The 12th annual Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® awards move into full swing with the naming of regional finalists
(Calgary, July 7, 2005) — From an impressive list of nominees, 51 best-in-class entrepreneurs—chosen for their business leadership skills, determination and vision—have been selected as Prairies region finalists in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2005 awards.
"There is a great wealth of entrepreneurial talent in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and these men and women bring countless benefits, both economic and social, to their industries and the communities in which they operate," says Barry Munro, director of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program for the Prairies region. "We are proud to promote and celebrate the spirit, the drive and the incredible success stories of our Prairie entrepreneurs," he says.
Canada’s most prestigious business awards program is now in its 12th year. The program considers nominees in a number of business categories before selecting finalists. Those finalists for Entrepreneur Of The Year 2005, Prairies region are:
BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Jeffrey J. Smith, Susan M. Gallacher
DirectCash Income Fund (ATMs, debit terminals and prepaid cash cards)
Calgary, AB
www.directcash.net
Chris Bond, Jamie Brown, Ken Zorniak
Frantic Films
Winnipeg, MB (Visual effects, animation, commercial and live-action production)
www.franticfilms.com
Ken Kotowich
Unicity Integrated Logistics Inc. (Logistics and supply-chain solutions provider) Winnipeg, MB
www.unicity.ca
BUSINESS-TO-CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Doug Dufresne, Mark Dufresne
Dufresne Furniture & Appliances (Retail electronics, appliances and furniture)
Winnipeg, MB
www.dufresne.ca
David Ingram
easyhome Ltd. (Household goods rental company)
Edmonton, AB
www.easyhome.ca
Irving Kipnes
Liquor Stores Income Fund (Owns approx. 59% interest in Liquor Stores Ltd.)
Edmonton, AB
www.liquorstoresgp.ca
Holly McNally, Paul McNally
McNally Robinson Booksellers Limited (Independent bookseller)
Winnipeg, MB
www.mcnallyrobinson.com
EMERGING ENTREPRENEUR
Dale S. Wishewan
Booster Juice (Fesh juice and smoothie bar franchisor)
Edmonton, AB
www.boosterjuice.com
Steve Popadynetz
Divestco Inc. (Oil industry software, data, seismic brokerage and technical services)
Calgary, AB
www.divestco.com
Manjit Minhas
Mountain Crest Group of Companies (Distributor of spirits, wines and liqueurs)
Calgary, AB
www.mountaincrest.ca
ENERGY PRODUCERS
Robert H. Stan
Grande Cache Coal Corporation (Coal mining and processing)
Calgary, AB
www.gccoal.com
Edward Sampson
Niko Resources Ltd. (Oil and gas)
Calgary, AB
www.nikoresources.com
Lowell Jackson
Real Resources Inc. (Oil and gas)
Calgary, AB
www.realres.com
ENERGY SERVICES
Roger Stokowski
Big Eagle Hydro-Vac & Nitrogen Services (Oilfield services)
Camrose, AB
www.bigeaglehydrovac.com
Kevin Delaney
Pure Energy Services Ltd. (Oilfield services)
Calgary, AB
www.pure-energy.ca
Gregg Scott
Scott Land & Lease Ltd. (Oil and gas, and telecom utilities land leasing)
Calgary, AB
www.scottland.ca
Elson McDougald
Western Lakota Energy Services Inc. (Contract drilling services)
Calgary, AB
www.westernlakota.com
ENERGY TRUSTS
George F. Fink
Bonterra Energy Income Trust (Crude oil and natural gas trust)
Calgary, AB
www.bonterraenergy.com
David P. Werklund (Energy and environmental waste management trust)
CCS Income Trust
Calgary, AB
www.ccsincometrust.com
Thomas W. Buchanan, Randall J. Findlay
Provident Energy Ltd. (Oil and gas trust)
Calgary, AB
www.providentenergy.com
HEALTH SCIENCES
Jacqueline J. Shan
CV Technologies Inc. (Biotechnology)
Edmonton, AB
www.cvtechnologies.com
Karim Teja, Darryl Stein, Robin Winsor
Imaging Dynamics Company Ltd. (Diagnostic imaging manufacturer)
Calgary, AB
www.imagingdynamics.com
Fiona Webster Mourant, John L.Webster
Manrex Limited (Medication delivery systems developer)
Winnipeg, MB
www.manrex.com
MANUFACTURING
Darcy Amendt, Dennis Kellner, James Keirstead, John Keirstead, Brent Macklin
Blue Falls Manufacturing Ltd. (Hot tubs and leisure products manufacturer)
Thorsby, AB
www.goarctic.com
Steven Kroft
Conviron (Producer of greenhouses and controlled-environment chambers)
Winnipeg, MB
www.conviron.com
Sean Frisky
Ground Effects Environmental Services Inc. (Environmental remediation and process treatment systems)
Regina, SK
www.groundeffects.org
PROFESSIONAL/FINANCIAL SERVICES
Shannon Bowen-Smed
BOWEN Workforce Solutions (Employment recruitment and HR services)
Calgary, AB
www.bowenworks.ca
Peter Thompson
RIS Inc.
Calgary, AB (Computer application support and maintenance)
www.risglobal.com
George F. J. Gosbee
Tristone Capital (Energy sector investment banking)
Calgary, AB
www.tristonecapital.com
Adam Waterous
Waterous & Co. (Energy sector acquisitions and divestitures)
Calgary, AB
www.waterous.com
REAL ESTATE/CONSTRUCTION
Cecil Hoffman, Bill Langen
Artistic Stairs Ltd. (Decorative stairs and railing systems)
Calgary, AB
www.artisticstairs.com
Jay Westman
Jayman Master Built (Home builder)
Calgary, AB
www.jayman.com
Ryan Ockey
The Cardel Group of Companies (Home builder)
Calgary, AB
www.cardelhomes.com
TECHNOLOGY
Stephen Verhoeff
CSI Wireless Inc. (GPS design and manufacture)
Calgary, AB
www.csi-wireless.com
Chris Sherback
Ormed Information Systems Ltd. (Supply chain medical software)
Edmonton, AB
www.ormedx.com
Raj Narayanaswamy, Lakshmi Raj
Replicon Inc. (Web-based solutions for the professional services industry)
Calgary, AB
www.replicon.com
On September 29, 2005, a finalist in each business category will be presented with a regional category award during a gala celebration, with one category recipient then being awarded the title Entrepreneur of the Year for the Prairies region. The Prairies award recipient goes on to compete with top entrepreneurs from the Pacific, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic regions for the coveted national honour of Entrepreneur Of The Year, to be announced November 3, 2005 in Ottawa. In June 2006, Canada’s Entrepreneur Of The Year moves to the world stage, joining more than 35 country recipients participating in the international competition for the title of World Entrepreneur Of The Year.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year awards honour entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in areas such as innovation, risk taking, company development, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Submissions are reviewed by an independent judging panel, which is composed of several distinguished Canadian business leaders and previous award recipients. The members of the Prairies region panel for 2005 are: Mary C. Arnold, president, Richford Holdings Ltd.; Jose Correia, president, Bee Clean Building Maintenance; Kevin Kavanagh, past president, Great West Life Assurance Company; Michael B. Percy, dean, School of Business, University of Alberta; Allan Ross, chief executive officer, Ross Smith Energy Group; Beverley A. Sheridan, president, Technology NOW; John Treleaven, president and CEO, Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program was founded by Ernst & Young to celebrate great entrepreneurs and heighten awareness of the economic impact of entrepreneurial ventures. The program is nationally sponsored by Global Television Network, National Post, La Presse, RDI and Roynat Capital. To learn more about the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2005 awards, visit www.eoy.ca.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed to restoring the public’s trust in professional services firms and in the quality of financial reporting. Its 100,000 people in 140 countries pursue the highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism, providing a range of sophisticated services centred on our core competencies of auditing, accounting, tax, and transactions. Further information about Ernst & Young and its approach to a variety of business issues can be found at www.ey.com/perspectives. Ernst & Young refers to all the members of the global Ernst & Young organization.
Canada's premier business award announces Prairie finalists
