NV Chamber announces 2015 Business Excellence Awards Winners

The 18th Annual Business Excellence Awards took place on November 5th at the Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier in North Vancouver.

There were six award categories including Community Contribution, Innovation, Service Excellence, Young Entrepreneur, Business Person of the the Year and Business of the Year.

This special event featured short films created by the Capilano University film students profiling each of the nominated businesses. In addition to raising the profile of the recipients in the community, the awards provide much deserved recognition to business entrepreneurs in our community.

In addition to the Sky Spirit Studio/Wade Baker produced vases handed out to the category winners, three scholarships were awarded to the Capilano University film students for the most outstanding short films produced for the Business Excellence Awards finalists.

Community Contribution – Wendy McGregor, Parkgate Community Services Society

Parkgate Community Services Society (PCSS) is a registered not-for-profit charitable society that has been in operation since 1983. PCSS provides community based programs and services out of Parkgate Community Centre, the Seymour Youth Centre, and other satellite locations.

Innovation – Wendy Maxwell, AIM Language Learning

Wendy Maxwell is an award-winning teacher who has transformed second language instruction, both in Canada and internationally. Wendy is the program creator and lead author of AIM Language Learning’s French and English programs and the first two levels of our new Spanish program, iJðvenes en acciðn!

Service Excellence – Jason & Leigh Stratton, Bridge Brewing

Located in North Vancouver, Bridge Brewing stays focused on only using the highest quality ingredients in their beer while minimizing the environmental footprint. They are working towards becoming a 100% garbage free brewery. Bridge Brewing is Vancouver’s first nanobrewery. They started with a 4HL brew house, and have since increased to 12HL as the demand for their local beer grows, moving them into Micro territory.

Young Entrepreneur – Josef Geluch, Naikoon Contracting Ltd.

Joe Geluch is the president of Naikoon Contracting Ltd., a construction business based in North Vancouver that specializes in sustainable home building.Naikoon Contracting Ltd. has an established reputation within the industry as a reputable leader in the green building sector, providing a functional combination of innovative green and sustainable design, exceptional craftsmanship, and refined quality.

Click here to view the video for Naikoon Contracting Ltd.

Business Person of the Year – Ana María Zúñiga, AZ World Translation & Interpretation

Ana María Zúniga has grown her company AZ World Translation and Interpretation Inc. from a one-woman translation company into an agency working with translators around the world. Indeed, her company has become a market leader for nearly 10 years, and in 2014, was recognized by Small Business B.C. as one of the Top Five Small Businesses in the province. AZ World is a full-service translation and interpretation agency that specializes in providing a broad range of services for businesses in need of assistance in communicating effectively to foreign-speaking audiences.

Business of the Year – Paul & Devina Zalesky, AllWest Insurance

Founded 1968 in North Vancouver, AllWest Insurance Services Ltd. is one of the largest Autoplan producers in British Columbia, having become an innovator in mobile road service since the early days of ICBC. AllWest is owned and operated by Paul and Devina Zalesky, both longtime residents of Vancouver. Paul serves as CEO of the company and Devina as President.

Click here to see photos of the event.

Click here to view all videos for nominees and winners.