RT | FOUNDATION™

Where do we even begin? Phil is the driving force behind the RT | Foundation and the spirit of everything we do at Rootree – which makes him a VIP judge for our 4th annual RT | Foundation Awards. We have a very difficult time narrowing the competition down with Phil on the judging panel because everyone is a winner.

Phil's charisma is so extraordinary that the dictionary even struggles to define him, so let's settle for D.I.R.T: Dynamic, Interesting, Remarkable, and Tenacious, just like the earthy environments he loves spending time in.

Phil began his career in health and nutrition, something that is an integral part of everything he does, woven into his lifestyle and values.

He leads Rootree with a sustainable-first mindset and his business philosophies are rooted in hospitality, curiosity, and a continuous pursuit of bettering oneself. Phil is a true growth advocate, he believes in keeping employees content and customers thriving, because, for him, that's the foundation of any successful venture.

We're fortunate to have Phil as a guiding light in this year’s RT | Foundation Awards.

Legend has it: he’s LinkedIn’s best-kept secret.

Our Director of Communications, the writer of everyone else’s biographies, and baker of delicious baked goods. We couldn’t ask her to write her own bio, so here it goes:

This lady did not just find her calling but lives it deeply daily.

She’s a classically trained German baker but is also a word wizard. Imagine if the fairy godmother from Cinderella was a baker, then mix it with the spirit of hospitality and service of Lumière's from Beauty and the Beast.

Now, let that sit and cure for some time and mould it into a wonderful person, haunted with a relentless smile, with a pen ready-in-hand to write out puns and inspirations.

Yes, we know, tough to envision.

Siana assisted in many roles from administration, customer service, and finance, and with various positions in creative and marketing before landing in her current role – our Comms Director!

She has an entrepreneurial spirit and is the co-founder of Bonne Amie Craft Bakery. An effective way to get hungry is to visit her Instagram page.

When she is not taking time off from the above-mentioned endeavours, she's got her camera in hand, taking and editing some of the most beautiful pictures... seemingly taken effortlessly.

Do all of these qualities make her a good judge for RT | Foundation? Nobody knows but we have no choice but to include her as it’s her team that is charged with putting it together.

Introducing… Pia Simran, the VP of Product and Business Development at Rootree, who's been a Rootree Rockstar since 2015!

Pia's journey at Rootree is a true rollercoaster of ambition and determination. Good thing she likes rollercoasters.

She began as a part of the family business, learning the ropes of daily operations. But Pia wasn't one to settle; she soared through various roles like a champ—general labour, sales whiz, account manager, co-packing star, and now, the VP of Product and Business Development #GirlBoss. Talk about a versatile career path!

Her story doesn’t stop there. She’s got true entrepreneurial spirit, which led her to attending the Beauce School of Entrepreneurship in Quebec, Canada - another reason she will make a fantastic judge for our RT | Foundation Awards.

Now, here's where Pia's personality shines like a blooming garden! She's not just about business; she's all about nature, gardening, music, and singing. With linguistic skills up her sleeve, Pia's the kind of inspiration that adds a magical, youthful touch to the industry.

Pia stands as a vibrant and dynamic force at Rootree, join us in welcoming her to the judge’s panel!

Meet Bailey Few, our Senior Graphic Designer!

She's not just a designer; she's the secret sauce behind many of our winners' fabulous new designs. When she's not crafting visual masterpieces, you'll find her striking yoga poses, meditating, or embarking on adventures around the globe (just ask Japan, they'll vouch for her recent visit) - as long as there are cats involved in one way or another.

When it comes to building brands, Bailey lives for it! She starts with a blank canvas and transforms it into a brand masterpiece. That's why we've enlisted her as one of our judges for the annual RT | Foundation Award!

Bailey’s designs toe the line between modern and creative youthful, she never fails to bring colourful visions to life! We’re so glad to have such a talented, vibrant person on our roster.

Introducing Kelsey, our Senior Graphic Designer!

With a wand-like stylus in one hand and a sketchbook in the other, Kelsey is a design wizard who can turn the mundane into pure magic. Kelsey is responsible for winning a prestigious PAC Award for Rootree's packaging design. She is a fantastic illustrator and knows how to make design dreams come true.

When she's not crafting visual wonders, you'll find her nose-deep in a captivating book (Harry Potter, for sure) or conquering mountain trails and long hikes.

Kelsey has a soft spot for cats (seemingly a prerequisite for the Rootree design team), she loves to hike and sew plush toasters.

We’re so honoured to have such a talented judge on the panel this year, who will have such an important piece in designing the winners’ new packaging!

Allow us to introduce you to Brianna, a remarkable young entrepreneur who not only won the 2022 RT | Foundation Award but is also set to join us as one of this year's judges.

At the age of 23, Brianna embarked on her entrepreneurial journey, a passionate venture called Chien Gourmand—fuelled by her quest for top-quality dog food.

Brianna isn't only a girl boss, she's a university student, tackling a bachelor’s in business administration, a double major in finance and professional accounting. And, as if that weren't enough, she's currently pursuing a master's degree in e-commerce.

We couldn't be more thrilled to have Brianna on our judging panel this year. Who better to discern the remarkable potential in budding entrepreneurs than someone who's lived and breathed the journey herself? She knows firsthand the trials and triumphs of being new to business, and we're absolutely delighted to have her unique perspective on board.

Hold onto your hats, folks, because we've got a dynamo joining our 4th annual RT | Foundation judge's panel and her name is Sara Hipson!

As the Director of Client Services at Mentor Works, a Ryan Company, Sara's not your average strategic funding advisor; she's basically the Sherlock Holmes of connecting Canadian businesses with the funding and resources they need to rocket-launch their innovative projects.

Consider her a matchmaker for businesses and dollars, with a special focus on the high-tech and manufacturing realms. When it comes to economic development and business optimization, Sara's got more tricks up her sleeve than a magician at a rabbit convention. She's all about leveraging strategic priorities and business best practices to guide clients through the maze of funding and incentives.

Aside from having a beautiful personality, she also holds a Master's degree from the University of Toronto in environmental biology and forest conservation. We know… she’s amazing. We are SO lucky to have Sara on the judging panel this year.

There is a secret network of not-boring accountants, we happen to have two of them on our judging panel for this year’s RT | Foundation Award.

Carlos Alvarez is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Partner with the Hamilton/Niagara/Halton office of KPMG LLP in Canada. Carlos has experience providing assurance, financial accounting assistance and related services. During his 23-year tenure at KPMG in Canada he has focused on audits in Industrial Markets, Consumer Markets, Public Sector including government and health care, Not for Profit and Private Companies throughout Canada and the USA.

Just recently, Carlos has taken his talents to the Burlington Foundation board in 2023, and trust us, they hit the jackpot with this addition. When he's not knee-deep in balance sheets, he's knee-deep in not-for-profit organizations, spreading his governance expertise like confetti at a celebration. We're over the moon to have Carlos grace our judging panel this year. We're honoured he could take some time from his super-busy days to bring a unique perspective to the competition.

Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to meet the extraordinary Aaron – a man of many titles and talents, including being a loving father and husband, and an aspiring weekend warrior in the world of amateur athletics.

But… he’s not just any Aaron; he's the President of CHFA, the wizard of wellness, and a seasoned executive with 18 years of experience navigating the natural, organic, and wellness industries.

Aaron’s resume reads like a bestseller – he's led health divisions at Canada’s largest grocery retailer, Loblaw Companies, co-founded Canada's 16th fastest-growing company, GreenSpace Brands (2018 Maclean’s Growth 500), and knows the secret for making brands pop on the grocery store shelves.

Aaron is on a mission to supercharge the health and well-being of Canadians by rallying people, products, and organizations in the health and wellness industry. And guess what… we are so honoured to have hit the jackpot because he's bringing all that good stuff to our judges' panel this year!

Meet Rachel, an accountant who rides a motorcycle, listens to Metallica, and is one of the most interesting people we know... and no, that’s not an oxymoron.

As Rootree's CPA supreme, Rachel has over a decade of financial, tax, and accounting knowledge locked down.

Rachel brings a professional and refreshing approach to finance while making our office space a brighter place.

When Rachel is not filing corporate taxes, budgeting for future projects or whipping up spreadsheets that could make even a calculator jealous, you'll catch her indulging in "just one more" latte, soaking up the sunshine, or hanging with her pup.

Who said accountants are boring? Clearly, they've never met Rachel, our very own financial fairy godmother.

Meet Soek, 6’2” of dedication, the man behind the scenes at Rootree's production facility. His mission? Ensuring that every pouch gets printed and converted to perfection.

Soek is Rootree’s VP of Packaging Operations who thrives on innovation and forward thinking. If there's anyone who knows how to steer the ship in the right direction, it's him.

Now, when Soek steps away from his bustling work routine (a rarity!), you'll find him in various intriguing pursuits. Whether it's quality time with his 3 kids, binge watching 80s Jackie Chan movies, or holding a handstand for an inhuman amount time, Soek is quite the character.

And when it comes to business, his vision is crystal clear. He's got a taste for Chinese food and an even keener eye for the potential of small businesses. To him, packaging is the vehicle to carry a company's message far and wide. He lives and breathes packaging (he literally breathes the air of our production facility for 80% of the day) making him the ideal judge for the RT Foundation Awards.

With Soek's profound understanding of packaging's impact on business success and his commitment to innovation, he's the ideal candidate to judge the RT Foundation Awards. His insights are sure to take the winners’ packaging to new heights.

Meet Adrianna Inneo, the legal luminary with a passion for business law, making her a force to be reckoned with in Ross & McBride’s Business Law Group.

Adrianna navigates the world of business law with finesse, working with both small businesses and large corporations. Her expertise spans incorporations, reorganizations, shareholder agreements, commercial agreements, M&A transactions, financing, and commercial leasing. If it's in the realm of business law, Adrianna's got it covered.
Her academic journey includes a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sociology with a Concentration in Criminology from Brock University, followed by a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa.

But Adrianna isn't just a legal powerhouse; she's also deeply connected to her community. In 2022, she joined the Board of Food4Kids Hamilton, showcasing her commitment to giving back to the community by ensuring over 1,400 students have access to healthy food.
Adrianna loves to cook, travel, and is a huge Raptors fan.
We are honoured to have her on our RT | Foundation judge’s panel this year and even more grateful that she will be offering a legal consultation to the winning businesses.

Ladies and gents, meet Steve – the CEO and co-founder of Mini Giants, a business wizard who juggles commercial printing, packaging design, creative services, promotional goodies, and engagement technologies.

CEO by day, Charity Champion by night. He sits on the board of various regional charities and is Chair of Sound of Music Festival and he’s the brains behind Rebels Classic Car Club – where 500 unique rides cruise weekly for charity locally. Steve believes in truly investing in the wellbeing of businesses, that’s what it takes to help them succeed.
He’s bringing more than his business smarts and kind heart to the table, he and the team at Mini Giants will be offering our winners custom branded boxes. Let’s make some magic happen!