FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Junior Achievement hosting 31st Annual London and District Business Hall
of Fame Gala honouring laureates Karen Fryday-Field and Joel McLean

October 19th, 2021 – London, ON. JA South Western Ontario is taking the London and District
Business Hall of Fame Gala virtual again this year as Karen Fryday-Field and Joel McLean are inducted
in to the Hall and join an esteemed group of Laureates.

The 31st Annual London and District Hall of Fame Gala will take place online October 21st 2021 from 7-
8:30 PM. This year’s Gala celebrates the achievements of two exceptional role models: Karen FrydayField, Managing Partner of Meridian Edge Leadership and Governance Consulting Group and Joel McLean, Founder of Info-Tech Research Group.

Each year, in recognition of outstanding contributions and ethics in business, Hall of Fame Laureates are
nominated and selected by respected members of the London and District business community. This
signature gala event showcases the lives of the Inductees allowing us to learn about their achievements
and how they have developed and nurtured their legacies.

Karen Fryday-Field is a London born entrepreneur and highly experienced facilitator and consultant,
who received her MBA from the IVEY Business School. She has spoken and provided leadership
development, strategic thinking, and governance consultation in Canada, the United States, England, the
Middle East, and internationally.

“I really look forward to the upcoming celebration hosted by Junior Achievement.” said Fryday-Field.
“Their work of encouraging young leaders to build business, embrace entrepreneurship, and engage in
giving back is core to the fabric of building a healthy community. I feel very honoured to be inducted
into the London and District Business Hall of Fame. This award inspires me to engage and encourage
our younger leaders to take the lead on advancing excellent governance that presses organizations to
achieve their purpose with ethics, justice, inclusion, and prudence. Thank you so much for this honour.”

Joel McLean founded Info-Tech Research Group to help CIOs and large organizations successfully
manage complex technology projects, run successful IT departments, and lead digital transformations
for their organizations. As a recognized leader in the research industry, Joel is frequently invited to
speak in public and private executive forums on IT issues and business entrepreneurship.

“Thank you to Junior Achievement South Western Ontario for their decades-long commitment to
encouraging and developing young entrepreneurs. It is an honour to be named alongside the inspiring
Business Hall of Fame inductees from throughout JA’s history,” says Joel McLean, Founder of Info-Tech
Research Group. “Since starting Info-Tech in London 25 years ago, we have hired and supported various
JA alumni. As business leaders, we have a responsibility to give back and foster the next generation.
Together, with organizations such as JA, we can create future leaders who will positively impact our
community. Thank you for this honour and for the opportunity to support such an important program.”

Tickets for the Virtual Gala are available for purchase now at jaswo.org.

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About London and District Business Hall of Fame
Established in 1990, the London and District Business Hall of Fame supports the work of JA in London
and throughout Middlesex, Elgin, Oxford, Huron, Perth, Grey and Bruce Counties. It was created to
honour respected members of the London and area business community, past and present, for their
outstanding contributions to business, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
London and District Business Hall of Fame Inductees join a distinguished list of previous Laureates whose
portraits are showcased in the London and District Business Hall of Fame Gallery located in the London
Public Library, downtown London.

About Junior Achievement South Western Ontario
JA South Western Ontario is a member of JA Canada and part of JA Worldwide (JA), the world’s largest
not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating young people about business. Through the delivery
of hands-on, blended learning in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness, JA empowers
young people to grow their entrepreneurial ideas, hone their work skills, manage their earnings, and
secure better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Since 1963, schools in South Western Ontario have relied on JA to prepare young people for success in
an ever-changing global economy. JA South Western Ontario is responsible for the geographic area
including the counties of Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, Huron, Perth, Bruce,
Grey, Wellington, Waterloo, Brant, Hamilton, Haldimand-Norfolk, and Niagara.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Denise Pelley at dpelley@jaswo.org