Ernst & Young honours Atlantic finalists for Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011
Firm calls on all stakeholders to help entrepreneurs drive economy (Halifax, 7 July 2011) Entrepreneurs are poised to drive the next major wave of economic growth, but the wider community must do more to support these creative-minded innovators, Ernst & Young said today when revealing this year’s finalists for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year®.
“Businesses — and countries — don’t grow by standing still,” explains Joyce Hoeven, Partner and Atlantic Director of Entrepreneur Of The Year. “Entrepreneurial thinking empowers companies in Atlantic Canada to generate new jobs locally. However, we are often the training ground for many talented people who start their careers here and then leave for larger centres. That’s why stakeholders — from governments to businesses to academia — must now work together to create a truly Atlantic entrepreneurial ecosystem where great opportunities will be developed. This is how we’ll retain talent in our region and compete on the national stage.”
In a new global survey of entrepreneurs — Nature or nurture? Decoding the DNA of the entrepreneur — Ernst & Young uncovered that funding, people and know-how were the biggest barriers to entrepreneurial success. Among the six out of 10 respondents who experienced obstacles in their ventures, 33% called lack of funding or finance their biggest stumbling block.
Hoeven says that’s only the first issue. Entrepreneurs need improved access to credit and less red tape. She also underlined that Corporate Canada leadership stands to gain if they build an internal spirit of entrepreneurship — or intrapreneurship — into their business model to promote innovation, creativity and fresh thinking.
“By establishing that kind of ecosystem, we can unleash limitless entrepreneurial potential,” adds Hoeven. “Entrepreneurs see opportunity where others see disruption. Even the financial crisis generated opportunities for those willing to seize them, and that bolsters the economy. But governments and corporations must renew their focus on this area to adequately support entrepreneurs. And with this, we are sure to build stronger, more sustainable growth in our region.”
In April, an Ernst & Young/Financial Post survey found more than one-third of entrepreneur respondents were more optimistic about their company’s future prospects than they were just six months ago. Hoeven says that’s a positive step in the right direction.
“Entrepreneurs have not forgotten the lessons learned in leaner times. But they’re ready to look forward, and continue building on what they’ve already accomplished. With the right support from the broader community, entrepreneurs will continue to energize the economy in the months and years ahead,” says Hoeven.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards recognize the spirit and contribution of entrepreneurs here and around the world. The Canadian program is in its 18th year of honouring the country’s most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business. Award winners are chosen based on their vision, leadership, financial success and social responsibility.
The Atlantic winners will be announced at a banquet on October 13, and the overall winner will represent the Atlantic region at the national banquet held in Toronto on
November 23.
The 2011 Atlantic finalists for Entrepreneur Of The Year:
Business-to-business products and services
Brendan Paddick
Columbus International Inc. l St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
columbuscommunications.com
A leading provider of broadband capacity services and retail “triple play” broadband-enabled services to commercial and retail customers operating in 22 countries in North and South America.
Wayne Hambly
Hambly Enterprises Ltd. l Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
hamblys.ca
Offers quality home furnishings and appliances, manufactured homes and recreational vehicles, and rental properties.
Lori Kennedy
Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd. l Louisbourg, Nova Scotia
louisbourgseafoods.ca
A family-operated seafood business that processes and sells over 20 species of seafood products.
James Surrette
Surrette Battery Company Ltd. l Springhill, Nova Scotia
rollsbattery.com
One of North America’s leading lead-acid battery manufacturers. Established in 1935, with production in Salem, Massachusetts, Surrette relocated to Canada in 1959 and is the country’s only remaining independent battery manufacturer.
Business-to-consumer products and services
Pete Luckett
The Luckett Group of Companies l Wolfville, Nova Scotia
petesfrootique.com, petestogogo.com, luckettvineyards.com
Pete’s is a super specialty grocery store. Pete’s ToGoGo is a fast food, breakfast, lunch and dinner venue that creates fabulous fresh fare. Luckett Vineyards produces fresh local produce and fine wines.
Kevin Murphy
Murphy Investments Ltd l Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
murphygroupofrestaurants.com
A hotel/restaurant that celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in 2010. It began with one restaurant in 1980 and now employs over 300 people and operates 14 locations as well as two boutique hotels.
Shaun Fraser
Pump House Brewery l Moncton, New Brunswick
pumphousebrewery.ca
Started as a beer bar (brew pub) and has expanded to two brew pubs and a national award-winning brewery, distributing across Canada.
Energy – industrial services
Brian Dalton
Altius Minerals Corp. l St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
altiusminerals.com
A mining and metals exploration company.
Harold Warner
Dynamic Air Shelters Ltd. l Grand Bank, Newfoundland and Labrador
dynamicairshelters.com
Manufactures air inflatable structures for the oil and gas industry, construction industry, promotional sector, and emergency and first responder markets.
John Spencer
Fossil Power Systems Inc. l Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
fossil.ca
A leader in the supply of control solutions and instrumentation for electrical utilities, pulp and paper processing plants, petrochemical facilities, agricultural research facilities and food-processing plants.
Health sciences
Jean-Paul Deveau
Acadian Seaplants Limited l Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
acadianseaplants.com
A fully integrated, diversified, technology-based manufacturer of natural plant and crop input products, animal feed supplements, cultivated sea vegetables and functional ingredients derived from select species of marine plants.
Abdullah Kirumira
Biomedica Diagnostics Inc. l Windsor, Nova Scotia
biomedicadiagnostics.com
A medical devices company focusing on providing affordable diagnostic solutions worldwide.
Robert Orr
Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited l Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
ocean-nutrition.com
The leading global supplier of Omega-3 EPA/DHA ingredients from fish oil to the dietary supplement and food manufacturing markets.
Information technology
Malcolm Fraser
ISL web marketing & development l Halifax, Nova Scotia
isl.ca
One of Canada’s leading web marketing and development firms. For 15 years, ISL has delivered creative, measurable online marketing assets and campaigns to clients across North America.
Marcel LeBrun, Chris Newton, Chris Ramsey
Radian6 Inc. l Fredericton, New Brunswick
radian6.com
The leading provider of social media monitoring, providing its clients with a complete platform to listen to, measure and engage their customers across the entire social web.
Julia Rivard
SheepDogInc.ca l Halifax, Nova Scotia
sheepdoginc.ca
An IT company partnered with Google that develops applications made available via cloud computing.
Brendan Brothers, Jamie King, Raymond Pretty
Verafin l St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
verafin.com
A North American leader in fraud and anti-money-laundering software, with a mission to fight financial crime through innovative technology.
Professional/financial services
Peter McKelvey, Gordon Mouland
Fundy Engineering & Consulting Ltd. l Saint John, New Brunswick
fundyeng.com
A growing multidisciplinary engineering firm that has built its foundation on innovation and teamwork, and prides itself on a close association with its clients.
Paul Griffith
Over the Edge l Upper Tantallon, Nova Scotia
overtheedgeusa.com
A Halifax-based special events company that provides exclusive signature fundraising events for
non-profit organizations anywhere in North America. Participants raise pledges to rappel down a local highrise.
Mark Surrette
Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette l Halifax, Nova Scotia
kbrs.ca
Atlantic Canada’s leading human capital consulting firm. It helps clients recruit top talent, manage the human impact of change and develop leadership capacity.
Real estate/construction
Besim Halef
Banc Group of Companies l Bedford
bancmetals.com
A family-owned group of companies involved in real estate development, real estate management and hotel ownership. It originated with a metal fabrication business.
Robert Savoie
Maisons Suprêmes l Tracadie-Sheila, New Brunswick
supremehomes.ca
A manufacturer of quality homes since 1995, builder of mini homes and modular homes as well as light commercial and industrial trailers.
Tina Belbin, Anne-Marie Hodder, Lorna Sargent, Cluny Sheppard, Jennifer Walsh
Notre Dame Agencies Ltd. l Lewisporte, Newfoundland and Labrador
notredameagencies.ca
Owner and operator of Notre Dame Castle Building Centres, full-line hardware and building supply retail locations, and of Notre Dame Home Furnishings locations.
- 30 -About Entrepreneur of The Year
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards honour the spirit and contribution of entrepreneurs here and around the world. Nominees are reviewed by an independent judging panel, which is composed of several distinguished business leaders and previous award recipients. The 2011 Atlantic region judging panel consisted of Mark Dobbin, President and CEO, Killick Capital Inc.; Gerry Pond, Chairman, Mariner Partners inc.; Mike Mallory, Chair, TEC Group – New Brunswick; Denis Connor, Chair, First Angels Network – Nova Scotia; Duncan Shaw, General Manager, Cogsdale Corporation; Earl Ludlow, CEO
Newfoundland Power Inc.; Melinda Lee, Corporate Director.
For more information on the program, FAQs, and key dates please visit ey.com/ca/EOY.
This year’s national program sponsors are National Post, La Presse and RDI. The Atlantic region program sponsor is Progress Media, and the table patrons are Royal Bank of Canada, McInnes Cooper and Marriott Halifax Harbourfront Hotel.
About Ernst & Young LLP’s Entrepreneurial Services practice
Ernst & Young LLP’s Entrepreneurial Services practice serves Canada’s entrepreneurs by delivering integrated business advisory services in assurance, tax, transactions, and advisory services to help them drive growth and create value. Our team of professionals has a track record of focusing on the issues and needs of companies as they grow from early stage to become market leaders. Ernst & Young has long worked with and celebrated the achievements of Canadian men and women who create the products, services and jobs that propel Canada’s economy and communities forward. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca/Entrepreneurs.
About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 141,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.
