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Meet the Team

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CEO

Joe Fida, BE, MASc

Joe Fida is the founder and driving force behind

CleanPlay Pet Products — where engineering meets compassion for animals. With a master’s in chemical engineering and recognition from Forbes 30 Under 30 and EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and program advisor at TMU for the Chemical Engineering department, Joe has built his career on transforming advanced science into practical solutions that make life cleaner, safer, and simpler for pets and their people.

​Beyond his scientific achievements, Joe is known for his integrity, hands-on leadership, and quiet persistence. Whether refining prototypes late at night or mentoring new team members, he leads by example — thoughtful, precise, and guided by the belief that better design leads to a better world.

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Joe’s story reminds everyone at CleanPlay why innovation matters: when people care deeply about what they build, they don’t just create technology — they create impact.

Awards

It’s not just our team that thinks Joe is pretty special.  Joe has been recognized as a leader in entrepreneurship with several major awards:

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Forbes 30 under 30 2022

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Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023

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TMU’s inaugural Rising Stars 2025

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​President, Business Development

Leslie Smith

Leslie brings more than 25 years of experience in business development, marketing, sales, and account management.  With a talent for building relationships and helping innovative products reach the people who need them. At CleanPlay, she works with animal-care professionals and organizations to introduce practical hygiene solutions for grooming, veterinary, boarding, daycare, shelter, and other pet-care settings.

Her work is grounded in a strong interest in animal wellbeing and the people who care for animals every day. Leslie focuses on understanding each organization’s needs, sharing how the SaniChest can support daily hygiene routines, and building partnerships that help CleanPlay grow across the animal-care industry.

Leslie is known for her clear communication, creative problem-solving, and customer-focused approach. She is proud to help CleanPlay support cleaner, more confident animal-care environments.

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Director of Research

Talha Ince

Talha Ince is a skilled chemical engineer with a focus on quality assurance and research. Passionate about the sanitization industry, he played a key role in executing experimental designs, conducting proof-of-concept testing, and optimizing CleanPlay’s technology. Talha is a vital contributor to CleanPlay's innovation and an integral part of the company's success in delivering cutting-edge solutions.

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Senior Manager of Technical Partnerships

Mike Wilson

Mike Wilson is a long-time collaborator with CleanPlay Pet Products and CEO Joe Fida, with deep roots in pet manufacturing engineering and operational performance. The two developed a strong professional partnership during their years working together at Nestlé Purina Canada, where they focused on driving efficiency, product quality, and scalable production systems.

Following their time at Purina, Mike continued to work closely with Joe across multiple successful ventures, supporting product development initiatives that transformed early-stage concepts into commercially viable, market-ready technology products. An accomplished entrepreneur and technology business owner, Mike brings more than 20 years of experience leading engineering teams, optimizing operations, and guiding companies through growth and scale, with a hands-on, detail-driven approach to building reliable products that meaningfully improve everyday life for both people and animals.

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Sr Strategic Partnerships Director

Chrissy Knight

Chrissy Knight has over 10 years of experience navigating the complex regulatory and commercial landscapes of the U.S. and Canadian industry, working in both markets in communications and business development. She’s worked with clients across various industry verticals and understands the significant upfront capital costs that burden buyers. Chrissy’s expertise helps CleanPlay deliver efficient solutions tailored to the unique challenges of the industry.

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Ecommerce Site Specialist & Site Developer

Olga Odinok

A Master’s candidate in Digital Design who views high-performance technology through the lens of user-centric architecture. Her background is rooted in the technical complexities of the web—specializing in site and search.

Olga brings a unique synergy of logic and technical artistry to CleanPlay. Managing the entire digital lifecycle, from design to producing high-fidelity technical photography and video assets. She aims to create comprehensive digital ecosystems designed to bridge the gap between advanced innovation and the end-user.

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