Levy, Alexander join prestigious JC old boy group
Published:Wednesday | June 17, 2015 | 12:00 AM
Businessmen Ian Levy and Edward Alexander joined an exclusive club on Wednesday, as they became the latest recipients of the Carlton Alexander Award for Excellence.
The award was established in honour of the late Alexander, who was a distinguished Jamaica College old boy. It is presented annually to two outstanding alumni. Levy and Alexander were the toasts of their fellow old boys at the 24th staging of the event, held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel. Both men said they were humbled at receiving the award. Alexander was especially proud as the late Carlton was his father. He joked that he wasn't sure he was even eligible for the award.
"His (Carlton's) legacy is one that I won't even bother to try say I'm emulating... . It goes beyond words in terms of what he contributed to Jamaica, also to Jamaica College (JC)," he said. He noted his father always believed in Jamaica and its people, and called on the gathering to do the same. He underscored the need for strong teachers.
great teachers
"I firmly believe that the same way that we could not have great athletes without great coaches, we cannot have great people ... without great teachers," he said. "I do believe that many of us have the resources and the ability to make a contribution to make that a reality."
Alexander is the founder of managed IT services provider tTech Limited. He worked for 18 years at GraceKennedy, serving as chief information officer and president of GraceKennedy (USA) Inc. Alexander has vast experience in the areas of IT and business, but he was also quite the athlete. He represented JC in six sports, captaining the Sunlight Cup (cricket) and Manning Cup (football) teams.
Levy was lauded as a quiet achiever and adept businessman who is respected at home and abroad. He thanked everyone for their support on his life's journey.
"To be named ... for the 2015 Carlton Alexander Award brings me to, not only a place of immense pride, but one of incredible fond memories of my time spent at Jamaica College," he said, attributing his success to his formative years at the school. He said, in looking back at how JC guided himself and others to be successful, he recalled the boys were always taught to be leaders. He asked for this to be the case again.
actively involved
"We want those types of teachings to come back, to let the JC boys know that they are the future leaders, to give them that confidence," he said. Levy is chairman and managing director of IAN K. (Agencies) Limited, and deputy chairman of Supreme Ventures Ltd. He is a founding member of Cornerstone Ministries and Project Help, an organisation that assists the less fortunate, plus he is actively involved with the work of Missionaries of the Poor. In 2005, he received the 'Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite' (the National Order of Merit) from the government of France, and in 2012, he was conferred with the Order of Distinction from the Jamaican Government.
Past recipients of the award include former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, current Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips, Sagicor boss Richard Byles, former West Indies captain 'Jimmy' Adams, and the late Maurice Facey.