It was a celebration of innovation, leadership and entrepreneurship, as the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce (SSMCOC) handed out its Outstanding Business Achievement Awards on Thursday evening at the Machine Shop.
The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce was pleased to welcome SOOTODAY.COM as event sponsor and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) as presenting sponsor. Chamber community partners included TD Bank Group and Kevanna Fine Photography.
The recipients of this year’s Outstanding Business Achievement Awards were:
Classic Neon & Sign Inc. was awarded this year’s Safe Work, Sound Business Award sponsored by Health & Safety Professionals Inc. The Safe Work, Sound Business Award recognizes a business that uses a safe work management system, participates in workplace and / or community injury prevention programs and has outstanding injury-free frequency and injury severity performance.
Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation was presented with the Employer of Year Award sponsored by Sault College Employment Solutions. This award recognizes an employer who has created cultures and communities, through every aspect of their business.
Meghan Brazil of Great Lakes Honda was awarded the Customer First Award (Individual) sponsored by Smyl’s Highland Ford. This award recognizes an individual who continuously raises customer service to new standards of excellence and is a role model for others in customer service.
Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie & Area was presented with the Diversity Award sponsored by the Algoma Workforce Investment Corporation. This award recognizes a business or organization that embraces, celebrates, and applies holistic inclusion and participation of a diverse people, making the workplace a better environment in which to work, and the community a better place in which to live, work and raise a family.
The Community Investment Awards highlight outstanding community service by a business or agency. The recipients of these awards contribute to the well-being of the community through initiatives such as sourcing products and / or services locally, retailing or utilizing local products, employment growth, and supporting the community through charitable activities.
The Community Investment Award (up to 25 employees) sponsored by Tenaris was presented to Hogan’s Homestead.
The Community Investment Award (26+ employees) sponsored by the Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area was presented to PUC Services Inc.
Tenaris Algoma Tubes Inc. was the recipient of the Innovation Award sponsored by PUC Services Inc. This award recognizes a business that has successfully incorporated a new idea, device, or method, or has utilized the application of better solutions to meet new requirements, internal needs, or market needs.
Joseph Greco of I.D.A. Drug Marts / Orano Limited was presented with the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award sponsored by EAZY Express. The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding achievement of young entrepreneur(s) between 18 and 39 years of age. The award is given to an individual responsible for the success and growth of a Sault Ste. Marie-based company, who exemplifies the qualities of effective leadership, innovatively applies know-how, demonstrates excellent potential for growth, appreciates the importance in social, cultural, and environmental awareness, and has demonstrated commitment to the wider community.
Paint and Decor Concepts was the recipient of the Downtown Business of the Year Award sponsored by SK Group Inc. In support of the City of Sault Ste. Marie Downtown Strategy, as well as the strategic plan of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, this award recognizes a business that is invested in the downtown business community and contributes to downtown Sault Ste. Marie. This award honors their commitment to running a business in the heart of our city and their role in creating a vibrant downtown.
The Beyond Sault Ste. Marie Awards recognize businesses in any industry for excellence in the development of export markets for their products or services, through implementing a new export strategy that has positively affected its bottom line. Beyond SSM considers businesses that have succeeded in expanding outside of Sault Ste. Marie as well as exporting goods and services.
The Beyond Sault Ste. Marie Award (1 to 49 employees) sponsored by Bell was presented to 180 Sisterhood Productions.
The Beyond Sault Ste. Marie Award (50+ employees) sponsored by Bell was presented to McDougall Energy Inc.
Arthur Funeral Home – Barton & Kiteley Chapel was awarded the Customer First Award (Business, Non-Profit or Agency) sponsored by Rivercity Motorsports. This award showcases a business or non-profit that places the customer experience at the heart of their business strategy and builds a sustainable culture of customer service within their organization.
The Missanabie Cree Business Corporation was the recipient of the Indigenous Business of the Year Award sponsored by Tenaris. This award recognizes a business which is operating, or being managed, with a minimum of 51% ownership by an Indigenous person or group. To be considered, the business has distinguished itself by fostering growth, innovation, marketing strategy and consumer excellence, while showing leadership and dedication to the preservation of culture, values, and identity.
Sault Ste. Marie YMCA was awarded the Community Non-Profit Business of the Year Award sponsored by Dumanski Office Interiors / Compass Imaging. This award recognizes and rewards excellence and innovation among non-profit organizations resulting in significant social impact within Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma district.
Rolling Pictures was presented with the Rising Star New Business Award sponsored by KPMG LLP. This award recognizes a business that has been in operation for no less than 1 year and no more than 3 years and has demonstrated strong potential by way of growth, innovation, and leadership. Additionally, the business has demonstrated a culture of risk-taking and trailblazing and has positioned itself to achieve similar successes in the future through new or innovative products or services, quality of merchandise / customer service, job creation, growth potential, and market served.
Jonathan Boyer-Nolan, of Nogdawindamin Family and Community Services was awarded the Indigenous Professional of the Year Award sponsored by Algoma University and Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig. This award is presented to a person who has made an impact in the Indigenous, Metis and Sault Ste. Marie communities and in so doing so, serves as an inspiration to us all.
Sault College was presented with the Leader in Accessibility Award sponsored by Ergo Office Plus. This award recognizes an organization that shows leadership in integrating and providing accessible and barrier-free working conditions for employees and accessibility in customer service. This business or organization values the contributions of persons with disabilities, promotes the development of an inclusive workplace culture and is compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
The Chamber presents three Business of the Year awards based on business size: To be considered, a business will have distinguished themselves by fostering growth, innovation, marketing strategy and consumer service excellence in their sectors.
The Business of the Year Award (up to 9 employees) sponsored by RBC was presented to Health & Safety Professionals Inc.
The Business of the Year Award (10 to 25 employees) sponsored by Algoma Office Equipment was presented to NORPRO Environmental, A N1 Solutions Company.
The Business of the Year Award (26+ employees) sponsored by Superior Auto Group was presented to Village Media.
The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to the Algoma Vaccination Support Council (AVSC). Initiated in 1985, the Volunteer of the Year Award is given annually to an individual, or individuals, whose time commitment and contributions to the Chamber have been outstanding. The Algoma Vaccination Support Council is comprised of local businesses, organizations, and community stakeholders that have identified the goal of increasing vaccination literacy, information dissemination about local vaccination efforts, and providing support wherever possible, such as food and beverages for vaccination clinic staff and volunteers as well as transportation for those unable to secure transportation to those vaccination clinics.
Local business leader, Marnie Stone of Stone’s Office Plus was presented with the Skipper Manzzutti Award for Business Achievement. Named after one of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce’s dedicated past presidents, Captain Feliciano “Skipper” Manzzutti, this award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding business achievement within the past year, or number of years. Like the award’s name-sake, the recipient of this award has set a high standard for exemplary entrepreneurial and community minded achievement.
Rod Goodall of Aladdin Carpet & Upholstery and Final Touch Property Maintenance Services was presented with the Paul Dalseg Community Achievement Award. The Paul Dalseg Award recognizes a businessperson in Sault Ste. Marie who has demonstrated exemplary interest in the community, and in so doing, has made a major, outstanding and unique achievement or contribution to the life of the community.
Chris Cooper, author, business mentor and owner of Catalyst Fitness was the recipient of this year’s President’s Award. Initiated in 1982, the President’s Award recognizes someone who makes an exceptional effort, going above and beyond the call of duty in any area of business and community development. The recipient of this award is chosen by the Chamber’s Past Immediate President.
Source: saultonline.com
