comox valley business gazette janfeb 2013

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THE COMOX VALLEY

APRIL 2011

GBJan/Feb 2013

$1,500 of free training up for grabs

What drives success in the 21st century?

Local businesses couldqualify for up to$1,500 of hands-on,

real world skills and train-ing on the government’sdime — and that suitsRicia Adair just fine. Adair is the Founder of

Zenith TrainingInternational, which pro-vides needs-based train-ing services for small busi-nesses. The companyworks with business own-ers to build the skills thatlead to improved profitcentres, greater customerretention, higher employ-ee morale and marketgrowth. Until the end ofthe year (depending onfunding availability), quali-fying businesses canreceive full funding forZenith’s Success Seriesfor Small Business, anentire weekend of busi-

ness workshops. Fundingis provided through theMicro Business Training(MBT) Pilot Program, aprovincial initiative aimedat providing training forbusinesses with fewerthan five employees. “A big part of success in

This month, theComox ValleyChamber of

Commerce honours thebest of local business atits annual CommunityAwards (see page five).It’s a perfect time, then,to reflect on a questionthat most businesspeopleconfront at one point oranother: “What does ittake to be a successfulbusiness owner or entre-preneur?”“Access to capital,” statesMarc Crane, general man-ager of CommunityFutures Strathcona. “Youneed skill to start off anda great idea that some-one is going to buy. Thenit’s access to capital — it’snecessary and where a lotof businesses go broke.You can develop all of theother skills along theway.”“It’s the person,” opinesHelen Furgale, a longtimebusiness advisor andowner of BizWorksBusiness Training andSupport. “I’ve noticed suc-cessful people have this

Kenzie Andrews, Business Gazette

The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce honours the Valley's best and brightest January 26 at its annual Community Awards.Four Business Gazette columnists are nominated this year, plus the Business Gazette itself for New Business of the Year.(Thanks for all the support!) Pictured (L to R) are Gazette columnists Bob Wells (My Tech Guys), Ann Scott (Presley & Partners),Robert Mulrooney (DundeeWealth) and Matt Behrens (PrimeTek IT Solutions.) For more on the Chamber awards, see page 5.

Ricia Adair, Founder, ZenithTraining International

Why is a Harleyrider a ‘biker’,while a person on

a Kawasaki is a ‘motorcy-clist’? Why is a personwho wears Nike runningshoes an athlete, whilethose wearing otherbrands are joggers?And more importantly,

why are Harley Davidsonand Nike able to command higher profitmargins than their

competitors? It’s because these astute

marketers have learnedthat consumer decisionsare based upon feelings,rather than logic alone.The Harley rider might

want to feel like a week-end warrior, while theKawasaki rider wants tofeel the rush of the windon a winding road.Most purchase decisions

are rooted in the subcon-

scious at an emotionallevel, and only justified orrationalized at the conscious or logical level.When you survey your

customers, most are notaware of, or don’t

The Logical Consumer

Richard Skinner, Operations/Sales Manager, 97.3 The Eagle

SSOUNDOUNDADVICEADVICE

I’d like to dedicate thiscolumn to the co-workingtechnology/design office

space that is currentlyunder renovation in down-town Courtenay.Ever since I managed to

convince the landlords of ahumble building on FourthStreet to design a technology-oriented co-working office space withcommon boardroom,kitchen, lounge and anopen desk area, I’ve beengetting great complimentson the idea and endeavour. While that’s alllovely, what I’d really liketo see is the local technol-ogy/design sector standup and demand to becounted as a real and successful local industry.

Part of being recognizedas a bona fide economicsector is having the abilityto say “here we are.” Itseems reasonable that ifthe tech/design communi-ty shows that it’s an impor-tant part of the economy,it would increase its abilityto attract new firms andprofessionals.

By saying “Here we are!”to the broader West Coasttech/design community,downtown Courtenaybecomes a place that says “Innovation is happening here and youshould join us.”The Fourth Street space,

which currently has fiveoffices and six desks stillavailable for February 1,offers not only the lowestpriced office space down-town (this is my volunteerjob and the landlords are

It’s up to YOU to make theValley a tech/design hub

“Will your businessincrease if you

surround yourselfwith like-minded

people?”

James Smith,Royal LePage

See ‘$1500’ Pg. 2

See ‘Hub’ Pg. 2See ‘Logical’ Pg. 2

Kenzie Andrews, Business Gazette

special something — thisoptimism, this charisma.You have to believe inyourself and your product.“I also think that planningis super important,” sheadds. “You need to be wellprepared when going intobusiness for yourself. … Atleast have avision for yourfirst year.”Their answersspeak to somebasic businesstruths; the toptwo reasonsbusinesses failis a lack of planning (orpoor management) and ashortage of capital.Research also shows thatsuccessful business own-ers and entrepreneursshare some basic charac-teristics, from drive andenergy to self-confidence,

persistent problem-solvingand a love of challenges. Clemens Rettich, aVancouver Island-basedsmall business consultantand social media advo-cate, points to anotherimportant characteristic oftoday’s successful entre-

preneur: socia-bility. “We are now inthe social age,”says Rettich. “Ioften getasked, ‘whatdo you think ofsocial media?

What do you think aboutselling stuff onFacebook?’ I say you needto be a social business.You can’t just be an old-school, pre-21st centurybusiness and just glue asocial marketing cam-paign like a weird

Christmas ornament ontothe side of yourself andthink it’s going to work.You need to re-think yourentire enterprise from yourmission statement out-wards.” Social media, saysRettich, has magnified thequalities that are alreadypresent in exceptionalbusinesses and is creatingunique opportunities forcurrent and future busi-ness owners. Those mostlikely to succeed will havea commitment to relation-ships, a clear understand-ing of their purpose inbusiness and “flatter,”less hierarchal organiza-tions that allow customersto interact with key per-sonnel.“I tell a lot of people that

“I want a placewhere I know

the owner, and they know me as a human being.”

See ‘Success’ Pg. 2

CV.BUSINESSGAZETTE.CA

Comox Valley Business Gazette — Jan/Feb 2013

www.businessgazette.caThe Comox Valley Business Gazette is delivered eight times per year to every business address in the Comox Valley.

Associate Publisher: Jim McQuillanExecutive Editor: Ryan PartonWriters: Kenzie Andrews

Nancy Miller Web: Maya Payton-Schmid

Advertising Inquiries: 250.897.5064 / 250.702.1103 [email protected]

Editorial inquiries: [email protected]

Left Coast Publishing 2440 B First Street, Courtenay BC, V9N 8X9

The opinions, ideas and advice of columnists and contributorsto the Comox Valley Business Gazette are theirs alone and donot necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper.

www.bodynetix.ca

The Danger of an Untrained Manager

Before you read thisadvertisement, Iwould suggest

reading my column on Page12 — We Wait Too Long toTrain Our Leaders.The average manager is on

the job for 9 years beforereceiving any managementtraining. This means they are practicing on the jobwith your staff and customers. Not a great business model, is it?The damage that can be

done in the loss of great staff is a tragedy. After all, a bad manager causes thebest staff to leave. With thekey people in your companyon the way out the door, it’s not too long before customers follow.

Your managers areyour Leaders. Their talents and skills

should be able to retain andattract the best workers inthe industry. They are aninvestment in your compa-ny’s future and should betreated that way by givingthem the best tools to dotheir job effectively.

Yet, the skill set of a valuedemployee is much differentthan that of a manager.Communication, conflict res-olution and leadership arethe building blocks of management. Yet, havingyour key managers off thejob in a 1 day training program doesn’t make financial sense. Frankly, what are you going

to be able to implement froma 1-day program that actual-ly has long lasting effects?

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The program is100% practical andcustomized to the busi-ness and individual in train-ing without leaving the job. The Fast Track Sales

Management TrainingProgram relays on realworkplace situations forapplication and is instructedat your premises or via webconferencing. There is nolost time or pricey travelexpenses for your company.Make an investment in your

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Dave Warawa

“Dave’s method of partner-ing and coaching coupledwith his ability to empowersalespeople caused a dra-matic increase in revenues.It also increased employeeretention.” - NeilCunningham 8 “Dave isone of the hardest workingindividuals I know.” - RickFlintoft 8 “Dave is person-able and an expert with highintegrity.” - Louise Reinich8 “One of Dave’s qualities ishe leads by example! I rec-ommend Dave to any busi-ness.” - Mark Bogusky 8

“If you’re looking for a truehard working, educated,polished, salt of the earth,“real” individual to be anasset to your company, wellthen you don’t have to lookmuch further than DaveWarawa!” - Sean Smith 8

[email protected]

business is having up-to-date abilities and knowl-edge, especially when itcomes to essential skillslike sales and marketing,social media, strategizingand planning,” says Adair. “Business owners are

often so busy runningtheir businesses, theydon’t always take the timeto learn these skills. Yetinvesting in their businesseducation and personaldevelopment are as criti-

sweethearts), but theopportunity to work alongside like-minded professionals. Ask yourself: Will your

business increase if yousurround yourself with like-minded people? Will thenetworking opportunitiesinherent in a co-workingenvironment help buildyour business? Will it bemore fun to work in a professional environment

where you can meet withclients in your boardroom? Would it be nice to have

coffee and lunch optionsthat are not limited bywhat’s left in the fridge?What’s the downside? The

additional cost, naturally,and of course you’ll haveto change out of your pajamas for work.

Ultimately, it’s up to you,the technology/design/innovators of the ComoxValley. Only you can makethis idea successful. I look

forward to the day whenthis Valley is well known asa hub of innovation, and Ican look back at the hum-ble beginnings of a build-ing on Fourth Street thatwas filled with people whobelieved that this slice ofparadise could be morethen retired people andtheir servants.James Smith is one of thetop five Royal LePageRealtors in the ComoxValley. He can be reachedat 250.218.2324 or atwww.jamessmith.ca.

cal to their success asany other investment intheir business.”Zenith’s Success Series

for Small Business offersthe sort of training manysmall businesses needthe most, including brandidentity, marketing andbusiness plans, socialmedia strategies and net-working skills. The nextworkshop dates are Feb.16-17 and Mar. 23-24,2013 in Parksville.“Our client’s feedback is

that they get a lot out theSuccess Series, so muchmore than was expected,”says Adair. “They weregetting great value beforethe MBT program, andnow that they can get thetraining without spendinga dime, it just makes totalsense. For those businesspeople who may not quali-fy for the funding, it’sgood to know that weoffer several options,including an attractivereferral program and dis-counts for BusinessGazette readers.”To learn more about

Zenith TrainingInternational and its pro-grams, and if you qualifyfor funding visitwww.achievewithzenith.comor call 1.800.547.9041.

$1500 - con’t from pg. 1

acknowledge, the powerful role their subcon-scious emotions play inmaking their decisions. Sotheir answers will comefrom their logical conscious reasoning.The Harley rider might tell

you the resale value of aHarley is better, or theKawasaki rider might convince themselves theKawasaki is more reliablethan the Harley.

Truth be told, most purchase decisions only‘logically’ justify what wewanted to buy emotionally.Decisions rooted in emotion are always diffi-cult to change with logic. Consumers only search

for, or accept, informationor data that justifies theirheartfelt decision.The most effective

marketers use the marketing funnel to develop strategies whichappeal to their prospects

at both the emotional and logical levels.

To get the marketing fun-nel, to help you develop amarketing strategy thatappeals to emotions andlogic, email

[email protected].

Richard Skinner has anextensive background inmedia and advertising andhas held positions withMaclean Hunter, CentralInterior Radio, RogersMedia, MonarchBroadcasting, Black Press,and for the past 10 yearsas Operations/SalesManager — The Eagle withIsland Radio, a division ofThe Jim Pattison BroadcastGroup. Visit www.islandradio.bc.ca or call250.703.2200.

Logical - con’t from pg. 1

“Decisions rooted inemotion are alwaysdifficult to change

with logic.”

Hub - con’t from pg. 1

there is only one size ofbusiness that is in trouble,and that’s medium,” saysRettich. “I know there is ahighly price-sensitive, big-box world but most businesses aren’t large

enough to benefit fromthat. If you’re going tofight on the battlefield ofprice, that’s a tough, uglywar to fight.“We need alternatives,”he continues. “I don’twant to drink my wine at

Success - con’t from pg. 1 Costco. I want a boutique,a place where I know theowner and they know whoI am as a human being.”

A key attribute of successful, 21st century businesses issociability, says consultant Clemens Rettich.


I’m amazed how often Istill hear statements like“Can I give it to you on a

flash drive?” or “My back-ups are done to an exter-nal hard drive.” Hearingthose things really makesme wonder about theawareness surroundingonline (Cloud-based, if youprefer) storage optionssuch as Dropbox orGoogle Drive. In a rapidly evolving world

of mobile devices andwireless information sharing, even the smallest(size) largest (capacity)memory stick seems bothfragile and cumbersomeby comparison.The most prominent

arguments in favour ofonline storage are:1. Not having to remember, transport orprotect your memory stick,flash drive or externalhard drive.

2. Having your data ormedia accessible acrossall of your connecteddevices, e.g. desktop com-puter, laptop computer,tablet and smartphone.3. Being able to easilyshare your data or media through a variety of channels.Of the online storage

options available, I canconfidently recommendthe following two:

• Dropbox(www.dropbox.com) — Thisfree service lets you bringyour photos, docs, andvideos anywhere andshare them easily. A freeaccount gives you 5GB ofspace and the ability toincrease that spacethrough referrals(**please see the note atthe bottom of this article!).For heavy-duty users, proaccounts start from$10/mo. for 100GB. Oneof the great features ofyour Dropbox is that itallows you to store media

and then link to thatmedia externally, so youdon’t have to upload bigfiles to your website serveranymore. Nice. • Google Drive(drive.google.com) doespretty much the samething as Dropbox, with aslightly lighter pricingstructure. Being big fansof Google Apps, whetherthey be domain-specific orthrough public Googleaccounts (Gmail), we atCP-SMS consistently useour Drive for creating/editing/collaborating on docs and uploadingmedia from our mobiledevices. Those files canthen be easily embeddedinto web pages.Watch for more online

marketing tips from CP-SMS in future issues ofthe Business Gazette!**Note! If you’re signingup for Dropbox, pleaseconsider giving the ComoxValley Business Gazettesome free space by sign-ing up via this URL:http://db.tt/PcCbPUw.

Pieter Vorster is the ownerof CP-SMS, which providespersonal, practical guid-ance in the basic tools ofsocial media to help youfind your own online pres-ence. To learn more, visitwww.cp-sms.ca or call250.792.2874.

Up in the Cloud: an argument in favour of online storage

Pieter Vorster, CP-SMS

Five ways to improve your sales presentation

Whatever your business, if youoffer a product or

service, you are a sales-person. And if you’re any-thing like me, that can bea scary thought. It is all well and good to

have fun with the marketing aspect of getting the word out aboutyou or your company, butwhen it comes down tosecuring clients, that’swhen the hard work reallystarts. For those of us whorun businesses but aren’tnatural salespeople, putting together a greatsales presentation can bea daunting task. That said, there are some

basic steps you can taketo make the most of yourpresentation and put your-self at ease before you getinto the boardroom:1. Do your research. Findout a little bit about whoyou will be presenting to.Being able to connect ona personal level, not justabout business, can helpbuild a relationship andput both parties at ease.

2. Plan, plan, plan. Mapout what you need to sayand the order in which youwant to say it. Of course,during the meeting youhave to allow things toflow where they are goingto go, but at least youknow which points youneed to get across.Thorough planning willkeep you focused andensure you hit on all the

key items.

3. Do a rehearsal. It’simportant to run throughwhat you’re going to say,and to say it out loud soyou can sort out anypotential problems. Evenbetter, try it out on someone else and ask for feedback.

4. Stand back and look at the big picture.Sometimes we get socaught up in the detailsthat we overlook the obvious. Recently, I wasgetting ready to make apresentation and I lookedaround and realized theroom was full of clutter.Think about the environ-ment — is there enoughlight? Are there chairs foreveryone? Do you have aglass of water if needed?

5. Re-centre and re-focus.Allow yourself time beforethe meeting to gather your thoughts and getcomfortable. There isnothing worse than rush-ing in at the last minuteand scrambling to get yourprops or informationtogether. Maybe even give

yourself a pep talk aboutwhy you are doing this andwhat you want to achieve.With the prep work out

of the way, during themeeting make sure tofocus on the client andavoid getting into yourown past experiences. Afterward, forgive

yourself. Don’t replay themeeting and get into“should’ve, could’ve”mode. Chances are, if you prepared well, thingswent just fine.Don’t be afraid, and

don’t feel sheepish aboutpushing your product orservice. After all, yourclients expect you to givethem all the informationthey need to make aninformed decision. In that sense, sales is thegreatest form of serviceyou can provide.

Ann Scott is a charteredaccountant, business advisor and a partner with Presley & PartnersChartered Accountants.She can be reached at250.338.1394 [email protected].

“Don't be afraid, and don't feel

sheepish about pushing your

product or service.”

“... memory sticksseem both fragileand cumbersome by comparison.”

Ann Scott, Presley &Partners CharteredAccountants


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Now that the fiscalcliff is behind us,many New Year’s

resolutions this yearinvolve money manage-ment. If getting your finan-cial house in order is onyour to-do list for 2013,here are five resolutions

you should take to heart:1. I will take full advantage of my TFSA. Istrongly believe thatTFSAs (tax-free savingsaccounts) are going tosave a great manyCanadians come retire-ment. Unlike RRSPs,which are taxable whencashed in, money in aTFSA grows and can bewithdrawn tax-free. TFSAs are especially ben-

eficial to self-employedworkers in lower tax brackets; many people willfind their financial “sweetspot” in a combination ofTFSA and RRSPs. As ofJanuary 2013, everyCanadian is allowed tohave up to $25,500 in aTFSA — set up yours betalking with your advisor.

2. I will maximize my

RRSP contributions.Maximizing RRSP contributions makessense for a lot of people,especially those in highertax brackets. Not only do RRSPs offer

immediate tax savings,but every contribution youmake adds to your ownpersonal pension.

This is increasingly important since fewer andfewer people have pen-sion plans. Your contribu-tion limit is 18 per cent ofyour previous year’sincome, to a maximum of

$22,970 (to find out yourexact limit, see your 2011Notice of Assessment orcall Canada RevenueAgency at1.800.267.6999.) Thedeadline for contributingto your 2012 RRSP isMarch 1.

3. I will educate myself.Do one thing to improveyour investment knowledge this year. Webelieve educated investorsmake better decisionsover time, and attendingan investment seminar ortaking an investmentcourse is a great option. For starters,

DundeeWealth is hostinga “2013 Look Ahead” edu-cational seminar on Feb.2 at Crown Isle from 9:30am to 1 pm. RSVP byJanuary 26 to [email protected]

Your financial New Year’s resolutions

“A GMWB acts likea pension plan

with contractualguarantees on

future income.”Robert Mulrooney,DundeeWealth

Do you love your car somuch you name it?

Recently, CBC’s Doc Zone did a show on amodern-day scourge: counterfeiting. Andwe’re not talking money! So while buying a

fake purse or watch is one thing, having coun-terfeit parts on your vehicle is another. It can bedownright dangerous. Poorly made, unstructural-ly sound metal parts. Brake pads made with saw-dust, kitty litter, even compressed grass in them!We look after your vehicle like it belonged to ourmom’s. If you love your car, bring it to us and letus demonstrate our superior service to you, too.

Glenn’s Import & Domestic Auto 160 Headquarters Road, Courtenay

250-338-5841

So you’re ready to getyour message out.Maybe it’s the

launch of a new business,the acquisition of newequipment or simply asale or promotional offer. Given the amount of mar-

keting tools available, youmay find yourself at a lossas to how best to disseminate your message. Email? Print?Social media? Don’tworry; this is afamiliar feeling, evenfor those whoare in “theindustry.” There’s no

universal solu-tion for everyinstance, butthere are some very effec-tive tools — like DirectMail Marketing (DMM).There are two main types

of DMM: addressed andunaddressed. If you havean existing contact list ofprospects, use addressedDMM. If not, unaddressedDMM lets you target oneor more geographic areasdefined by Canada Postletter carrier routes.

DMM can be very

effective and, because somany marketers areswitching toemail, yourmailing ismore likely tostand out thanit would havebeen, say, fiveyears ago. Next issue I’ll

discuss some specifictypes of DMM, like variable data printing(VDP), mail merge and list integration, as well as how to prepare yourmarketing materials.

Adil Amlani is the owner ofSure Copy Centre inCourtenay. He can bereached at 250.334.2836or online at www.surecourtenay.ca.

Adil Amlani, Sure Copy Centre

An intro to Direct Mail Marketing

“... because somany marketers areswitching to email,

your mailing is morelikely to stand out.”

Did you know thatlighting an officeovernight consumes

enough energy to heatwater for 1,000 cups oftea? Or that a photocopierleft on overnight usesenough energy to produce1,500 copies? Wantmore? Leaving a PC monitor on all nightwastes enough energy tomicrowave six dinners.Here are some simple

ways to reduce both yourenergy bills and your

environmental footprint. Heating & CoolingEquipment1. Baseboard heaters andwindow air conditioningunits can contribute up to75 per cent of your hydrocost. Replace them (andyour window a/cunits) with a single ductlesssplit heat pump.The units arenearly silent and will slashyour energy costby a third. 2. Install programmablethermostats, and ensurethe heat is turned downwhile the office is closed.3. Ensure your HVACequipment is regularlyserviced and maintainedby a licensed contractor toensure it’s running atpeak efficiency.

Kristen Pronick, Pro StarMechanical Technologies

Reducing your office energy expenditure

Rainy Day BooksInternet Book Store

SELL US YOUR BOOKS

[email protected]

Ruth DiltsCourtenay, BC

Phone: (250) 338-7550Toll Free 1-888-281-9646

LightingLighting can account for

30 to 65 per cent of officeenergy use, depending onthe office layout and typesof light fittings and controlsystems. Here’s how toreduce that:

1. Make surelights areturned offwhen not inuse.2. Replaceold lights with moreenergy

efficient models.

3. Install daylight sensors,timers or movement sensors, especially inareas that are not alwaysoccupied, such as meet-ing rooms, storage areasand restrooms.4. Reduce the overallnumber of lights. Manyoffice spaces are over-lit,which can also cause dis-

comfort and strain forworkers.

Computers and otherequipmentComputers and equipment such as print-ers, photocopiers and fax machines typicallycontribute between 30 and 55 per cent tooffice energy use. 1. Instead of desktopcomputers, consider lap-tops, which can use asmuch as 85 per cent lessenergy.2. Consider upgrading toLCD monitors. CRT moni-tors can consume close totwice as much power.3. Reduce the brightnessof your screen display.4. Turn off computers andequipment every night.

In the kitchen1. Always check the ener-gy rating label on appli-

ances. The higher the efficiency level, the cheaper it is to run.2. If you have hot wateronly at one tap, a point-of-use tankless waterheater can be installedright under the sink at areasonable cost.

Kristin Pronick and hus-band Mikhail own Pro StarMechanical Technologies,located at 2459 CousinsAvenue across from TinTown. They can be reachedat 250.331.0888 or onlineat www.prostar-mechanical.com.

“Lighting canaccount for 30 to 65

per cent of officeenergy use.”

4. I’m not going to stressover the stock market. Ifthe markets have beenstressing you out, you’repaying too much attentionto them; the moment youlet your emotions colouryour investment choices,you’re already behind theeight ball. Though themarkets may dip, dive,shimmy and shake, thelong-term trend is growth.If the stock market iskeeping you up at nightthen it might be time tomake some changes —otherwise, forget it.

5. I’m going to get profes-sional advice. Investorsthat consult a financialadvisor are statisticallymore likely to outperformthose that go it alone.Give yourself the bestchance of long-term finan-cial success by setting upan appointment with a

professional investmentadvisor today.

Robert Mulrooney is a senior Investment advisorwith DWM Securities Inc. inCourtenay. If you don’talready have an investmentadvisor, or you want a second opinion on yourfinancial situation, contactthe investment coach at250.338.5222 orwww.investmentcoach.com.Please consult a professional investmentadvisor before acting onany information presentedin this column.This article is solely the work ofRobert Mulrooney for the privateinformation of his clients. Althoughthe author is a registered InvestmentAdvisor with DWM Securities Inc., aDundeeWealth Inc. Company, this isnot an official publication of DWMSecurities Inc. The views (includingany recommendations) expressed inthis article are those of the authoralone, and they have not beenapproved by, and are not necessarilythose of, DWM Securities Inc.


Chamber of Commerce Honours Our Community’s Finest Celebrating excellence with all the pomp and ceremony fit for royalty!

After the final flurry ofnominations poured induring the first week of

January, the Chamber ofCommerce wound up withclose to 50 nominations fortheir Annual CommunityAwards to be held 6 - 9:00p.m., Saturday, January 26that the Florence Filberg Centrein Courtenay.“We are grateful to the five

volunteer judges who spentmuch of a weekend pouringover nomination packages tomake their final selections,”adds Hawkins.

The judges were: SusanAuchterlonie, North IslandCollege Foundation; FredBigelow, CEO Comox ValleyAirport Commission;McKenzie Gartside, Top 40Award recipient and VericoSelect Mortgages; BobScales, Chair, CV Chamber ofCommerce; and Joe Smith,Artist and former ChamberChair.

There will be three finalistsin each of the 11 award cate-gories. In the days leading upto the gala awards, DanielKooman, videographer, willvisit all 33 finalists to film anAcademy Awards-style videopresentation to showcaseeach business and/or individ-ual. Shown on Awards nightand later posted on theChamber website, this pro-fessional production is alwaysa much-anticipated highlightof the evening.

A Royal Affair — January26thTickets to the Chamber’s galaawards celebration are $75each (+HST) and include: Achampagne reception spon-sored by the KingfisherOceanside Resort and Spa; Afour-course gourmet mealcatered by Custom GourmetCatering; Plus live and silentauctions, with 50 per cent ofthe proceeds going to charity.

Remember, this is a galaevent and you will be expect-ed to dress up for the occa-sion! FMI call the Chamberof Commerce at250.334.3234 or visitw w w . c o m o x v a l l e ychamber.com.

And the 2012 award nominees (and sponsors) are...AAggrriiccuullttuurraall BBuussiinneessss ooff tthhee YYeeaarr—— ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyy MMNNPP LLLLPP• Coastal Black Estate Winery

& Meadery• Dee Kay Tee Ranch &

Farm Market• Glen Alwin Farm• McClintok Farm• South Country Feed & Supply

BBuussiinneessss ooff tthhee YYeeaarr —— ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyy TThhrriiffttyy FFooooddss• ABC Printing• Beltone Hearing• Finneron Hyundai

CCiittiizzeenn ooff tthhee YYeeaarr —— ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyy CCaannaaddiiaann TTiirree• Pamela Crowe• Robert Mulrooney• Linda Oprica• Ron Webber

CCuussttoommeerr SSeerrvviiccee —— ssppoonnssoorreeddbbyy DDoowwnnttoowwnn CCoommooxx VVaalllleeyy• Amanda Ferguson - Pacific Mist

Spa at the Kingfisher Resort• Sherry Howell - Pacific Mist Spa

at Kingfisher Resort• David Keating - Ohh So

Yummy Café• Roxanne Kirby — The

Breakwater Restaurant at Kingfisher Resort

• Mare Mitchell - WesternOne Rentals & Sales

• Christine Morgan — McKinnon Photography

• Eric Toneff - Toneff Funeral Services

• Kyla Trottier — Kingfisher Oceanside Resort Guest Services• Bryan Wiley - ABC Printing

EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall LLeeaaddeerrsshhiipp ——ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyy CCoommooxx SSttrraatthhccoonnaaWWaassttee MMaannaaggeemmeenntt• Hornby Island Recycling Depot• School District 71• Woodland Flooring

HHeerriittaaggee RReeccooggnniittiioonn —— ssppoonn-ssoorreedd bbyy VVaannccoouuvveerr IIssllaannddIInnssuurraanncceeCCeennttrreess• Chinook Forest Products• Courtenay Elks Lodge• McElhanney Consulting• Whyte’s Framing

NNeeww BBuussiinneessss ooff tthhee YYeeaarr —— ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyy PPrreesslleeyy && PPaarrttnneerrss• Comox Valley Business Gazette• Daryl Robbins, CGA,

Notary Public• Keystone Eldercare Solutions• Primetek IT Solutions• Toneff Funeral Services• Weinberg’s Good Food

PPrrooffeessssiioonnaall MMeerriitt —— ssppoonnssoorreeddbbyy FFiirrsstt IInnssuurraannccee AAggeenncciieess• Elevate the Arts Consortium

• Lourdes Gant — Manatee Holdings Ltd.

• Dr. Jan Lindsay — North Island college

• Ann Scott — Presley & Partners• Bob Wells — My Tech Guys

SSmmaallll BBuussiinneessss ooff tthhee YYeeaarr ——ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyy GGllaacciieerrvviieewwFFiinnaanncciiaall SSeerrvviicceess• Ambassador Shuttle Service• Grape Expectations• Manatee Holdings Ltd.• South Country Feed & Supply• Two Eagles Lodge

YYoouunngg EEnnttrreepprreenneeuurr —— ssppoonnssoorreeddbbyy WWeeddlleerr EEnnggiinneeeerriinngg• Chris Ketch - BodyNetix

Professional Fitness Training• Scott DiGuistini & Merissa

Myles — Tree Island Gourmet Yogurt

• Kory Wagstaff — Prime Chophouse & Wine Bar

YYoouutthh LLeeaaddeerrsshhiipp —— ssppoonnssoorreedd bbyyWWCCGG IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall• Des Larson• Joey Clarkson• Keisja Cox

PPrreessiiddeenntt’’ss MMeerriitt AAwwaarrdd —— ssppoonn-ssoorreedd bbyy NNoorrtthh IIssllaanndd CCoolllleeggeeNominations are not accepted for this award.

EVENT SPONSORS:

Sincere thanks to the many businesseswho will contribute to the Awards Gala:

97.3 The Eagle Radio — Platinum sponsorAmbassador Shuttle Service — Safe rides homeGordon Ross Photography — Event photographyKingfisher Resort and Spa —Champagne receptionWest Coast Home Theatre —Audio/Visual equipment

PLUS … many silent auction and doorprize donations too numerous to list!

Anyone who’s ever needed to get from point A to point B knows that a goodride can make the difference between an enjoyable experience and something you’d much rather forget. Ambassador Shuttle Service knows

this and has built a business around the vision of providing the best ground transportation service in the Comox Valley and surrounding communities.Ambassador Shuttle Service was founded in 2005 by the late Ray Crossley and is

now owned and operated by Kevin and Angie East. The Easts have capitalized ontheir extensive knowledge of Vancouver Island to create a high-level shuttle service at very competitive prices. Their entire team consists of experts in transportation service and can provide local information that makes any visit or trip even more enjoyable.Ambassador’s services include airport pick-up

and drop-off, private chauffeur service, awedding and private-party designated driverprogram, wine/historical/culinary tours andprivate group outings, to name just a few.Since purchasing the company in 2010, the

Easts have seen nothing but increaseddemand for their service. In 2011, the com-pany endured a grueling application processthrough the Passenger Transportation Branch to increase their capacity.Ambassador had to prove a public need for expansion if they hoped to be successful with the application. They were, and much of that proof came from the local public that supported the company throughout the application process.While comfort is important to Ambassador, safety is paramount; all of

Ambassador’s drivers are licensed with the BC Passenger Transportation Board and the National Safety Certification Board. The company is fully insured and incompliance with all provincial and federal regulations, and its entire fleet meets or exceeds all safety requirements.The Easts know they wouldn’t be where they are today if it weren’t for the

community’s support and their top-notch team. “Our drivers and other staff provide the best experience possible for ground

transportation in the Comox Valley,” says Kevin. “That includes Brent Young, Greg Saunders, Grant Dykeman, Neil Rathbone, Jacob Gregory, Sidney Pickard and Claude Mitchell — we’d be nowhere without them!”

250.339.5252www.ambassadorshuttleservice.ca

Small Business of the Year — Nominee

Ambassador Shuttle Service

Brent Young and Kevin East, owner, Ambassador Shuttle Service

Customer Service — NomineeABC Printing and Signs

Great staff are the heart and soul of ABC Printing &Signs, say owners Berni & Steve Hansen and Bryan &Joanne Wiley. “We can’t say enough about our

employees,” says Bryan. “They bring myriad skills, talentand dedication to quality and service, and a strong desireto make the customer’s experience positive in every way.”

250.338.6364www.abcprinting.ca

New Business of the Year — Nominee

Daryl Robbins, CertifiedGeneral Accountant

Since opening in November, 2011,Daryl Robbins’ accounting firm hasquickly grown from a one-man

operation to two locations and eightemployees. Robbins has quickly established himself as a professional committed to getting local residents’finances on track and affairs in order. “I was thrilled to find out we had been

nominated as a new business,” saysRobbins, a Certified General Accountantand also a Notary Public. “It’s been agreat year and the future is looking evenbrighter.” Robbins’ CGA firm provides fullaccounting and financial planning services,and the Notary practice provides legaldocuments to individuals and businesses.Both practices focus on personalized carewith a strong commitment to helpingclients attain their goals. Valley-born Robbins encourages strong

relationships within his community anddonates time, funds and services to localorganizations like Habitat for Humanity,Comox Valley Baseball Association and CVSkating Club. “Giving back is a priority, soI anticipate being an even bigger part ofthe community as we continue to growand serve our clients the best we can.”

250.871.0050www.darylrobbins.ca


When your company has been around for more than 100 years, you must be doingsomething right. McElhanney Consulting

Services has been providing professional engineering,surveying, mapping, community planning and environmental services since 1910, and the companyhas been proud to participate in the development ofBC’s infrastructure ever since.The Courtenay office, one of 19 branches across

Western Canada, has been open since 1976. Initiallyproviding civil engineering services, the practice hasexpanded to include land surveying, environmentalservices, materials testing and structural engineering.Owned by managers and senior staff, the officeemploys 24 technical and professional workers.“McElhanney is pleased to have been an active

member of the community for such a long time andto be recognized for our contributions,” says IanWhitehead, branch manager and VP for VancouverIsland region. “We are thankful to have played a rolein the development of this beautiful area and welook forward to continuing to help shape its future.”

250.338.5495www.mcelhanney.com

Heritage Recognition Award — NomineeMcElhanney Consulting Services

Ian Whitehead, vice-president of McElhanney Vancouver Island, withengineering technologists Chris Ewing and Matt Sanderson.

Since 2006, BodyNetix Professional FitnessTraining has grown from small home-based studio operation to a 5,000-square foot training

studio with a staff of five. Owner Chris Ketch attributes his company’s remarkable growth to awinning combination of exercise and community.Under Ketch’s vision and guidance, BodyNetix has

done a tonne for the community. They’ve raisedmore than $10,000 for Y.A.N.A, worked with manysport and high school fundraising projects anddonated thousands of dollars in services to organizations like the Canadian Cancer Society,Habitat for Humanity, Rotary International and many others. Recently, the BodyNetix “AgentChallenge,” a fitness challenge involving severalComox Valley Realtors, raised nearly $10,000 forvarious charities in just six weeks.What’s near and dear to Ketch’s heart, though, is

helping out his fellow Valley citizens. ThroughBodyNetix, Ketch has participated in “Support forJord,” helping out fellow class-of-2000 HighlandGrad Jennifer Nordhous whose husband Jord wasparalyzed in a motorcycle accident. He’s also proudto employ homegrown fitness trainers such asHighland grad and BC Games bronze medalistKendra Parker, Vanier grad Megan Penney and Steve Martin, a former Comox Valley Realtor. Ketch and the rest of the BodyNetix team are also

leaders in promoting youth activity and fitness.They’ve provided demonstration fitness classes free of charge to many local schools, and they continually encourage and inspire underactive youthto pursue a healthy and active lifestyle. An astute businessman with a keen eye for

strategic partnerships and new opportunities, Ketchpartnered on an Annual Youth Leadership Workshopin 2012 with Inglis Professional Tutoring, a companyhe helped launch in 2010 (it became profitable injust three years).Of course, none of this a surprise to anyone who

knows Chris Ketch — a young man just as determined to achieve business success as he is tohelp you burn that flab from your waistline. AsKetch himself would say: “Live long. Live Srong!”

250.871.2400www.bodynetix.ca

Young Entrepreneur Award — Nominee

Chris Ketch,BODYNETIX

In the late ‘80’s, Manatee Holdings Ltd. realizedthat the fishing industry was based on unsustain-able fishing practices. That’s when they made a

decision to shift their focus toward “ocean ranch-ing,” and to create a management strategy thatwould not only be sustainable but environmentallybeneficial as well. More than 20 years later, Manatee Holdings Ltd. is

a leader in development of the geoduck and seacucumber aquaculture industry supplying interna-tional gourmet markets with organically raised prod-uct. Manatee Holdings Ltd. credits its progress to both a

determined effort to be environmental stewards andtheir desire to form sustainable partnerships withthe communities within which they operate. TheirGartley Point hatchery facility, for example, is a keycomponent of the residential neighbourhood inwhich it resides. The company has also forged joint venture partner-

ships with First Nations throughout British Columbiain an effort to return those communities to theirwater based heritage in a modern day context asecological caretakers within their traditional territo-ries Over the past three years, Manatee Holdings

Ltd. has directly or indirectly added more than $2 million to the economy of the Comox Valley.They remain committed to pioneering the development of sub-tidal geoduck aquaculture and free-range sea cucumber aquaculture in ways that will help offset the damage done to our oceans by the wild fisheries and human occupation along our shorelines.

250.334.9562www.genuinegeoduck.com www.manateeholdings.com

Small Business of the Year — Nominee

Manatee Holdings Ltd.

Chris Ketch, owner and lead trainer at BodyNetix.

Though much too humble to ever say so them-selves, the charismatic husband-wife team ofScott DiGuistini (36) and Merissa Myles (33)

are shining examples of true entrepreneurial spirit.Spurred by a vision to create gourmet yogurt in the

Comox Valley, and to uphold the highest standardsof artisanal production, DiGuistini and Myles realizedtheir dream last year with the opening of TreeIsland Gourmet Yogurt. Their signature cream-topyogurt, made entirely from local ingredients, isalready lining the shelves of health & specialty gro-cers across Vancouver Island and metro Vancouver. Tree Island Yogurt, however, is anything but an

overnight success story — it’s the culmination ofmore than two years of fastidious planning, gut-wrenching setbacks and, underscoring it all, unbridled determination.Already armed with a Ph.D in microbiology,

DiGuistini studied Cultured Dairy at CornellUniversity before he and Myles, who’s background is in community-level economic development, beganperfecting their cream-top recipe in a small spacerented from a local cheesemaker. Then they conducted considerable research into internationalyogurt trends, including a comprehensive tastingtour of France’s artisan yogurt producers.Today, Tree Island Gourmet Yogurt is the only

yogurt made from fresh, non-homogenized milkfrom grass-fed Comox Valley cows. Health foodenthusiasts love it because it’s naturally rich inOmega 3s and CLA; locavores love it because it supports local agriculture; and just about everyoneelse loves it because its rich natural flavours, slow-cooked in traditional kettles and capped with a golden layer of decadent golden cream, is like noyogurt they’ve ever tasted.Though DiGuistini and Myles possess many of the

qualities of successful entrepreneurs, they’re also inno short supply of something not often associatedwith the movers and shakers of business: humility. “There are so many inspiring young people in the

Comox Valley doing so many great things,” saysDiGuuistini. “We’re just honoured to be consideredamong them.”“We owe everything we are to the people who

have enthusiastically supported us, and who byextension have supported healthy food, local business and local agriculture,” adds Myles. “Toeveryone who shares these values, we simply can’t thank you enough.”

250.334.0608www.cultured-dairy.com

Young Entrepreneur of the Year — Nominee

Scott DiGuistini &Merissa Myles,Tree Island Gourmet Yogurt

Merissa Myles (L) and Scott DiGuistini (R), pictured withtheir two children, are the young entrepreneurs behindTree Island Gourmet Yogurt.

www.bodynetix.ca


New Business of the Year — NomineePrimeTek IT Solutions

Just two years old, PrimeTek ITSolutions is already making animpact on small business technology

services in the Comox Valley. The youngcompany has provided reliable and professional on-site and remote IT services to clients in industries as variedas medical, dental, accounting, financialand the hospitality sector.Founded on a philosophy of fair rates

and long-term relationships with clients,PrimeTek’s hallmark is cost-effectivesolutions that many small-businessesotherwise couldn’t afford. Some

innovations include server virtualization,managed services (services offered on asubscription basis, giving clients moreaccuracy in budgeting their IT expenses)and Mesh WiFi technology (a less expensive, easily scalable technology). PrimeTek has strong ties with a number

of community groups and offers pro-bono or reduced-rate services toseveral others, as well as donating tovarious community fundraising efforts.

250.871.8547www.primetek.ca

Pictured (L to R) are Darren Leary, Matt Behrens, Edith Carlson and Kevin Dryden.

Launched in the summer of 2010, Coastal Black Estate Winery produces ninevarieties of fruit wine on 650 acres at the base of Mt. Washington. With 80acres of blackberries plus raspberries and blueberries, the winery is the largest

cultivated blackberry farm in Canada. Four generations — ranging in age from one to 74 — live and work together to transform the fruit into Coastal Black’stremendously successful Wines and Meads.From its traditional roots as a dairy farm, Coastal Black has emerged as a

modern and much-admired winery. Its most recent addition — a new bottling linecustom-made in Rome — washes, fills, corks and labels 1,200 bottles per hour and is the first piece of equipment of its kind to be used in the wine industry on Vancouver Island. The winery also boasts a beautiful, West Coast-inspired tasting room that’s open

noon to 5 pm almost year round, an outdoor patio with a brick pizza oven and anopen barn-style event space. In addition to its mead and fruit wines — sold in more than 80 private liquor stores on Vancouver Island — the farm produces freshfruit, raw honey and custom-milled lumber.Coastal Black is passionate about making wine and has recently earned two silver

and three bronze medals at the Northwest Wine Summit. In addition, Coastal Black’sWines and Meads won two gold and three silver awards at the 2012 SavorNorthwest Wine Awards and they won three silver and three bronze awards —against entries from around the world — at the 2012 Finger Lakes InternationalWine Competition.Take a Break from the Grape — From dry and crisp to bold and intense, CoastalBlack’s hand-crafted fruit wines and meads are a unique Island taste. Tour the familyowned and operated vineyard in the beautiful Comox Valley, then sample their

award-winning fruit wines andmeads as you relax in their WestCoast-inspired tasting room. Call tobook a tour or visit them online.

250.337.8325www.coastalblack.ca

Agricultural Business of the Year — Nominee

Coastal Black Estate Winery & Meadery

Abel O'Brennan, Coastal Black Estate Winery & Meadery owner and wine maker.

New Business of the Year — NomineeDaryl Robbins, Notary Public

You may not need a Notary Publicvery often, but when you do youwant him or her to be accurate,

timely and trustworthy. Daryl Robbins is that Notary, working with clients toensure the integrity of their legal documents stands up over time.Whether documenting an agreement,

a mortgage or the particulars of family estate planning, Robbins makes certain his clients’ affairs are inorder for peace of mind that’s bothimmediate and enduring.As a member of the Society of Notaries

Public of BC, Robbins has been offeringhis services to residents of the ComoxValley and the North Island since 2011. “We work with individuals and

businesses, providing a professionalenvironment committed to reliable, confidential service,” notes Robbins,who is also a Certified GeneralAccountant. With an inviting, newly renovated office

on Fourth Street in Courtenay, Robbinscan provide the legal documentationthat accompanies life’s big decisions.

250.871.0050www.darylrobbins.ca

Reminiscence — Courtesy Glacierview Financial

“Very nice to be nominated of course, it escalates as you’reshortlisted, and actually receiving the award felt pretty good,great really. It was great to be part of the process, I was hum-bled to be recognized as raising the bar.”

Bruce Curror, (former owner) Mudsharks Coffee Bar2006 Small Business of the Year

“In 2004 my partner, SandyFelgenhauer, and I were sohonoured to be chosen for theSmall Business of the YearAward, and I imagine thateveryone nominated for anaward feels just as honoured.Even if you don’t win, beingnominated show’s you’re onthe right track.”

Catherine BlackNorth Island Laboratories

2004 Small Business ofthe Year

“I can not fathom the wordsto describe just how great itwas. To be recognized by oth-ers as having the kind of topquality, above the bar servicethat you strive to give is suchan honour. Congratulations toall!”

Dawn McRaeCustom Gourmet

2011 Customer Service Award


Lourdes Gant has a resuméthat would impress justabout anyone. As well as

being vice-president of ManateeHoldings, a commercial aquacul-ture company, she’s also thehead of her own professionalaudit and business advisory firm. Lourdes holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy

(cum laude) and a Master’s degree in business admin-istration, and she was ranked among Canada’s Top100 Women Entrepreneurs by PROFIT & Chatelainemagazines in 2012. (The women of the W100 offershining examples of Canadian entrepreneurship. They have achieved their elite status by creating value and services, applying deft management skills,and exercising the determination required to succeedin today’s business environment.)As a consultant, Lourdes provides assurance on core

business processes in risk management and governance, educates management and the auditcommittee on risk management concepts, focuses onstrategic organizational risks and adds value for yourorganization. As a founding leader of the Institute ofInternal Auditors (IIA) Canada, she helps promoteand develop the value of the internal audit professionin Canada through activities that include: advocatingthe value of Internal Audit and proactively addressingissues affecting the profession; coordinating research,guidance and national training for practitioners; providing input to the IIA Global Council on Canadianviewpoints; and linking internal auditors from allCanadian sectors, industries and geographic areas to share information and experiences.Currently focusing her attention on her role with

Manatee Holdings Ltd and its mission to be profitableecological caretakers of the ocean, Lourdes is awealth of business knowledge and an asset to anyonewhose goal is to be a business success in a responsi-ble manner to our environment and community.

250.331.0486www.manateeholdings.com

www.lourdesgant.com

Professional Merit Award — NomineeLourdes Gant, Manatee Holdings Ltd.

Finneron Hyundai’s nomination for Business of theYear reflects how successful they are at fulfillingtheir two primary goals: To provide the best

customer service possible, and to make a positivecontribution to the Comox Valley.“Our success is due our amazing staff and loyal

customers,” says Sue Finneron. “Last year we finished#1 in Canada for Customer Service Satisfaction out of206 Hyundai dealers. Our team does an incredible jobof looking after people!” Since Mike and Sue Finneron started the company in2009, they’ve grown the local Hyundai market sharefrom 2.46 per cent to an impressive 9.95 per cent. Finneron Hyundai also supports countless communitygroups, including school sports teams and local charities. This year, they began working on a programcalled Hyundai Hockey Helpers that helps local kidsget involved in minor hockey. Mike and Sue are alsoinvolved in Rotary and are both past presidents oftheir respective clubs.

250.334.2441www.finneronhyundai.com

Business of the Year — NomineeFinneron Hyundai

Feed or fencing, seeds or soil — if you needsomething for your small farm or patio garden,South Country Feed and Supply will have it.

In business for 16 years, Valley residents rely on the store for everything from riding tack and livestock rigging to hardware, veterinary suppliesand baby chicks. But South Country is more than just a farm supply

store. Not only do they provide their customers withthe products they need to succeed, they also offereducational seminars on various aspects of agricul-ture, such as livestock care, equine health, seedsand fertilizers.“When my husband Scott and I took over five years

ago, we wanted to make sure that we had a busi-ness that really puts customers first,” says ownerCarol McColl. “We work hard to create good one-on-one relationships so that we understand what ourclients need and want. And if we don’t have it, we’lldo our homework and get it. “The other concept that matters to us, especially

since I grew up here, is working toward a morehealthier environment and healthier Valley residents. Having both been raised on hobby farms, we really support the philosophy of peoplegrowing their own food, eating locally and beingenvironmentally sensitive.”As such, the McColls do extensive research into the

products that they purchase, always looking forhealthier, more earth-friendly items for resale. Theycommunicate with suppliers, many of which arefrom BC, to find organic and non-genetically modi-fied seeds, livestock feeds and fertilizers. In addition to working to increase knowledge and

sustainability within the agriculture community, thestore contributes time and products to help sponsorlocal organizations, such as the 4-H Club, theTherapeutic Riding Society, the Fall Fair and others.All of which has led to their Chamber nomination ofAgricultural Business of the Year.“We are thrilled to be nominated; it’s a real hon-

our,” says Carol. “And it’s great to be a recognizedwith the other local small businesses that help make

this Valley what it is.”

250.897.3302www.southcountryfeed.ca

Agricultural Business of the Year — Nominee

South Country Feed and Supply

Carol McColl, co-owner of South Country Feed and Supply

Finneron Hyundai credits its success to its amazing staffand loyal customers.

When Steven Roscoe started Woodland FlooringCompany in 1998, his vision was to manufacturefine wood flooring from underutilized and sus-

tainably harvested BC woods. Over the past 15 years,he’s grown an innovative and environmentally sensitivebusiness that brings tremendous value to the ComoxValley and to each customer’s home.Woodland Flooring’s primary raw material is wood

salvaged from natural forest mortality, including beetle-killed, fire-killed and wind-fallen woods. The floors themselves are handmade to order and incorporate non-toxic coatings from naturally re-grown vegetable oils andwaxes. Typical Woodland floors have wider planks, longerlengths and unique finishes that add to their natural

warmth and charm.The business uses a 5-R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,

Re-think and Re-create) approach to manufacturing. Infact, the David Suzuki foundation helped Woodland evaluate its carbon footprint and build a carbon-neutralmodel of production. Woodland’s attention to craftsmanship has earned it high profile projects like theWalt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the newPrime Chophouse and Wine Bar in Courtenay. The company is a testament to what can be accomplishedwhen you put your best foot forward.

250.890.0402www.woodlandflooring.com

Environmental LeadershipAward — Nominee

WoodlandFlooring

Steve Roscoe, holding MisticAward, with staff

Reminiscence con’t — Courtesy Glacierview Financial“It was quite a surprise the night I won. I had bookedtickets, but had no idea I had been chosen. The com-mittee had not taken my picture, which they did if youwere in the top 3. So you can imagine my surprise whenmy picture from the previous year was put up on thescreen. What an honor to chosen by your peers. It was,and still is, a great feeling. The award put my businesson the map and I am grateful to all who nominated me.”Anne Delaney CPCA, Delaney Relocation Service

2010 Small Business of the Year

“It was an amazing experience to be welcomed into thecommunity in such a way, not something I expected. Thechamber has been very supportive, great for small busi-nesses, I think everyone should be a part of it.”

Steven MeierCourtenay 5th Street Florist


“We were very thrilled andhonoured to be nominatedand to win, feedback from thecustomers coming in the storehas been wonderful.”

Ann Ward, Appletree Market


Anne Delaney with Darren KardynalGlacierview Financial


LadysmithPressWeb press printers of:• Newspapers • Flyers• Catalogues • Newsletters• Vacation & Recreation Guides• Newsprint Magazines

940 Oyster Bay Drive, Ladysmith, BC

250-245-0350A division of

WordStreet

onthe

Question of the Month: “Whatmakes a successful entrepreneur?”

“First, one needs to know whattheir definition of “Successful”is. If Success has a material endresult like Money, then it’s aconstant battle to balance busi-ness. But if you choose PEOPLEand RELATIONSHIPS, you maynot attain wealth on a grandscale like Bill Gates, but you willlive well, have a great job, sleepwell at night, and every dayknow that you have given yourbest to those who have beenyour support network. So the most important attrib-utes? HONESTY and INTEGRITY. Be Honest with yourself,and always be honest with others. Always be who you are, becompassionate and passionate at the same time and neverbe afraid to extend yourself to others; for every one thatbites you, there are hundreds that become a reward. BeRespectful in every interaction and ALWAYS be true to yourvalues. “ — Garry Baraniuk, All Secure Storage

www.allsecureministorage.com

“One thing is to givewith out expecting ordemanding anythingback, and trulybelieve with everyfibre of your bodythat you are selling agreat product andlove your business.”

— Katherine Kirk,Yummies & Gyros

Greek Caféwww.gyroscafe.com

“Well developed selfesteem (not to be mistak-en by a well developedego). Having a strongbelief in oneself helps tokeep the entrepreneur oncourse and resilientdespite the naysayersand truth-slayers.”

— Angela Holmes,Creative Employment

Access Societywww.ceas.ca

“A success-ful entrepre-neur is ablend ofmany attrib-utes, morethan I real-ized before Ib e c a m eone! Drive.Passion andvision arevital quali-ties for anysuccessfu lbusinessperson but withoutdrive neither would come tofruition.”

— Kris Trudeau, Halftone PixelWebsite Design and Consulting

“For me in my business I think thetop five are:1. Listen and learn from yourclients. Without them the busi-ness wouldn’t exist.2. Don’t over-extend yourself oryou’ll burn out. Balance work withrelaxation time.3. Really enjoy your business. Ifyou’re not having fun anymorethen it’s time to move on.4. Know who your competition isand then refer or work with themif you can. Find a niche marketthat sets you apart from the rest.5. Get involved in your communityand businesses associations. Siton a board of directors and volun-teer your time. It is so worth it!”

— Linda Graceffo, Sparkling Graphics

www.sparklinggraphics.com

The dust has settledon our recent renova-tions and we are

slowly (but surely) gettingour offices back in orderwhile, at the same time,working on our AnnualAwards to be held onJanuary 26 at the FlorenceFilberg Centre. Please seethe special supplement inthe centre of this issue forinformation on A RoyalAffair — 2012 AnnualCommunity Awards, oursponsors, nominees andhow to purchase tickets. In pastyears, this event has been a sell-out. Avoid disappointment and book your tickets as soon as possible.And in other news…In our ongoing efforts to

provide quality member-ship services and fostercommunity involvement,the Comox ValleyChamber of Commercerecently established aBursary Endowment Fundat North Island College.The bursary will providefinancial support to NICBusiness Administrationstudents who otherwisemay not be in the positionto pursue post-secondaryeducation.On December 6, 2012,

The Comox ValleyChamber published athree minute YouTubevideo: Rappin’ up aComox Valley Christmas:Twelve Days of LOCALChristmas Spirit. Withinabout a week the videohad topped about 2,000views and the number ofviews continued to grow

throughout the followingweeks. This ‘Shop Local’video was a true testa-ment to a spirit of collabo-ration and cooperationand we are thrilled withthe feedback we havereceived. More than twodozen local businessesand individuals participat-ed in the production.

Benefits of Belonging

Meetings in the Chamberboard roomDid you know that the

Chamber now rents itsboardroom to membersand affiliated organiza-tions for a reasonable fee?The room can

accommodate up to 12people. Coffee and tea areprovided for an additionalfee and you may bring inyour own refreshments.Wi-Fi is available for freeand a projector is availablefor a small charge. Rental of the board roomis a ‘Members Only!’ bene-fit of belonging and hasproven useful for businessowners to host trainingsessions, planning meet-ings, job interviews andother business-relatedevents in a private andprofessional setting. Call 250-334-3234 forbookings and more information.

Shaw to launch free Wi-Fithroughout Valley

Those that know mehave heard the talesof when I launched

Shaw high-speed Internet(Shaw Home) in Victoria. It was like the Wild West

way back in 1998, andmany lessons werelearned about expanding

too fast,networksatura-tion andhow anetworkdesignedfor peo-ple tocheckemailsand surf

faster than dial-up wouldbe used for downloadingmusic, sending photosand streaming videos —forever changing how we

use the Internet. Shawpushed the limits of theInternet and I was proudto be part of it. So, in thespirit of full disclosure andall that, I’ll let you knowupfront that I’m biasedtoward Shaw given my his-tory with them — plus theirlocal service tends to bebetter and much fasterthan their competition.

So now to the topic athand: Shaw is at it again.This time, Shaw has anextremely ambitious goal— provide Shaw Wi-Fihotspots EVERYWHERE so that their customerscan access the Internetand stream videos anddata without using theircostly mobile network’sdata plans. My Tech Guys is proud to

be the first such hot spotin the Comox Valley for thelaunch of Shaw Go, acomplimentary serviceavailable to Shaw’s resi-dential customers.Installations are takingplace at local businessesacross the Valley as wespeak, since the North

Island launch began inJanuary. Initially, the Shaw Go

coverage area encom-passed major cities fromVictoria to Winnipeg, butthe ultimate goal is to provide their Internet customers with seamlessconnectivity nationallyacross Shaw’s entire service footprint. To connect to the net-

work, simply download thefree “Shaw Go Wi-Fi” appand you’ll automaticallyconnect to any of theShaw Go hotspots that are within range. Shawalso provides free HBO,Movie Central and NFLapps for people like towatch shows on the go,with many more appsplanned for the future.Want to try out the new

Shaw Go hotspot? Juststop by one of the MyTech Guy stores in Comoxor Courtenay. Think yourbusiness would a greatlocation for a Shaw Gohotspot? Call AllisonBligh, Shaw’s Regional Wi-Fi Site Advisor at250.898.2556 for more information.

ob Wells is the “ExtremeGeek” and owner of MyTech Guys. He can bereached at 250.890.1065or www.mytechguys.ca

“Think your business would be a great location for

a hotspot?”

Bob Wells (The ExtremeGeek), My Tech Guys

Upcoming Comox Valley Chamber Events:

Annual Chamber Business Showcase TradeshowCrown Isle Resort1:00 - 6:00 p.m., Thursday, February 28

Book your table now! Chamber members who book by February 8 enjoy half price table rental fees. Thisevent is extensively promoted to both businesses and the general public and is always well attended.Admission is free to the public.

March is Chamber Membership Month —more details coming soon!Joining the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerceenables you to save money on many business-relatedproducts and services. Members connect with other business people; promote their events andachievements, and so much more! As importantly, membership with the Chamber ofCommerce shows customers that your business is: • Committed to a high standard of professionalism• Dedicated to life-long learning and business

development, and• An active part of our community.

For more information on the Comox Valley Chambermembership, events and services visit: www.comox

valleychamber.com or call 250.334.3234.


While GoogleApps has beenmaking head-

lines the last few yearswith its online productssuch as Gmail, GoogleCalendar and other applications, Microsoft hastraditionally struggled tokeep up with the innova-tions and features of the

Google products. The result

of

Google eliminating thefree version of their“Google Apps forBusiness” program, combined with Microsoft’sre-packaging of theironline services, is that theOffice 365 solutions have

suddenly become muchmore appealing. Online and mobile access

to mail, calendars and doc-uments, combined with therich features of traditionalMicrosoft Office programssuch as Outlook, Word andExcel for a price as low as

$5 per user per monthcould make Office 365 asignificant tool for simpli-fying your business.Computer imaging;

and we’re not talk-ing CAT scans or

MRIs. Imaging is backingup computers in a way thatlets them be quickly and

effortlessly restored.Traditional back-ups

protect your data. That’sOK if your data is the only thing there’s ever aproblem with. But what ifyour operating system gets corrupted oryour harddrive fails? Usually that

means youend up re-installingyour operating system and allyour programs, includingyour back-up software,and, finally, restoring your data. That can be a lot of

down time.

Imaging creates a “snap-shot” of your computer:

your operatingsystem, all yourprograms andall your files. If a drive fails

or you haveanother bigproblem, you

merely restore that snap-shot and you’re back inbusiness.

The most significanttechnology tool forbusiness has to be

auto-magic, proactive off-site back-ups.I remember using the

complex dial-up systemsof the early ‘90s to getimportant data backed upoff-site — but they werenot for the faint of heart.Sure, there have been severalback-up systemsfrom tapedrives,DVDs,Flash Drivesand evenexternalhard drives, but nothingbeats modern back-up systems that actually tellyou if they’re not working(that’s the proactive part). The biggest impediment

to back-ups are humans.If our only role is toreact to an email saying

thattheback-upshave stopped working because the exter-

nal drive hascrashed or thesoftware hasbecome corrupted, thattruly is Magic. Programs like

CrashPlan andCarbonite leverage thepower of the Cloud for real time, local and off-siteback-ups that report whenbackups are failing.

Data is one of themost importantaspects of run-

ning a business. Fromsales figures and inventory toaccounts andcustomerlists, yourdata IS yourbusiness. Ofthe business-es that loseall their data,89 per centgo out of business withinthe next year. Backing upthat data while keeping itreadily accessible is vital.

Paid services likeCarbonite, or free ones likeDropBox, SugarSync,GoogleDrive andMicrosoft’s Skydrive auto-matically back up files inspecified locations to theCloud. They can then syn-chronize your data with any

number of othercomputers,automaticallyensuring yourdata is accessi-ble to the peo-ple who need it. These systemsare easy to setup, but you may

need professional advice toensure your data is securelyencrypted. Then you cansleep easy at night.

Matt Behrens, PrimeTek IT Solutions250.871.8547www.primetek.ca

Bob Wells (The ExtremeGeek), My Tech Guys250.792.1945www.mytechguys.ca

Richard Boyle, IntegratedTechnologies250.334.8383www.integratedtechnologies.ca

Naomi Carmichael,OnDeck Systems Inc.250.334.0638www.ondeck.com

Information Technology

Roundtable

“What is the mostsignificant

technology tool forbusiness that I don’t

know about?”

“... merely restorethat snapshot

and you’re back in business.”

“... businesses wholose all their data,89 per cent go outof business within

the next year.”

“... as low as $5per user per monthcould make Office365 a significant

tool.”

“The biggest impediment to back-ups are humans.”

Does therapeuticmassage hurt?When will you feel

results? Well, it depends...here’s why:Therapeutic massage can

feel nice, mildly uncom-fortable and sometimespainful depending on yournatural pain tolerance andhow your tissues react.You need to try it to findout, but keep in mind that you control how much pressure is used.Some believe in the ‘nopain, no gain’ adage, butit doesn’t have to be apainful experience.As far as results go, some

people feel relief immedi-ately while others experi-ence some temporarysoreness. This soreness isnormal and will fade, tobe followed by relief. Of course, there are

times when no change isfelt at all, especially afterone appointment.Generally, your first treatment will determinepriorities, reactions andtolerances, while your second treatment is morefocused on a clear goal.

You may also decide totry another massage therapist; his or her differ-ent approach and stylemay work better for you.Occasionally, therapeuticmassage simply isn’t theanswer for a particularindividual or condition,and other therapies needto be explored.

Heather Saunders is a registered massage therapist practicing at theComox Valley TherapeuticMassage Centre. Her focusis promoting body aware-ness and patient education.For more free resources,like stretches, home caretips, articles, visitwww.HeatherSaundersRMT.com or call 250.339.9912.

Massage therapy —the pain and the gain

Heather Saunders, RMT

The importance of a strong logo

With the new year,we tend to lookinward. With the

best intentions, we resolveto stop, start, do more, doless or do better. Innerreflection is not limited tous personally, but is appli-cable to our businessesas well; it’s as good a timeas any to take inventory ofhow your business pres-ents itself to the world. While there are many

public-facing aspects ofyour business, your logo is the foundation andneeds to be strong tostand up to the task. Hereare five quick questionsyou can ask yourself totest how well your logomeasures up:

Is my logo simple andeasy to understand? Yourlogo needs to be simpleenough that viewers caninstantly understand itshould they only get afleeting glance of it offvehicle graphics or a passing road sign.

Complicated logos can behard to comprehend, anddetailed logos may experi-ence output problems ifprinted too small.Does my logo fit myindustry’s visual conven-tions? Some industrieshave a certain look associ-ated with them; mostfinancial organizationsuse conservative coloursand serif fonts, whereasfast-food restaurants willuse trendier fonts and

bright colours. Over time, these similari-

ties have been engrainedin our subconscious asthe norm. If a businessdoesn’t fit our expectationof the norm, we instantlybecome wary. Someorganizations defy thisconvention successfully —if your organization canpull it off, you’ll reap therewards of standing headand shoulders above yourcompetition. It may be along and expensive road,however, with significantmarketing required toremind customers of yourorganization’s amazingcapabilities, despite itsunorthodox appearance.How many versions of mylogo do I currentlyemploy? Do you have awebsite displaying yournew logo but a box ofbusiness cards with your

old one that you want tofinish up before orderingmore? If so, stop rightnow! Different logos confuse your viewers andwill dilute your brand.How timeless is my logo?Was your logo created in

1994? Does it look like itwas created in 1994?Unless you’re sellingantiques, it’s more important now than everto ensure your businesslooks up-to-date, knowledgeable and trustworthy. Your customers want to

know that your business iscurrent, which they willassume if your logoreflects this.A simple logo usually

means a long-lasting logo.Timeless fonts (likeHelvetica and Avenir) andsimple illustrations willstand the test of time.Just look at the Nikeswoosh, created in 1971,or the Coca-Cola logo,which is more than 100years old. If done right, your logo

will nest itself neatly inyour customers’ minds forever. How much is thatreal estate worth to you?Don’t underestimate thevalue of your logo.Kris Trudeau is the ownerof Halftone Pixel WebsiteDesign and Consulting (for-merly PixelPoint Design andConsulting). She offersexperienced and profes-sional website and graphicdesign. Reach Kris atwww.halftonepixel.com or250.871.0623.

“Complicatedlogos can be hardto comprehend.”

Kris Trudeau, HalftonePixel Website Design and Consulting

Most of us, especial-ly at this time ofyear, have debts.

Our first priority shouldalways be making theminimum required payments, on time, for allour loans. Once thoseare covered, start payingdown debts with the high-est interest costs first.For example, credit cards

typically have an annualpercentage rate (APR) of10 to 20 per cent, while a ‘typical’ mortgage APRis three to four per cent.So a dollar toward yourcredit card balance isgoing to be three to fivetimes more beneficialthan a dollar toward your mortgage.If you’re struggling to pay

anything more than thoseminimum payments, however, you may benefitfrom a mortgage refinance/consolidation.This strategy is possible ifyou have built-up equity inyour property (i.e. yourproperty value is greaterthan your mortgage) and

involves borrowing extramoney through a low-interest mortgage to payoff higher interest debts.The result is equal orlower monthly paymentsand faster progress paying

off your debt. Find today’s rates online at

www.comoxmortgages.comFor a free debt review andmortgage consultation, call Mackenzie at250.331.0800.

Tips for post-holiday debt re-payment

Mackenzie Gartside Verico Select Mortgage


“The key to successisn’t knowing all of theanswers; it’s knowing

where to find them.”Thus is the tag line of

BEST Solutions, a localcompany that helps value-added manufacturingcompanies develop newmarkets, improve prof-itability and fine-tuneoperational aspects oftheir business such assales, supply chains andstaff retention.If you run a small valued-

added manufacturingbusiness with 10 to 50employees, chances aregood that Norm Starling,BEST Solution’s founderand CEO, can likely helpyou do things better. “Most manufacturing

businesses start with asingle person who feelsthey are good at makingsomething,” explainsStarling. “However, thespecific technology ofwhat the manufacturer

does is really a small partof their business.”“When a business

grows,” he says, “the 101other things that go intomaking a businessbecome necessary toaddress. And most don’thave training in thoseareas: marketing and market research, productengineering and develop-ment, employee retentionand human resources,customer relations andservices, and so on. BESTSolutions is the mentorthat sees them through

the growing pains.” Starling is a veteran of

the value-added woodindustry who saw an

opportunity to improve thevalue-added manufactur-ing sector. In 2011, hebrought together businessspecialists with more than30 years of experience inwood products production,process engineering, product development,sales and marketing, and small business management to createBEST Solutions. Just don’tcall BEST Solutions a consulting company.“BEST Solutions is a

client resource, and westart from the perspectivethat our clients are doinga lot of things right,”explains Starling. Thegoal, he says, is to guideclients toward improvedimplementation. Servicesinclude standard operating procedures,manufacturing solutions,marketing solutions, project management,product development,training, client relationsand process controls. “BEST helps value-added

product manufacturersdevelop the infrastructurenecessary to support aprofitable business,” saysStarling. “Then we helpthose manufacturers findand develop the right markets for their prod-ucts.”For more information, visitwww.bestsols.ca or call250.337.1972.

‘Value-added’ veteran offers support for manufacturers

“Starling is a veteran of the

value-added wood industry.”

New Business Profile brought to you by:

Norm Starling, BEST Solution’s founder and CEO

Exclusive distributor of the Comox ValleyChamber of Commerce Group Plan

& Employee Benefit Plans

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Small businesses. Self-employed entrepreneurs. Homebased companies. Year-round farms and ranches.

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Stay on top of business in the Comox Valley. Get your FREE Business Gazette email subscription at cv.businessgazette.ca .

Comox Valley Business Gazette — Jan/Feb 2013Page 1 2

Arecent article in theHarvard BusinessReview caught my

interest. In their databaseof approximately 17,000worldwide companies invirtually every businesssector, they found theaverage age of a manageror supervisor to be 33.They also concluded thatthe average managerreceived their first leadership training

program around 42.This means that manage-

ment was on the job fornine years, untrainedwithout any guidance ordirection. Frankly, I’m notsurprised. Our businessculture seems to recog-nize the need for stafftraining far before man-agement training, a dan-gerous business practisethat could result in losingquality staff and evenworse — customers.How many of us can

recall leaving a jobbecause of a bad relation-ship with our manager?There is credible researchthat clearly shows thistends to be a leadingcause of frustration at theworkplace, to the degreethat popular sitcoms havebeen created in thisregard. While we all laughat the antics of MichaelScott, the bumbling (for-

mer) man-ager of theDunderMifflinPaperCompany inThe Office,many peo-ple claim tohave theirown versionof Dilbert at

their

workplace.Practising management

for nearly a decade with-out specific trainingshould not be likened tohaving a Learner’s permitto operate a motor vehicle. Management isnot an easy job! It takesgreat communicationskills, patience and theunderstanding of peopleto be successful.Here are three reasons

why practising leadershipwithout professional train-ing should concern you:1. Managing without train-ing ingrains bad habits.Can your company affordto have a bad manager? 2. Poor managementcauses good staff to leaveand the rest to stay. Howwill this affect your customers? 3. Your inexperiencedmanagers are practisingon the job. It’s hard tobreak a bad habit andeasier to create a goodone from the start.

Dave Warawa, the PROSALESGUY, providespractical sales trainingbased on proven, street-level techniques. For a listof his training programs,visit www.prosalesguy.ca orcall 250.339.3355.

We wait too long to train our leaders

Dave Warawa, PROSALESGUY Training

The elusive paperless office

The paperless office —does it really exist?Or, like Sasquatch

and Ogopogo, is it just alegend, built upon the fan-ciful dreams of idealisticoffice managers?While not yet a reality for

most businesses, it is aworthwhile pursuit. Asidefrom the obvious benefitsto the environment, thereare a number of scenariosin which “paperless” isthe best option forincreased productivity andreduced costs and clutter.The Accounts PayablePickle — Difficulty in man-aging invoice paper trailscan often lead to late oreven missed payments.This situation is particular-ly problematic when abusiness is quite large,has multiple locations orpeople are in the field andcommunication is intermittent. Appropriatedocument software caneliminate the need for

physical invoices, and payments can beapproved or recordedquickly and remotely viamobile devices. We’vehelped companies asdiverse as professionalservices firms and contractors streamlinetheir A/P process.

The Fax Fix — Print it out,get up and fax it off, bringit back and file it away.Believe it or not, faxes arestill predominant in someindustries — but it can bea frustrating waste of timeand paper. Desktop faxingprograms can send andrecord faxes without paperever being used. This isparticularly useful formedical offices andnotaries.The Retrieval Conundrum— Many businesses,whether by law or otherregulations, are requiredto keep documents foryears. This can use upvaluable office space andretrieval can sometimestake hours. Many businesses, such as realestate and medicaloffices, are turning to

management software toelectronically store andindex their records so thatthey can be retrieved at amoment’s notice.The Disaster Dilemma —As the saying goes, “backit up or pack it up.”Though we all hope nothing will happen to us,in the case of disaster,very few companies haveback-ups of everythingthey need to restart quickly in case theunthinkable does occur. Like any new approach,

going paperless can comewith a learning curve, butnothing good comes with-out some effort. As an aside, it may seem

contradictory that a premi-um provider of printingsolutions takes the time topromote going paperless,but our goal is to help ourclients increase productivi-ty and reduce costs wher-ever they can. If you’reready to take the paper-less plunge, give us a call.

AGS Business Systems hasbeen providing office tech-nology to Vancouver Islandcustomers since 1976 andprides itself on being 100%locally Island owned andoperated. Don Linder canbe contacted at the AGSoffice on Cliffe Avenue inCourtenay at [email protected]

“...our goal is toincrease our clients

productivity and reduce costs”

Don Linder, AGS Business Systems

www.islandradio.bc.ca

Average age at which we train our managers.

“I was completely surprised to be the recipient of the SmallBusiness of the Year award. I feel fortunate to make a livingin a creative pursuit, and being applauded as a successfulbusiness was incredibly affirming. I truly hope that each of theamazing recipients this year walk a little taller and, from hereforward, take time to regularly congratulate themselves fortheir ongoing growth. Congratulations!”

Karen McKinnon, McKinnon Photography2008 Small Business of the Year

See Chamber of Commerce Award coverage starting on page 5

comox valley business gazette janfeb 2013

Documents

business gazette columnists

new business

local businesses

gazette columnists bob

training forbusinesses

free training

lotof businesses

end ofthe year