By Ron Giofu
The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 28th annual Business Excellence Awards (BEA) in the spring and Amherstburg will be well represented.
Three Amherstburg businesses have been nominated for awards, with the winners to be announced April 18 at Caesars Windsor.
Dan Gemus, owner/broker with the Dan Gemus Real Estate Team was nominated in the Professional of the Year category. Other nominees include naturopathic doctor Meighan Valero and AM800 radio host Lisa Williams.
Tourism & Hospitality Award finalists include Amherstburg’s Smashed Apple Catering Inc. with other nominees including Food & Beverage (F&B) and the Iron Kettle Bed & Breakfast.
Wolfhead Distillery was nominated in the New Business of the Year category, along with Exodus Escape Rooms and Thrive Benefits Group Inc.
“I’m so honoured to have been nominated. When I received the news a couple months ago that I had been nominated it seemed a little surreal at the time! Being at the news conference (last Wednesday) and hearing my name announced as a finalist was incredible!” said Gemus. “Being nominated along side Dr. Meighan Valero and an old AM800 co-worker and friend Lisa Williams is very humbling. All the nominees are so deserving. It will make for a fun night in April!”
Sue Manherz, co-owner of Wolfhead Distillery with husband Tom, said they were “quite surprised and honoured” to be nominated.
“We are up against a couple great companies and wish them the best of luck as well,” said Manherz. “We have a great team here at Wolfhead and none of this would be possible without everybody’s hard work and passion for what we have created. With the support of not only local residents but out-of-town people, they have helped put Wolfhead on the map and we are excited to see what the future brings us. Being nominated for New Business of the Year is very humbling and rewarding and we strive to keep things moving in the right direction!”
Bill Deslippe, owner/chef at Smashed Apple, noted it was their second time being nominated for a Windsor-Essex BEA.
“We are hustling out here for Amherstburg. These are our roots and everything we do is a reflection of our amazing town and the people living here. We are proud to represent and hope to take home the win this year,” said Deslippe. “Having said that, we are in the same category as our friends and fellow talented business owners Iron Kettle Bed and Breakfast and F&B Walkerville. We couldn’t have asked for a better compliment than to be placed in the same category as these innovative, talented and skilled business owners. At the risk of sounding ridiculous, being compared to these greats feels like a win already for Smashed Apple, we are doing it right! We are going in proud and humbled for the nomination, but come the night of the awards, we want to take it home!”
Award recipients will be announced during a gourmet dinner and show. Tickets are on sale now at www.windsoressexchamber.org.
Award recipients announced in advance include:
Believe Windsor Essex Award
Michael Schlater, CEO, Domino’s Pizza of Canada
ATHENA Award
Patricia Soulliere, President & CEO, Soulliere Financial
The full list of 2018 BEA Finalists include:
Entrepreneur of the Year Award Finalists
Radu Bogdanel, President, Fulger Transport Inc.
Ernie Nesbitt, Owner, Jose’s Bar and Grill
Vince Schiller, Owner, Southwestern Manufacturing
Professional of the Year Award Finalists
Dan Gemus, Owner/Broker of Record, Dan Gemus Real Estate Team
Dr. Meighan Valero, Naturopathic Doctor, Meighan Valero Naturopathic Professional Corporation
Lisa Williams, Radio Host – AM800 The Morning Drive, Bell Media / AM800
Young Professional of the Year Award Finalists
Dr. Maxwell Abraham, Orthodontist, Owner, Abraham Orthodontics
Dr. Abby Jakob, Optometrist/Owner of EYES Optometry, EYES Optometry
Dr. Jackie Vandereerden, Doctor, South Walkerville Medical Centre
Small Company of the Year Award Finalists
Anchor Coffee House Inc.
Forest Glade Tecumseh Veterinary Professional Corporation
Sentry Windows & Doors
Mid-Size Company of the Year Finalists
Baron Championship Rings
Flexible Industrial Solutions
Kinder Academy
Large Company of the Year Finalists
Aphria
Fortis Group
Highbury Canco Corporation
Innovation Award Finalists
Inspire HUB Technologies Inc.
K3D Inc.
Ro-Matt International Inc.
Tourism & Hospitality Award Finalists
Food & Beverage (F&B)
The Iron Kettle Bed and Breakfast
Smashed Apple Catering Inc.
New Business of the Year Award Finalists
Exodus Escape Rooms
Thrive Benefits Group Inc.
Wolfhead Distillery Inc.
Pillars of our Community Award
Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario
Transition to Betterness
Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society