Shawn is a former NHL hockey player who spent time with the Tampa Bay Lightning and parts of seven seasons in the International Hockey League; finishing up his career with a two-year stint in Europe.

He initially established a signage enterprise (GunnMedia Group) that quickly grew into one of the largest promotional product companies in the Eastern Ontario region. It supplied high-quality promotional items, graphic design services, signage, and reward & recognition programs to its clients across Canada. Today, Shawn employs a dedicated team of 15 people, spread out over two companies, who pride themselves in providing the highest level of service, quality products and customer satisfaction possible.

Shawn and his business partner John Chabot opened an indigenous branding company in 2006 known as Anish Branding. This endeavor has established a “Give Back” program of 2% total revenue as a financial commitment to the charity “First Assist”. An organization that delivers on-site education and sport integration programming for underserved youth in northern indigenous communities across Canada.

Shawn was honored as one of the ‘Forty Under 40’ by the Ottawa Business Journal (OBJ) in 2002. The OBJ’s ‘Forty Under 40’ is an annual ranking recognizing the Ottawa business community’s elite. The awards honor young business stars that have played a vital role in the city’s economic, cultural and philanthropic development. That same year, Shawn received the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Greater Ottawa Chamber of Commerce. He also sits on the Executive Board of the Ottawa Senators Alumni.