media release - Exchange Magazine

For Immediate Release:
Friday, February 22, 2008
MEDIA RELEASE
Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Announces 2008 Business Excellence Award Recipients
Kitchener, ON – On Thursday, February 21, 2008, over 800 people honoured the exceptional
contributions of 50 individuals and organizations who were nominated for Business Excellence
Awards at the Chamber’s annual gala. Nine recipients were announced.
2008 Business Excellence Award Winners
New Member of the Year Award: Brent Ferguson and Leo V. Tobi, Brentwood Livery
Volunteer of the Year Award: Moni Lagonia, RBC Royal Bank
Innovation Award: Navtech
Workplace Training Award: Steed and Evans Limited
Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Derek Satnik, Mindscape Innovations
Business Leader of the Year Award (<20 employees): Canadian Blood Services
Business Leader of the Year Award (>20 employees): Melloul-Blamey Construction Inc.
Michael R. Follett Community Leader of the Year Award: Helen Jowett
Environment Award: Reid’s Heritage Homes Ltd.
The Chamber has now opened nominations for the 2009 Business Excellence Awards which will be
taking place on February 19, 2009.
-30For further information contact:
Todd Letts, President & CEO
Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
519.576.5000
Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
2008 Business Excellence Award Recipients
New Member of the Year
Brent Ferguson and Leo V. Tobi
Brentwood Livery – The Limousine People
Sponsored by Cowan
In September of 2007, Brentwood Livery became a member of the Chamber after recognizing the
synergy between their core values and that of the Chamber’s.
Brentwood is a company that identifies the value of striving for excellence, while maintaining a high
level of positive contribution to the environment, the local community and industry related
associations. It is evident that their commitment and dedication is vast including participation with the
Chamber Health Care Recruitment Council, Chamber Young Professionals events, as well as local
causes of significance including the St .Mary’s Digital Mammography Machine Charity Show.
Brentwood Livery’s ability to connect with their customers and partners has brought them to a new
level in the personal transportation industry – they truly are the Limousine People.
Volunteer of the Year
Moni Lagonia
Sponsored by McDonald-Green
Moni Lagonia is the epitome of what a Chamber volunteer is. In her role as Chair of the Women’s
Leadership Committee, she demonstrates an understanding of the importance of team work,
leadership and commitment.
As committee Chair for over 4 years, Moni has advocated for women’s issues, provided leadership
education to Chamber members and helped to ensure the success of this “one of a kind” committee.
That however, is just the start of her amazing volunteer history. Her contributions span far out into the
local community reaching those at home and abroad. She contributes many hours to groups that
include sports, education, world and health issues. Among these organizations are the Outstanding
Women of Laurier, the Zonta Club, Waterloo Minor Soccer and Families of Canadian Soldiers in
Afghanistan.
Moni is a volunteer, a leader, woman, a mother of a Canadian soldier in Afghanistan, and an
inspiration to the Chamber and the community at large.
Innovation Award
Navtech
Sponsored by C.B. Richard Ellis Limited
Navtech is a company that is helping to transform the commercial aviation industry through software
that is developed, marketed and supported by them. A leader in their field, their focus includes the
safety of over 350 commercial passenger and cargo air carriers, practicing environmental awareness,
maximizing efficiency and creating a workplace culture that is highly desirable.
Navtech’s employee base has increased by 150% world-wide. Their employees are supported in their
extra curricular participation in charitable events such as the CIBC Run for the Cure, semi-annual
Food Bank food drives and both individual and team volunteer roles in their community.
This company values not only a “people-friendly” workplace, but also being a good neighbour. Their
Waterloo home office even shares storage and office space with other building tenants. They continue
to perform each day remembering the ideas and skills they are founded on that came locally from the
Waterloo Region. Continuing to strengthen as a team and provide innovative products, offices are
operating in the UK, Sweden and Canada, and satellite offices world-wide. Here is a company that
truly stands behind what they produce, recognizing that their products are affecting air travel globally.
Workplace Training Award
Steed and Evans Limited
Sponsored by Conestoga College Institute
for Technology & Advanced Learning
Steed and Evans Limited is a company that ensures that all employees receive the opportunity for upto-the minute training and certification. As a trend-setting road building contractor and building
material supplier, Steed and Evans sets the standard for their industry – for both customers and
employees.
A number of creative training programs have been developed to meet their unique needs allowing
them to set the pace for industry advancements. All employees are presented with different training
opportunities related to their specific positions. Each year management personnel attend Gold Seal
Certified courses that are offered by the Ontario Road Builders Association.
Steed and Evans recognizes the importance of both training mandated by the law as well as additional
training to assist employees in being successful in their jobs. This company is a member of the WSIB
safety group and also offers the ‘Train the Trainer’ program to all employees. Among their
distinctions, they have been recognized with awards from the Ontario Road Builders Association and
Conestoga Heavy Construction Association.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Derek Satnik, Mindscape Innovations
Sponsored by Centre for Business,
Entrepreneurship and Technology
Mindscape Innovations founded by Derek Satnik, is an industry leader in fiscal, environmental and
social responsibility. As a forward-thinking entrepreneur, Derek manages this consulting and
contracting services company, whose focus is on helping clients build environmentally and
technologically better homes, businesses and communities.
As a start-up organization in a pioneering industry, Derek’s success has come to fruition in a relatively
short amount of time. In the process of building his business, he has grown a solid client base, and
gained notoriety as an expert at processing renewable energy initiatives. Mindscape Innovations under
the direction of Derek has become aligned with over 10 leading edge renewable energy, and energy
efficiency firms.
Leading by example, Derek encourages his employees to spend a degree of paid time volunteering in
associations and community groups with an environmental focus including the Chamber Environment
Committee, among others.
Derek has been nominated as one of the University of Waterloo’s top 50 alumni of all time and has
been quoted in numerous publications across North America. He also sits on several associations
locally, provincially and federally including Conestoga College’s Program Advisory Committee – a
committee dedicated to developing a new generation of trades professionals who will be able to meet
the needs of the rapidly emerging renewable energy sector.
Business Leader of the Year (<20 employees)
Canadian Blood Services
Sponsored by Lutherwood
Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the blood
supply in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec. Their focus is on partnerships with multicultural organizations, and community leaders that help to improve relationships.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Blood Donor Clinic is one of 40 permanent collection sites nationwide and
collected 15,591 units of blood last year. To put this into perspective, one unit of blood helps to save
the lives of 3 people. Programs such as the OneMatch Stem Cell, Partners for Life, What’s Your
Type, and the Marrow Network overseen by the Canadian Blood Service, assist patients being treated
for cancer, during surgery or after serious accidents. In Kitchener-Waterloo alone, 13 companies have
signed on to be member of Partners for Life.
The contributions of this organization are not only life changing to many individuals, but affect the
community as a whole.
Business Leader of the Year (+20 employees)
Melloul-Blamey Construction Inc.
Sponsored by Laurier School of Business & Economics
A long term Chamber member, Melloul-Blamey Construction is a multiple award winning, full
service construction, design and real estate development company.
An industry leader, Melloul-Blamey is one of the first Canadian General Contractors to become a
member of the Canada Green Building Council. They have been a long time leader in waste
management, sustainable building sites and recycling, long before it was socially recognized.
Currently, Melloul-Blamey has 5 L.E.E.D. (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) projects
underway and is also nearing a record $150 million in annual business.
As a company, they recognize the importance of every member of their team. Strong and trusted
relationships are the basis for their working foundation. All employees are provided with
opportunities to grow as individuals and as a team. Melloul-Blamey supports the community through
corporate participation in various non-profit initiatives including the Ray of Hope Fundraiser, and
Tree of Hope for Children and Family services among others.
Environment Award
Reid’s Heritage Homes Ltd.
Sponsored by Union Gas A Spectra Energy Company
Reid’s Heritage Homes is a leader when it comes to implementing environmental standards. As the
first home builder in Canada to be certified LEED Platinum (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design), Reid’s has increased the efficiency of single detached homes from Energuide 78 to
Energuide 80 - which is the equivalent of building to the 2012 building code.
Reid’s believes that the decision to increase their standards to include Energy Star qualifications in
homes is mandatory. Not only does it provide their customers with a more comfortable living
environment, lower utility bills and an overall healthier home, but has effectively diverted 2,381,000
kg of green house gas emissions from polluting our environment. Recipients of several industry
awards, Reid’s employees are encouraged to sit on boards and committees that influence
environmental standards in home building and energy conservation.
Reid’s has set a new standard in building energy efficient houses that people can feel confident about
owning and becoming their home.
Michael R. Follett
Community Leader of the Year Award
Helen Jowett
Sponsored by Kool FM
Helen Jowett has time after time demonstrated her dedication and commitment to volunteerism and to
corporate philanthropy in the Waterloo Region. She is a passionate, dynamic and engaging leader.
She works tirelessly with the Cambridge Memorial Hospital in the Doctor Recruitment Campaign,
serves on the Waterloo Region Immigrant Employment Network Steering Committee, is a business
advisor for Camp Enterprise, a regional Rotary initiative, and is the past Director of the Greater
Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.
Helen brings her zest for making her community exceptional into her work place. Within McDonaldGreen, she encourages all staff to give back through community service, and their involvement is
supported both during the work day and after hours. Some of the organizations participated in by her
employees include The Kidney Foundation Canvas Campaign, the Food Bank of Waterloo Region,
and the Huntington’s Society of Canada.
It is exemplary individuals like Helen that contribute to the solid foundation that helps Waterloo
Region continue to thrive.