Business Awards

James Paul Award

Sponsored by: The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce

Recipient: Ted & Ruth Brockie

Business of the Year 1-15 Employees                        

Sponsored by: 93.1 The Border

Winner: Loewen Greenhouse & Landscape

Business of the Year 16+ Employees

Sponsored by: Tbaytel

Winner: Tim Hortons

Cutomer Service Award - Business

Sponsored by: The Westend Weekly

Winner: Tim Hortons

Customer Service Award - Individual

Sponsored by: Good Impressions

Winner : Pam MacKinnon - RBC Royal Bank

Test of Time Award

Sponsored by: RBC Royal Bank

Winner: Betty's

Business Woman of the Year

Sponsored by: PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise

Winner: Diane Gibson - Gibson Design

Home Based Business

Sponsored by: ML Caron Electric

Winner: Party Rock DJ Services    

Small Business Trainer of the Year

Sponsored by: NCDS

Winners: Jamie Davis - JD Plumbing Solutions &

            Marty DeGagne - Sunset Dynasty Construction

New Business Award 1-3 Years 

Sponsored by: Rainy River Future Development Corporation 

Winner: StyLush Salon

Business of the Year
Sponsored by: 93.1 The Border
Winner: Carl's Eatery

Employee of the Year
Sponsored by: RBC Royal Bank
Winner: Caitlyn Morrison - Carl's Eatery

Business Woman of the Year
Sponsored by: PARO Centre
Winner: Jennifer Horton - Curvy Chick

Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored by: Rainy River Future Development
Winner: Tie between Doug Cuthbertson - North Woods Gallery & Gifts, and Duane Cridland - The FlintHouse

Home Based Business
Sponsored by: M.L. Caron Electric
Winner: Inga Friesen - Merge2

Customer Service Award (Business)
Sponsored by: The Westend Weekly
Winner: Carl's Eatery

Customer Service Award (Individual)
Sponsored by: Good Impressions Printing
Winner: Neila Booth - Northwoods Gallery & Gifts

Small Business Trainer of the Year
Sponsored by: NCDS
Winner: Belluz Concrete & Rentals

Tony Beyak Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award
Sponsored by: TD Canada Trust
Winner: John Homer - Causeway Insurance

Business of the Year
Sponsored by: 93.1 The Border
Winner: Cloverleaf Grocery

Employee of the Year
Sponsored by: The Westend Weekly
Winner: Christina Kantor, Suds & Tubs Laundromat / Mekong

Business Woman of the Year
Sponsored by: PARO Centre
Winner: Donna Lowey, Lowey's Greenhouse and Market Garden

Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored by: Rainy River Future Development
Winner: Pamela Williams, 4 Your Pets

Home Based Business
Sponsored by: M.L. Caron Electric
Winner: Stained Glass by Nichole, Nichole Lowey

Customer Service Award (Business)
Sponsored by: TD Canada Trust
Winner: Carl's Eatery

Customer Service Award (Individual)
Sponsored by: Good Impressions Printing
Winner: Travis Chabot, Chabot's All Season Repair

Small Business Trainer of the Year
Sponsored by: NCDS
Winner: M.L Caron Electric LTD.

Tony Beyak Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award
Sponsored by: Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce
Winner: John Beaton

MIKE NITZ

Mike was born in Toronto, Ontario. He moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario to study Business Administration at Lakehead University, where he successfully received his degree in 2004.
 In addition to his Regional Manager, Business Banking role at RBC, Mike is very involved in his community by volunteering his time passionately within a few organizations that have a positive effect on our community.
 He was the 2014 Campaign Chairman and Director for the United Way of Thunder Bay, promoting, supporting and facilitating the organized capacity of people to help one another. He is the Past President of both the Northwestern Chamber of Commerce and SHIFT Thunder Bay‚Äôs Young Professional Network. Mike sits on the Board of Directors for the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre. Also being heavily involved with the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce from 2009-2013, including Chairman of the Board for 2011 and 2012.  Mike is Co-Founding Chairman of the Young Professionals Network of Ontario, which launched in late 2014 to connect and engage Young Professional Networks across the province.

STEPHANIE ASH 

 Originally from the UK, Stephanie Ash launched her home based business Firedog Communications shortly after receiving her landed immigrant status in Canada. Not only did she face the challenge of starting up a new business in a new country, she had to build her business from the ground up with no connections at all. Her persistence and determination helped her grow her small home based business into a large regional and national award winning company with an impressive client base in Northern Ontario, Canada and North America. Those that have witnessed her dedication and passion have stated that she puts in long hours working through the evenings and weekends so that she can fulfill her clients deadlines. It‚Äôs been said that she is oddly motivated by stressful situations and unique challenges. One of her greatest accomplishments is starting and raising a family without sacrificing her business or community commitments. Her 3 year old and 4 month old provide her with great joy and also provided her office staff the opportunity to nickname her the ‚ÄúManic Momtreprenuer!‚Äù

 Stephanie‚Äôs talent is not only appreciated in her own Thunder Bay community, her accolades reach far and wide. She was recognized by Canadian Marketing Magazine in 2005 as being an ‚Äúinnovative and influential trailblazer,‚Äù and was named as being one of Canada‚Äôs Top Ten in the publication‚Äôs ‚ÄúOne‚Äôs To Watch Awards.‚Äù Her persistence and drive didn‚Äôt end there, in 2006 she won the Northern Ontario Business ‚ÄúYoung Entrepreneur of the Year Award,‚Äù was honoured with an Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award in recognition of her work with First Nations youth, was also the recipient of ‚ÄúCareer Guidance Winner‚Äù in 2010, awarded the ‚ÄúRBC Innovative Project of the Year Award‚Äù in 2011, and received Thunder Bay‚Äôs ‚ÄúTop 20 under 40 Awards‚Äù in 2012.

 To say that Stephanie has become deeply engaged with and invaluable to her community is an understatement. Her business has created rewarding careers for 9 staff members under the age of 35. When she is not mentoring, teaching or encouraging those around her, she is continually giving back to her community by actively participating on numerous boards and committees. Her passion and commitment is reflected in everything that she does, and is evident to everyone that she meets. Stephanie Ash is truly an enterprising woman.

Business of the Year
sponsored by 93.1 The Border

• From the Grind Up

Business Woman of the Year
sponsored by the Business Women’s Network & PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise

Small Business Trainer of the Year
sponsored by NCDS