NBCC Alumni Awards Showcase Leaders And Pioneers In Their Communities
A soldier turned health care pioneer. A family business owner expanding his leadership capacity. A rising star on the global nuclear stage. An early innovator in Cloud computing.
What do they have in common? They all started their careers at NBCC, and they’re all recipients of the College’s Outstanding Alumni Awards for 2020.
NBCC alumni Joe Foote (1992, Respiratory Therapy), Matthew Stockford (2004, Transport Refrigeration Technician), Ross Horgan (2007, Electrical Engineering Technology), and Lars-Erik Forsberg (2001, Digital Communications) were honoured with Outstanding Alumni Awards earlier this month.
Foote was the recipient of the prestigious Friend of New Brunswick award, recognizing an individual who has made significant contributions to the culture, reputation, and economy of New Brunswick. The award reflects his service with the Commissionaire Corps of Canada, animal welfare organizations, and the Canadian Forces Primary Reserves, as well as his professional success.
In a typical year, NBCC presents the awards at a gala ceremony; in 2020, things had to be done a little differently to adhere to physical distancing guidelines. NBCC President and CEO Mary Butler sat down with each recipient for an in-depth discussion about how NBCC influenced their careers. What she discovered is that the impact of NBCC goes beyond alumni as individuals and spreads into their communities and their respective industries.
“Joe helped develop the first national competencies for respiratory therapy, Matt is one of Atlantic Canada’s entrepreneurial leaders, Ross led a global conference on nuclear energy, and Lars is a pioneer in Cloud computing,” said Butler. “These are leaders not just among NBCC alumni, but within their professions on an international scale.”
Each of the recipients is also an active volunteer, donating his time to community projects and initiatives. In this spirit of giving back and mark the special circumstances of the 2020 awards, NBCC Alumni has donated $2,000 in the recipients’ names to the NBCC Student Critical Aid Fund, which provides immediate financial aid to students in need.
Nominations for NBCC’s Alumni Recognition Awards are open year-round and can be submitted online.
Here is more on this year’s award recipients:
Ross Horgan
A 2007 graduate of the Electrical Engineering Technology program at NBCC, Ross Horgan has become a rising young star in the nuclear industry. He started working at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station as an Electrical Instrumentation and Control Maintainer, shortly after graduating from NBCC and has progressed into his current role of Performance Improvement Supervisor.
In 2018, Ross became the Young Generation Coordinator with the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO). He balanced this role with his duties at NB Power and worked globally to formulate a Young Generation Strategy for WANO, including leading a successful global conference of his peers.
He is a former chair and current member of Fusion Saint John, engaging young professionals in the organization and hosting events for newcomers to the Port City.
Matthew Stockford
An emerging young business leader, Matthew Stockford believes in investing in his business and in his community.
A 2004 graduate of NBCC’s Transport Refrigeration Service Technician program, he took the helm of the family’s Woodstock-based business, Stockford Reefer, in 2013, and went on to invest more than $1.5-million in new premises for the business.
In 2017, Matthew was one of 28 young business leaders chosen from a field of 419 nominees from across Atlantic Canada for the prestigious Entrepreneurial Leaders Program at the Wallace McCain Institute.
As his business and leadership capacity has grown, Matthew has continued to give back to his community, helping raise funds for the Upper River Valley Cancer Support Network and various local events including Woodstock Rotary Club’s flagship fundraising event, the annual Rotary dance.
Joe Foote
A true leader with a service heart, Joe Foote has built a career upon giving back – to his industry, to his community, and to his country.
A 1992 graduate of the Respiratory Therapy program, Joe founded Quality Respiratory Care in 1997, employing more than 20 NBCC graduates. He is a leader in the field helping develop the first national competencies for Respiratory Therapy and a handbook for Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
Joe is a former Lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve, a private pilot, and an animal lover. He is a board member and past Chair of the Corps of Commissionaires (NB & PEI Division) holding the prestigious title of Commissionaire Distinguished.
He gives back to NBCC by donating equipment to the Respiratory Therapy program and volunteering to support entrepreneurship programs.
Lars-Erik Forsberg
An early innovator in the burgeoning development of Cloud computing, Lars-Erik Forsberg’s work in information technology has ranged from digital social networks to data centre automation. His exciting career has taken him to Silicon Valley and beyond, but it started in NBCC’s Digital Communications program.
His work took him to Toronto and then to San Diego, CA where he led a globally-distributed team of 100 software developers, site reliability engineers, and software architects to successfully design, build, launch, and operate a next-generation cloud infrastructure platform.
A successful entrepreneur and seasoned executive leader, Lars has led projects with Best Buy, John Hancock, Intel, IBM, and Dell Technologies.
Lars has forged his own path, approaching his work with an eye to innovation and always challenging himself to take his career to the next level.
This story is sponsored by NBCC.
Banner photo: Matthew Stockford, Joe Foote, Ross Horgan, and Lars-Erik Forsberg. Images: submitted.