Canadore College is pleased to announce its four nominees for the 2010 Premier’s Awards for outstanding college graduates held in Toronto on November 22.

Carey D. Bond (Stratford, CT) – President of Sikorsky Global Helicopters, chief marketing officer of Sikorsky Global Aircraft, and graduate of Canadore’s Aviation Technician – Aircraft Maintenance program and Helicopter Pilot Training program. Carey leads Sikorsky’s $2 billion global commercial helicopter business and oversees the sales, marketing and communication for all of Sikorsky Aircraft. Carey has led some of Sikorsky’s largest and most strategically important acquisitions and joint ventures, enabling the company to grow internationally. He looks back on his college days as the spark that ignited his aviation interest. Carey also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Texas Christian University and has more than 25 years of industry experience.

Glenn Cundari (North Bay, Ont.) – President of the Canadian Professional Golf Association, Master Learning Facilitator for Canada, and graduate of the Business Administration program. Glen is actively involved with the National Coaching Certification Program for Golf in curriculum design, instructional delivery, and standards administration for golf pro development programs across Canada and around the world. He is one of five members (and the only Canadian) to sit on the World PGA Education Committee. Glenn has written over 150 editorial columns and hosted a weekly television segment on golf instruction. Glenn also sits on the National Player Development Committee for Golf Canada, a committee responsible for High Performance athletes competing in the Team Canada Program. Glen credits Canadore with providing him the skills, tools and the confidence to take on projects that have had world recognition. “My experience at Canadore was top notch – I appreciate the approach Canadore took to allow the skills and knowledge I received to be easily transferred to other areas of my professional career.”

Michael Kenney (Ottawa, Ont.) – Director/principal for Xerox Global Services, Xerox Canada and graduate of Canadore’s Recreation Leadership program. Michael directly oversees a 75-person marketing and sales team that partners with Fortune 500 companies in 160 countries around the globe. Throughout his 30 year career, he has received numerous awards recognizing his initiative, his leadership and his sales successes; he has been named to Xerox’s prestigious President’s Club 13 times. Michael said that while his education prepared him for the rigours of the work world, the entire Canadore experience prepared him for much more. The College provided the team building, life building, and leadership skills that helped Michael become a great organizer, planner, trainer, mentor and friend. “Canadore is where I developed a ‘can do’ attitude. It is the place where I was able to challenge myself and be challenged by my instructors to do more and to be more,” he said. “I could have gone to any college…but the fact I went to Canadore has had a significant and positive impact on my life.”

Lon Molnar (Toronto, Ont.) – Chief executive officer and senior visual effects supervisor for Intelligent Creatures Inc. and graduate of the Graphic Communications program. As CEO of Intelligent Creatures, Lon is responsible for leading the company in its mission to be the most respected visual effects company in the world. Lon’s main focus has been to create opportunity for artists to work on high profile challenging feature film projects in Canada. Lon has contributed as a visual effects artist, supervisor and creative consultant on over 40 feature films and television projects, including the Academy Award winning Chicago where he led a team of animators who replicated the streets of Chicago. His most recent venture is Watchmen, a Warner Bros. film for which Lon was visual effects supervisor of over 60 artists. Other film credits include The Game Plan Babel, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith and the 3D film The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl with director Robert Rodriguez. The fundamentals Lon acquired at Canadore provided the necessary skills to pursue, and excel in, a computer animation career. The instructors had a significant impact on shaping his life, and their hard work and passion instilled in Lon the same commitment to education, training and relentless dedication to the creative that he focuses on today.

The annual Premier’s Awards honour the important social and economic contributions made by college graduates to the province and the world. Nominations are submitted by Ontario’s 24 colleges and are presented in six categories, Business, Creative Arts and Design, Community Services, Health Sciences, Technology and Recent Graduate.
The winners will be celebrated at a gala event at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto on November 22. They will receive a bronze medal, a framed certificate signed by the Premier of Ontario and a $5,000 bursary will go to their graduating college. This year, there are more than 100 nominees and over 600 guests expected to attend. Canadore’s own Rod Carley, coordinator and professor for the Theatre Arts program, and 2009 winner of the best lecturer competition hosted by TVOntario, will be emceeing the event.

Canadore College is proud to have strong affiliations with many exceptional students, staff, faculty and graduates. Many of these individuals achieve outstanding success both personally and professionally and demonstrate meaningful contributions to their communities. Good luck to all of our nominees!