8/3/2019 Financial Post - Oct 17, 2011

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FP20 financialpost.com

EOYAWARDSNATIONAL POST, MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

PAC I F I C

REG ION

Robert Little, founder andchief executive of RegencyFireplace Products, was

named Ernst & Young EntrepreneurOf The Year 2011 for the Pacific re-gion at a gala event in Vancouveron Oct. 5. Mr. Little also won in themanufacturing category.

Great entrepreneurial leadershave the drive and tenacity to gen-erate successful ideas in the face ofmany obstacles, says Ron Voyer,director of the award program forthe Pacific region. While other com-panies were pulling back during the

financial downturn, Robert [Little]honed his vision, and continued in-vesting time and money in researchand development.

While Mr. Voyer says true entre-preneurs are architects of their own

vision, he underlines the importanceof pairing that with the right kind ofinnovation. With a keen sense of de-sign and strong sense of consumerawareness, Mr. Little continues totake Regency to new heights.

From the introduction of the firstnatural gas fireplace to the completemodernization of the industrys dis-tribution model, Mr. Littles innova-tions have changed thefaceof hearthmanufacturing.

Innovation isnt just a best prac-

tice, its a mentality, Mr. Voyer says.Inspired ideas like Roberts are thefuel that turns a fast-growth com-pany fromstartupto stand-out.

Otherwinners include:business-to-business products and services, DarbyKreitz, Allnorth Consultants Ltd.;

business-to-consumer products andservices, Attila and Boldijarre Koronc-zay, minence Organic Skin Care Inc.;cleantech/information technology,Donald McInnes, Alterra Power; hos-pitality/tourism, Vikram Vij, Vijs Res-taurant Inc.; mining and metals, KeithNeumeyer, FirstMajestic Silver Corp.;professional/financial services, JohnNicola, Nicola Wealth ManagementLtd.; real estate/construction, JohnTilstra, Centra Construction Group

Ltd.; young entrepreneur, JoshuaHuen, Dr. Battery; special citation: so-cial entrepreneur, DianeJohnson, De-scriptiveVideo WorksInc.

The Canadian program, in its 18thyear, is sponsored byNational Post,La Presse, RDI and patron sponsorthe Four Seasons Hotel. Pacific regionsponsors include Canada WideMedia,the Vancouver Sun, Hunt Personnel/Temporarily Yoursand theRoyalBankof Canada. For more information ontheprogram,go to ey.com/ca/EOY.

Financial Post

Tenacityin face of

obstacles

PHOTOS: SARA BORCK PHOTOGRAHY

Robert Little, founder and CEO, Regency Fireplace Products, 2011 manufacturingand Pacificoverall awardrecipient; Colleen McMorrow, partner, Ernst & Young, and national director EOY and entrepreneurial services;

Ron Voyer,partner, Ernst & Young, Pacificdirector EOY and regional entrepreneurial services leader.Robert Little, founder and CEO,

Regency Fireplace Products.

Dr. Norman Keevil, chairman,Teck Resources Ltd.,

and Linda Keevil.

Joyce Lincoln; Mark ODea, chairman, Pilot Gold (formerlyFronteerGold), 2011finalist, mining and metals; Victoria ODea; and

Jim Lincoln, former president of Fronteer Gold (USA).

Fan Chun,CFO, Dr. Battery;Sean Martinez, senior manager,Ernst & Young; Joshua Huen,founder andCEO,Dr. Battery and

2011 young entrepreneur award recipient; and Maggie Kung,executiveassistant, Dr. Battery.

Andrew Kemp, president, CMW InsuranceServices, 2011 professional/financial services

finalist; and Diane Johnson, president & CEO,Descriptive Video Works Inc., 2011 special

citation: social entrepreneur.

Muhammad Amir, president, SPF PrecutLumber, 2011finalist, manufacturing; and

Mo Amir, SPF Precut Lumber.

RickMcClymont, president, Britco Structures; Mona McClymont; CyndiLatoski; and Darren Latoski,CEO, Sunstone Realty Advisors.

Darby Kreitz, president & CEO, Allnorth Consultants Ltd., 2011busi-ness-to-business award recipient; Traci Kreitz; Pam Greenslade; and

John Greenslade, president & CEO, Baja Mining Corp.

Attila Koronczay, co-founder, minence Organic Skin Care Inc.,2011 business-to-consumer award recipient; Erin Stouck, minence

Organic Skin Care; Boldijarre Koronczay, co-founder, minenceOrganic Skin Care; and Dalbir Rai, partner, Ernst & Young.

Steve Curtis, CEO, ZAG Global, finalist,youngentrepreneur; and JennLowther, director of

social media, 6S Marketing.

You see the big picture of your future.We can help you with the details tomake it happen.

Whats next for your business?

ey.com/ca/Entrepreneurs ey.com/ca/EOY

2011 Ernst & Young LLP. All rights reserved.