Fourteen Estevan businesses received nominations in eight separate categories, and all nominees, especially the winners, were celebrated on Friday night during the Estevan Business Excellence Awards (EBEX) banquet staged in Spectra Place.
Long-time Estevan businessman and community contributor Ed Turnbull walked to the reception podium twice, the second time to receive the MNP sponsored award as the leader of the Business of the Year after earlier capturing the award for Growth and Expansion for Turnbull Excavating.
Three long-serving venerable families were also feted near the end of the evening's program. Doris and Ray Frehlick along with the Sereggela and Symons families were inducted into the Nick and Verna Morsky Business Hall of Fame, lending even more excitement to the program. (See related article in this week's edition).
Trimount Developments, the company associated with an ambitious property development project on the north side of the city, after successful completion of an inner city program, was presented with the SaskPower Outstanding Service Award, edging co-finalists Atco Lodge Estevan and Great Canadian Oil Change. It was noted that even though Trimount is a relative newcomer to the city they have provided a major impact on the community through their designs and construction of sustainable homes while providing ethical, accountable practices.
TS&M Supply's Dan Pratt stepped up to accept the Trimount sponsored EBEX Award for Community Involvement, out-polling two other finalists, Murray GM and Turnbull Excavating.
This company has left its mark all over the city and southeast Saskatchewan with its commitments to such major projects as the Woodlawn Golf Club's revival and sponsorship of numerous sports teams, plus various service clubs and community programs. Pratt represents a new generation of leadership for the company that took root in southeast Saskatchewan in the mid-1950s.
The EBEX Award for Environmental Leader, sponsored by Sherritt Coal went to Leann Boehm of Southeast Health Group, another relatively new business in the community, but one that has dedicated itself to "going paperless" in its operations with client documents being converted and safeguarded and saved into file-sharing software. The company also focuses on a strict recycling code among staff.
The other finalist for the environmental leadership award was Woodlawn Regional Park.
In the Growth and Expansion category, Turnbull Excavating got the nod over G2 Eavestroughing and Trimount for the Estevan Chamber of Commerce sponsored trophy.
It was pointed out that since its inception in 1985, the company that started with Ed Turnbull, one truck and one skid-steer, has grown into several divisions of service including concrete, water and sewer excavation and aggregates. A new shop and concrete plant have allowed the business to grow to the point where it now employs 46 full-time and part-time people, plus many more pieces of versatile equipment to serve the various divisions.
The Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013 was Brent Gedak of Brent Gedak Welding. It was noted that Gedak branched out into his enterprise in 2007 and now ships manufactured products as far as B.C. as the company has grown from two to 25 employees. Other nominees in this category were Leann Boehm of Southeast Health Group and Chris Tarnes, owner of The Floor Store.
Gedak received the award from co-sponsors Spectra Credit Union and Southern Plains Co-op.
Other young business professionals were invited into the spotlight with the announcement that G2 Eavestroughing and Exteriors had captured the Community Futures sponsored prize for New Business Venture.
G2 is owned and operated by Benji and Josh Gustafson who started out with a basic eavestrough enterprise with their sister as their lone part-time employee and have expanded their business to include exterior finishes on all types of housing and businesses and now offer metal cladding, drywalling, framing and finish carpentry a rapid growth for a couple of farm guys looking for summer jobs a couple of years ago.
Other finalists in this category were Microtel Inn and Suites by Wyndham and Premium Well Services Ltd.
The C of C EBEX Award for Business Leader of the Year went to Warren Waldegger, general manager of T.Bird Oil and president of Fire Sky Energy and co-founder of Certified Energy Services, Kalabash Resources and Dreams Investing.
"I love going to work every day," said Waldegger in accepting the trophy.
It was noted during the introduction that Waldegger was a well-known contributor to the community both personally and through his business associations, and with 18 years in the oilfield industry, he was more than well established in the local business environments.
Turnbull was the other finalist in this category.
In accepting the Business of the Year Award, from MNP, Turnbull said he "really didn't expect this recognition and attention," and cited a solid work ethic and good employees as a couple of keys to success. Earlier he had noted that even in his sideline career as an owner, builder and driver of stock cars he has learned that there is never any reward in "cutting corners" or looking for an easier way. He said that hard honest work always ended up paying off in the end. (See related article in this week's edition).
The EBEX Awards are presented every two years to deserving Estevan and area businesses and individuals.
The judges for this year's event were Dennis Bode, Rodney Beatty, Tim Jenish, Lynn Chipley and Barry Bridges, all past presidents of the Estevan and District Chamber of Commerce
