Graham Kennery
Faculty of Applied Science & Technology
Degree: Computer Systems Technology - Systems Analyst
Year of graduation: 2010
Graham Kennery is Co-founder and Application Architect of the online research tool, Groupnotes which won the 2012 Start-up Weekend Toronto Global Battle. Graham and fellow alumnus, Mathieu Gosbee were part of a team that beat out over 1,000 others from more than 60 countries.
The Groupnotes team launched its product in February 2013, calling it a “tool that allows you to share and discuss web content without leaving the website it’s on”.
With the help of Communitech’s start-up incubator program, Hyperdrive, Groupnotes received seed funding, office space and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, including Google and Rebellion Media.
Before creating Groupnotes, Graham and Mathieu developed a tool called Carddrop which won Startup Peel held at Sheridan in 2012. Carddrop instantly adds full profile information to any phone’s contacts from any location without the use of an application.
Graham racked up some valuable experience as a Web Application Developer at Burlington-based Thrillworks Inc. following graduation, and during his Sheridan co-op position developing applications at the Peel District School Board. “It was rewarding to get feedback directly from users and to know that my work was making a difference.”
In fact, the co-op element of his program was a key factor in Graham’s decision to attend Sheridan, along with a strong recommendation from a family member. “My older brother Ryan graduated from the Journalism - Print program and is a Past President of the Sheridan Student Union.”
Pursuing a career in the fast-changing world of IT means being ready to hit the ground running, concedes Graham. “I continually push myself to learn new technologies and to adapt to whatever a situation needs. I believe that my passion for technology will always prepare me for any career opportunities.”
The thrill of a challenge is also a draw, says Graham. “I love breaking down a particularly difficult problem and working out the best, most efficient, solution. There’s no feeling like solving something you’ve spent countless hours or days on.”
Learn more about Sheridan’s Computer Systems Technology-Software Development and Network Engineering Co-op.