People hate to call on them, but Coast Wide Flood & Fire Restoration still managed to snag the award for best customer service at last Friday’s Business Excellence Awards, held at the Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club in Roberts Creek.
“We’re not people you want in your house,” said co-founder Kris Maharaj in his acceptance speech.
This marks the third year the awards have been held, and the first time all three chambers of commerce of the lower Sunshine Coast have participated in full collaboration. Nominees do not have to be members of the Sechelt, Gibsons or Pender Harbour chambers.
“It was a very successful evening with an amazing line-up of winners and nominees and a great collaboration of all three local chambers. The whole Sunshine Coast business community was very supportive and encouraging of a unified Coast effort,” said Chris Nicholls, executive director of Gibsons & District Chamber of Commerce.
More than 100 nomination submissions were made, and the following businesses took home honours in 10 categories:
Sustainability Leader – Upland Agricultural Consulting
Building, Contractors, Trades – Weber McCall Electric
Tourism and Hospitality – Sunshine Coast Air
Community Impact – Euspiria Café
Rising Star – Hangar Climbing Lounge
Technology & Innovation – Insightful Visions
Customer Service – Coast Wide Flood & Fire Restoration
Young Entrepreneur – Jasper Marine
Female Entrepreneur – Konzuk Jewelry
Legacy Award – Gibsons Building Supplies
“We are absolutely amazed. It’s something we try to instill in all of our guys, in us, in our company,” Maharaj said. They had not been nominated before. “When we first got an email that we got a nomination, I thought it was a scam and I ignored it.”
The Sechelt-based family business has been operational for four years.
“It’s amazing. I haven’t been in business for quite a year yet, and the amount of support I get from this community is mind blowing,” said Jasper Vermeulen, who won the Young Entrepreneur Award for his aluminum boat building business, Jasper Marine. The 26-year-old welder who returned to his hometown of Gibsons after working in Alberta, attributed his success to community and his family, who helped co-sign for loans.
“You can’t do it all yourself,” Vermeulen said. “You need to take all the help you can get.”
Jewelry designer Karen Konzuk won in the female entrepreneur category for her business, Konzuk Jewelry Design. She said the logistics of shipping can pose a challenge but said doing business on the Coast is great. “I’m lucky that I can work from home and employ people, too.” She has been based in Pender Harbour for the past six years.
Approximately 140 people attended the awards night, which was broadcast live by Coast TV. The event was originally to be held Feb. 23 but was postponed due to a winter storm.
See more photos from the event in our online galleries at www.coastreporter.net/photos-videos
