knowledge and skills to launch successful careers and advance and transform our society.