Ernst & Young celebrates Québec finalists for 2009 Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Firm says today’s entrepreneurs are tomorrow’s market leaders (Montréal, 7 July 2009) Entrepreneurial-minded companies are growing with incredible speed and quickly entering into the ranks of the world’s largest corporations, Ernst & Young said today when unveiling this year’s finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards.
“Even the simplest idea can become a profitable business. That’s why we honour our finalists. With their entrepreneurial thinking they build prosperous businesses and create jobs,” stated François Dufresne, Director of The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards program in Québec, and a partner with Ernst & Young Montréal. “The unflagging energy and innovative spirit of Québec entrepreneurs are truly remarkable.”
Historically, economists, academics and industry leaders have agreed that recessions foster the innovative thinking synonymous with entrepreneurship. As referenced in Ernst & Young’s publication, Entrepreneurship and innovation, many of today’s most recognizable brands were actually born during recessions. Many of these so-called “downturn babies” now have market capitalizations in the hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars.
“Innovation stimulates economic growth, and that means there is no time like a downturn to take advantage of entrepreneurial thinking,” says Dufresne. “Companies cannot afford to be paralyzed by fear. The global recession represents an unprecedented opportunity for growth.”
A recent Ernst & Young survey, Seizing opportunities, shows many entrepreneurs already have the right idea. Ninety-three percent of respondents said that, despite the economic downturn, they are broadening their customer base and entering new markets.
“It’s reassuring to see that many entrepreneurs are already taking bold steps forward,” Dufresne notes. “No company is ever too big to have an entrepreneurial focus. By building the right corporate culture, even large corporations can think outside the box and drive new ways of doing business.”
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards recognize the spirit and contribution of entrepreneurs here and around the world. The Canadian program is in its 16th year of honouring the country’s most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business.
The names of the Québec winners will be announced at a banquet in Montréal on October 1, and the overall winner will represent Québec at the national banquet being held in Vancouver on November 24.
The 2009 Québec finalists for Entrepreneur of the Year are:
Business-to-business products and services
Étienne Borgeat
PCO Innovation | Montréal
pco-innovation.com
International independent consulting and services group specializing in the implementation of computer tools and methodologies.
Benoit La Salle
SEMAFO inc. | Saint-Laurent
semafo.com
Canadian-based mining company with gold production and exploration activities in West Africa.
Jacques Landreville
Uni-Select inc. | Boucherville
uni-select.com
Distributor of auto parts in Canada and the United States.
Business-to-consumer products and services
Jean-François Bernier
Bio Spectra | Montréal
bio-spectra.com
Develops eco-friendly domestic consumer products: notably, the eco-friendly ATTITUDE® line of household cleaning products.
Dany Savard
Groupe Girafe | Blainville
groupegirafe.com
Pivate health-care services.
Roger Fugère
Lecavalier Auto Parts | Sainte-Sophie
lecavalier.com
Auto parts recycler.
Bianka Grand-Maison, Yan Grand Maison
Savons Prolav Inc. | Laval
bio-green.ca/en/
Manufactures biodegradable, eco-friendly household cleaners.
Cleantech
Jacques Larivière
DEMILEC Inc. | Boisbriand
demilec.com
Specializes in the research, development and manufacture of several high-quality polyurethane foam systems.
Thierry Pagé
Odotech inc. | Montréal
odotech.com
Odour measurement and monitoring technologies.
Pierre Goudreault
Sani Marc Group | Laval
sanimarc.com
Manufacturer and distributor of specialty cleaning and sanitation products for the food and beverage, sanitation, and swimming pool and spa markets.
Emerging entrepreneur
Patrick Grégoire, Jules Paquette
Boréal – Information Strategies | Magog
boreal-is.com
Information technology company active in the field of information and geomatic technologies and integration of strategic systems in large-scale companies.
Michelle Laflamme
Emovi | Laval
emovi.ca/index_en.htm
Develops, manufactures and markets cutting-edge clinical tools that provide better diagnoses, better follow-up and the best treatments for people with joint injuries or diseases.
Jason Neale
OmniGlobe Networks Inc. | Pointe-Claire
omniglobe.com
Global telecommunications company that delivers reliable and affordable broadband, cellular and satellite communications services to areas around the world where terrestrial communications are unavailable, unreliable or too expensive.
Manufacturing
Shyam Gupta
SDP Components Inc. | Dorval
sdp.ca
Designs, manufactures and distributes high-power RF isolators and circulators to the wireless infrastructure industry.
Paul Habib
Dualam Plastics (1993) Inc.| Montréal
dualam.com
Conception and manufacturing of corrosion resistant products
Claude Messiaen
Techsol Marine | Québec City
techsolmarine.com
Specialist in marine electrical engineering. Techsol designs and installs alarm, control and monitoring systems.
Real estate/construction
Natalie Voland
Complexe Dompark | Montréal
complexedompark.com
Project developer and manager for commercial office loft buildings along the Lachine Canal in Montréal.
Rune Kongshaug
Ensemble Terre-Ciel | Montréal
ensembleterreciel.com
Research, eco-design and eco-construction.
Sam Scalia
Samcon Inc. | Montréal
samcon.ca
Condominium construction in Montréal.
Social entrepreneur
Danielle Danault
Cardio Plein Air inc. | Longueuil
cardiopleinair.com/en
Fitness training outdoors.
Gilles Cossette
Certex | Saint-Hubert
certexcanada.com
Sheltered work centre that specializes in the recyling of clothing and textiles.
Jean-François Archambault
La Tablée des Chefs | Longueuil
tableedeschefs.org/eng/home.htm
Community involvement vehicle for chefs, cooks and pastry chefs in Québec.
Technology
Richard Maltais, Pascal Pilon
Averna | Montréal
averna.com
Provides test systems and solutions that help communications device-makers improve the quality of their products.
Éric Brunelle, André d'Orsonnens, Bertrand Pelletier
Druide informatique Inc. | Montréal
druide.com
Software designer and retailer (developers of Antidote).
Marc-André Poulin
Victrix | Montréal
victrix.ca
Information technology company offering integrated services with three sectors of activity: consulting services, outsourcing and IT products.
The Québec Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards is presented in collaboration with Desjardins. Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is sponsored nationally by Global Television Network, National Post, La Presse and RDI.
—30—About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 135,000 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 to achieve their potential. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca.
