Nominations have opened up for the 2018 Business of the Year Awards (BOYA).
The Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce and the Cold Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce are looking for the best businesses in the region.
“We want to celebrate the small, medium, and large business we have in town. This is a good way to highlight some exceptional businesses and to recognize how much work owners put into day-to-day operations,” said Tanya Oliver, Executive Director of the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce.
Nominees will be considered in a number of categories. Business owners will compete for the title of outstanding small, large, or not-for-profit business.
Community involvement in Bonnyville/Cold Lake and most promising new business round out the categories businesses are eligible for.
“To be considered, they must excel in the quality of service they provide. Active involvement with other businesses, active involvement in the community, and demonstration of business success are all factors,” explained Oliver.
Businesses that meet the requirements and are nominated will then have to complete a profile. Each nominee will answer the same set of questions before submitting their entry to the judging panel. The panel carefully reviews each application and makes their decisions accordingly.
To keep the competition fair, the panel has no idea who they're judging while they're grading the profile.
“Their answers are sent to a separate committee of the chamber, comprised of media, past winners, and usually the mayor or a council member,” said Sherri Bohme, executive director of the Cold Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce “They're graded based on their answers, but nobody knows who they're grading as the names are blocked out.”
In addition to the business awards, an individual award will be given to an employee who displays excellence in customer service.
The award is a well-deserved moment in the spotlight.
“There are many businesses in the community that don't belong to a larger corporation or franchise and can't properly recognize their employees. That award is for the business owner who wants to show he appreciates his employee but can't necessarily do so,” explained Bohme.
Leaving nobody out, long standing businesses in the community will also be awarded.
Any business celebrating five, 10, or 20 years in the region can submit their name.
The BOYA are a way for businesses to reflect on their hard work while also making valuable connections.
“Like anything the chamber does, there will be networking opportunities,” said Oliver. “It's just an awesome night. We make it really elegant and just provide an atmosphere where businesses can enjoy themselves.”
Nomination forms can be found online, or picked up at either chamber office. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Aug. 14.
