The EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award finalists
OpenRoad Auto Group's Christian Chia named Pacific Region winner
More than 1,200 people attended the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards at the Vancouver Convention Centre on September 25. Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) is an annual global awards program administered by Ernst & Young (EY). Every year an impressive group of Pacific Region business owners and leaders are recognized for their financial performance, vision, leadership, personal integrity and entrepreneurial spirit.
Guests gathered in the grand hall before ceremonies began in the ballroom. The 2018 Pacific Region EOY award went to Christian Chia, president and CEO of OpenRoad Auto Group. OpenRoad is the largest auto retailer in B.C., with 26 locations, including 23 dealerships and three collision centres.
The Pacific Region winner is among five regional champions vying for Canada’s Entrepreneur Of The Year. The Canadian winner advances to an annual competition, held in Monte Carlo, that sees World Entrepreneur Of The Year chosen from among 60 country winners.
Patricia and Paul Matysek, Bedrock Capital Corp. CEO and Mining + Resources EOY winner; Jill Dylan and her spouse, Jesse Dylan, GLN CEO
Solveig Massman; Wayne Fourie, EY associate partner; Graham Walker, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP partner, and his spouse, Katherine Walker
Ian Telfer, Goldcorp chair; Ian Crosby, Bench Accounting founder; and his spouse, Karen Kim, Deloitte senior consultant
Rob McCurdy, Pinnacle Renewable Energy CEO and 2017 Pacific Region EOY winner; and his spouse, Louann McCurdy
Ken Sim, NPA mayoral candidate; and Robin Dhir, Fasken strategic advisor
Jon Friesen, Mission Group Enterprises CEO and Social Impact EOY finalist; and his wife, Joanne Friesen
Sandy Shier and her spouse, Randy Shier, Mission Group Enterprises president and Social Impact EOY finalist
Raminder Grewal, Keystone Environmental president and Cleantech EOY finalist; his spouse, Rav Grewal; and Greg Colbourne, Hunt Personnel VP
Claudia Sjoberg, Pedalheads Group founder and president, and Services EOY finalist; and Michael Murazzo, EY assurance manager
Salwa El-Ramly; and her husband, Zak El-Ramly, ZE Power Group CEO and Cleantech EOY winner
Lenna Miklodova; and Matt Collingwood, Tamwood Group of Companies co-founder and Services EOY finalist
Amanda Penner; and her spouse, Josh Penner, Meridian Meats & Seafood CEO and Business to Consumer EOY finalist
Alex Chisolm, Merchant Advance Capital VP marketing; and David Gens, Merchant Advance Capital founder and CEO, and 2016 Fintech EOY finalist
Ali Pejman, Fort Capital Partners partner; Velofix Group of Companies co-founders and Emerging Entrepreneur EOY winners: Boris Martin, VP operations; Davide Xausa, president; and Chris Guillemet, CEO
Morag Wemyss-Dunn; Noel Dunn, Ero Capital Corp. chairman; and Ginerva Strang
Master of ceremonies Chris Gailus, Global BC News anchor
Master of ceremonies Chris Gailus, Global BC News anchor
Master of ceremonies Chris Gailus, Global BC News anchor
Lui Petrollini, EOY Pacific Region program director