2004 ALUMNI RECIPIENTS

Michelle Valberg, 39

Biggest achievement: Self-publishing my two books, Look Beyond ... The Faces & Stories of People with HIV/AIDS and Dare to Dream ... A Celebration of Canadian Women.

Best skill: Creativity

Most admired businessperson: Shirley Westeinde for breaking down barriers and excelling at a non-traditional female profession.

Biggest business lesson learned: Community involvement and volunteer work have been priorities throughout my career. On a daily basis, I learn one of life's most valuable lessons: that in giving, we receive. It's always been important for me to give back to my community, to offer my skills or talents in any way I can to help. Countless clients have actually learned of my company through my charity work, an unsolicited professional reward for the personal joy of contributing. A concrete example of this is the significant high-profile business contacts I made and media attention I received in self-publishing my hard-cover coffee table books for two local charities.

Favourite charity: Community involvement and volunteer work have been priorities throughout my career. On a daily basis, I learn one of life's most valuable lessons: that in giving, we receive. It's always been important for me to give back to my community, to offer my skills or talents in any way I can to help. Countless clients have actually learned of my company through my charity work, an unsolicited professional reward for the personal joy of contributing. A concrete example of this is the significant high-profile business contacts I made and media attention I received in self-publishing my hard-cover coffee table books for two local charities.

Professional recognition that would mean the most: I was honoured to be the recipient of the Women's Business Network 2003 Businesswoman of the Year award.