There was dazzle and sizzle in the room, as the Quesnel business community came together to celebrate the local economy like never before.
There were 39 more nominations this year than last at the Business Excellence Awards hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. “That is a record,” said executive director Kathy Somerville of the 129 names on this year’s nominee list.
When it came time to announce the grand award, Quesnel’s Business Person of the Year, there were 17 in the running and Somerville said “the number of nominees in this category tells me there are some successful business leaders in this community and we should be very proud.”
With that, the envelope was opened and the winner was Marlo Logging proprietor James Godsoe.
“I don’t know how a logger could ever win this award,” Godsoe joked. “I never thought I’d get nominated. First time ever. I don’t know how I’m in the same field as these guys (the other nominees). They’re all in town, dealing with people.”
What wasn’t lost on the public, and Godsoe’s business peers, was the lengths he has gone to retain his staff, and the efforts he has put into looking out for the community at large. When pressed on what it is he values about his company’s position, he reluctantly, shyly listed, “I employ people. I help out the community as much as I can. I sponsor hockey, the rodeo, a lot of things. For Christmas we are working on helping people less fortunate. I want to give back. I work hard and we’re doing good. I want to actually give a hand up to people who aren’t doing well.”
He also went above and beyond to channel his staff and heavy equipment, water trucks, and the like to aid in the wildfires around Quesnel. He felt proud to contribute in that way.
“The challenges facing business today are daunting,” said small business owner and city councillor Debra McKelvie, representing City Hall at the event. “You’ve been called out by your peers for your dedication to excellence.”
Chandra Lawlor was called out twice, the only multiple nominee to win one of the trophies, hers for Home-Based Business. She was also up for Business Person of the Year.
“Huge night. Shock. Pure excitement. Nervous,” Lawlor said, listing her feelings after hearing her name called as a winner. “This is amazing, that my customers nominated me and then people voted for me. This means the whole world to me. It has been a phenomenal week, of so many wonderful things happening.”
It was also this week that her company TL Designs was announced as the official merchandiser of the Lhtako Quesnel BC Winter Games.
“I’ve been expanding. I just got a new machine that arrived on Wednesday,” she said. Two 12-hour shifts later, supervised by a technician, and TL Designs can now do many things never possible before. “I’m absolutely excited. It’s a direct-to-garment printer and it does transfers as well. I can just do so many more things with it, it is giving us so many more options. I’ve wanted to get it for a long time. It’s really expensive, so I was hesitant, but when we were awarded the BC Winter Games contract, that was the push I needed to step out there to get the machine.”
She also hired a local web designer to establish a better online presence. “If there is somebody local, I will use them if I can,” she said.
Regional District representative Mary Sjostrom, also a veteran of local small business, emphasized that “as long as we support each other,” the local economy could weather these recent fiscal storms.
“That’s what we need to do in Quesnel – support them and they will shine,” agreed Somerville, excited about all the startup businesses entering the local business picture.
“I’m just so happy, because I love what I do. I’m fortunate,” said Godsoe about being in business in this community, starting with Marlo when he graduated 33 years ago, and eventually bought the company. “I’m 100 per cent staffed. I’ve got good guys, so I’m taking care of my guys. I appreciate them. I’ve got 20 people.”
Just when Lawlor thought things couldn’t get any better, she was even called as the winner of a door prize.
“My cheeks are hurting from all the smiling tonight,” she said.
Next week’s edition of The Observer will have a full photo gallery of the complete Business Excellence Awards winners’ list.
They are, in order of the night’s events:
Home-Based Business: TL Designs
Social Leadership Award: Tony Goulet
Greatest Improvement: Downtown Tirecraft
Agriculture Excellence: Kosters’ Farm & Garden
Outstanding Customer Service: Jessica Goodman
Diverse and Inclusive Employer: Quesnel Community Living Association
New Business of the Year: The Sage Mule Co.
Excellence In Tourism: Billy Barker Days Society
Business of the Year (10+ Employees): TIE between Richbar Nursery Golf & Gardens and Aroma Foods
Business of the Year (Less Than 10 Employees): Clayton’s Funeral Directors
Business Person of the Year: James Godsoe of Marlo Logging
READ MORE: More than 100 nominees in the running for annual awards
READ MORE: Quesnel Chamber of Commerce discusses past, present, future – Upcoming are the 2023 Business Excellence Awards
