BIZ X MAGAZINE JANUARY 2025 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 1
ON THE COVER — Welcome 2025! – All of us at Biz X magazine wish everyone a year full of wonderful business opportunities and profitability. We appreciate your support for the past 27 years and look forward to writing about all the good news to come in 2025 concerning area businesses, organizations and self employed individuals. The past few years have presented many challenges, but we know, together, Windsor Essex and Chatham Kent businesses and organizations will continue to grow and become even more successful in the future.
COVER COLLAGE OF PHOTOS OF EDITORIAL IN OUR FIRST ISSUE OF 2025 INCLUDE . . .
BELLE VIVANTE (TOP RIGHT) — PAGE 14 Our Belle Vivantes head to Amherstburg to explore a unique collaborative of business owners at Hotel STRY including the hotel itself, The O, Murray St. Kitchen, Frate Street Food, Pure Day Spa and Montañeros Coffee Corp (pictured are Owners Wilmer Hernandez Palacio and Caterine Arboleda Munoz). Photo by Sherrilynn Colley-Vegh and Tracey Harding.
FEATURE STORY (TOP LEFT) — PAGE 18 Whether you plan to pass your business on to the next generation, sell to a third party, retire, or in case the unforeseen should occur, it’s a wise idea to have a succession plan in place so you know your company is left in good hands. Biz X interviews local financial planners, (Paul Dufour, President and Founder, Breadth Consulting is photographed), legal and tax professionals who offer advice on preparing a business transition plan. Photo by Rod Denis.
AWARDS SPOTLIGHT (BOTTOM LEFT) — PAGE 24 The November/December annual Biz X Award tribute celebrated 196 nominees and 24 overall winners. Since our 2024 award theme related to music, let’s re-introduce you to the latest batch of “shiny happy people” (REM) who were thrilled to learn they were the final award recipients. Proudly showing off their Artist Of The Year plaque from The Trophy Boys are members of Big Louie & The Band, from left: Grant Bergeron, Louis Zanotti, Brianna DeSantis, Benny Riggi (back), Paul Pecora, Alysia Therrien, David Collins and Brian Zanier. Photo supplied by Big Louie & The Band.
THE PARENTING BIZ (BOTTOM RIGHT) — PAGE 30 Read up on five incredible local kids (an actor and band) following their dreams to stardom, a talented violinist and a young girl who volunteers with an organization assisting individuals with brain injuries. One story we know you will find quite interesting is that of 10 year old River Price-Maenpaa (pictured on the set of DOC) who has been acting since she was four. She landed a guest star role in DOC, a new FOX medical drama television series premiering in early January. Photo courtesy of Elinor Price-Maenpaa.
BIZ X MAGAZINE JANUARY 2025 CONTENTS
4 Funny Stuff
5 From The Publisher: Who Said Networking Can’t be Fun? Each year, Deborah Jones and her photography team attend an event hosted by Advance Business Systems on U.S. Thanksgiving. Taking place at the Windsor Yacht Club, they enjoy watching the Detroit Lions game on TV, munching on tailgate-style food items, donating to a local charity and of course, making new connections as they network the day away! In the photo above during the November 2024 event, Windsor Fire and Rescue Captain Mike Kennette poses with Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board representatives, Executive Superintendent of Education/Human Resources, John Ulicny, and the Principal of St. Michael’s Adult High School & Information Technology, Doug Sadler. (Photo by Tina Huynh).
6 Hot Shots: Party Pics From The Advance Business Systems 33rd Annual American Thanksgiving Football Classic Event
8 Front Lines
10 Have A Cup Of Joe With Joe: The Mission Is On A Mission. Our Cup of Joe columnist introduces readers to Maurizio Tiberia, the new Director of Business Operations at the Downtown Mission, and to the newly rebranded Mission Promotional Products. With support staff from the mission’s Phoenix Recovery and Enterprise programs, their main objective is to enhance the recognition and interaction of your brand to new customers. Their target market is all businesses, organizations and the general public who require specialized gifts and promotional merchandise with their logo on items such as, T-shirts, polos, hats, hoodies and so on. The accompanying photo on this page showcases business merch they completed for their own use and the following organizations: Windsor Youth Centre, (M) Fight Like Mason, Riverside Stingers, Infinit Nutrition, and Marantha Christian Academy. (Photo supplied by Mission Promotional Products).
10 Motivational Quotes With Danny
12 Newsflash
13 From The Bookshelf: The Second Book Released By Kingsville. Author, Darlene Martens
16 Food For Thought: Delight In Every Bite. Whereas this installment of our food column focuses on appetizers and main courses at the new Augusto’s Grill in Leamington, we need to also mention you should always save room for dessert! One sweet example is the authentic Tiramisu. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with this Italian classic, featuring layered ladyfinger cookies soaked in liquor and also espresso flavoured mascarpone cheese dusted with chocolate. From the first course to the last, Chef Salvatore
Aviolo has a unique way of creating great dishes made from scratch . . . Buon Appetito! (Photo courtesy of Augusto’s Grill in Leamington).
23 Milestones: KELCOM Telecom Commemorate 30 Years
28 Ask The Experts: Major Revisions To The Ontario Building Code. Come Into Effect January 1, 2025
34 Health Matters: Healthy Habits During Pregnancy
35 Parenting With Purpose: Restoring The Family Connection
36 XX Files: Deanna Marchese-Cunningham, Behaviour Essentials
37 Hot Shots: Mingle For Maryvale 10th Anniversary Gala. *PUBLISHER’S CLARIFICATION: Please note in the captions Anna Dergan should have been listed as the partner of Erik Kramer and Tricia Moak as the winner of the G&G Jewellery prize. The two female names were unfortunately flipped.
38 Biz Of The Month: Images IV H.R.S., Windsor
