Ernst & Young celebrates Atlantic finalists for Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010
- Firm recognizes high-achieving entrepreneurs who make a difference in the
global economy

HALIFAX, July 6 /CNW/ - Canada's most successful entrepreneurs improve the quality of life for people across the globe, Ernst & Young said today as the firm announced the finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2010 Awards.

"Through remarkable courage and determination, our Atlantic finalists this year have turned their dreams into thriving businesses and helped create prosperous communities," says Joyce Hoeven, Partner and Atlantic Director of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards. "These are the people who can continue to drive growth beyond the Atlantic region into other Canadian markets and ones throughout the world."

According to a recent Ernst & Young publication, A world of opportunity: Entrepreneurial perspectives on the impact of globalization, entrepreneurs have been quick to seize opportunities presented by the opening of new markets.

"Capital, ideas and people move freely between markets in the global economy. Entrepreneurs who secure and develop these vital resources can create jobs and transform industries," says Hoeven. "But they'll need to remain innovative, agile and determined to stay ahead of their rivals."

In another recent report, Ambitious, adept and agile, Ernst & Young finds that just over two-thirds of entrepreneurs surveyed agree that globalization has opened the door to new and unforeseen competitors. Companies are suddenly finding a new generation of rivals from both local and international markets.

"As competition intensifies, the pace of innovation must also increase," Hoeven states. "Creating enhanced products and services begins with listening carefully to all your people: staff, customers, suppliers and partners. Companies that do this can ultimately change the way we do things - and our lives for the better."

Entrepreneur Of The Year recognizes high-achieving entrepreneurs in Canada and around the world who drive growth, build communities and transform industries. The Canadian program is in its 17th year of honouring the country's most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business.

The names of the Atlantic winners will be announced at a gala banquet in Halifax on October 19, and the overall Atlantic winner will represent the region at the national banquet in Toronto on November 17. For ticket information regarding the regional and national banquets, please contact Jamie Roche at 709 570 8274.

The 2010 Atlantic finalists for Entrepreneur Of The Year:

Business-to-business products and services

    
    Andrée Savoie, David Savoie, Jean-Guy Bourgeois, Mathieu LeBlanc, Regan
    Steeves

    Acadian Construction (1991) Ltd. - Dieppe, New Brunswick
    acadianconstruction.com
    

Acadian Construction is a family-owned, bilingual commercial construction general contracting and project management services company that operates throughout the Maritime provinces.

    
    Jean LeBlanc

    Lantech Drilling Services Inc. - Dieppe, New Brunswick
    lantechdrilling.com
    

Lantech Drilling Services offers reliable drilling and sampling services to the global mining, geotechnical and environmental business communities.

    
    Dr. Marlon Lewis

    Satlantic Incorporated - Halifax, Nova Scotia
    satlantic.com
    

Satlantic designs and manufactures oceanographic and aquatic sensors for optical research, satellite calibration and validation, and environmental prediction and assessment.

    
    Lyndon Quinton

    Shannahan's Investigation and Security Limited - Mount Pearl,
    Newfoundland and Labrador
    

Shannahan's Investigation and Security provides a broad range of investigative, surveillance, enforcement and security services to individuals and corporate clients in both the private and public sectors.

Business-to-consumer products and services

    
    Floyd Gaetz

    AML Communications - Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
    amlcares.com
    

AML is a Rogers(TM) Authorized Dealer, and serves its customers with communication, information and productivity-based services.

    
    Bert Hickman, Jonathan Hickman

    Hickman Automotive Group - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
    hickmanmotors.ca
    

Hickman Automotive Group is a new and used car dealership empire that is over a century old, with several dealerships across Newfoundland.

    
    Steven Kay

    The Orb Factory Limited - Halifax, Nova Scotia
    orbfactory.com
    

The Orb Factory designs, manufactures, retails and distributes children's crafts and activities to international markets.

Information technology

    
    Ian CavanaghAmbir - Saint John, New Brunswick

    ambirsolutions.com
    

Ambir is a full-service consulting firm that helps clients meet their market requirements, from concept and strategy through to implementation and operations.

    
    Duncan Shaw

    Cogsdale - Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
    cogsdale.com
    

Cogsdale develops software solutions for local governments and utilities to address the complex and changing needs of their operations.

    
    Tony Chedrawy

    MetOcean Data Systems Limited - Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
    metocean.com
    

MetOcean Data Systems designs and produces state-of-the-art data acquisition and telemetry systems for the oil and gas, search and rescue, oceanographic, meteorological, military, asset tracking, polar, aquaculture and surveillance markets.

Manufacturing

    
    Bruce Ewert

    L'Acadie Vineyards - Wolfville, Nova Scotia
    lacadievineyards.ca
    

L'Acadie Vineyards specializes in traditional-method sparkling wines, an authentic wine style ideally suited for Nova Scotia's cool-climate terroir, as well as certified organic and dried-grape wines.

    
    Mike Timani

    Fancy Pokket Corp. - Moncton, New Brunswick
    fancypokket.com
    

Fancy Pokket is a manufacturer of bakery products such as pita bread, bagels, tortillas, pizza crust, panini and flatbread.

    
    Brian Titus

    Garrison Brewing Company - Halifax, Nova Scotia
    garrisonbrewing.com
    

Garrison is a microbrewery that produces a variety of full-flavoured, all-natural, preservative-free ales.

    
    David Ernst

    Terra Beata Farms Ltd. - Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
    cranberryfarm.ca
    

Terra Beata Farms is a cranberry farm that offers juices and dried cranberries to Canadian retailers and frozen cranberries to Europe and the US.

Media and entertainment

    
    John Chisholm

    Arcadia Entertainment - Halifax, Nova Scotia
    arcadiatv.com
    

Arcadia is a television production company specializing in international factual content for National Geographic and other broadcasters that focus on ocean and expedition themes.

    
    Michael Donovan

    DHX Media Ltd. - Halifax, Nova Scotia
    dhxmedia.com
    

DHX has more than 28 years of experience creating, producing and marketing Canadian film and television programming.

    
    Andrew Ayre

    Other Ocean Interactive - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
    otherocean.com
    

Other Ocean Interactive develops games and enterprise software for all platforms, and has development studios in Canada and the US.

    
    The Atlantic regional judges:

    Mark Dobbin, President and CEO
    Killick Capital

    Dr. Colin Dodds, President and Vice Chancellor
    St. Mary's University

    Gerry Pond, Partner and Chairman
    Mariner Partners

    Kent Scales, Partner
    Advantage Communications

    Shelley Simpson-McKay, Executive Director, Centre for Women in Business
    Mount Saint Vincent University
    

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year is sponsored nationally by Global TV, National Post, La Presse and RDI. The Atlantic region program sponsor is Progress, and the table patron is Marriott Halifax Harbourfront.

About Ernst & Young

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For further information: Melissa Prince, 416 943 3474, [email protected]; Brooke Morris, 604 899 3597, [email protected]; Julie Fournier, 514 874 4308, [email protected]