Top 25: Part 1

Roger Greenberg – Rescuing Lansdowne Park from Terminal Decrepitude

Roger Greenberg, chief executive of family-owned the Minto Group, the city’s largest homebuilder, is part of a group of developers and sports figures engaged by the City of Ottawa to redevelop Lansdowne Park into a multipurpose attraction the community can be proud of, instead of the deplorable, underused and decaying facility it is today – and has been for many years. Indeed, Lansdowne Park is in such a sad state of decay that it is sometimes referred to as Lansdowne Park Penitentiary because of the grimness of the site, mostly covered in asphalt and used as a parking area, with only a few heritage structures remaining from the park’s glory days.

Roger is a partner in the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), playing a pivotal role in the revitalization of Lansdowne Park, aiming to create a vibrant urban community for residents and visitors to enjoy shopping, entertainment and sports. Unfortunately, the mega-project is being stalled by frivolous court challenges by the so-called Friends of Lansdowne, whose delaying tactics have become more than irksome.

“The road to a new Lansdowne Park has not been the smoothest of rides,” Mr. Greenberg told Ottawa Life. “It has had more than its fair share of twists and turns and one which has taken a lot longer than originally planned. However, we have enjoyed partnering with the City of Ottawa and together we will celebrate the end of this journey in the not too distant future. We are honoured to have the opportunity to polish and refit the jewel of Ottawa. And when the new Lansdowne opens its doors, it will be a great day for all Ottawans.”

Roger was behind the start-up of Minto’s operations in Toronto with brother Alan Greenberg in 1985. Together they managed the development of two major projects. In 1991, Roger became President of Minto, moving to the Ottawa headquarters to oversee all company operations; he was later elected Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Roger has been recognized as an outstanding leader and volunteer, and his personal achievements include the 2010 Association of Fundraising Professionals Outstanding Volunteer Award; the 2008 Ottawa Hospital Foundation Volunteer of the Year Award; and the 2007 Gilbert Greenberg Distinguished Service Award – the highest tribute given by the Ottawa Jewish Community. Roger was also awarded the CEO of the Year Award by Ottawa Business Journal in 2004.

Andrea Johnson

Andrea Johnson Corporate and Securities Lawyer

A partner at Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP – one of Canada’s leading law firms, Andrea Johnson is quickly becoming one of the top lawyers in the Capital.  As a partner in FMC’s Technology Practice Group, she was the recipient of Lexpert’s 2010 “Rising Stars: Leading Lawyer under 40 Award”, and was recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada 2011 in Technology Law. Johnson often works with emerging growth companies and says that it is quite exciting to have a window into what is coming next in the technology world. Johnson says that she is a “big believer in going deep into a sector and really understanding it. It creates value for your clients.” She is also passionate about her work with the Ottawa chapter of the Indo Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which works to facilitate trade between Canada, India and other countries. Says Johnson, “a lot of great work is being done in India, and it is a huge untapped market.”

Amanda Rheaume

Amanda Rheaume Steamy Songstress

While Amanda Rheaume’s musical career alone is enough to put her in Ottawa’s Top 25, the combination of her musical talent and philanthropy makes her a real star. Musically, Amanda has been on the stage of major music events and has opened for many famous acts. She’s even collaborated with some of the industry’s top names including co-writing music with Holly McNarland, Chantal Kreviazuk, Jeff Pearce and Brian Byme. For the past two years, she has toured Canada and the United States as well as performed for Canadian troops in Afghanistan, Dubai and Nunavut. While her music is an eclectic mix of rock and pop, her new album, released this past June and called Light of Another Day, is a return to her folk roots. Rheaume has a big heart. She has raised funds for charities in her hometown here in Ottawa. For the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, she has raised over $30,000.She has been heavily involved in Babes for Breasts, a cause dedicated to helping fight breast cancer across Canada, raising thousands of dollars.

Chay Geauvreau

Chay Geauvreau Skintastic Entrepreneur
Chay Geauvreau, founder of Pink Ginger and busy mother of two (who also consults for a high-tech Ottawa company) wants you to be conscious of what you put on your skin – from top to bottom and opt for healthier, organic products. Located in historic Merrickville all Pink Ginger products are made with natural ingredients, synthetic-free and most are certified organic including Ottawa’s Revolution Organics, a body care series using only certified organic plant-based ingredients. Geauvreau is highly educated in all of the products she carries and enjoys speaking with customers to help with their personal skin ailments, from eczema and psoriasis to assisting breast cancer survivors with sensitivities. Founded in 2009, the store also has an online shop which generates traffic from across the country. With a mission to make organic skin products accessible to all including those in the National Capital Region while advocating the benefits of a healthier lifestyle, she has changed the lives of many with skin difficulties.

Matthew Davis

Matthew Davis Techie With Heart
As one of Ottawa’s leading young entrepreneurs, Matt Davis, CEO of Virtustructure, believes strongly in using his innovative business to instill change in the world. VirtuStructure is a fast adapting company that proactively monitors the latest in IT trends, to provide clients with the best solutions to meet their needs and help their business grow. Outside of expanding his business, Davis also sits on the board for the Learning Disabilities Association of Ottawa-Carleton (LDAOC) as vice-chair, where he uses his tech skills to improve services for students with learning disabilities. He applies a ‘thinking outside the box’ to facilitate greater learning for these students. Operating web sites, digital media campaigns and creating mobile apps, Davis and his team pride themselves upon being Tech Centric Business Advisors. With the increased access to information, he says he recognizes the inherent responsibility required to do better, learn from past mistakes and then improve on them. For his ability to create change in Ottawa by supporting young students with learning disabilities to helping other local businesses succeed, Davis is one to watch!