Finalists Announced For Local Business Awards
It was an evening of celebration and pride for several local business owners as finalists for the 29th annual Business Excellence Awards were announced Wednesday during a reception at the City Grill. “(The awards) are a celebration of our community and business leaders,” said Rakesh Naidu, CEO of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber, which oversees the awards. “These are the ones we are really proud of in our community. “They have great products and they are great entrepreneurs. This is a chance to celebrate them, cheer them on and for them to bring laurels to their business organizations.”
The annual awards are “done in good spirit,” but are also very competitive, he said.
“To be a finalist takes a lot,” Naidu said. “The judges are not lenient and there are multiple factors on what it takes to be nominated.” Winners will be announced at the Business Excellence Awards ceremony April 24 in the Augustus Ballroom at Caesars Windsor. Two award recipients to be recognized this year were announced at the nomination event — local philanthropist Alan Quesnel will receive the Believe Windsor Essex Award, while Sherrilynn Colley-Vegh, director of leadership and training at the local United Way, will be presented with the ATHENA award. An independent judging committee selected nominees for this year’s awards. The Windsor Star is a presenting sponsor.
Finalists are:
Entrepreneur of the year: Radu Bogdanel, president of Fulger Transport Inc., Katelynn Garvin, owner of the Schoolhouse Early Learning Centre and Peter Valente, president of the Valente Development Corp.
Large company of the year: Contract Glaziers Corp., Reliance Home Comfort and Vista Print. Mid-sized company of the year: Deerbrook Realty, Fahrhall Home Comfort Specialists and Monarch Basics.
New business of the year: RFG Plumbing, The Hungry Pooch and Xperience Home Health Care. Pillars of our community award: In Honour of the Ones We Love, John McGivney Children’s Centre and the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County. Professional of the year: Allison Hawkins, owner of Hawkins and Company Accounting Professional Corp., Dr. Kelly Upcott, naturopathic doctor at Lifetime Wellness Centre/Origins Naturopathic Retreat and Leigh Vachon, executive director of Victoria Manor Supportive Housing.
Small company of the year: Head of the Class, Macro Foods and Windsor Circus School.
Tourism and hospitality award: Jack’s Group, Grove Hotel & Brew House and Urban Surf Company. Young professional of the year: Dr. Maxwell Abraham, orthodontist, Celso Oliveira, manager at the Business Development Bank of Canada and Matthew Thibert, pharmacist and owner at Shoppers Drug Mart.
For profiles of the nominees and ticket information for the awards dinner visit online at windsoressexchamber.org.