Local Community Advertising
Samuel Geleynse is finding it difficult to put into words what a finalist nod for the Kelowna Chamber Business Excellence Awards means to him.
"Well, it is tough and it came as a total surprise," the owner of VitaNova Landscape said with a laugh.
"As you know, there are lots of entrepreneurs out there and to be singled out is a big honour. It really validates what we do with the business."
Geleynse, 35, is one of three finalists in the 'young entrepreneur of the year' category along with Dr. Harmony Mir of Harmony Chiropractic and Wellness and Billy Price of Untold Branding.
When Geleynse set up VitaNova Landscape in 2019 he knew what tended to irk customers about landscapers was that they sometimes didn't show up when they said they would.
"So, VitaNova makes it a priority to always keep clients in the loop and follow through to always do what we say we're going to do," he said.
The gala where Business Excellence Awards winners will be announced is Nov. 23 at the Delta Grand hotel (tickets available at https://secure.kelownachamber.
You can also see the full list of 48 finalists in 16 categories at KelownaChamber.org.
In the runup to the awards, we thought it would be apropos to catch up with some of the finalists to find out how the accolade has changed their life.
"It's huge," said Chad Haller of Kelowna Concierge.
"The Business Excellence Awards are tops and to be a finalist and win means people are recognizing what we do and validating what we're doing."
Haller knows of which he speaks.
Kelowna Concierge won the 'excellence in tourism' trophy in 2019 and this time around is a finalist in the 'small business of the year' category.
Kelowna Concierge does wine tours, corporate event planning and operates shuttles to the airport and ski resorts.
Haller owns and operates the business with his wife, Jillian, and another couple, Jon and Jessica De Bruyne.
International Gateway Kelowna, an English-as-a-second language school, is a finalist in two categories -- 'mid-size business of the year' and 'social leadership.'
"Receiving recognition from the business community is so important," said the school's director of marketing and recruitment Blaine Melnyk.
"It shows we're making a bigger impact in the community."
Since starting in 2002, International Gateway has been helping immigrants learn English for life, work and school in Canada.
Recently, the school also rounded up corporate sponsorships to provide English classes for 56 Ukrainians who moved to Kelowna seeking a new life after the Russian invasion.
"It's an honour," said business development manager Loretta McFadyen of Okanagan Restoration Services' finalist spot in the 'ethics in business' category
"Ethics really resonates with us because our business is all about quality work at a fair price delivered with excellent customer service. In fact, all 70 of our employees are ethical in both their professional and personal lives."
Okanagan Restoration has offices in both Kelowna and Vernon and helps home and business owners with everything from smoke and fire, water and sewer and wind damage to mold and asbestos removal and crime scene cleanup.
Local Community Advertising