Joanne Guarasci wins CIBPA 2023 Professional Excellence Award
Global Administrator Oct 26, 2023
Ross & McBride is thrilled to congratulate Joanne Guarasci on receiving the 2023 Professional Excellence Award from the Canadian Italian Business & Professional Association (CIBPA) Hamilton-Halton!
This award recognizes Joanne’s outstanding contributions to the legal industry, her many career achievements, as well as her extensive community involvement.
“Joanne is an exceptional leader, both within our firm and in the legal and broader communities,” said Anandi Naipaul, Chair of Ross & McBride. “Her authenticity and her unrelenting drive have forged new opportunities for women in law, and I feel fortunate to be able to follow in her footsteps in moving the needle forward.”
Joanne has practiced at the firm for over 35 years and has held a number of leadership positions within the firm, including both Chair and Vice Chair. In addition to being an accomplished lawyer, Joanne has held numerous leadership roles in Hamilton’s legal professional organizations and has served on numerous Boards and committees for a variety of non-profit endeavors.
She attributes her success to staying true to herself and carving out a niche that aligns with her skills and interests. “Whenever I give advice to young lawyers, I always tell them to find their passion,” she explained. “Be passionate about everything you do, from what you eat to who you spend time with and apply that approach to building the career you want.”
She served for many years on the Boards of Directors for the YWCA, Hamilton’s Catholic Youth Organization, and the Alternatives for Youth service providing mental health and substance abuse support for young people in Hamilton. Presently, Joanne is a member of the Board of Directors for Villa Italia Retirement Residence, where she has served since 2012.
As an active member of Hamilton’s athletics community, Joanne has also coached and managed several school and community competitive sports for over 15 years, which she credits for teaching her important life lessons that she has carried into her professional life.
“Sports play a big role in building work ethic, competitiveness, and resilience,” she added. “Sports bring people together in a way that teaches you to depend on each other and to work together even when you’re faced with a challenge.”
The firm is immensely proud of Joanne’s accomplishments and all the ways she upholds our legacy of giving back to the community. On behalf of Ross & McBride, congratulations to Joanne on this well-deserved recognition.