HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – Thirty-eight businesses and entrepreneurs will vie for top awards in the annual Huron Chamber of Commerce – Goderich, Central and North Huron gala event this Friday night.
The chamber received 68 nominations – some of them doubles or in multiple categories – from customers, employees, businesses and the nominees themselves by the Jan. 8 deadline for the Spirit of Success Awards.
“It’s an opportunity for the business community to celebrate hard work and be recognized by the community at large,” said Judy Crawford, who is the chamber’s CEO.
“We hear too much of the negative. This is an opportunity for the positive,” she said.
Award nominees in each category include:
Goderich Signal Star Community Impact Award, awarded to a favourite event that has happened in 2012 and made a positive impact on the community – Kraft Hockeyville – Steve Hewitt & Monique Sykes, Lori Patterson re: Children’s Festival, Matt Hoy re: Windstock, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109, United Communities Credit Union, Walmart and Zehrs (Steve, Paul, Todd, Chris) re: Hockeyville;
Richard Lehnen Young Entrepreneur Award, awarded to a person age 30 or under who owns or manages a business or manages staff as an integral part of a business, has been successful in meeting goals and objectives of the business and has earned the respect of peers and employees with their management skills – Fit Body Boot Camp – Nadine Vandenheuvel, Miga’s Balloons + More – Sarah Campbell and The Docks Restaurant & Bar – Colin Corriveau;
The SBEC New Business Award, awarded to a new business to the area that opened within the last 18 months and has been in operation for a minimum of six months, providing excellent customer service, support and training to staff and employees, and been community-minded and supportive – Blyth Farm Cheese, C’est La Rose Antiques, Miga’s Balloons + More, Pat & Kevin’s on The Square and Staples;
Capital Power Corporation Service Award, which is awarded to non-retail, non-hospitality businesses that demonstrate excellence in customer service and leadership on a consistent basis, the business & staff go above and beyond to insure customer satisfaction with their service/ product, and recognize and reward employees with positive incentives for providing excellent customer service – 104.9 The Beach, Banter, MacEwan, Feagan Insurance, Dr. Michelle Szasz, Dungannon Custom Builders, Gentle Dental Hygiene Care, Goderich Municipal Daycare, Huronia Med-E-OX, Hurontel, Jokey Plastics, Miga’s Balloons + More, Precision Print, Sears, United Communities Credit Union;
Bell Technology / Manufacturing Award, awarded to a business or organization that has improved performance, increased customer/client satisfaction, and created public awareness through the use of innovative products, processes or communication technologies – Precision Print and Windtrans Systems Ltd.
TD Environmental Awareness Award, awarded to any business, manufacturer, industry that promotes the 4 Rs – Reduce/Reuse/Recycle/Reclaim, introduced new programs or technology to reduce their business footprint on the environment and promotes environmental awareness with their employees – Bluewater Recycling Association, Composite Creations, Huronia, Jokey Plastics, Mulch Gulch (Gardiner`s Goderich), Secondary Resources, Walmart and Windtrans Systems Ltd.;
Tourism Goderich Hospitality Business Award, awarded to a hospitality sector business that demonstrates excellence in customer service on a consistent basis, is community-minded and supportive, and always creates a special customer experience – Benmiller Inn & Spa, Blyth Festival, Bon Vivant Chef Devin Tabor, Pat & Kevin’s on The Square, The Docks Restaurant & Bar, and West Street Willy’s.
Huronia Med-E-OX MEDIchair Retail Business Award, awarded to a retail sector business that demonstrates excellence, customer service on a consistent basis, community-minded and supportive, and always puts the customer’s needs first – Cravings, Giant Tiger, Homescapes By Lynn, Metzger Meats, Outdoor Living, Staples and Walmart.
Business of the Year Award – 104.9 The Beach, Banter, MacEwan, Feagan Insurance, Benmiller Inn and Spa, Bluewater Recycling Association, Blyth Farm Cheese, Blyth Festival, Bon Vivant Chef Devin Tabor, C’est La Rose Antiques, Composite Creations, Cravings, Dr. Michelle Szasz, Dungannon Custom Builders, Gentle Dental Hygiene Care, Giant Tiger, Goderich Municipal Daycare, Homescapes by Lynn, Huron Image Factory, Huronia / Med-E-OX, Hurontel, Jockey Plastics, Metzger Meats, Miga’s Balloons + More, Mulch Gulch (Gardiner’s Goderich), Outdoor Living, Pat & Kevin’s on The Square, Precision Print, Sears, Secondary Resources, Staples, The Docks Restaurant & Bar, United Communities Credit Union, Walmart, West Street Willy’s, Windtrans Systems Ltd.
The 2013 Spirit of Success Awards will be presented during a sold-out gala event held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 this Friday night. Master of ceremonies for the evening is Dylan Bartlett, general manager / sales manager of myFM, who is also president of Progressive Results Group, a consulting company to help improve company culture.
The main sponsor is United Communities Credit Union.
