Mother Nature may have been left off the guest list for Thursday night’s Beyond Networking Summer Soirée, but given her past history of crashing the event, organizers were prepared. They chose a venue with indoor access: the new Sussex & Co. Steakhouse in the ByWard Market.

It turned out to be a wise decision. The wind really picked up, with the rain arriving not long after things got going. Still, the bad weather was nothing like the first year, when they had to contend with a severe thunderstorm warning, smog alert and power outage — all of which forced organizers to reschedule the outdoor gathering.

At least the surprise shower helped take the edge off the heat. “How are things?” Yasser Ghazi, vice-president of commercial financial services at RBC, was overheard asking Erin Binks. “Sweaty,” Binks instantly replied. She’s a senior account development representative at ergonomic office furniture company Humanscale.

Jessica Younes, left, and Reine Jeha stayed dry under the covered patio at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée held at Sussex & Co. Steakhouse in the ByWard Market on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ottawa lawyer Michel Nungisa (Nungisa Law) and Beyond Networking Summer Soirée co-host Sarwar Qureshi pose for a photo just as the wind picked up. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Beyond Networking was created by Ottawa chartered professional accountant Sarwar Qureshi, a partner at Paterson & Company. Throughout the year, he hosts a series of unique gatherings that bring together a diverse mix of professionals and entrepreneurs from his wide network. He often includes a charitable component.

The summer can be a quieter time, he explained, as people go on holidays and their schedules become more relaxed. “We’re still able to bring something vibrant that people are able to look forward to,” he said of the Summer Soirée, which attracted roughly 155 attendees.

The soirée, now in its fourth year, is one of two Beyond Networking events Qureshi specifically co-hosts with Nik Lemieux, CEO of financial services firm Mirabel Management.

Lemieux is part of a circle of younger business and community leaders who support many of the major charity galas in town. She helps with the styling of Summer Soirée, which featured live music, a DJ and artist Mitra Salamzada creating a live painting.

“I think it’s great to have an event that’s socially driven, but in a fun, low-key way,” said Lemieux. “The conversations happen more organically.”

It was also Lemieux who brought the event to Sussex & Co. co-owner Tony Garcia‘s new restaurant as a way of helping to raise its profile. Sussex & Co., located at 15 Clarence St., now occupies the former site of Fairouz Café.

From left, Joanne Kudakiewicz, community relations manager with Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network, Sussex & Co. Steakhouse co-owner Tony Garcia, and Solange Tuyishime Keita, president and CEO of Elevate International, at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Beyond Networking helped to boost the visibility of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa (BBBSO), represented by staff Erin Helmer and Jake Naylor and volunteer board members Yasser Ghazi and Carrie Irvine, founder and CEO of Carrie Irvine Communications.

The organization handed out information cards listing different ways that businesses can support BBBSO, including at its upcoming eQ Homes Big Tee Off on September 18 and team-building MEGAbike fundraiser on October 1-2.

BBBSO is an organization Lemieux has been supporting, both as a donor and, in the past, through the giving of her time and expertise through its Go Girls mentorship program. She’s also driving a new collaboration between BBBSO and the Ottawa-based professional soccer club Atlético, where she’s the CFO.

First-time attendees of Beyond Networking included Jessie-Lee Wallace. She just started last month as the new executive director of Volunteer Ottawa, a non-profit organization that connects individuals with volunteer opportunities.

Her goal that night was to build relationships. “I’m looking for new sponsors, new partners, new audiences, new networks,” said Wallace. “It’s important for me to be in different rooms.”

There was no shortage of award-winning young entrepreneurs, from Solange Tuyishime Keita (Elevate International) to Sheena Brady (Tease Tea) to Kyle Turk (Meerkat Marketing) to Brad Ezard (Confederation M&A) to Karla Briones (Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada) to recent Forty Under 40 Award recipient Jenniffer Alvarenga, broker and co-founder of GoodStory.

From left, Jessie-Lee Wallace, the new executive director of Volunteer Ottawa, and Erin Helmer, director of development and communications at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa, at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée held at Sussex & Co. Steakhouse in the ByWard Market on Thursday, July 24, 2025 Photo by Caroline Phillips

Attending events like Beyond Networking has helped Michelle Crogie, executive director of PLEO, a non-profit support organization for parents of children and youth facing mental health challenges. It was through her building of connections that she met event planner Linda Robinson, who is now the top sponsor of PLEO’s second annual signature gala, Art of Support, taking place on October 9.

From left, Deborah Lehmann (president and CEO of The Ottawa Cancer Foundation), Linda Robinson, PLEO executive director Michelle Crogie, GoodStory real estate broker Jenniffer Alvarenga, and Soley Soucie, founder of The Treehouse Group of Companies,  at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée held at Sussex & Co. Steakhouse in the ByWard Market on Thursday, July 24, 2025 Photo by Caroline Phillips

Not everyone attends Beyond Networking to talk shop and, certainly, the passing around of business cards is not the focus. Family physician Dr. Anmar Salman, for example, is more interested in building community than a longer patient list. “I want to swim outside my pond,” said Dr. Salman, co-owner of Novel Health and district chair of the Ontario Medical Association.

Talia Silvestri used the Summer Soirée as a way of promoting the upcoming Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser that she’s helping to voluntarily co-chair. It’s taking place August 6 at Infinity Convention Centre. She attended the soirée last year with the same goal. Not only did she spread the word about Summer Rush but she also met and subsequently started dating her current partner, prominent businessman Pat Nicastro, co-owner of La Bottega Nicastro. It’s proof that networking can pay off in unexpected ways.

Lemieux also partners with Sarwar in December to host Beyond Networking’s holiday-themed gathering in support of CHEO. She admires the positive energy that he brings to his events. “When I’m, like, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to keep doing this year to year’, he always convinces me with his enthusiasm and draws me into the excitement of it,” she said.

Likewise, Qureshi values their collaboration, calling Lemieux “the most organized person I know.

“She takes care of so many details and makes my life so much easier.”

From left, strategy, marketing and comms professional Jesika Arseneau, wardrobe and image consultant Michelle LeBlanc, owner of OH Style, TD Direct Investing regional manager Talia Silvestri, and Ian Keith, group insurance and pension advisor with 360 Health Benefits, at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, First Avenue Investment Counsel senior manager of finance, Venusha Burns, Emily Gray (client services specialist at Raymond James) and Jason Hunt, portfolio manager of the private client group at First Avenue Investment Counsel, at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Steve Harding, marketing  and account director for Xactly Design & Advertising, and Sheena Brady, founder at Tease Tea, at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Thomas Stockting, media relations, communications and community development manager at Atlético Ottawa, Beyond Networking Summer Soirée co-host Nik Lemieux and J.D. Ulanowski, general manager at Atlético Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Dr. Anmar Salman in conversation with Jennie West-Correia, CEO and founder of West Reach Development, at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa board members Carrie Irvine, founder and CEO of Carrie Irvine Communications, and Yasser Ghazi, vice-president of commercial financial services at RBC, at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, John Robinson, president and CEO of Intega IT, Kallie Roger, Brad Ezard (partner, mergers and acquisitions at Confederation M&A), and Kyle Turk, CEO at Meerkat Marketing, at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Attendees of the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée mingled on the covered outdoor patio. Photo by Caroline Phillips

John Fleischauer, CEO at Pivot + Edge, and Erin Binks, senior account development representative at Humanscale, at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ottawa development officer Jake Naylor, Beyond Networking co-hosts Nik Lemieux and Sarwar Qureshi, and Erin Helmer, director of development and communications at BBBSO. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Tammie Trellert, director of business development for Capital Wealth Partners, and Rafik Gabriel, new vice president of capital markets for Paradigm Commercial, at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, headshot and personal branding photographer Lindsey Gibeau and business development consultant Liz Ellwood, owner of LE Strategies, at the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Attendees of the Beyond Networking Summer Soirée mingles on the covered outdoor patio. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, RBC, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law.

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