EY announces 2014 Québec Entrepreneur Of The Year™ finalists today

EY (Ernst & Young)

EY (Ernst & Young)

Survey Canadian entrepreneurs exceed global average for annual revenue growth

MONTRÉAL, July 7, 2014 /CNW/ - EY is pleased to announce this year's gravity-defying Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists in Québec.

"Every year entrepreneurs from across the province continue to defy the odds, and the impossible," says Luc Charbonneau, Québec Entrepreneur Of The Year program co-director. "These business leaders are propelling Québec — and Canada — forward. Now that's something to celebrate."

Our research found that Canada's 2013 program finalists recorded average revenue growth of 37% year-over-year in 2012. That's above the global average of 29% for developed countries. Seventy-four percent also have an international footprint — compared to 41% in Australia.

"Revenue growth is only part of the story. What makes these entrepreneurs really special is their role in driving job creation," says Daniel Baer, Québec Entrepreneur Of The Year program co-director. "Our survey shows that last year's finalists increased employment by 25% year over year in 2012."

High-growth entrepreneurs create new markets and industries, contributing job growth in the economy. This year's 2014 Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists in Québec represent 14,500 jobs in Canada. Together with all other finalists coast to coast that number grows to 37,000.

"Our program finalists prove what's possible with a good idea and a lot of hard work," says Baer. "We're proud to share their inspiring stories. These visionaries deserve all of the credit we can give them."

Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates the contribution and spirit of entrepreneurs everywhere. The Canadian program is in its 21st year of honouring the country's most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business. Award finalists are chosen based on their vision, leadership, financial success and social responsibility.

The Québec winners will be announced at a gala on 23 October 2014. The overall Québec winner will represent the region at the national gala held in Toronto on 25 November.

The 2014 Québec finalists for Entrepreneur Of The Year:

Business-to-Business Products and Services

José Boisjoli
BRP | Valcourt
brp.com
A world leader in the design, manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of motorized recreational vehicles and power sports engines.

Mario Champagne
Le Groupe PPP ltée | Québec City
groupeppp.com
Designs, manages and distributes products and services that build, secure and maintain customer loyalty among vehicle owners.

Martin Cousineau
Lobe Réseau inc | Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures
lobe.ca
A portal bringing together all multidisciplinary clinic managers under the banner of Lobe Santé auditive et communication, giving patients access to hearing, language and speech healthcare professionals.

Business-to-Consumer Products and Services

Jean Benny, Vincent Benny, Yves Benny
Benny & Frères | Bois-des-Filion
benny-co.com
A rotisserie founded in 1960, Benny & Co is famous for its roast chicken.

Nicolas Tremblay
Construction Junic | Gatineau
junic.ca
Builds extraordinary homes for all generations, setting the standard for both innovation and quality.

Réal Bouclin
Réseau Sélection | Laval
reseau-selection.com
Offers senior housing that stands out for its welcoming, comfortable, stimulating and secure living spaces, where health and prevention are paramount.

Bassel Atallah, Firas Atallah, Rami Atallah
SSENSE | Montréal
ssense.com
A leading online luxury clothing boutique, carrying over 200 men's and women's wear collections, including shoes and accessories, from world renowned designers.

Emerging Entrepreneur

Noémie Dupuy, Michael Elman, David Lipes
Budge Studios | Montréal
budgestudios.com
Creates entertaining apps for kids for smartphones and tablets featuring high profile properties such as Strawberry Shortcake, Garfield, and Caillou.

Frédéric Bastien
mnubo | Montréal
mnubo.com
Lowers barrier of entry for connected object manufacturers and accelerate their time-to-market by enabling them with a comprehensive SaaS-based IoT applications platform

Sonny Lamba, Paresh Vadavia
OPMpros.com | Montréal
OPMpros.com
An award-winning affiliate marketing agency that works closely with major retailers across North America to help maximize online revenues and specializes in affiliate program management across the full range of affiliate networks.

Health Sciences

John Sampalis
JSS Medical Research Inc. | Saint-Laurent
jssresearch.com
A global clinical research organization.

Louis Laflamme
Opsens Inc. | Québec City
opsens.com
Develops, manufactures, supplies and installs fibre optic systems, notably measurement of Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) in medical instrumentation in the oil and gas industries.

Sébastien Blais-Ouellette
Photon etc. | Montréal
photonetc.com
Specializes in optical analysis, designing and manufacturing instruments based on unique patented hyperspectral imaging technologies for research centres around the world and for the industrial sector.

Information Technology

Sébastien Vachon
Korem inc. | Québec City
korem.com
A leader in geospatial technology solutions, providing a full range of geospatial services, and software and data solutions tailored to client needs.

Danny Chazonoff, Joel Leonoff
Optimal Payments | Montréal
optimalpayments.com
A leading provider of online and mobile integrated payment technologies for millions of consumers and thousands of businesses around the world.

Matthew Cassar, Peter Cassar
SherWeb Inc. | Sherbrooke
sherweb.com
A worldwide hosted services leader providing competitive cloud solutions to businesses and partners around the world.

Manufacturing

Marc-André Lesmerises
Carnot Réfrigération Inc. | Trois-Rivières
carnotrefrigeration.com
Designs and manufactures greenhouse gas-free refrigeration and air-conditioning systems for supermarkets, warehouses, arenas and server rooms.

Serge Gendron
Groupe AGF Inc. | Longueuil
acieragf.com
A Canadian leader in the design, fabrication and installation of concrete reinforcing steel (rebar) and post-tensioning.

Michael Cyr
LOCWELD | Candiac
locweld.com
Offers design, detailing, fabrication and galvanizing of steel structures including lattice towers, tubular poles, substation structures, bridges, custom fabrication and much more.

Media and Entertainment

Richard Speer
Attraction Media | Montréal
attraction.ca
Brings together six companies from a range of fields, including advertising, film, television, emerging media, radio broadcasting and distribution.

Michael Green
Hueneye Communications | Lasalle
hueneye.com
A print management company located in the Southwest of Montréal that specializes in Gang-Run Printing.

Jean Labadie
Les Industries Show Canada Inc. | Laval
show-canada.ca
Specializes in set production and architectural support services offering project management, design, engineering, manufacturing and installation and maintenance services tailored to its clients' needs.

Real estate/construction

Simon Labrecque
Air Ambiant inc. | Longueuil
airambiant.com
Offers simple, effective solutions for complex projects to upgrade mechanical room ventilation systems for large institutional and commercial buildings.

Johanne Bousquet
Chagall Design | Sainte-Julie
chagalldesign.ca
Specializes in commercial development, providing turnkey services, from construction to installation of décor and furnishings to optimize the retail shopping experience.

Élise Beauchesne
Web Estate Management 2009 inc. | Montréal
solutioncondo.com
Web Estate Management Inc. and Web Estate Management 2009 Inc. run SolutionCondo.com, a platform that markets web software dedicated to facilitating the management of cooperatives.

Technology and Communication

Simon Morris
CogniVue Corporation | Gatineau
cognivue.com
Licenses embedded vision processor, IP technology, tools and software that allow companies to develop previously impossible high-performance, low-power vision applications for automotive, consumer and industrial markets.

Pierre Racz
Genetec | Saint-Laurent
genetec.com
A global leader in Vide Management Systems used to protect large and small scale critical infrastructure, government, transportation, retail, and campus environments.

Guillaume Poudrier
Géothentic Inc | Montréal
geothentic.com
Offers a range of eco-friendly, economical and customized geo-location products to solve various corporate vehicle management issues.

Young Entrepreneur

Wayne Burke, Steve Shoiry
Dominion New Energy | Montréal
dneresources.com
Helps customers purchase energy and related products in deregulated energy markets.

Hicham Ratnani, Yifeng Song
Frank & Oak | Montréal
frankandoak.com
The simplest way to shop the latest trends in menswear, with quality designs, personalized services, and a hassle-free online experience. The vertically integrated brand designs, manufactures and sells premium clothing and accessories.

Carmelo Marsala
Spray-Net Inc. | Boucherville
spray-net.ca
Offers consumers a permanent exterior paint solution to change the colour of their existing sidings as well as their doors and windows whether they be in aluminum, vinyl, stucco or PVC.

Special Citation — Social Entrepreneur

Social entrepreneur is a unique category that awards a special citation to an entrepreneur whose achievements have driven large-scale social change and improved people's lives or quality of life.

Manon Barbeau
Wapikoni mobile | Montréal
wapikoni.ca
A travelling studio that visits native communities, offering audio-visual training workshops in film and music.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.

The 2014 Québec judging panel consists of Chris Arsenault, Associé directeur, iNovia Capital; Isabelle Bettez, Présidente, Entrepreneur Of The Year Technology Solutions category finalist 2011, Québec, and 8D Technologies Inc.; Jean-Françoys Brousseau, Entrepreneur Of The Year Technology and Communications category winner 2013, Québec, and Président et chef de la direction, Outbox Holding CRB Inc.; Michel Gendreau, Entrepreneur Of The Year regional winner 2012, Québec, and Président, Garaga inc.; Nathalie Marcoux, Vice-présidente aux finances, Capinabel inc.; and Sam Scalia, Entrepreneur Of The Year Real Estate/Construction category winner 2009, Québec, and Président, Samcon inc.

For more information on the program, FAQs and key dates, please visit ey.com/ca/EOY.

For more information about our Québec Entrepreneur Of The Year awards gala on 23 October 2014, please contact Sophie Leclerc at 514 879 8173 or [email protected].

Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada: #EOYQuébec.

This year's national program sponsors are National Post, La Presse, RDI, TEC Canada, Merrill DataSite, The Printing House Limited and Kira Talent. In Québec, Entrepreneur Of The Year is sponsored by Fonds de solidarité FTQ.

About EY's Strategic Growth Markets Network
EY's worldwide Strategic Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early-stage venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed.

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

EY was recently named 2014 Professional Services Organization of the Year by Startup Canada. The Startup Canada Awards celebrate and distinguish the individuals, communities and institutions in Canada that have demonstrated innovation, excellence, outstanding achievement and impact in advancing Canadian entrepreneurship.

About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY is proudly celebrating 150 years in Canada. For more information, please visit ey.com/ca. Follow us on Twitter @EYCanada.

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SOURCE: EY (Ernst & Young)

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Sarah Shields
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Julie Fournier
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