Spring/Summer 2011 - St. Jerome's University

SJUUPDATEAlumni Profiles: Visionary SJU Alumni12Since the last issue of SJU Update, several of our alumnihave been recognized for their outstanding contributionsas visionaries. Their contributions and accomplishmentshave raised local and national awareness about their work.Ali Asaria Former SJUresident Ali Asaria is changingthe way Canadians shop for healthand beauty products with hisinnovative company well.ca – astart-up that began in his livingroom. Ali, began his career as asoftware engineer at Research in Motion Inc., but gaveit all up to start his own online store in 2008. His visionwas to offer Canadian shoppers an e-commerce store thatfocuses on a friendly approach to the online experience.With the company doubling its sales revenue every fourmonths, site traffic indicates that well.ca is the onlineleader in the health and beauty category. Asaria has bigplans for the future, “Well.ca’s customer promise is to providethe kindest, most friendly shopping experience. I know that myteam follows through on this promise.” (source: Canada Postmagazine, Fall 2009)Well.ca has been touted by The Globe and Mail, TheNational Post and the The Record as one of the fastestgrowingstart-up companies in Canada. Asaria, whowas also named one of the Top 40 under 40 in Guelph,takes it all in stride. Returning to his roots at SJU, he iseager to share his experience with others in the start-upcommunity, organizing networking events and writing ablog. He knows the importance of giving back.Michelle DiEmanueleMichelle DiEmanuele (BA ’87)was recently recognized as oneof Canada’s Most Powerful Women– Top 100 Awards (2010) for thecountry’s highest-achieving femaleleaders in the private, public andnot-for-profit sectors. Michelle, who is President andCEO of The Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga, wasalso honoured in 2006 and 2007 as one of Canada’s 100Most Powerful Women and in 1999 as one of Canada’s Top40 under 40. She is the 2002 recipient of the Fr. NormVolume 30. Number 1 • Spring/Summer 2011Choate Award, given to an SJU grad for outstandingleadership in professional and community endeavours.After graduation, DiEmanuele was the Senior PolicyAdvisor to the Ontario Government Caucus, and thento the Premier. She also served as the Associate Secretaryof Cabinet and as Deputy Minister of Government andConsumer Services (MGCS). She held several seniormanagement positions in eight government ministries,real estate, banking and the private sector. Apart fromher career, she still finds time for her community as aboard member on the Conference Board of Canada andhas served as a member of the Board of Trustees for theGreater Toronto United Way. (source: Credit Valley Hospital)Michele MoscaFaculty member MicheleMosca (BMath ’95) hasbeen named one of thecountry’s Top 40 Under40. The award, announced in The Globe and Mail (April),recognizes the achievements of 40 young Canadianswhose vision, innovation and leadership is making apositive difference in their communities across Canada.Mosca is recognized for his outstanding contributionsto science as a professor of quantum physics at theUniversity of Waterloo. He graduated from SJU in 1995with a mathematics degree.As one of the founding leaders of Waterloo’s Institute forQuantum Computing, and a founding researcher at thePerimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Mosca hasplayed a key role in placing Waterloo and Canada at theforefront of research and innovation. UW PresidentFeridun Hamdullahpur says, “His incalculable contributionsto science in Canada make him an ideal recipient of the Top40 Under 40 Award.” Through his research andleadership, and his efforts to create a collaborativegraduate studies program in quantum information, he hashelped build Canada’s reputation as a worldwide epicentrefor quantum research. (source: Colin Hunter, Institute forQuantum Computing)These profiles are only a few highlights of our exceptional SJUalumni. To share your milestones and accolades in SJU Update,send your news and photos to Mari-Beth Davis atmbdavis@uwaterloo.ca or call her at 519-884-8110, ext. 28277.