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Presented By:
It's a night you can't refuse. The 35th Annual Greater Vernon Chamber Business Excellence Awards Gala is Presented by Valley First. The Business Excellence Awards are a high profile, prestigious accomplishment for Greater Vernon businesses.
On Friday, Oct 18th, 2019, the winners of these coveted awards were revealed to an audience of their peers and local dignitaries.
THE NOMINEES FOR THE 2019 BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS ARE:
(Bold signifies the three finalists in each category)
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (SPONSOR – BDC)
WINNER: TEKMAR CONTROL SYSTEMS
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD (SPONSOR TOTAL RESTORATION SERVICES)
WINNER: MONASHEE RAIL
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (SPONSOR – COMMUNITY FUTURES)
WINNER: ALLEGRIA HOMES
Spruce Salon
Stephanie Tambellini Design Studio
Pink Spotted Goat
The BX Press
The Room Collection
Copper Fox Interiors
Rellish Transport Services
Allegria Homes
Harlow Beauty Boutique
Midtown Bistro
Vernon Teach and Learn
Brentwell Construction
Iron Heart Gym
Red Door Photographic
Cheek to Chic
Unique Garden Art and Gifts
Teeter Totter Toys
Bliss Pilates Studio
The Works Training Company
The Rock Garden Climbing Centre
Sundance Martial Arts
Back to Earth
Little Miracles Preschool
Rail Trail Cafe
NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (SPONSOR – MNP LLP)
WINNER: MONASHEE HEALTH COLLECTIVE
Forge Valley Storage
Wild Sage RMT
Hot Bread Shoppe
Local Collective Therapy Centre
Make My Fun Hobbies and Games
The Health Nest
Healing Garden Spa and Wellness
Sweet Hoopla
Trophy Truffles
Monashee Health Collective
Gambit Board
PropertyGuys.Com Okanagan
Tenacity Health and Fitness
Sugarbee’s Ice Cream Company
Arcadian Kitchen
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR (SPONSOR – NIXON WENGER LAWYERS LLP)
WINNER: KRISTINA KLEIN, EATOLOGY
Brittany Chase (Rose City Wellness)
Carissa Carbonneau and Josie Teitge (Wild Sage Registered Massage Therapy)
Ted Swan and Dave Smith (Monashee Rail)
Kristina Klein (Eatology/Cracked Pepper Catering)
Mehgan Coard (Colour Time Ceramics)
Alysia Lor-Knill (Teassential Speciality Teas)
Joshuah Haymond (Solar Roofing)
Kayley Letendre (Sugarbee's Ice Cream Company)
David Scarlatescu (The Fig Bistro)
Kate Johnson and Julia Allen (Locality Distribution)
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR (SPONSOR – SILVER STAR MOUNTAIN RESORT)
WINNER: ROOST SOLAR
A&W
SQM Group
Predator Ridge
Woven Birth
Tekmar Control Systems
Roost Solar
Numu Consulting
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR (SPONSOR – TELUS)
WINNER: NOR-VAL RENTALS
The BX Press
Nor-Val Rentals
Total Restoration Services
Sproing Creative
Monashee Rail
McDonald’s Restaurants
The Clean Gecko
NexusBC
Vernon Optometry
Okanagan Restoration Services
CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD (SPONSOR – OKANAGAN SPRING BREWERY)
WINNER: A&W
White House Mortgages
Make My Fun
The Room Collection
Peak Printing
Sproing Creative
Okanagan Restoration Services
OK Tire Vernon
DeVine Vintners
Teeter Totter Toys
Pretium Catering
Pink Spotted Goat
A&W
MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (SPONSOR – CITY OF VERNON)
WINNER: OKANAGAN SPRING BREWERY
Tekmar Control Systems
Wayside
Independent Lenses
Summit Tiny Homes
Okanagan Spring Brewery
NON-PROFIT EXCELLENCE AWARD (SPONSOR – LAKE CITY CASINOS)
WINNER: OKANAGAN SCIENCE CENTRE
North Okanagan Cycling Society
Vernon Public Art Gallery
JCI Vernon
Allan Brooks Nature Centre
Sovereign Lake Nordic Club
Mackie Lake House Foundation
Okanagan Science Centre
Sweet Smiles Society
NexusBC
Vernon Winter Carnival Society
COMMUNITY LEADER OF THE YEAR (SPONSOR – WHITE HOUSE MORTGAGES)
WINNER: BARRITA DURWARD, COTTON'S CHOCOLATES
Jodi Cunningham (Medicine Shoppe)
Robbie Hoyte (Valley First)
Conan Ackert (Total Restortation)
Rob Ellis (Rellish Transport Services)
Stacey Robertson (Harwood Montessori School)
Jonathon McMurray (A&W)
Dawn Tucker (Resident)
Betty Selin (Sun FM)
Brooke Toop (Tenacity Health and Fitness)
Barrita Durward (Cottons Chocolates)
Rita Evans (Upper Room Mission)
Mark Andretta (Vernon Funeral Home)
BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR (SPONSOR – KAL TIRE)
WINNER: STEPHANIE TAMBELLINI, TAMBELLINI DESIGN STUDIO
Stephanie Tambellini (Tambellini Design Studio)
Roxanne Petruk (Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy)
Bob Woodman (Dodd's Auction)
Kim Nasipayko (Caufields Engraving)
Gerran Thorhaug (Browns Socialhouse)
Kerry MacLeod (Heart Key Studio)
Barrita Durward (Cottons Chocolates)
Deb White (White House Mortgages)
Al Lidstone (Apple Auto Glass)
TOURISM EXCELLENCE AWARD (SPONSOR – YLW KELOWNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT)
WINNER: VERNON WINTER CARNIVAL
Sparkling Hill Resort
Funtastic
North Okanagan Cycling Society
Caravan Farm Theatre
The Castle at Swan Lake
Sovereign Lake Nordic Club
Okanagan Military Tattoo
O’Keefe Ranch
Vernon Winter Carnival
Kalavida Surf Shop
*** The nominees in 11 categories are based on completed forms from the nominees We thank the public for all of the nominations we received. People's Choice was selected through an online, public vote, and Business of the Year was selected by a panel of judges among all nominations***
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CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA 2019
PRESENTED BY – VALLEY FIRST
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSOR - BDC
- Must have demonstrated a high level of success through:
- Customer service
- Growth and profitability
- Sales and marketing
- Strategic and tactical planning
- Employee satisfaction
- Community Supporter
- Chosen by the panel of judges from all nominees
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD SPONSOR - TOTAL RESTORATION SERVICES
- Chosen by a public vote of all nominees
- Must be a nominee in one of the 11 categories to be eligible
- Voting begins September 1st
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSOR – COMMUNITY FUTURES
- Must employ from one to 10 employees
- Must demonstrate a passion for their business
- Must be in business for longer than two years
- Must demonstrate high-quality products or services
- Must demonstrate excellent customer service
NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSOR - MNP LLP
- Must have been in business for less than two years
- Must have good growth potential
- Must have taken a significant financial risk to develop the business
- Must demonstrate high-quality products or services
- Must demonstrate excellent customer service
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR SPONSOR – NIXON WENGER LAWYERS LLP
- Must have owners below 35 years of age
- Must demonstrate good growth potential
- Must have taken significant risk to start the business
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD SPONSOR – SILVER STAR MOUNTAIN RESORT
- Recognizes the successful introduction of an idea, process or initiative that has been proven to make a genuine difference or positive impact on an organization or the community
- Must be in business for at least 2 years
- Not for Profits are eligible
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR SPONSOR - TELUS
- Must be nominated by an employee or group of employees
- Must demonstrate a fair wage and benefits policy
- Must promote family and workplace balance
- Must demonstrate open consistent communications with staff
- Must be in business for longer than two years
- Must have a minimum of 10 staff
CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD SPONSOR - OKANAGAN SPRING BREWERY
- Must demonstrate a consistently outstanding level of customer service, product support and after sales service
- Goes above and beyond to meet customer needs
- Must be in business for longer than two years
MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR SPONSOR – CITY OF VERNON
- Must demonstrate a successful ability to manufacture a high quality product
- Must show innovation through the manufacturing process
- Must be in business for longer than two years
NON-PROFIT EXCELLENCE AWARD SPONSOR – LAKE CITY CASINOS
- This award is presented to the organization that exemplifies excellence and innovation in its programs, projects, and partnerships.
- Their commitment to growth and expanded programs, as well as service, community involvement, sustainable practices and/or job creation/development.
- Demonstrates a dedicated focus on achieving its vision and mandate.
COMMUNITY LEADER OF THE YEAR SPONSOR - WHITE HOUSE MORTGAGES
- An outstanding individual in business
- Significantly contributed to the betterment of the community has a direct positive impact on residents of Greater Vernon
- Participation or contributions to community groups
- Demonstrates leadership and inspires others to improve the services or quality of life for others in the community
BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR SPONSOR – KAL TIRE
- Individual who must be in business more than 5 years
- Requires a history of business success, excellence and innovation
- Must demonstrate commitment and passion for their business
- Considered a leader in the business community
TOURISM EXCELLENCE AWARD SPONSOR – YLW Kelowna International Airport
- Provides and/ or promotes an outstanding visitor experience
- Actively encourages the growth of Greater Vernon as a destination
- Increases the visibility of the Greater Vernon area
- Must have demonstrated a high level of success through: