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The area’s top business talent enjoyed a moment in the limelight Wednesday night as the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce held its 33rd annual Business Excellence Awards, presented by the Windsor Star at the Chrysler Theatre.
There were 10 categories announced in a ‘secret reveal’ format during the ceremony, to go with two categories that had been announced when the finalists’ names were released in January.
The two awards previously announced went to Meighen Nehme of The Job Shoppe as the ATHENA Leadership Award recipient, and Windsor Regional Hospital as the Believe Windsor-Essex Award recipient.
“As women, we tend to wear many hats,” Nehme told the Star when accepting the award. “We’re moms, we’re sisters, we’re wives.
“So in my circumstance, running a business and being a leader to many people, a lot of times you just keep moving forward and you don’t really have a chance to stop and appreciate how far you’ve come.
“I think a recognition like this is so important because it allows us to stop for a minute and appreciate how we got here — appreciate all the trials and tribulations that led us to today.”
Winning the two Company of the Year awards were Canada Protein (25 or more employees) and ErgoNow (under 25 employees).
ErgoNow provides ergonomically designed furniture, desks and chairs while Canada Protein supplies sports protein and nutrition products.
Taking the New Company of the Year honours was Windsor’s Verellen Music Academy, which offers a variety of music lessons.
The Windsor-tech company Picsume with its new digitalized approach to hiring took the Innovation Award.
The F&B Hospitality Group, which includes the Grand Cantina, Funky Chow and Taloola Cafe establishments in Walkerville, earned the Tourism and Hospitality Award.
The Pillars of Our Community Award went to the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.
Moving into the individual awards, FM Sylvan’s Sean Maine won the entrepreneur of the Year for his work at the Tecumseh-based industrial services contractor.
Brady’s Drug Store chain owner Tim Brady was recognized as Professional of the Year while Kingsville’s Aaron Nixon of Main Street Pharmacy and Wellness Centre was selected as Young Professional of the Year.
The Canadian Mental Health Association’s director of communications and mental health promotion Kim Willis earned the Ambassador of the Year award.
The awards’ show, which preceded a gala banquet for the attendees in the St. Clair College for the Arts, was recorded and will be re-broadcast several times in the coming weeks on Cogeco’s YourTV.
The Windsor-Essex chamber is the leading advocate for business in the area. The awards show helped kick off the local chamber’s 150th anniversary celebrations, which will also include hosting the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s annual general meeting and convention in Windsor next spring.
