SPONSORED BY LEADERS ARE MAD
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Making A Difference – Leaders are MAD owner Claire Walton ( left ) presents the award to Catherine Devereux , founder of the Russ Devereux Headlight Project .
WINNER
CATHERINE DEVEREUX ( RUSS DEVEREUX HEADLIGHT PROJECT )
Winning a Tees Business Award helps “ shine a light on the work we ’ re doing ”, the founder of a suicide awareness and prevention charity believes .
Catherine Devereux was speaking after picking up the Making a Difference category – and just minutes before father-in-law Ken Devereux accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award .
And for both , the inspiration was Ken ’ s son and Catherine ’ s husband Russ – one of the driving forces behind Devereux Transport and Distribution but who took his own life in 2018 , aged 42 . That tragedy prompted Catherine to set up the Russ Devereux Headlight Project – providing mental health and trauma support and counselling services for children and adults .
Catherine said : “ People think the charity is my job , but it isn ’ t . I ’ ve got a fulltime job and three children – Russ and I had three girls .
“ But what drives me on every day is Russ . He was the absolute love of my life and there isn ’ t a minute that goes by that I don ’ t miss him . But I also want other people to have something to go to – a place that understands if it happens to them because I think that ’ s something I didn ’ t have and our family didn ’ t have .
“ We ’ re working for the people of Teesside to save lives . We ’ ve got the highest number of suicides in our area and that needs to change .”
Praising her team – “ the diesel that runs through the truck ” – Cath added : “ They are the lifeblood – without them , it wouldn ’ t run as smoothly .
“ But more important than us are the people who reach out because that takes courage and strength , when you ’ ve been affected by suicide , to ask for help .
“ I hope we become known as the charity to go to when you ’ ve been affected by suicide .”
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
Claire Walton , founder and owner of Leaders are Making a Difference ( MAD ), said : “ These awards were my favourite to date . The room looked fantastic , and the place was buzzing . And as for the keynote speaker , Mackenzie Thorpe , he had us in tears , proud to be Teessiders .
“ From a list of worthy finalists , Catherine Devereux was a very popular winner of the Making a Difference award . She ’ s not only an exceptional lawyer , she ’ s also the founder of , and the heart behind , the Headlight Project . I was proud to sponsor this award .”
FINALIST
EMMA CROCHER ( ELITE CONSULT GROUP )
More than simply the MD of Sedgefield-based Elite Consult Group , Emma is the owner , chief tea maker and takes on all head office functions , as well as doing an amazing day job as a specialist recruiter in the maritime and shipping sectors .
Described by colleagues as a “ superhero in an Elite hoodie ”, Emma juggles being a mam , wife and granddaughter with being a student , business guru and boss in a predominantly male environment . She also attends school and college careers events to promote the industry sector .
FINALIST
DOT SMITH ( RECOVERY CONNECTIONS )
Dot is chief executive officer for Recovery Connections , a peer-led substance use recovery organisation based in Middlesbrough . Driving force Dot has created an environment where people can feel safe , establish trust and grow according to their own goals .
Providing clear , decisive leadership , she ’ s recently overseen a pioneering employee support programme at PD Ports , which aims to reduce stigma in the business community and increase awareness , wellbeing and employee retention at one of the region ’ s biggest employers .
FINALIST SHAK ASGHAR ( NUDL )
CEO and founder of funding experts Nudl , Shak ’ s bold approach to securing funding for businesses has helped create a stronger and more cohesive local economy .
A passionate Boro lad unafraid to challenge the status quo , once Shak and his team help secure funds for businesses , he assists in brokering and facilitating “ local shopping ” – a circular spending model that indirectly assists in the growth of these companies within the supply chain . Shak also engages with hard-toreach groups to ensure widescale inclusion .
50 | Tees Business