Tuesday, March 11th, 2025.
The achievements of these individuals will be recognized at the May 15th, 2025 Gala Dinner and Induction Ceremony at the Delta Hotel St. John’s
The inductees:
- Frank Howard, President and Founder, Capital Auto Group, The Howard Group
- Barry Perry, former President and CEO of Fortis Inc.
- Ruth Roberts-Tetford, President, Dorman Roberts Ltd.
- John Williams, Founder and CEO of Nutra Holdings
Since 1990, the JA Newfoundland and Labrador Business Hall of Fame has recognized and celebrated business excellence in our province. In addition to celebrating excellence, the Business Hall of Fame is JA’s signature fundraiser, supporting work that focuses on financial health, workforce learning and entrepreneurship. Junior Achievement (JA) is a registered charity whose purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. In Newfoundland and Labrador, JA delivers programs to students in grades K-12. Programs are delivered in-person, virtually and through hybrid models.
“We look forward to celebrating the achievements of Frank Howard, Barry Perry, Ruth Roberts-Tetford, and John Williams on May 15th. JA works with young people to help them create skillsets and mindsets to build thriving communities and the 2025 inductees are indeed exceptional role models for Newfoundland and Labrador’s youth.” - Sandra Patterson, President and CEO
Media Contact:
Sandra Patterson President and CEO, JA Newfoundland and Labrador spatterson@janl.org 709 753-9533
Backgrounder – Inductee Bios:
Frank Howard Frank has been a dynamic leader in Newfoundland & Labrador’s business and automotive industry for over 50 years. From humble beginnings and a single dealership, Frank now leads a Capital Auto Group team of over 460 employees across 13 automotive brands. The Group is widely recognized for its commitment to the highest standards of integrity and quality, product selection, and service. Capital Auto Group has under its division the wholly-owned subsidiaries of BMW St. John's, MINI St. John's, Capital Ford, Capital Hyundai, Capital Lincoln, Capital Subaru, Capital Mitsubishi, Capital Auto Centre, Capital Collision Centre, Capital Auto Rental, Capital Glass Experts, Genesis St. John’s, and UniglassPlus/Ziebart St. John’s. In addition, Frank leads The Howard Group which, through Howard Properties, manages various property throughout St. John’s, Mount Pearl, and Corner Brook. On the Canadian stage, Frank has been a distinguished member of the national dealer council for Mitsubishi Motors Canada, Subaru Canada, and Hyundai Canada, while earning the President’s Award of Merit for all three brands. In 2022, Frank was honoured with the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) Laureate Award for Ambassadorship for extraordinary service to the community and industry. Frank’s entrepreneurial drive can only be matched by his dedication to making a positive contribution in the community. Frank and the Capital Auto Group continue to support a multitude of organizations and groups.
Barry Perry Barry is a distinguished business leader known for his impact on the utilities sector. As the former President and CEO of Fortis Inc., he led the company through a period of significant expansion, including the US$11 billion acquisition of ITC Holdings Corp., the largest independent electricity transmission company in the United States and listing Fortis on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016. The transmission acquisition significantly expanded the footprint of Fortis in the United States and positioned the company as one of the top 15 North American public utilities. Barry began his career in the utilities sector in 2000, joining Newfoundland Power as VP of Finance and CFO. In 2004, he was appointed VP of Finance and CFO of Fortis Inc., and in 2014, he became President and CEO. Barry retired as President and CEO of Fortis Inc. in 2020, leaving behind a legacy of growth and innovation including the strategic pivot made by Fortis to move away from acquisitions to focus on organic growth, emphasizing sustainable development with a $26 billion five year capital plan. His leadership was characterized by building high-performing teams and fostering strong community ties. Barry continues to influence Canadian business through his roles on the boards of CPP Investments, Capital Power, and the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Barry holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University and is a member of the Association of Chartered Professional Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador. He has been recognized for his leadership and contributions to the industry, including being named Atlantic Business Magazine's CEO of the Year in 2018 and Memorial University's Alumnus of the Year in 2019.
Ruth Roberts-Tetford Ruth is the President of Dorman Roberts Limited, located in Triton, NL. Entrepreneurial ventures have consisted of a construction company, a grocery and hardware store, and a provincial busing company known as DRL. The company have been lobster collectors for many years and operate a secondary processing plant bottling mussels. Under Ruth’s leadership, the company has built 20 seniors cottages in the Triton area, helping those who need affordable housing. Ruth‘s dedication to the business spans over 50 years and she assumed the role of President in 1988 when her then husband Dorman Roberts passed away. At over 100 years in business, the first venture of the Roberts family began in 1922 when Dorman’s father opened his General Store. Ruth has been recognized by the Atlantic Business Magazine as one of the top 50 CEO’s in Atlantic Canada and recognized as a mentor and icon of women in business by local business owners in Triton. Her notable contributions as a volunteer and philanthropist have been recognized and appreciated by many in the Triton area. John Williams John is the founder and CEO of Nutra Holdings, a leading sports nutrition company that includes top brands such as Transparent Labs and Jacked Factory. John founded Jacked Factory in 2015 with the goal of creating high-quality, affordable sports supplements. Under his leadership, the company quickly became one of the fastest-growing sports nutrition brands in North America. In 2020, John expanded his portfolio by acquiring Transparent Labs, a leading e-commerce all-natural sports nutrition brand. This acquisition formed the foundation of Nutra Holdings, which has since grown into one of the largest sports nutrition groups in North America. Today, Nutra Holdings operates four brands with numerous category-leading products. John’s entrepreneurial achievements have earned him recognition, including being named EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Atlantic Canada in 2021. A proud Newfoundlander, John remains focused on building high-performing teams, fostering local talent, developing science-backed products, and pursuing a vision of innovation and growth in the sports nutrition industry.