Christina Vongas
Vice President merchandising,
Dynamite Group 

Christina Vongas is the visionary businesswoman with a keen sense of style behind the ever-evolving Dynamite brand.Christina graduated from Concordia University in 1996, in Accounting, earning her CA designation soon afterwards. She pursued a successful career at Deloitte for more than 8 years in the Audit & Assurance services group.

Forever torn between her love of fashion and her practical love of numbers, Christina was finally able to satisfy both by taking on the role of Brand Merchandising Director for Groupe Dynamite in 2005.In her 10 years with the company, she has played a vital role in the growth of the business and at re-branding Dynamite into a leading Canadian fashion retailer. In 2011, she was promoted to Vice-President, Merchandising, and has expanded her realm of expertise to marketing and visual as well.

With extensive business acumen and a flair for fashion, Christina will continue to drive excellence as Dynamite expands into international markets.

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Franco Rocchi

Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing,

Le Château Inc.

Franco Rocchi is the Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Le Château Inc., where he began his retail career 25 years ago. Franco is proud to be part of a global team that has elevated Le Château to one of Canada’s most respected, successful and fashion-focused brands. With the recent international expansion of Le Château’s chain of specialty stores, Franco Rocchi and the entire team look forward to a continued profitable and shining future.

Mr. Rocchi is also the proud President of the Conseil Regional des Ages Italo-Canadiens, a board that governs the activities of 75 Italo-Canadian Golden Age Clubs, which maintains a membership of over 12,000 members.

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Lucie Surprenant

Divisional Vice President Merchandise Manager,

TJX Canada

Lucie is a Divisional Vice President Merchandise Manager. She provides leadership and direction to a team of buyers in Canada and Los Angeles while maintaining a high-functioning and supportive work environment. Lucie first joined TJX Canada in 2007. Since then she has worked in many departments, helping to identify new business and drive profits.

In a few short years, Lucie will be a millionaire. Yep, she’s really racking up her aeroplan points. She travels a lot for work and also every other weekend to visit her children who live in New York and Montreal. When she’s not flying, she enjoys keeping her feet on the ground—whether they’re on the golf course or the ski slope.

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Hicham Ratnani
Co-Founder & COO,
Frank & Oak

Hicham Ratnani is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for consumer products and building companies front the bottom up. As the co-founder and COO of menswear e-tailer Frank & Oak, Hicham leads the brand’s operations, logistics, technology, and member services teams. He prides himself on being a “numbers guy” who uses data intelligence to improve the customer experience, but is also a team leader and motivator, creating company culture behind the scenes.

Hicham made his first dollar—online, no less—at the age of 13, and instantly became determined to start his own business. A high school (and later collegiate) football player, he brought his quick instincts and team leadership skills off the field to launch his first registered company while still in high school.

After graduating from McGill with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Hicham became a technology strategist at Deloitte. He later left his corporate life to co-found Frank & Oak, living by his father’s mantra that “it’s better to make a cent on your own than a dollar from a check.” In just a short thirty months, he’s successfully transformed the online brand and retailer into a menswear destination for the digital generation.

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Eva Friede
Journalist,
Montreal Gazette

Eva Friede has been covering fashion for The Montreal Gazette since
low-rise jeans and crop tops were considered outrageous. She also covers
business topics including retail and real estate. Eva considers fashion a
window on society, a means of expression and a whole lot of fun. Her
favourite colour is black.

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Sophie Desbiens

Public relations specialist,

Frank & Oak

Sophie Desbiens has been a Public Relations Specialist at Frank and Oak since 2013. She previously worked for ALDO Group’s communications department for seven years. There, she worked in event planning and public relations for the Little Burgundy and Call it Spring banners. A year and a half ago, she left the well-established and multinational company to contribute to the evolution of Frank and Oak. Sophie is a team player who continues to grow in the fashion, retail and technological industries thanks to her expertise and creative instincts.

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Sophie Desbiens

Public relations specialist,

Frank & Oak

Sophie Desbiens has been a Public Relations Specialist at Frank and Oak since 2013. She previously worked for ALDO Group’s communications department for seven years. There, she worked in event planning and public relations for the Little Burgundy and Call it Spring banners. A year and a half ago, she left the well-established and multinational company to contribute to the evolution of Frank and Oak. Sophie is a team player who continues to grow in the fashion, retail and technological industries thanks to her expertise and creative instincts.

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Jennifer Masabni
Designer and Founder,

Masabni

Fascinated by the art and beauty of garment creation early on in life, Jennifer Masabni drew her first fashion sketch at the age of 11. Her childhood passion led her to undertake fashion design studies.

Determined to launch her own clothing line, she went on to study Business Management at university, all the while exhibiting her creativity by organizing and participating in several fashion shows, many of which were dedicated to charitable causes. She then worked several years in the fashion industry, in the management and production facets of the business.

In the Fall of 2010 she launches Masabni on a mission to make women feel confident and comfortable while never compromising their femininity. Backed by the support of a few grants, award recognitions, a valuable network developed and people involved, the business grew strong from Montreal to Toronto and New York with a keen vision to expand internationally.

Entirely created and crafted in Montreal, Masabni is specialized in dresses that exude femininity infusing a stylistic blend of Eastern mystery to her signature lines. Each collection offers trendy yet timeless looks for they respect the curves of the female form, use flattering fabric and display elegant detail work to keep the ultimate modern woman chic from day to night.

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Vito Cassotta

 Senior Buyer,

Michael Kors  

Vito Cassotta is a retail buyer for Michael Kors Canada. He graduated from LaSalle College in 2004 and continued his education at McGill University in Public Relations Management while working for brands such as Levi Strauss & Bestseller Canada where he played a crucial role in the expansion of Jack & Jones retail Canada. After 5 years with Bestseller he made the move to Michael Kors Canada in 2013. In addition to his work, Vito volunteers for the Make-A-Wish foundation as a wish grantor. A cause he is extremely passionate about.

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Angie Deliva
Account Manager 
Geometry Global

With over 15 years of experience in fashion and marketing, Angie has worked for some of the most eminent global brands, including UGG Australia, Eileen Fisher, 7 for all mankind, Vince, Aldo, La Senza, and more. Her extensive marketing career has spanned retail and wholesale, encompassing strategic branding, market launches, traditional media, PR and events, experiential, social and digital.

She has been accountable for upholding the essence and integrity of brands through their international expansion in developing and emerging markets across all continents. While overseeing the production of Aldo’s global ad campaigns she had the fortune of working alongside renowned fashion photographers, such as Miles Aldridge and Terry Richardson, and the industry’s top talent, and managed an extensive media budget and portfolio.

In her currently role as account supervisor under the WPP network, the leading multinational holding company in advertising and marketing services, Angie continues to direct to the development of premier brands, while enjoying life with her fiancé and 2 kids, travelling, savouring great foods, and helping to influence positive change through philanthropic acts.

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ALUMNI AWARD OF EXCELLENCE RECIPIENT 2015

Tammy Hattem

LaSalle College, Class of 1997

Owner & Founder of Raphaël U & Stonelizard

2015 RECIPIENT OF THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD

Guillaume Gilbert

Prize awarded by Frank & Oak

2015 RECIPIENT OF THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD

Jennyfer Gallagher

Prize awarded by La Maison Ogilvy

2015 RECIPIENT OF THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD

Noémie Pelchat

Prize awarded by TJX CANADA

2015 RECIPIENT OF THE CONTINUING EDUCATION AWARD

Aryn Ballet

Prize awarded by l’AGEL with a value of $1 000

2015 RECIPIENT OF THE CONTINUING EDUCATION AWARD

Étienne Côté

Prize awarded by PARASUCO with a value of $1 000

2015 RECIPIENT OF THE CONTINUING EDUCATION AWARD

Natalia Espinel Quintero

Prize awarded by TJX Canada with a value of $1 000