Last year they walked off with Employer of the Year. This time around, VantageOne Credit Union collected the top honour.
The North Okanagan-based financial services provider was named Business of the Year at the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce annual Business Excellence Awards gala Saturday night at the Best Western Vernon Lodge.
VantageOne, which operates two branches in Vernon, one in Armstrong and another in Edgewood, beat out a field of nearly 100 businesses that received awards nominations.
The five-person judging panel was hard-pressed to whittle the field down to 27 finalists in nine categories. Each finalist had a short video detailing their business aired before Saturday night’s sellout crowd.
“Judging for the awards is an inspiring experience, as the nominee has garnered the attention and support of their nominator, and that nominator has taken the time and energy to create a package on their behalf, in support of the nomination,” said chamber president Deb Leroux, one of the judges.
Other panel members included Betty Gaudet (BMO), Jane Lister (Community Futures), Ruby Sharma (City Furniture) and Mike Benedek (Resort TV).
The 2011 Business Excellence Awards winners are:
n Small Business of the Year: GumTree Catering.
n Young Entrepreneur of the Year: www.vernondeals.ca.
n Marketer of the Year: Predator Ridge Resort.
n Personal/Professional Business of the Year: Brenda Hala Photography.
n Employer of the Year: Nixon Wenger Lawyers LLP.
n Sterling Service Award: OK Tire.
n New Business Of The Year: Blenz Coffee.
n Green Business Of The Year: Briteland Holdings Ltd.
n Community Supporter Of The Year: Sun Valley Cruise-In Committee.
Award winners received plaques and certificates honouring their achievement. They also earned the right to promote their chamber awards in their advertising for the following year.
“The winners are to be congratulated, as are all of the nominees,” said Leroux.
“Greater Vernon is an inspiring business community to work with, and by the show of support and attendance at last evening’s event, we are continuing to expand that success, and to share it.”
The feature speaker of the event was former CHBC broadcaster Mohini Singh, now with CBC radio.
Awards sponsors include Business Development Bank Of Canada, Community Futures North Okanagan, City of Vernon, Kal Tire, HSBC, Nixon Wenger, CIBC, Bank of Montreal, B.C. Hydro and Interior Savings.
