After receiving a high number of quality entries, the Business Growth Centre say they are pleased to announce that the finalists for the 2016 Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards have been selected.
Business Growth Centre Manager, Brett Gleeson, says they were extremely pleased with the number of outstanding entries received across all categories this year.
“In its fifth year, the Awards continue to demonstrate that many businesses in Lake Macquarie aspire to achieve excellence and the number of high quality entries received certainly validates this,” Brett said. “To be selected as an Awards finalist is a valuable recognition of a business’ accomplishments so all finalists should be extremely proud of this achievement.”
The Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards are an initiative of the Business Growth Centre. The aim of the Awards is to recognise businesses operating within the City of Lake Macquarie who provide exemplary products, services and so much more.
Entrants who demonstrated a high level of excellence in their application were selected across 13 categories focusing on areas such as branding and marketing, business systems, workforce training and development, customer service, innovation, entrepreneurship, workplace safety and sustainability. Finalists have also been selected for the three Major Awards.
Brett Stafford, owner of Woohoo Salon and winner of Business of the Year in 2015, explained to the 2016 Awards Finalists at an event last week that the winning experience starts now.
“All the finalists will have their name up in lights on the big night. And while there can only be one winner for each category, no one misses out on the winning feeling,” he said.
“These Awards are about the experience, from the start of the entry process, to well after the Awards Gala Dinner. The submissions alone are valuable tools to help the finalists plan for success and continued growth. Each finalist now has a worthy story to tell their customers, one that is about excellence and why they are in business to begin with.”
Winners will be announced at the Awards Gala Dinner which will be held on Saturday, 23 July 2016.
A list of the 2016 Awards Finalists follows.
Excellence in Branding and Marketing
Excellence in Sustainable Business Practices
Excellence in Business Systems
Excellence in Innovation
Excellence in Retail Practices
AniPET Pet and Aquarium Warehouse
Door 34 Espresso
Excellence in Workforce Training and Development
Excellence in Entrepreneurship
Sharyn Swan – Savvy Circles Network
Suzanne Felsinger – Kip McGrath Education Centre
Kylie Frearson – Property Solutions 101
Michelle Kent – Kent Conveyancing
Excellence in Customer Service by the Whole Business
Centurion Fire and Rescue Equipment
Excellence in Customer Service by an Individual Employee
Nathan Hookway – Zimpleweb
Richard Popovski – REFCA
Michelle Kent – Kent Conveyancing
Dale Slater – Property Solutions 101
Excellence in Not for Profit / Charity
Excellence in New Business
Everything Marine
Khadijah Muir
Excellence in Young Entrepreneurship
Lawrence Lees – Outcast Clothing
Nathan Franks – Dynamic Business Technologies
Jennifer Holland – Throat Scope
Excellence in Workplace Health and Safety
The Place: Charlestown Community Centre
Young Business Person of the Year
Jennifer Holland – Throat Scope
Joel Howlett – JD’s World of Magic
Elizabeth McGovern – Total Beauty and Health
Kendall Richards – Chester’s Pet Bakery
Business Person of the Year
Lee-Ann Holmes – The Canopy
Belinda Bow – Green Chilli Marketing
Amber Moncrieff – Hunter Plastic Surgery
Image | Brett Stafford addressing some of the Finalists at a function last week
