For the Townsman
Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards nominees have completed their interviews and along with the balance of the city excitedly await the announcement of the award recipients at the April 11 Gala at the St Eugene Golf Resort and Casino.
Chamber Executive Director David D. Hull was pleased with the very positive response to the new vetting process that had each nominee meet with a three person panel in a 30 minute formatted interview process.
"Without exception every nominee and jurist came out of the process exclaiming a really positive review. The nominees enjoyed the opportunity to expound on their organization and their practices."
"It was a very busy five days spanning two weeks for the Chamber with some of the panels sitting all day to work through the categories that had a large number of nominees. One day we had four rooms going simultaneously with 12 judges and an office full of nominees. It was a great day for the Chamber."
"The awards evening which is certain to be a grand event and celebration business is already sold out with all 240 tickets spoken for," said Hull
The list of the nominees up for an award on the 11th are:
New Business of the Year
Sponsor: Community Futures East Kootenay
Awarded to a business established in the last three years that is considered a rising leader in their business sector and has demonstrated outstanding characteristics leading their business to success.
Nominees
• Smokey Bros BBQ & Grill
• Sink N' Ink Tattoos
• e-Know
• One Love Hot Yoga
• iDevice Repair
• Initial Design
• Baker Street Professional Centre
Business of Year 1-15 Employees
Sponsor: Downtown Business Association
Awarded to a company that provides services to businesses. The recipient operates in the business to business sector and demonstrates a consistent adherence to the highest quality service and support for their clients.
Nominees
• The Bedroom Furniture Plus
• Genex Marketing
• Taylor Adams Chartered Accountants
• Just Liquid Sports
• Caliper Machine & Hydraulics Ltd.
• Durango's Lounge
• Koko Beach Tanning & Hair Salon
• The Playpen Pet Boarding & Grooming
• Max's Place
• The Hearing Loss Clinic
Business Person of the Year
Sponsor: Banking Association of Cranbrook
Awarded to an individual displaying outstanding leadership and vision in the business community. Respected person with accomplishments in business and their community. Serves as a positive role model or mentor for other business people.
Nominees
• Chris Thom
• Mike Adams
• Chase Thielen
• Mike Hambalek
• Tom White
• Chad Jensen
Professional Services
Sponsor: Columbia Basin Trust
Awarded to a company or professional that provides services to individuals, groups, or businesses. The recipient demonstrates a consistent adherence to the highest quality service and support for their customers.
Nominees
• Guidance Planning Strategies
• Cranbrook Auto Repair
• RDEK Director of Communications
• Sandy Smith Personal Real Estate Corporation
• Leanne M. Cutts, CGA
• Ataraxia Spa
• Rella, Paolini & Rogers
• Naked Yeti Waxing
Business Services Excellence
Sponsor: Koocanusa Publications
Awarded to a company that provides services to businesses. The recipient operates in the business to business sector and demonstrates a consistent adherence to the highest quality service and support for their clients.
Nominees
• Robert Venier, CFP BMO Nesbitt Burns
• Bank of Montreal - Theresa Larson
• B104 & the Drive Jason Caven
• Signal Collision
• e-Know
Business of Year 16+ Employees
The College of the Rockies
Awarded to a business with 16-plus full time equivalent employees that has been established for more than three years. The well-rounded recipient is regarded as an industry leader with a strong reputation for their business success.
Nominees
• Kootenay Rockies Gran Fondo
• Just Liquid Sports
• Royal Canadian Legion
• Elizabeth Lake Lodge
• The Heid Out & Fisher Peak Brewing Co.
Retail Excellence
Sponsor: The Tamarack Centre
Awarded to a business that has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the retail sector. The recipient is a Cranbrook retail leader with evidence of sustainable growth, commercial success, and community involvement.
Nominees
• The Flower Pot
• Muriel & Jane's
• The Paw Shop
• The Bedroom Furniture Galleries
• Mike's Autowash
• Just Liquid Sports
Non-Profit Organization of the Year
Sponsor: Jim Pattison Broadcast Group
Awarded to an organization, in any industry sector, that is a not for profit organization, society, or charity dedicated to making a difference within the sphere of their stated goals and objectives.
Nominees
• EK Foundation for Health
• MADD
• Sam Steele Society
• Royal Canadian Legion
• Blue Lake Forest Education Society
• Community Connections Society of Southeast BC
• Key City Gymnastics
• EK SPCA
• JCI Kootenay
• Cranbrook Society for Community Living
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsor: New Dawn Developments Ltd.
Awarded to an outstanding entrepreneur age 30 and under that has distinguished themselves by building their own business or as part of the decision making management team of an existing business.
Nominees
• Melissa Hambalek
• Jason de Rijk
• Stephanie Moore
• Kya Dubois
• Chase Thielen
• Ari Kupritz
• Kim Shypitka
• Dustin Willoughby