Winners of the annual Wallace McCain Institute Growth Awards recognize some of the Atlantic region’s most accomplished business leaders for significant success in expanding their companies over the past 12 months.
During a year when COVID-19 ravaged many Atlantic Canadian businesses, some found ways to thrive. The finalists and winners were in essential goods & services sectors like health care, food & beverage and construction.
Whether by acquisition, geographic expansion or a re-focusing on the product/service mix, these winning entrepreneurs from Grand Falls, St. Stephen and Fredericton are stellar examples of success. Together with the nine other finalists for the Growth Awards, the 12 firms efficiently grew revenue by 20% with only minimal growth in employees of 6%.
“By recognizing our members who are achieving significant growth, they can celebrate together and inspire each other to push harder,” says Nancy Mathis, Executive Director of the Wallace McCain Institute at the University of New Brunswick.
Billy English of St. Stephen took home the prize for the over 100 employee division. Mr. English is the CEO of Kindred Homecare and A Thousand Properties. “Strategic acquisitions and new multimillion-dollar revenue stream contributed to top and bottom-line growth,” says Mr. English. Marco Gagnon, co-owner of GOW in Grand Falls, won in the 41-to-99 employee category for his growth. “Last year focused on customer services and building on relationships, allowing us to keep growing organically while expanding our base”, said Gagnon.
Sascha Boulet-Devost, CEO of Capture Therapeutics, also from Grand Falls, won in the 10-to-40 employee category. “We expanded locations, offerings, product line and launched a tech company to simplify operations within Capture Therapeutics.”, says Ms. Boulet-Devost. Alicia Phillips, CEO of Educated Beards of Fredericton, won in the under-10 employee category. “We surrounded ourselves with amazing mentors and built a team to optimize growth & success.”, says Ms. Phillips.
A cash prize was awarded to the group with the combined largest growth. The 13th cohort of the Entrepreneurial Leaders Program (ELP13) was announced as the winner. Together the group grew its combined revenue by 10% and its employee base by 25%. The prize is a $5,000 grant to be used to support the cost of the speakers that the cohort involves in its quarterly retreats.
The final prize of the evening was more personal in nature. The prize, called the Carpe Diem Award, was started in 2015 in recognition of a member of the institute, Patrick Albert, CEO of MQM in Tracadie-Sheila, who died tragically earlier that year. His personal motto was “carpe diem” – Latin for “seize the day.” The award was based on member nominations, and then voting on 7 finalists based on their embodiment of the mission statement for Mr. Albert’s ELP forum “to embrace our leadership responsibility to build a Greater Atlantic Area and live our one life with passion.”
The award went to Rosalyn Hyslop, Mrs. Dunsters (ELP11Th). “I am so honoured to join the impactful group of prior winners of this award,” Ms. Hyslop says. “It has inspired me to be even more connected to our alumni.”
About the Wallace McCain Institute
The focus of the Wallace McCain Institute at the University of New Brunswick is to support the next generation of senior business leaders in the Greater Atlantic Area (GAA). The Institute is a catalyst for shifting the business culture of the region and advancing the values of entrepreneurship. The development of deep relationships and networks is fundamental to how the Institute delivers on its mandate.
Programs include intensive cohort programs where participants interact in a retreat environment for our region’s business leaders (ELP), the Strategic Executive Program (SEP) as well as a program focused on multi-generational businesses (ECHO). The Institute also offers elite workshops and special events on themes relevant to entrepreneurs while also using its broad network of business leaders to give back to the entrepreneurial community. The Institute uses innovative approaches to convene people, share best practices, enrich learning, and inspire change.
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Learn more about the Entrepreneurial Leaders Program at http://www.wallacemccaininstitute.com/elp