Steve, 38, is the co-founder of Ionic Engineering Ltd. Under his direction, the company’s automated systems division expanded from a one-man operation to a multi-disciplinary group of about 20 employees generating $6.5 million in annual sales. In seven years, the company progressed from a garage operation to a new 12,000-square- foot assembly facility in Lively.

Q: What is your greatest professional
accomplishment?
A:Creating a business that allows me to look forward to work every day (OK , most days); dream about all of the really cool contraptions we can build, and then actually build them, make the work, and make them work for other people.

Q: What is your favourite movie or book?
A:My favourite book of fiction is Dune by Frank Herbert; non-fiction is A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. My favourite movie is October Sky.

Q: What is your personal motto?
A:Leap into the pool with the sharks, and you’ll find a way to swim.

Q: What is the No. 1 thing you are working toward that you haven’t yet accomplished?
A:Without a doubt, to finish raising a really amazing little boy and little girl.

Q: What advice would you give to young leaders under the age of 40 to get more involved in their community?
A:Everybody is really passionate about something. Identify what that is for you, and find a way to apply it for the betterment of the community. You get your dividends back many times over in some very surprising ways.