Chad Wasilenkoff of Fortress Paper announced as the 2010 Pacific Ernst &<br>Young Entrepreneur Of The Year®

British Columbia's winning entrepreneurs adopt a global mindset

VANCOUVER, Sept. 29 /CNW/ - Chad Wasilenkoff of Fortress Paper Ltd. has been named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year for the Pacific region.

"Chad is a shining example of how our British Columbia entrepreneurs are demonstrating they're not afraid of the shake-up of an economic downturn," said Fred Withers, Director of Entrepreneur Of The Year for the Pacific region. "Instead, Chad saw an opportunity to up the competitive ante by focusing on innovation, enhancing Fortress' presence in new markets, and ultimately emerging stronger than ever before."

Fortress evolved from Chad's impeccable sense of timing and fearless ambition. Since founding the company in 2006, he has led Fortress to become a leading provider of specialty and security papers.

Chad has successfully been able to combine his unique ability to identify untapped market opportunities with an innate entrepreneurial mindset focused on growth. In just four years, he has taken Fortress from its inception to a company with more than $200 million in sales. His continuous ability to innovate has led to the development of internationally recognized features in the security industry.

At the age of 38, Chad has already become an established entrepreneur with extensive capital markets experience in the resources sector. He currently serves as a director with various publicly listed companies. His passion is not limited to his business aspirations; he is also a proud donor and host to numerous charity events, including the Heart & Stroke Foundation and BC Cancer Foundation.

"Market-leading entrepreneurs are always looking to fill an unmet need in society, and challenge the status quo," said Withers. "This year's impressive group of Entrepreneur Of The Year award winners exemplify how optimism, a sharp business sense and an eye for opportunity can drive change well beyond our local community. It is our privilege to honour this group, their contributions and the inspiration they provide to the next generation of British Columbia's entrepreneurial talent."  

Also honoured by Ernst & Young was Canaccord Financial Inc. founder and Chairman Peter M. Brown, who received the 2010 Pacific Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding support of BC's business community and his significant accomplishments as an entrepreneur. He has been a dynamic force in the Canadian capital markets since 1968, and transformed Canaccord Capital Inc. (since renamed Canaccord Financial) into the largest independent investment dealer in Canada, with successful operations in Europe and the United States. 

Category winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 Pacific Awards:

Business-to-business products and services
Charles Kim
Trans Pac Group of Companies l Vancouver
transpacfibre.com

Trans Pac, primarily a wood products business, specializes in log and lumber exports to Asian markets.

Business-to-consumer products and services
Samir Manji
Amica Mature Lifestyles Inc. l Vancouver
amica.ca

Amica is a leader in the management, marketing, design and development of luxury housing and services for mature lifestyles.

Information technology
Elton Pereira
ParetoLogic, Inc. l Victoria
paretologic.com

ParetoLogic creates a wide range of user-friendly computer security and utility programs, including anti-virus, registry cleaner, child protection, driver updater, file extension repairer and data recovery software.

Cleantech
Nicole von Stefenelli
Urban Impact Recycling Ltd. l Richmond
urbanimpact.com

Urban Impact is a commercial transportation and processing company specializing in recycling, shredding and waste management services.

Social entrepreneur
Janice Abbott
Atira Property Management Inc. l Vancouver
atira.ca

Atira Property Management offers quality property management services for strata corporations, developers, rental properties, non-profit housing, and housing cooperatives in Greater Vancouver. The company uses all profits to fund the Atira Women's Resource Society's housing and support programs for women and children who have been impacted by violence.

Mining and metals
Peter Barnes
Silver Wheaton Corp. l Vancouver
silverwheaton.com

Silver Wheaton has quickly positioned itself as the largest metals streaming company in the world. It currently has 13 silver and two precious metals purchase agreements.

Hospitality/tourism
Emad Yacoub
Glowbal Restaurant Group Inc. | Vancouver
glowbalgroup.com

Comprises six restaurants, two lounges and a full-service catering company, offering customers  a satisfying restaurant experience on every level.

Manufacturing
Chad Wasilenkoff
Fortress Paper Ltd. l North Vancouver
fortresspaper.com

Fortress paper is an international manufacturer of specialty and security papers.

What's next?

As the Pacific region's 2010 Entrepreneur Of The Year, Chad will compete with top entrepreneurs from the Prairies, Ontario, Québec and Atlantic region for the national honour of Canada's Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010, to be presented at a gala celebration November 17, 2010, in Toronto. In June 2011, Canada's Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 will move to the world stage to compete with 50 country recipients for the title of Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year^®.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year

The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards honour the spirit and contribution of entrepreneurs here and around the world. This year, the Canadian program is proudly celebrating 17 years of honouring Canada's outstanding entrepreneurs from all areas of business. For more information on the program, please visit ey.com/ca/eoy.

Nominees are reviewed by an independent judging panel, which is composed of distinguished business leaders and previous award recipients. The 2010 Pacific region judging panel consisted of Ryan Beedie, President, The Beedie Group, and Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 Pacific Award winner; Bev Briscoe, President, Briscoe Management Ltd.; Jim Case, CEO, Travelers Financial Group; Amar Doman, Chairman and CEO, CanWel Building Materials Ltd.; Tracey McVicar, Managing Director, CAI Capital Management Co.; Jim Moore, President, Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc.; and Grant Weaver, Partner, Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is sponsored nationally by Global TV, National Post, La Presse and RDI. Pacific region program sponsors are the Vancouver Sun and BCBusiness magazine. The Pacific region banquet sponsor is Hunt Personnel/Temporarily Yours, the table patrons are UBC Sauder School of Business and RBC Royal Bank, and the program patron is Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 144,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

For more information, please visit ey.com/ca.

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