By Amy Cleary | for The Pearl | Vol. 7 No. 2 (January 31 2019)
Mount Pearl has a lot to celebrate when it comes to business growth, according to Wanda Palmer, executive director of the Mount Pearl - Paradise Chamber of Commerce. Last week, at a gala banquet, the chamber celebrated some of the best successes of the past year.
“Our chamber has grown 24 per cent in 2018, which certainly shows the interest of businesses,” said Palmer.
Some 200 people from that business community attended the Best in Business Awards banquet.
“There was a feeling of success and pride in the room,” said Palmer. “Companies were reaching out, making new contacts, seeing people they had not seen since last year and realizing the growth in both the chamber and the business community.”
Hickman Automotive Group won the Communication & Marketing Award this year, while GForce Funderdome Inc took the honour for Best New Business. Admiralty House Communications Museum won the Outstanding Business of the Year Award in the category for organizations with less than 15 employees. Body Quest Health & Wellness Center won the Outstanding Business of the Year Award for businesses with more than 15 employees. Pennecon Limited took the Innovation Awardm while Colemans Supermarket won the Customer Service Award. Inclusion NL was honoured with the Employee Equity award while Mount Pearl Frosty Festival won the Community Impact Award for Mount Pearl while Pennecon Limited won the Community Impact Award for Paradise.
Congratulations rang out during the event for all the business winners, but the loudest applause was given to Linda Humby, the winner of the Outstanding Employee award from Young Drivers of Canada in Mount Pearl.
“This award is presented to an employee who has a reputation for integrity, a high level of customer service in the community, takes initiative and consistently exceeds expectations, and portrays a positive attitude towards work responsibilities and their co-workers,” said Palmer.
The outstanding employee award is a new addition to the event and was added for a special reason.
“We always recognize companies that do well, but so often it is the employee who helps make the company successful,” said Palmer. “This is a new award this year and we received a great number of nominations, so Linda should certainly feel proud to have received this award.”
Palmer said congratulations are due to everyone. “All the nominees were winners and we certainly look forward to an even bigger event next year,” she said.
