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Young Professional of the Year

Aaron Nixon believes that the community should come first in everything that he does. Building the principles of a patientfocused practice, he offers a clinically focused pharmacy that provides increased access to medical care in an underserved area. Through medical directives, enhanced training and new initiatives he hopes to provide unparalleled access to care to the

Sponsored by Libro Credit Union

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For Kimberly Crevatin, what started out as an internship quickly became the best piece of her life as the proud of being an owner of Windsor CrossFit. She takes great pride in helping people become the best version of themselves through difficult workouts, a strong community, a positive push for healthier habits and effective

Lauryn Lefrancois

After working for a decade in the developmental sector, Lauryn Lefrancois recognized a need within our community for more day programs for adults with disabilities.

It was very common at the time to hear families’ concerns about individuals after high school, as there was very little programming available and a wait list of 15 years for 24-hour community. leadership. home care. In 2018, using revenue from selling her home, Lauryn started Lola’s Round Table. She even traded in her car for a minivan to transport members.

Knowing that for this approach to be sustainable an ongoing culture of care needed to be created, he works with nursing, pharmacy and co-op students from around the county on rotation while supporting the mandate of the Ontario College of Pharmacists assessing newly graduated pharmacists and pharmacy technicians seeking licensure.

Aaron steps out of the pharmacy while continuing to give, volunteering at the Kingsville Community Centre where he provides educational seminars. He is also an avid supporter of the Terry Fox Run.

She was instrumental in transforming Windsor CrossFit (WCF) into a positive space for everyone, with heart and authentic care for the people they serve.

Kimberly believes in leading by example, never asking her staff or clients to give any more, or less, than she is willing to give herself.

Under her direction, WCF now hosts events with the wider community on a regular basis to ensure that all members feel they have someone to turn to when needed — with the message that a sense of belonging is so important to overall happiness.

After transitioning the program to a not-forprofit, Lauryn worked an extra 20-30 hours a week at another job while donating that money to Lola’s, all while she continued to recruit donations and apply for charitable status.

Four and a half years later, Lola’s now provides a safe and welcoming “home away from home” for their members to develop social and life skills, friendships with their peers and relationships with those in our community.

Believe Windsor-Essex Award: Lisa and Brian Schwab

Sponsored by WFCU Credit Union

The Believe Windsor-Essex Award, sponsored by WFCU Credit Union, recognizes excellence in three key criteria.

First, it looks for an individual(s) or organization that has demonstrated a significant commitment to positive business development despite global market trends. Second, the recipient(s) has in place definite and precise goals that will result in a diversity of our region, and last, these goals will enhance the economic growth and satisfy both individual pursuit for advancement and the overall economic development of our community at large.

It’s hard to picture two individuals who make us want to Believe more than Lisa and Brian Schwab.

Born and raised in Windsor, they are proud of the community where they live, make their livelihood and are raising their children.

Most prominently the Schwabs are known as part of the ownership team from Cypher Systems Group. What started as a small hardware wholesaler and software developer founded in 1983 by Brian, the computer guru along with Stephen Savage and John Savage, it wasn’t long until they began to take Windsor by storm.

As their success story grew exponentially, landing GM as a large-group partner and ultimately maintaining more than 750 insurance company plans across Canada, this local juggernaut took the industry by storm until the group sold the insurance brokerage to Chicago-based Hub International in 2016.

Most recently, the Cypher Systems

Group joined with Mid South Land Development Corp. to purchase the former Fish Market, City Beer Market and Chatham Street Grill buildings and are developing all three properties for residential, office and commercial lease. In 2019 they locked in Quicken Loans (Rock Holdings) as their largest tenant. The company plans to grow the office to more than 100 tech workers.

But along the way Lisa and Brian stayed true to their roots in Windsor and became synonymous for their extracurricular activities, owning hockey teams and investing in the arts, properties and philanthropy.

The commitment to our community is an inherited trait for both Lisa and Brian. Lisa’s father Roy Battagello, was a teacher, coach, vice-principal and principal at several local high schools, served five terms as a Windsor city councillor, and for 24 years was a member and long-time chairman of Windsor Utilities Commission (later Enwin Utilities and Enwin Powerlines).

Roy was also a driving force to help fulfill the dream of uninterrupted riverfront parkland between Ambassador Bridge and Hiram Walker.

Similarly, Brian’s father Henry Schwab was the wellrespected owner of Schwab’s Meat Products, a Past-President of the German Canadian Business and Professional Association, a long-time member of First Lutheran Church and the Teutonia Club.

Roy and Henry understood the value of creating a healthy, prosperous community.

They lead by example. Instilling the ideal within Lisa and Brian that your community is your family.

Carrying on these values, from a young age, Lisa and Brian encouraged all four of their kids to save, spend and give equally. A philosophy they continue today as they look to involve their children in the philanthropic goals of the Lisa and Brian Schwab Foundation.

“It is important to us to give where you live,” says Lisa.

The Schwabs recognize the benefits of investing in the community, building a business that employs local talent, who in turn help the economy and community to grow, and investing in the local charitable organizations that need donors to help them carry out their missions.

Lisa and Brian strongly Believe in the importance of building a structure for better mental health and wellness. In recent years as the isolation felt during the pandemic brought self-care to the forefront and the stressors on our health care system became more prevalent, the Schwabs continued their support.

As part of Cypher Systems, Lisa and Brian recognized that a healthy community was more than just dollars and cents; it was about creating a better environment for us all to live in many ways. Through the company, they’ve contributed significantly to the Essex Region Conservation Authority Greenway trail system. They’ve helped bring the multimillion-dollar da Vinci Robot to Windsor Regional Hospital to assist with surgeries, and they have sponsored the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.

And on a personal level the Schwabs, through their Foundation, have continued to support the local charities that are near and dear to their hearts including: the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, Transition to Betterness, Art Windsor Essex, W.E. Care for Kids, CMHAWECB, the Teen Art Council, Grow On Windsor and Julien’s House. These are just a few of the countless organizations that have benefited from their generosity.

From business to benefactors, through it all, Lisa and Brian Schwab have Believed in Windsor-Essex, and tonight we are honoured to Believe in them.

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