KELOWNA – Yeti Farm Creative was named Business of the Year at the First Annual Grant Thornton LLP Thompson Okanagan Business Excellence Awards at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna on June 14.
GetInTheLoop of Kelowna was named the Small Business of the Year (Under 50 Employees). The Business of the Year category was for companies with more than 30 employees.
Grant Thornton LLP was the Title Platinum Sponsor for the event, and Innov8 Digital Solutions is in as a Gold Sponsor. Category sponsors included RBC Royal Bank, Sandler Training, Business Development Bank of Canada, Diversified Rehabilitation Group and 101.5 EZ Rock Bell Media. Black Press is the Print Media Sponsor for the event, coordinated by Business Examiner Thompson Okanagan newspaper.
The independent judges were Jim Anderson, Executive Director of Venture Kamloops; Glenn Mandziuk, President and CEO of Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association; and Anthony Haddad of Penticton’s Economic Development Office.
Winners in the other Categories are (17 in total):
Automotive Business of the Year
Current Taxi of Kelowna.
Community Builder of the Year
Get Bent Yoga and Dance of Penticton.
Construction & Development Business of the Year
Highstreet Ventures of Kelowna.
Entrepreneur of the Year
Redhead Mare of Penticton.
Food Production Business of the Year
True Grain Bread of Summerland.
Green Business of the Year
Swiss Solar Tech Ltd. of Summerland.
Health Care Business of the Year
Carrington Dental Centre of West Kelowna.
Manufacturing Business of the Year (Tie)
Riversong Guitars of Kamloops and Vitalis Extraction of Kelowna.
Professional Services Business of the Year
Refresh Financial of Kelowna.
Restaurant of the Year
The Nest & Nectar of Penticton.
Retail Business of the Year (Tie)
Main Street Clothing of Kamloops and Pickle Ball Depot of Vernon.
Technology Business of the Year
Big Bear Software Ltd. of Penticton.
Tourism Business of the Year (Tie)
Glow SUP Adventures of Penticton and Sip Happens Wine Tours of Lake Country.
Trades Business of the Year
Duffy Baker Construction of Penticton.
Winery Business of the Year
Poplar Grove of Penticton.
The Official Program for the event, which includes information on each finalist, is available online at: https://issuu.com/markmacdonald7/docs/tobe_2018_book_for_website