The NOW was on hand for the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

The Douglas College self-employment program celebrated its shining stars on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the Executive Inn on North Road.

The program recognized its best and brightest with nine awards: service, consulting, home-based business, global, perseverance, retail, high tech, construction and manufacturing, and overall entrepreneur of the year.

Susan Cumberland of Academic Advantage Educational Services won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, sponsored by Coast Capital Savings.

As Published in © Coquitlam Now 2009

Locals named in biz awards

Burnaby business owners were rewarded for their entrepreneurial endeavuors at the 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards on Oct. 21.

Susan Cumberland was named overall Entrepreneur of the Year. Susan's company, Academic Advantage Educational Services, provides in-home tutoring for students from kindergarten to grade 12 and is now franchising throughout B.C. Susan employs 380 certified and carefully selected teachers to assist students in the comfort of their own homes.

Academic Advantage Educational Services has also contributed to the building of a home for a teacher in the Dominican Republic and donates to breast cancer research, orphanages in China and the youth summit to support homeless teenagers.

Andrew Lawrence took home the High-Tech Award for his success with Transparent Solutions Corp. Transparent Solutions Corp. is a premier provider of Cloud Computing services, offering consulting and network management for small to mid-sized businesses across Canada. Andrew and his team make enterprise-level technology available to small businesses, all for an affordable, all-inclusive, flat monthly rate.

Sharon Gordon's tenacity and steadfastness in the face of obstacles was rewarded with the Perseverance Award.

Sharon's company, Hayes Int'l. Ventures Inc., developed the Energy Restoring Footpad, an inexpensive way to help consumers improve their health by massaging their feet using the principles of reflexology to restore their body's natural self-curative abilities.

Additionally, Burnaby business owner, Danniella Devine, was recognized as a finalist in the Service category for Danniella Devine Bookkeeping, which provides full-cycle bookkeeping services to small businesses throughout the Lower Mainland.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Awards recognize graduates of the Douglas College Self Employment Program.

This year, 25 finalists were nominated for awards in eight categories, plus the overall winner.

Last week's celebrations at the Executive Plaza Hotel in Coquitlam coincided with Small Business Week.

More than 400 program alumni and special guests attended.

For more information on the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and the Douglas College Self Employment Program, please contact 604-520-5020.

As published in © Burnaby Now 2009

Susan, her parents and her husband at the award ceremony.

Susan Cumberland was nominated for the RBC Canadian Entrepreneur Award in 2007 and 2008