2018 Laureate Announcement

Three of New Brunswick’s most prominent business leaders have been named to the Junior Achievement New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame. James (Jim) M. Crosby Jr., Gordie Lavoie and Mike Timani will be inducted at the 22nd annual gala event, which will be held at Casino New Brunswick on November 1st.

“Our 22nd gala event will see the induction of three inspiring leaders into our province’s Business Hall of Fame,” says Connie Woodside, President and CEO of Junior Achievement New Brunswick. “This year’s inductees each followed different paths in business, but all three of them have important traits in common – including leadership, vision, and focus – all things we strive to instill in the Junior Achievers we work with every day.” 

James (Jim) M. Crosby Jr. was appointed president of Crosby Molasses Company Limited, a 100 year old private family owned company in 1978, at the age of 28.  He is the fourth generation of the Crosby family to lead this company.  Crosby’s imports, processes, packages and distributes molasses to customers across Canada and into New England.  Since the late 1990’s Crosby’s also operate a 3rd party bulk food grade liquid storage facility, handling liquid sweeteners, oils, fats and other food grade products.  Jim has been a lifetime resident of Saint John area and served on a number of boards including the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation, Rothesay Netherwood School and the Rothesay Area Heritage Trust.  

Gordie Lavoie is the President and General Manager of Sunny Corner Enterprises Inc., an Industrial services company employing hundreds in Construction, Manufacturing and Supply.  Gordie has been a partner in the company for 27 of its 53 year history, assuming his current role in 2007.  From locations in Miramichi, Saint John and Labrador they serve Oil & Gas, Power Generation, Mining and Manufacturing customers throughout Canada, the United Sates and Globally.  Gordie is a member of the New Brunswick Business Council and has served as a past Chair.  

Mike Timani is President and CEO of Fancy Pokket Corporation in Moncton which was established in June 1989 in a 1,000 sq foot facility with three employees.  Today, the bakery consists of 45,000 sq. ft. and employs 70 people.  Fancy Pokket is the largest producer of pita bread, bagels, tortilla wraps and flatbread in Atlantic Canada. Mike received the “Excellence in Business” award from the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce (2010),  the Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” award (manufacturing sector for the Atlantic region) (2010) and the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award “Immigrant Entrepreneur“ (2015). 

“This year’s group of laureates are business leaders in three very different industries,” says Britt Dysart, Chair of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement New Brunswick. “Together they have had an important positive impact on our province.”