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Best in the business: Chamber honours outstanding entrepreneurs and more

Kevin McCormick named Executive of the Year

Ten of Greater Sudbury’s outstanding entrepreneurs and businesses were celebrated Tuesday evening at the Bell Business Excellence Awards gala hosted by the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce.

A crowd of more than 400 colleagues and friends attended the ceremony to recognize and celebrate the award finalists and recipients.

The awards pay tribute to those hard working entrepreneurs and businesses whose achievements and contributions to the community distinguish them from their peers. The award winners are positive role models who have shown the desire to improve the community.  

Among the winners was Huntington University vice chancellor and president, Kevin McCormick, who was named Executive of the Year. 

McCormick has lived in Sudbury for 12 years and has seen the growth of the business community and tipped his cap to the Chamber of Commerce and the awards.

"The Chamber of Commerce is critical to creating conversations and facilitating dialogue among businesses and community leaders and I know what and important role the chamber plays," said McCormick.

"With respect to the award, it caught me off guard but I feel very fortunate to be part of the business community and the community as a whole. I've always thought of education as a business and not a job, but I understand how all the colleges and universities are vital producers of skilled people and passionate advocates for change."

Max Merrifield was also on hand to accept an award for Northern Lights Festival Boreal in the not-for-profit category. This year was the first nomination for the music and arts festival.

"I feel very fortunate just to be part of this and to be acknowledged by the business community," said Merrifield. "It's great that the history of this event (NLFB) and organization and its impact on the community and making it a diverse and vibrant place to live, it's really cool to be recognized by the business community for that."

The 2018 BEA award recipients are:

  • Business Start-Up: Wolfpack Protective Services (presented by Freelandt Caldwell Reilly LLP)
  • Service Excellence: Skater’s Edge Source for Sports (presented by Technica Mining)
  • Small Enterprise: Kuppajo Espresso (presented by the Regional Business Centre)
  • Entrepreneur of the Year: Barrydowne Paint (presented by RBC)
  • Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Guilty Pleasures Bakeshop + Bar (presented by Conroy Scott LLP)
  • Innovation: DIY Craftery & Lounge (presented by Cambrian College and NORCAT)
  • Best Place to Work: Workforce (presented by Collège Boréal)
  • Company of the Year: Mallette-Goring Inc., Brokerage and Luxor Management (presented by Northern Ontario Business & Northern Life)
  • Not for Profit/Charity Excellence: Northern Lights Festival Boréal (presented by TD)
  • Executive of the Year: Dr. Kevin McCormick (presented by the City of Greater Sudbury & Greater Sudbury Development Corporation)

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