John McKenna, owner of McKenna Logistics Centres, received the Business Person of the Year for 2015 award from the Mississauga, Ontario Board of Trade.
The award recognizes an outstanding individual who has best demonstrated exceptional business leadership, vision, and community involvement contributing to business development and quality of life in Mississauga.
In accepting the award McKenna said: “It is surreal for me to stand here and receive this honour. Thank you, Mississauga Board of Trade, for choosing me for this award; it is very humbling. I said surreal because it is. I do not do anything unique. I do things that I have watched others do all my life.”
John has owned and led McKenna Logistics Centres for the past 22 of the company’s 65 years. In that time, it has grown in sales, services, facilities, and geography by expanding to British Columbia. It currently has distribution centres in Mississauga, Brampton, Ontario and Delta, BC.
He is active in the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) as a board member, co-chair of the Education Committee, and treasurer of the Canadian Council.
He volunteers as president of Armagh House, Peel Region’s only second stage shelter for women and their children who have been affected by domestic abuse, and has also been an active member of Scouts Canada.
John was born in Mississauga and he and his family have also been long-term residents of the city.
McKenna thanked numerous individuals in his acceptance speech, including his wife, Kim, parents Phyllis and Charlie, father-in-law Bob Barrett, mentors Ian Stuart and Larry Elkin and staff members, especially Steve Rathwell, the general manager, and Christine Freeborough, the office manager.
“I do not deceive myself,” McKenna said. “It is my team that makes me look successful. McKenna Logistics Centres has insightful and hardworking people who make me proud every day.”
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