Hundreds of local business owners and professionals attended the 130th annual Business Excellence Awards April 12.
The event, put on by the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce, took place at Club Lentinas and highlighted the work of a number of area businesses and individuals. Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor said the entrepreneur is alive and well in Chatham-Kent.
“Ninety per cent of the jobs created are done so through small business. We (the municipality) have helped 113 new (business) starts in the past year,” he said.
The corporate citizen of the year award went to Habitat for Humanity. Nancy McDowell, executive director of the Riverview Line operation, said being recognized by the chamber caught her off guard.
“We don’t do it for the recognition, so this was quite a surprise,” she said. “I’m absolutely thrilled. For us, this is a recognition of all our volunteers and our staff helping others in our community.”
Habitat is a non-profit organization whose goal is to provide affordable housing for as many people as possible. Each year, Habitat Chatham-Kent builds a home for a family in need.
Habitat operates a Restore on Riverview Line, where builders and homeowners donate items to be resold and repurposed. Everything from furniture and appliances to shutters and cabinetry can be utilized by the operation.
McDowell said the community is behind their efforts.
“This award is a reflection of all the work everybody does in helping us,” she said.
The Chatham Breakfast House & Grille earned medium business of the year accolades. Brian Machado owns the Grand Avenue East eatery.
“It’s unbelievable; almost a dream come true,” he said of the award. “There are so many great small businesses in Chatham, it’s hard to pick from.”
Machado said the restaurant has been running for the past 11 years, as it was always a dream of his to open an upscale restaurant, yet one that offers options for everybody.
“We wanted to make a place where people could come and have a coffee and a piece of toast,” he said.
And if you are looking for more than toast, everything from bananas Foster to Portuguese-style crab legs is in the menu.
Hub Creative Group received recognition for small business of the year. Hub is a Chatham-based marketing and web design company.
Owners Ike Erickson, John Lyons and Mary Genge collectively said they were happy to receive the accolades, and credit their staff with making it happen.
Lyons added their clients are the ones who benefit the most.
“We’re judged on our clients’ successes. When we do good work, they are the ones who benefit,” he said.
Genge said the recognition after three decades in the marketing industry is appreciated.
“After 30 years, it’s nice to see you’re doing something right,” she said, adding the chance to utilize new technology helps keep things fresh, and also allows Hub to compete for clients well beyond Chatham-Kent’s borders.
“It’s pretty exciting what we can bring our clients,” she said.
Lyons agreed, calling technology a “great equalizer.”
“Every client is different with different challenges and different markets,” Genge said.
Erickson said Hub looks forward to tackling those varied challenges.
Magdiel Hoste earned business individual of the year honours through the chamber. She’s the settlement services co-ordinator and diversity facilitator with the Adult Language and Learning Centre in downtown Chatham.
“I was shocked. This means a lot,” she said of the recognition in helping others. “I’m an immigrant myself.”
The Cuban-born woman came to Canada 20 years ago. In fact, the Business Excellence Awards event marked the anniversary date of her arrival.
“I work with immigrants coming to Canada. I can be an example. They can do the same thing or more,” Hoste said. “When you go to a new country, everything is new. Anything is possible if you work hard and show passion in what you do.”
Christine Fairbairn, owner of Bright Smiles was named young business individual of the year. She admitted the award caught her off guard.
“It’s unexpected because I work alone and I don’t get much in the way of feedback,” she said. “It’s nice to see the community is recognizing the work I am trying to do to improve the lives of people in Chatham.”
Bright Smiles is a dental hygiene business in downtown Chatham. Once a month, Fairbairn runs a free clinic, seeing 16 clients at no cost. The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit provides additional support on those days.
Also receiving awards were Steven Peach and Jeremy Dean as young and youth entrepreneur of the year respectively.
