BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
Souilliere wins ATHENA
The finalists for the 28th annual Business Excellence Awards were announced Wednesday during an event at Augustus 27 on the top floor of Caesars Windsor.
Two winners were announced ahead of the April 18 awards ceremony.
The Believe Windsor Essex Award is being awarded to Michael Schlater, the CEO of Domino’s Pizza of Canada, and the ATHENA Award is being presented to Patricia Soulliere, the president and CEO of Soulliere Financial.
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award finalists are Radu Bogdanel, president of Fulger Transport Inc., Ernie Nesbitt, owner of Jose’s Bar and Grill, and Vince Schiller, owner of Southwestern Manufacturing.
The Professional of the Year Award finalists are Dan Gemus, owner/broker of record for the Dan Gemus Real Estate Team, Meighan Valero, a naturopathic doctor with Meighan Valero Naturopathic Professional Corporation, and Lisa Williams, radio host of AM 800’s The Morning Drive with Bell Media.
The Young Professional of the Year Award finalists are Dr. Maxwell Abraham, orthodontist and owner of Abraham Orthodontics, Dr. Abby Jakob, optometrist and owner of EYES Optometry, and Dr. Jackie Vandereeden, a doctor at the South Walkerville Medical Centre.
The Small Company of the Year Award finalists are Anchor Coffee House Inc., Forest Glade Tecumseh Veterinary Professional Corporation and Sentry Windows and Doors.
The Mid-Size Company of the Year finalists are Baron Championship Rings, Flexible Industrial Solutions and Kinder Academy.
The Large Company of the Year finalists are Aphria, Fortis Group and Highbury Canco Corporation.
The Innovation Award finalists are Inspire HUB Technologies Inc., K3D Inc. and Ro-Matt International Inc.
The Tourism and Hospitality Award finalists are Food and Beverage (F&B), The Iron Kettle Bed and Breakfast and Smashed Apple Catering Inc.
The New Business of the Year Award finalists are Exodus Escape Rooms, Thrive Benefits Group Inc. and Wolfhead Distillery Inc.
The Pillars of the Community Award finalists are Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario, Transition to Betterness and the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society.
An independent judging panel comprised of local businesspeople will decide the finalists in each award category.
Members of the award ceremony’s judging panel are forbidden from having direct familial or financial involvement with any of the finalists selected.
The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce has been presenting the awards for 28 years. The presenting sponsor is the Windsor Star.
The awards ceremony takes place with a gourmet dinner and show on April 18 at Caesars Windsor.
Tickets are available online at windsoressexchamber.org.