Kelsey Bulmer rarely finds herself competing against entrepreneurs in the construction, building and web-design industry.
But the owner of Cerulean Boutique, a high-end clothing store in St. Albert, says the finalists for the young entrepreneur award at the 2015 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction all have one thing in common. They are young and successful.
"What we do have in common is we are all young entrepreneurs, however, it looks as if I am definitely in the minority," she laughs.
Bulmer is one of three St. Albert businesses nominated for the awards. Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club is nominated for a marketing award and Team Chiasson Inc., the owners of the four McDonald's restaurants, are finalists for the employer of youth award.
Bulmer, who co-owns the business with her mother Jill, says it was a great surprise being nominated and she enjoys bringing some diversity to the competition. She is running against a manufacturer, a builder, a web designer and a construction company.
"However, we run a very strong company and I have been an entrepreneur all my life," she says.
Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club
When Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club turned 18, they put up a poster board showing a little girl in superhero clothes wearing boxing gloves. The sign said "18 years strong" and it made people laugh, says owner Christine Rawlins.
She says the club creates marketing that is directed at, or related to, the community. She's "excited and honoured" the personalized advertising helped nominate the club for an award. The club also competes against Champion Petfoods in Morinville, as well as against a salon and spa and a not-for-profit organization.
"We like to keep a local flair to our marketing campaigns wherever possible," she says. "And I think we have a pretty good finger on the pulse in terms of what's going on in the community."
McDonald's
Rob and Karen Chiasson are committed to working with youth inside and outside of their business. In 2013, Rob joined the St. Albert Youth Advisory Team. He also teaches career and life management classes in high schools across St. Albert and the area.
The owners of St. Albert's four McDonald's, they are also the largest employer of youth in the city. They have about 150 staff aged 16 to 24, he says.
The business offers a scholarship program and the couple spends time meeting individual staff members, as well as partnering them with peers and long-term employees to help them gain confidence and learn about different responsibilities.
"At the interview process they have a hard time making eye contact or they have a hard time answering questions," he says. "And it's really wonderful to watch them blossom over the course of two or three months as they start to gain some self-confidence."
McDonald's is competing against Smith Music in Morinville, as well as a casino and spa and a Tim Hortons in Medicine Hat. All three St. Albert businesses were recipients of St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce business awards in 2014.
The winners of the Alberta Business Awards will be announced on Friday, Feb. 27 at a gala at the Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel. For more information go to abbusinessawards.com.
