Thirty-five nominated finalists will be honoured at the 28th Annual Business Excellence Awards taking place tonight at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort.
Already announced earlier this month was the winner of the The Business Leader of the Year, Kelowna lawyer Theresa Arsenault with the Pushor Mitchell law firm.
At the award banquet, another 11 category winners will also take their turn in the business spotlight.
The business excellence awards are presented by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce along with platinum sponsors the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP.
The event is part of the annual Small Business Week, Oct. 18-24, celebrations taking place in Kelowna.
“As we celebrate the 28th anniversary of the Business Excellence Awards and recognize this talented group of entrepreneurs, we are impressed with the depth and breadth of Kelowna’s dynamic business community,” said Caroline Grover, chief executive officer for the Kelowna Chamber of the Commerce.
“We are equally inspired by the innovation and tenacity demonstrated by the finalists and their companies.”
The Business Excellence Awards program celebrates achievement in our business community with finalists in each category selected from a wide group of nominations.
The panel of judges visits all of the finalists and will judge them on the growth and development of their business, customer service, employee relations and community service.
The Business Excellence Finalists for 2015 are :
RISING STAR AWARD
Cottage Quilting Ltd.
Express Employment Professionals
Float Space
Sponsored by FortisBC
MICRO BUSINESS AWARD (1-3 employees)
CareSmart Seniors Consulting
Magnetix Matchmaking
Meadow Vista Honey Wines
Sponsored by: Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board
SMALL BUSINESS AWARD (4-15 employees)
Bellamy Homes
Giobean—Coffee the Italian Way
Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery
Sponsored by: Prospera Credit Union
MID-SIZE BUSINESS AWARD (16-50 employees)
Ecora Engineering & Resource Group
Edgecombe Builders Group
SK Form & Finish Inc.
Yeti Farm Creative
Sponsored by: BDO Canada LLP
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AWARD
Arion Therapeutic Farm
Habitat for Humanity
Open For Change
Sponsored by: Urban Systems Ltd.
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
AJ Hazzi, Vantage West Realty Inc.
Yuriko Larson, Vintage Origami
Shane Pizzey, Aspire Health & Performance
SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
1-800-GOT-JUNK?
St. Hubertus Estate Winery
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Sponsored by: Interior Savings Credit Union
DISTINCTION IN HOSPITALITY & TOURISM AWARD
BC Golfguide.com
Hotel Eldorado
Urban Distilleries
Sponsored by: Tourism Kelowna
MARKETER OF THE YEAR AWARD
marketer inc.
Smart Betty Media
McManus Marketing & Communications
Sponsored by: Pushor Mitchell LLP
TECHNOLOGY/INNOVATION AWARD
QHR Technologies Inc.
QuestUpon
TELUS
Sponsored by: UBC Okanagan
LARGE BUSINESS AWARD (51+ employees)
BigSteelBox Corporation
Emil Anderson Construction
KF Aerospace
Sun-Rype Products Ltd.
Sponsored by:Grant Thornton LLP
