Spotlight shines on excellent businesses Six local businesses were honoured at the 2010 Oakville Awards for Business Excellence (OABE) at a gala celebration at the Oakville Conference and Banquet Centre last Thursday. "We congratulate our winners, but also all the nominees for they, too, have been recognized by their peers and customers as demonstrating excellence on a continuous basis while supporting their community," said Mickie Angas, president of the Rotary Club of Oakville West, a co-presenters of the awards along with the Oakville Chamber of Commerce. The six companies awarded trophies were: · Environmental Leader of the Year -- Oakville Place: Oakville Place is the first shopping centre in Canada to add re-useable plates and utensils in its food court, adding to its already high commitment to recycling and the greening of its operations. · Professional Service Provider of the Year -- Body Shaping Fitness: A fitness firm whose owners are obsessed with attention to detail and which is staffed by a team of kinesiologists dedicated to women's total fitness and more recently, men's personal training. · Small Company of the Year -- Total Tech Pool & Spa: By demonstrating excellence and personal attention -- in every aspect of its operations -- this company has earned a reputation for outstanding service and is widely recognized as a preferred regional pool and spa company. · Large Company of the Year -- Geotab Inc.: An explosively growing and debt-free 7 · Wednesday, April 14, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER BUSINESS EXCELLENCE: The 15th annual Oakville Awards for Business Excellence winners are: (l-r) Julia and Ritorno restaurants owner Julia Hanna, Restaurateur of the Year, David Warren of Total Tech Pool and Spa, Small Business of the Year, Dirk Gebhardt and Maria Kinlough of Body Shaping Fitness Studio for Women, Professional Business of the Year, Colin Sutherland of Geotab, Large Business of the Year, and Laura Porreca of Lovable Labels Inc., Entrepreneur of the Year. Oakville Place was also honoured for Environmental Leader of the Year. developer of software and products designed to ensure continuous performance improvement in many of the world's largest corporations. · Entrepreneur of the Year -- Loveable Labels Inc.: A rapidly-growing manufacturer and worldwide supplier of children's clothing labels and tags, marketed primarily to parents through social networking media. · Restaurateur of the Year -- Julia/Ritorno: Top of class innovative restaurants run by a team of professionals led by Hanna who, as a committed citizen, has a reputation for giving back to the community. The Oakville Awards for Business Excellence recognize local businesses for the contribution they make to the community's economic development. The program is also a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Oakville West's youth programs. To date, the OABE galas have raised more than $500,000 to support youth programs such as the Camp Enterprise, Kerr Street Ministries, school breakfast and lunch programs, as well as scholarships and bursaries for Oakville's top students. Dundas Trafalga r Rd St E Dr el 2 5 0 1 P r i n c e M ic h a el D r (at D u n das St.) c l t nc Pri Uppe r Mi a ich eM 403 ddle Rd e E