Fleming's Alumni - Profiles

Premier's Awards

The Premier's Awards for Graduates of Ontario's Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology honour the important social and economic contribution college graduates make to their communities. The Awards were launched in 1992 to mark the 25th anniversary of Ontario's colleges.

Presented annually, the Premier's Awards acknowledge six outstanding graduates from Applied Arts: Creative Arts and Design, Community Services, Business, Health Sciences, Technology, and Recent Graduate. Chosen from nominations submitted by Ontario's 25 colleges, nominees must demonstrate career success related to their college experience and must have made a significant contribution to their community.

Each of the six recipients receives a bronze medal and a framed certificate signed by the Premier of Ontario. In addition, a $5000.00 bursary is directed to the college of the recipient's choice. An honorary award may be presented each year to an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the college system.

 

Premier's Award Nominees

 

Mary Lou Green – Recent Graduate

Bringing together her social work skills, her belief in the healing power of expressive arts, her creativity and sense of humour, her love of people, and her belief individuals should not be marginalized, Mary Lou Green uses her education and talents to connect with disadvantaged individuals.

Mary Lou graduated from Fleming College’s Social Service Worker program in 2001. She returned to Fleming, obtaining her Expressive Arts certificate in 2003.

Now an Education Assistant at Fleming, Mary Lou coaches students with severe disabilities. She also coordinates the Expressive Arts Program at Brock Mission, a homeless shelter in Peterborough.

 

Richard McGee – Community Services

City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Richard McGee is a respected administrator within municipal government. Ric McGee is unique. He has outstanding professional accomplishments, a demonstrated commitment to volunteering in his community, and Ric is legally blind.

Graduating from Fleming College’s Recreation Leadership program in 1988, Ric progressed in his career to become director of Parks, Property and Recreation with Cavan-Milbrook-North Monaghan Township. Ric was elected mayor of City of Kawartha Lakes in 2006.

An Order of Ontario nominee, Ric volunteers with more than 30 community organizations and committees. He also serves on the provincial Accessibility Standards Advisory Council.

 

Mandy Edgerton – Health Sciences

Since graduating from Fleming College’s Registered Nursing diploma program in 2002, Mandy Edgerton’s passion for nursing has led her to a successful career, workplace advocacy, and further education.

Mandy is a nurse (BScN, RN) for the East Coast Forensic Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She rehabilitates individuals who have been found not criminally responsible due to mental illness.

Mandy is also active within her local union, the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, as a chief steward and representative on many union boards and committees.

Since graduating from Fleming, Mandy completed her Bachelor of Science Nursing (BScN) at St. Francis Xavier University in less than four years while working full time.

 

Robert Fitts - Technology

Robert Fitts, Vice President Corporate Development for telecom business EXFO, is a leader and innovator. He is credited with conceptualizing and bringing to market a hand-held DSL test set that sold more than 30,000 units, bringing in $30 million in revenue.

After graduating from Fleming College’s Electronics Technology program in 1982, Robert joined Consultronics, helping the company grow from 12 to 160 employees. EXFO bought Consultronics in 2006.

Throughout his career Robert has built a global sales network, expanded markets, and designed products. Robert has truly contributed to making Consultronics, and now EXFO, a trendsetter in the evolving telecom industry.

 

Paul Jobe - Business

Paul Jobe’s innovative ideas have transformed the field of logistics. As head of Logistics, Planning and Distribution Centres for Pepsico-QTG (Quaker Oats), Paul introduced new techniques that enhanced the logistics field, integrating a greater emphasis on customer service.

Paul was among the first supply chain executives to use this approach as a competitive advantage in business. Under his leadership, Quaker became known as a leader in logistics and led the industry in customer service.

Paul graduated from Fleming College in 1977 with a Business Administration diploma he earned while continuing to work full-time at Quaker.