2000 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

Industry Awards SE Program Awards

Inspiration 2005
Inspiration 2004
Inspiration 2003
Inspiration 2002
1999 Awards

Industry Category Winners

Import/Export

Attracted by the beauty of Vancouver and it's friendly people, this couple newly arrived from Asia decided to settle here. The bright sunshine, crystal clear water and fragrant air inspired the product, the art piece, which they designed, produced and now market. Their Glass Water Fountains have been well received in North America and Asia and they are riding a wave of success.

SUCCESS GRADUATE - Jill L..H. Lee, MYCO MARKETING CORPORATION

Retail

This innovative company aims to be a wholesaler and retailer of skin care products worldwide on the Internet. There short term goals is to distribute to the Vancouver region and grow regionally and nationally. Ultimately they will establish a distribution warehouse on the Iranian island Kish, a free trade zone.

SUCCESS GRADUATE - Parisa Padidar - PARSAM CONSULTING

Technology

After ten years in the multimedia and print design industry on Vancouver, she saw a need for quality design services within the growing field of New Media Development. She is well on her way to achieving her goal of becoming the leading multimedia design company in Vancouver with help from VanCity's Peer Lending Program and by forming a strategic alliance with another company who provide management and customer relations services.

EQUITY GRADUATE - Jill Bartlett - TAG INTERACTIVE

Business Service

This business idea is so simple it is hard to believe it has not been done before. With a background in art and film and theatre production she was best suited to take the idea and run with it. She found a like-minded partner, acquired business skills and funding from Development Bank of Canada and started a one-of-a-kind art rental shop for the film and television industry.

EASE GRADUATE - Michele Searle - ARTSCENE RENTALS LTD.

Tourism

Bitten by the entrepreneur bug early in life (age 16) she built a hot dog cart and opened for business. This first foray into the business world lasted three years and she was rewarded with a great tan as well as spending money. From a grounding in the tourism industry she launched her second business, providing a call centre for tourism companies and achieving her goal of improving the tourism industry's level of professionalism.

EASE GRADUATE - Janet Lavern - ATS - ADVENTURE TOURISM SERVICES

Manufacturing

Timing is everything and this company identified an major need and jumped in provide the solution. Managing growth has been their primary challenge - one I am sure any business would love to have. Their business is projecting a 450% increase in income in just three years!

WESTCOAST GRADUATE - Bill Glinz - RIBBON TEK REINKING LTD.

Consulting

This business provides outsourced marketing and communications specialists to other businesses. Her goal in establishing her business in 1996 was the same as her life philosophy to assist others to develop the skills that they need to succeed in their chosen paths. The common thread among her clients is that they want to grow their businesses. As they grow so does this company.

WESTCOAST GRADUATE - Brenda Plowman - SYNAP TUIT GROUP

Artisan

Bored to death in a selling job in the Bay shoe department drove this potential business owner to seek out a Self Employment program. She had spent years acquiring the technical skills and had a well established network in her chosen field and she knew that her love of creation had to be satisfied. Her work is now represented in 9 galleries across Canada and recently acquired a line of credit from VanCity to finance her participation in a US show.

WESTCOAST GRADUATE - Erin Dolman - HOLY CROW DESIGNS

Personal Service

Being in business is not new to this nominee, she has been involved in several since 1970. Currently she is doing what she loves, healing. Her business is small which suits her goals< of continually exploring the healing process and to improve her teaching skills and to become a registered counsellor.

VANCITY PEER LENDING CLIENT - Yodih (Patricia) Williamson - SATTVA

Publishing/Education

A commitment to nurturing a child's love of learning is the motivation behind this business. Add to this motivation, honesty, integrity, love of children and home and a nurturing approach has led to the success of this business.

EASE GRADUATE - Tevi Dawson - PRECIOUS MINDS MONTESSORI
PRESCHOOL

Food/Beverage/Entertainment

Regular customers have helped establish this new business in just a month and a half. The business premise is to deliver a healthy alternative to the fast food lunch most workers eat at their desks. He offers gourmet, affordable and healthy lunches, delivered to your office.

WESTCOAST GRADUATE - Stanley Coelho - THE HEALTHY CHEFS
SERVICES LTD.

Perseverance

Low business profile, personal changes and family tragedy have been major challenges faced by this new business owner. But perseverance, reliable service and low expenses are some of the positives which have carried the business through the tough times.

YMCA GRADUATE - Ann Douglas - ANN DOUGLAS DOCUMENTS DESIGN

Entrepreneur Awards 2000 Overall Achievement

EASE

After three years of post-art school blues and working in areas which were not personally satisfying this artist almost stumbled into his current area of endeavour. He is an artist who has found tremendous personal and financial success in teaching art, curating and organizing exhibitions, and developing relationships in the media and Vancouver art world. This award winner is not with us this evening, he is mounting an exhibition in Santiago Chile.

EASE GRADUATE - Seamus Kealy - SEAMUS KEALY, VISUAL ARTS

EQUITY

A wide range of skills, degrees in art, education and creative writing and certificates in teaching, copy writing and desktop publishing forms the solid base of this business. Her business combines her commitment to English language training and new technology communications. Both successful endeavours financially and personally.

EQUITY GRADUATE - Dianne Maguire - MAGUIRE PUBLISHING LTD.

SUCCESS

"I love gardening so much, I love organizing structures and putting them in prractice, I like taking on leading roles. All those reasons made it natural for me to eventually be tempted to start my own business. But most of all it was the most scary thing I could think of doing and that made it exciting! I like how it forces me to push my limits on all levels." This is a direct quote of the next nominee. No one has better expressed the why of entrepreneurism.

SUCCESS GRADUATE - Isabelle Oppenheim - GROW ON YOU LANDSCAPE SERVICES LTD.

VANCITY

A vision of health awareness was the nucleus and hard work led to business success. Add to that a good product concept, teamwork, committed customers and a relaxed but stimulating working environment. In business since 1996 they have grown to two retail locations and have broadened their product base and service.

VANCITY CLIENT - Brad Tidswell - KITSILANO HEMPCO

NOTE: Also the people's choice winner of the BEST DISPLAY, Business Showcase 2000

WESTCOAST

This business provides professional staffing (temporary and permanent) tailored to meet the needs of the dental community. The industry category is the employment industry and the specific target is the dental profession. The sole owner of a home based business she finds time management her greatest challenge. Because of her extensive background in the dental field she has a strong competitive advantage.

WESTCOAST GRADUATE - Diane Buckley - DENTAL CAREERS PERSONNEL SERVICE

YMCA - VANCOUVER

"I don't feel I'm totally "there" yet, but professionalism, dedication and customer service will get me there. I'm good at what I do, and get measurable results for my clients. I genuinely love the work I do, and the satisfaction that comes from making a significant difference in someone's life." A great statement to the satisfaction of entrepreneurship.

YMCA GRADUATE - Shelley Phelan - SHELLEY PHELLAN LIFESTYLE COACH