CALGARY, July 9 /CNW/ - The Prairies Entrepreneur Of The Year program is proud to announce its finalists for 2001. An independent judging panel selected 38 nominees for their outstanding entrepreneurial talent and leadership. Recognized as the pre-eminent business awards showcase in the world, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program is celebrating its eighth year in Canada.
The qualities necessary to grow and sustain a successful business today, namely ingenuity, hard work, and perseverance, exist to the fullest in this year's list of finalists," says John Murphy, Director, Prairies Entrepreneur Of The Year program and Office Managing Partner, Calgary, Ernst & Young. "The spirit and drive of entrepreneurial talent in the Prairies Region is truly inspirational and crosses every sector of business."
The 2001 Prairies' finalists are:
- Business-to-Business Products & Services
Lloyd Dyck, Tim Dyck
Brett-Young Seeds (produces, processes, markets and exports turf, forage, canola and native seeds)
Winnipeg
Greg Fast
Boretta Construction Ltd. (general contracting, construction management)
Winnipeg
Maureen Mitchells
Can Talk (language service provider for the telecommunications, corporate, and public affairs sectors)
Winnipeg
Jennifer Wood
Weiller & Williams Ltd. (beef cattle feeding, brokering, financing, supply management, financial risk management, and professional animal health reporting)
Edmonton
- Business-to-Consumer Products & Services
Chris Krywulak
Jump.ca (e-business providing retail products and services to corporations and consumers)
Regina
Leon Ledohowski
Canad Corporation (hotel entertainment, accommodation, beverages, amusement centres)
Winnipeg
Deb Thorn
Temple Gardens Mineral Spa (therapeutic spa pools and related services)
Moose Jaw
- E-Business
David Beresford, Greg Chudiak, Rob Martin
Pandell Technology Corporation (delivers web-enabled enterprise solutions)
Calgary
John Eddy, Raj Narayanaswamy
Replicon Inc. (web-based business solutions for time and expense tracking in the Professional Services industry)
Calgary
Chuck Loewen
Online Business Systems (professional consulting regarding e-business strategies and solutions)
Winnipeg
Gonzalo Naranjo, Louba Rapoport, Neils Voll
Alterna Technologies Group Inc. (provider of advanced liquidity management, transaction processing and settlement solutions)
Calgary
- Emerging Entrepreneur
Arnon Levy
Guest-Tek (delivers high-speed internet access solutions to hotels and businesses serving mobile users)
Calgary
Allan Ross, Michael Smith
Ross Smith Energy Group (advisors to energy sector investors)
Calgary
Daniel Weber, Garnette Weber
Itracks (software developers for market research industry)
Saskatoon
- Energy/Natural Resources
Reginald Greenslade
Big Horn Resources Ltd. (oil and gas exploration and development)
Calgary
James Kinnear
Pengrowth Energy Trust (oil and gas producer, one of North America's largest energy trusts)
Calgary
Jim Perry
Global Thermoelectric Inc. (developer of solid oxide fuel cell based power generation equipment, world's largest manufacturer of thermoelectric generators)
Calgary
Guy Turcotte
Fort Chicago Energy Partners (owner of 26% of Alliance Pipeline Project, and founder of Western Oilsands)
Calgary
- Manufacturing
Dwaine Barclay
Cam Tech Industries Inc. (designs and manufactures industrial computer controlled machinery and machine software)
Calgary
Robert Silver
Western Glove Works Ltd. (manufactures and distributes casual clothing)
Winnipeg
David Snell
Electronics Manufacturing Group Inc. (manufactures products for the global technology and electronics industry)
Calgary
- Professional/Financial Services
Nick Logan
National Leasing Group (originates, administers, and funds financial transactions)
Winnipeg
Randy Ward
Diversified Staffing Services Ltd. (temporary office and industrial staffing, recruitment, and payroll and benefits provider)
Calgary
Peter Workum
Proprietary Industries Inc. (real estate, natural resources, financial assets)
Calgary
- Software & Information Services
Steve Mattioli
Yotta (netstorage)
Edmonton
Raymond Muzyka/Greg Zeschuk
BioWare Corp. (electronic entertainment (video games) developer)
Edmonton
Nizar Somji
Matrikon Inc. (process control, automation and optimization consulting and software engineering)
Edmonton
- Turnaround Entrepreneur
Harvey Sheydwasser
LogiCan Technologies Inc. (electronic manufacturing services)
Edmonton
Award recipients in the nine categories will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year Prairies Banquet on September 25. These award recipients will compete for the title of Prairies Entrepreneur Of The Year. That award recipient will advance to the national level to compete with counterparts from the Pacific, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic regions for the title of Canada's Entrepreneur Of The Year. In Spring 2002, Canada's Entrepreneur Of The Year recipient will participate in the competition for the title of World Entrepreneur Of The Year.
A panel of independent judges selected the Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists. The 2001 Prairies' judges are: Brian Butlin, Director, President & CEO, Flint Energy Services Ltd.; Mike Duff, President & CEO, The Design Group Staffing Services Inc.; David Friesen, President & CEO, Friesens Corporation; Garnet Garven, Dean of Administration, University of Regina; Byron Osing, CEO, Launchworks Inc.; and Heather Shaw, Executive Chairwoman, Corus Entertainment Inc.
The 2001 Entrepreneur Of The Year Prairies Banquet will be held on September 25 at The Telus Convention Centre in Exhibition Hall D E, North Building located at 136 - 8 Avenue SE. The public is invited to attend to help celebrate the 2001 Entrepreneur Of The Year award recipients. Tickets are available for purchase at 1-888-WIN-EOYI (1-888-946-3694).
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program, founded by Ernst & Young and nationally sponsored by Nasdaq, The Global Television Network, Groupe TVA Inc., National Post, and La Presse, together with Western Economic Diversification, Business in Calgary and The Calgary Herald, celebrates great entrepreneurs and heightens awareness of the economic effect of entrepreneurial ventures. Visit www.eoy.ca for more information about the Entrepreneur Of The Year program.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, helps clients to quickly and confidently make financial decisions designed to enhance value. Its 77,000 people in more than 130 countries have the industry and financial experience to provide fresh perspectives on operating in the new economy. Ernst & Young offers traditional audit and tax services, as well as customized services in corporate finance, online security, risk management, the valuation of intangibles and e-business acceleration. In addition, legal services are available in various parts of the world where permitted. A collection of Ernst & Young's latest ideas on the new economy can be found at www.ey.com/thinkglobal. Ernst & Young refers to the Canadian firm of Ernst & Young LLP and other members of the global Ernst & Young organization.
