(L-R) Kerry Anne MacDougall, Kent MacDonald, Kent MacLean.
The Holland College Foundation has named Kerry Anne MacDougall, Kent MacDonald, and Kent MacLean as recipients of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Awards.
Foundation Board Chair Mark Ledwell praised their accomplishments and dedication to their professions.
“Our 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award honourees have made significant impacts in their communities — each recipient exemplifies dedication, commitment, and the lasting influence of a Holland College education.”
Kerry Anne graduated from Holland College’s Marketing and Advertising Management program in 2004 and has become a prominent entrepreneur, marketer, and community leader. She began her career with Sport New Brunswick, and in 2009, founded Insight Studio, a full-service marketing agency in Charlottetown.
In 2011, Dawn Binns joined the company as Partner and together they grew Insight Studio into one of PEI’s top marketing firms, serving diverse clients in sectors such as tourism, aquaculture, agriculture, hospitality and professional services.
In March of 2024, following a two-year cancer journey, Kerry Anne made the decision to step away from the agency to begin a new chapter in her career. Today, Kerry Anne operates under KA MacDougall Consulting, where she works closely with business owners and senior leaders to identify and solve complex challenges and drive purposeful, consistent growth.
Her consulting work is expanding across the country, and she also delivers powerful keynote talks on the transformative power of purpose. Through her passion and expertise, Kerry Anne inspires organizations and leaders to create meaningful, impactful change.
In addition to her professional success, Kerry Anne is deeply committed to giving back. Through mentoring and providing on-the-job training opportunities, she has supported countless students, and her business has been a significant employer of graduates from Holland College’s Marketing and Advertising Management program. Her community involvement has extended to organizations such as Downtown Charlottetown Inc, Family Business Atlantic, Startup Zone, UPEI, Stars for Life, The PEI Business Women’s Association, The Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce and Get Up and Go Events, making her a pillar of the Island’s business landscape. She is a proud member of The Charlottetown Executive Association and The Women President’s Organization.
Through her resilience, determination, and commitment to mentorship, Kerry Anne has transformed her vision into reality and continues to inspire the next generation of business leaders.
Kent MacDonald’s career exemplifies the transformative power of a Holland College education. Since he graduated from the Electronics Engineering Technology program in 1980, Kent has built an extraordinary 44-year career in the IT industry, holding various executive roles.
As Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Long View Systems, Kent has been a driving force in the company’s remarkable growth, helping it expand from 180 employees to over 1,300. His leadership and strategic vision have fostered lasting partnerships with technology giants including Cisco, Microsoft, NetApp, HPE, and others, while his expertise has made him a go-to resource for the IT media for the partner perspective on new product innovations and programs.
In addition to his role at Long View, Kent is a respected voice in the IT community, serving on numerous North American and Global partner advisory boards for Cisco, NetApp, VMware, and Veeam.
Kent has also dedicated significant time and effort to volunteer work, including Big Brothers of Calgary and Canada and Junior Achievement Southern Alberta. He also remains deeply connected to his PEI roots, actively promoting PEI through initiatives such as The Friends of UPEI Calgary group and as Alberta Co-Chair for the Confederation Centre of the Arts’ Shared Voices Campaign.
Kent’s achievements have been recognized at the highest levels. In 2023, he was inducted into Cisco Canada’s Hall of Fame, a prestigious honour that highlights his exceptional contributions to the IT industry and his role as a trailblazer in fostering innovation and collaboration.
Today, Kent is widely respected as a leader in Calgary and beyond. His legacy is defined by his ability to bridge the worlds of technology and community, proving that with vision, hard work, and a deep commitment to helping others, it is possible to leave a lasting impact both in business and in life.
Since graduating from Holland College's Accounting Technology program in 1987, Kent has built a remarkable career.
Kent is a visionary business leader with over 35 years of experience in strategic management, finance, operations, venture capital, and mergers and acquisitions. He has a proven track record of transforming start-ups into high-growth ventures and achieving international success. Kent excels in fostering innovation, driving sustainable growth, and building trust-based relationships with customers and partners, consistently delivering impactful results.
As a co-founder, Director, and CEO of Allumiqs Corporation, Kent has led the company’s evolution into a leading tech-enabled Contract Research Organization (CRO) in the biopharma and biotech sectors. His strategic vision has fueled Allumiqs’ expansion through venture funding, acquisitions, and strategic industry partnerships.
Kent’s career highlights include founding Arcos Technologies, a multi-regional Microsoft Business Solutions Parter and leading Emergence Corporation as CEO, where he expanded operations across seven countries resulting in the recognition as a worldwide Microsoft Inner Circle Partner. His extensive global management experience spans startups to high-growth organizations across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
Kent’s leadership and innovative approach have left a lasting impact on the industries he has influenced, inspiring future generations of professionals to strive for excellence.
This is the seventeenth year for the awards. MacLean, MacDougall, and MacDonald join over 50 Distinguished Alumni.
Jo-Ann Campbell-Boutilier, Holland College’s Executive Director, Foundation and Alumni, said that recognizing and celebrating the achievements of its graduates is a top priority for Holland College.
“We are immensely proud of our 50,000 alumni who are making an impact around the globe,” said Campbell-Boutilier. “We look forward to celebrating our 2024 honourees and recognizing their exceptional achievements and contributions.”
A celebration and dinner will be held at the Culinary Institute of Canada on April 14. For more information, contact the Alumni Office at 902-566-9303.
Learn more about nominating an alumnus of Holland College for a Distinguished Alumni Award here.
For more information about this release, please contact:
Jo-Ann Campbell-Boutilier, Executive Director - College Advancement and the Holland College Foundation
Tel: 902-629-4273
Date: Tuesday, February 04, 2025
