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Robert Fine shows the business community is unique flare at the Chamber of Commerce Awards Oct. 21.
By Kathy Michaels
Ditching dowdy daytime duds in favour of their finest apparel, Kelowna’s business community came together last night to celebrate the best this city has to offer at the 22nd Annual Business Excellence Awards.
Setting the tone for a night dotted by lighthearted acceptance speeches, plenty of drinks and networking, Robert Fine, the executive director of the Economic Development Commission, was first to take to the stage to accept an award for Business Leader of the Year.
Following a standing ovation, Fine opted to eschew the more conventional acceptance speech in favour of something a little more spirited. Channeling his alter ego Sinatra, Fine sang You Did Something For Me, much to the pleasure of the audience — especially when he broke out in dance mid song.
In the lead-up to his performance, a video montage explained why Fine, a city employee, had been chosen as the business leader of the year.
In the 11 years that he’s occupied the position the commission, alongside the city itself, has grown in leaps and bounds as the EDC became a landing pad for businesses looking to start up or grow their operations.
“(That was a time) when the region was struggling with what it wants to be,” he said, noting the direction is much more clearly defined these days.
Pointing to some of the challenges the job entails, Fine went on to say that the biggest issue his office faces is being responsible to so many groups with such diverse needs, especially considering that the future is always changing.
In total there were seven awards delivered that evening, and each recipient was gracious in accepting their awards while also acknowledging that they’ve had to put their heart and soul, not to mention tons of cash, into each endeavour.
More than one made note of the fact that succeeding in business takes a toll on personal relationships, and is far from being a cake walk — taking jibes at government organizations that make entrepreneurship a tough slog at times. But, when all was said and done pride in a job well done defined the event.
“We salute those who have recognized a business opportunity, seized it and prospered,” said Norm LeCavalier, president of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. “The accomplishments and dedication of all the finalists honoured last evening are impressive and their stories inspire us all. We are proud of the contributions these exceptional business leaders have made in our community.”
Presented by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and Gold Sponsors the Business Development Bank of Canada and Farris, Vaughn, Wills and Murphy LLP, the Kelowna event is part of the annual Small Business Week activities which take place Oct. 18 to 24.
The recipients:
Jason Broome, of Kelowna Regional Fertility Centre, was the recipient of the 2009 Rising Star award sponsored by the FortisBC. This award is for new companies that have been in business less than three years. The other finalists were S2 Innovative Products Group Ltd., Vineyard Networks.
A panel of judges selected three outstanding Kelowna area businesses as the 2009 recipients of the following Business Awards:
Small Business Award, for operations with one to 10 employees went to Don and Lane Martin of
Modern Pur Air Inc. The other finalists were Interior Tax and File Small Business Services, Orchard and Vine Magazine, Platinum Personnel and Business Services
Mid-Size Business Award, for operations with 11 – 30 employees, went to JDS Energy and Mining Jeff Stibbard. Other finalists included CBD Network, Vedanta Academy
Large Business Award, for businesses with 31 or more employeeswent to Matt Cameron of CTQ Consultants Ltd. Other finalists included: Expert Hearing Group, Paragon Pharmacies.
A Community Impact Award was given to Dona Moore of the Kelowna Art Gallery. Other finalists included: Big Brothers and Sisters of the Okanagan, Women’s Enterprise Centre, United Way of the Central and South Okanagan
The Young Entrepreneur of the Year, for individuals under 34 years old, was awarded to Mark and Todd Regier of Prestige Collision. Other finalists were Raegan Hall of Blonde, and Angela Reid – Tigress Ventures
Tags: chamber of commerce, Kelowna, Robert Fine, Small Business Week
