A Guelph Tool team called “GTI Hearts & Soles” did just that –it rode big – on ‘the Big Bike’ – on June 10, 2015
– thanks to the enthusiastic participation of a group of fun-fueled GTI employees.
What is ‘the Big Bike’? It is one bike – 30 seats – 20 minutes – 2 kms – a national Heart & Stroke yearly fundraising event. One great team working to create more survivors!
The Heart & Stroke ‘Big Bike’ is a team event geared towards companies, community organizations and groups. Teams are made up of 29 enthusiastic riders who each commit to raise $50 or more to support heart disease and stroke research. Last year, over 70,000 riders, in over 200 communities coast to coast, raised over $8 million for research. This is helping Heart & Stroke change the lives of not only heart disease and stroke patients, but all Canadians.
Guelph Tool’s involvement was initiated by Uyen Nguyen, HR Clerk, & spearheaded by Brad Ireland, VP Corporate Development. The GTI Hearts & Soles team consisted of 29 participants. They included (photo left to right): Angelo Dionissopoulos, Corporate HR Manager; Mike Huisman, Massey Plant Manager; Jeff Wegner Corporate Engineering Manager; Jim Thibodeau, Royal Production Manager; Gavin Wither, Massey Production Manager; Emile Godin, VP Manufacturing & Engineering; David Zanier, Corporate Sales Manager; Phil Thiessen; Todd Morey, Senior Buyer; Derek Champ, Project Engineer; Rob Ireland, President; Brad Ireland, VP Corporate Development; Frank Hieblinger, VP Finance; Scott Elliott, CIC Co-ordinator; John Westerman, Accounting Manager; Uyen Nguyen, HR Clerk; Barb Chilton, QMS Co-ordinator; Ed Gorman, Robotic Welding Specialist; Harmeet Kambo, HR Clerk; Wanna Li, Supplier Quality Assurance; Gwen Kennedy, Quality Supervisor, Lewis; Beata Fish, Corporate Quality Manager; Jacki Slotboom, Quality Supervisor, Massey; Karen Morris, Lewis Production Manager; Helen Schultz, Reception, Royal; Mike Jamieson, Account Manager; Bob Grieb, Purchasing Manager; Jeff Maissan, System Administrator; Bruno Iovine, Plant Manager, Royal.
David Hunt, Plant Manager, Lewis & Bill Edwards, retiring Plant Manager, Royal were not able to attend, but participated in the fundraising portion of the event.
The team did a fantastic job raising a grand total of $9,431.75 for the ‘Ride Big – Live Big’ Wellington Dufferin Region Heart & Stroke Foundation. As of June 15, 2015, the ‘GTI Hearts & Soles’ team was the highest fundraising team in the region with their incredible monetary contribution! Congratulations to all GTI ‘bikers’; you excelled yourselves!
Acknowledgements to Uyen Nguyen, HR Clerk for story and also to Carol Dow, -Executive Administrator, for GTI employee names in photo.
