Posted on by Deborah Jones
Honour Roll Of Business Excellence - Biz X magazine
In mid-January during a press conference at the Libro Credit Union Essex Branch, the Business Excellence Awards Committee announced the 2026 award finalists, two recipients and a new presenting sponsor. From left: Kristy Sauve, BEA Committee Secretary; Andrea Hotham, BEA Committee Co-Chair; Lori Atkinson, Libro Credit Union Regional Director – Windsor Essex (Presenting Sponsor); Ryan Donally, Windsor Essex Chamber President/CEO and Matthew Dumouchel, Windsor Essex Chamber Director of Operations and BEA Committee Co-Chair. Photo courtesy of the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce.
05
Feb

FROM THE PUBLISHER – The Honour Roll Of Business Excellence

As the publisher of a business magazine, I am committed to promoting companies that set new standards in their industries, and recognizing local awards programs gives me the perfect platform to showcase these achievements.

Featuring award recipients strengthens our mission to support and celebrate businesses that are accelerating growth, creating impact, and shaping the future of our local and global economy. As well, in challenging times like these, award stories offer a much-needed dose of good news!

Deborah Jones, Windsor Chamber 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year.

Of course, our own awards program — the Biz X Awards, with hundreds of nominees and 24 winners, have taken place for the past 28 years — but we also support other organizations that are committed to acknowledging the best businesses in the area. In particular, the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards hold a special significance for me. I earned the Entrepreneur of the Year Award back in 2007 — the first, and still the only woman to do so — which makes it especially meaningful.

This is why we always feature the chamber’s award finalists on our pages, to bring attention to the remarkable businesses, organizations, and professionals chosen as finalists, year after year. And a few months later we also write about the overall winners and publish photos from the chamber’s big night.

Let’s now get into the main topic of my column this issue, the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce announcement of the 2026 Business Excellence Awards (BEA) finalists/recipients and upcoming gala.

Partnering with Libro Credit Union as the presenting sponsor, the 35th Business Excellence Awards will be a retrospective as the chamber observes its 150th anniversary.

“Libro Credit Union is proud to continue our decadelong partnership with the Business Excellence Awards,” comments Lori Atkinson, Regional Director, Windsor Essex, Libro Credit Union. “Stepping into this new role as presenting sponsor reflects our ongoing commitment to championing local businesses and the financial well-being of our region. We’re excited to help elevate a celebration that honours the people and organizations driving meaningful impact in Windsor Essex.”

Set for Thursday, May 14, 2026, the BEA event will acknowledge current trailblazers and past winners across nine categories, highlighting the legacy of excellence that shapes Windsor Essex. The Chamber and
BEA Committee’s mission is clear: celebrating achievements, honour history, and inspire future leaders.
Commemorating 35 years of the BEAs and 150 years of the Chamber, the event at Caesars Windsor includes a red-carpet welcome, dynamic reception, high-energy Awards Show at The Colosseum, and an
Afterglow Celebration in the Augustus Ballroom.

This year’s festivities also shine a spotlight on two exceptional honourees whose achievements reflect both the enduring legacy and the forward momentum at the heart of the event. These recipients were
announced formally at the BEA announcement press conference in mid-January. The 2026 ATHENA Leadership Award winner is Loretta Stoyka, a trailblazer whose vision and advocacy have empowered emerging leaders throughout Windsor Essex. Her legacy includes championing the ATHENA Award, founding the ATHENA Scholarship Fund, and inspiring progress in local leadership.

Additionally, the Spirit of Community Award pays tribute to The Stephanie and Barry Zekelman Foundation for their transformative philanthropy and dedication to strengthening Windsor Essex. Their generosity and leadership set the standard for community engagement and inspires future generations.

“Every initiative we support is rooted in the belief that meaningful change happens when communities are strengthened from within, and care, opportunity, and hope are extended to all. We are grateful for this recognition and remain committed to building stronger, healthier, and inclusive communities.” – Amber Hunter, Director of Philanthropy, The Stephanie and Barry Zekelman Foundation

Finalists in the seven additional categories will be recognized, with winners revealed live on stage at the May event. Thanks to a creative partnership with Kelly Blais and Media Street Productions, this year’s awards bring new energy to a tradition of excellence. Curious to know who the finalists are? We will not keep you waiting any longer!

The finalists are as follows . . .

Professional Excellence

  • Peter Hrastovec, Partner, Shibley Righton LLP
  • Sandra Pupatello, Senate of Canada
  • Federica Nazzani, Managing Partner, Capital Assist

Visionary Founder

  • Frank Abbruzzese, President, AlphaKOR Group Inc
  • Clare E. Winterbottom, posthumously, Founder/President, Anchor Lamina, Inc.
  • Dr. Fouad Tayfour, Owner/Chief Surgeon, Windsor Laser Eye Institute

Business Legacy

  • Valiant TMS, Sladjan Milidrag, President, North America
  • Rosati Group, Tony Rosati, Co-Owner
  • Ground Effects, Jim Scott, President

Destination Windsor-Essex

  • Wolfhead Distillery, Tom Manherz, President
  • Iron Kettle Commissary, Benjamin Leblanc-Beaudoin, Co-Owner
  • Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards, Tom O’Brien, President

Innovation Champion

  • The CHARGE Lab (Centre for Hybrid Automotive Research and Green Energy), University of Windsor, Dr Nayaran Kar, Distinguished Professor and Director
  • GreenShield Canada, Nadim Kara, EVP Head of People & Culture
  • Jamieson Laboratories Ltd, John Doherty, Chief Science and Innovation Officer

Leadership in Motion

  • Fabio Costante, CEO, Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation
  • Celso Oliveira, VP Financing, Southwestern Ontario for BDC
  • Paul St. Pierre, President and CEO, Landscape Effects

Icon of Impact

  • Caesars Windsor, Scott Jenkins, Director of Advertising
  • Pernod Ricard operating as Hiram Walker & Sons, Joshua Reit, Sr. Director, Walkerville Operations
  • Tepperman’s, Andrew Tepperman, Executive Chairman

Tickets for the 2026 Business Excellence Awards are now on sale online.

Good luck to all finalists from everyone at Biz X magazine! We look forward to celebrating with you and our team at the May event.

Deborah Jones

Deborah Jones – Publisher of Biz X Magazine Deborah Jones graduated from the University of Windsor with an Honours Degree in Communication Studies and was employed at two other local magazines shortly after for a few years learning all she could about writing, advertising, public relations and more. She made the jump in 1998 to go out on her own to publish Biz X magazine and has worked in the publishing industry since 1990. In 2007, she earned the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from the Windsor & District Chamber of Commerce. To date, she is the ONLY woman so far to receive this award. In 2013, she received one of the first “Windsor Women of the Year” awards from the Ladies Exclusive Alliance. Her most recent achievement is the 2023 Media Award from the Windsor Essex Chapter of the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Deborah is proud to live in Windsor and truly cares about each and every business and strives to make Windsor Essex the best place to live, work and play.