Breakfast With Champions
11 May 2010
Four of London's most outstanding small business leaders took the time on May 11th to enjoy breakfast with members of the London Chamber of Commerce and discuss their own triumphs and struggles that they encountered on route to building a successful business.
As each one of them was a finalist in the 2010 Business Achievement Awards for Small Business Category, the panelists for the Chamber's "Breakfast With Champions" know what it takes to be a winner.
Jim Graham of Try Recycling, built his business based on recycling building materials before "green" was in fashion. Jim had the ability to look ahead and see where environmental policy was going. He and his team also had a strong commitment to quality and service, ensuring that his recycled end product was consumer grade.
Cathy SisKind-Kelly of Black Fly Beverage Company explained how her and her husband set out to start their own small brewery, but when they saw the potential of the cooler industry, set out to make their own unique and less-sweet product. Gasps of surprise and admiration swept over the room as Cathy told of some of the struggles her and her husband faced getting their business off the ground as their business had to first to accomplish the none-too-easy task of being the first company in Ontario to obtain a distillery license in over 100 years.
Andrew McClenaghan of Echidna Solutions spoke of the early days of his web solutions business, sitting at a computer in his basement with a cat on his lap. Andrew was able to differentiate his business from his competitors through committment to service. Within a few years, Echidna was able to move out of Andrew's basement to their own building in London's core.
Dr. Greg Garvin of London X-Ray Associates, spoke of how the people in his business must balance being both doctors and professors as well as business people. He described the importance of patient/customer service coupled along with ensuring that the latest and best technologies and methods are being pursued.
During the panel discussion, these four business leaders gave us a glimpse into what has shaped them and their businesses.
Proud Member
InstaPoll
Will your Christmas spending