Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce

Business Excellence Award:
Elias Woodworking & Manufacturing Ltd.

Woodworking Canada recently attributed Elias Woodwork's success to it's central location, being only a few miles from the exact geographic center of the North American Land mass. It wasn't mentioned that not a large percentage of the company's production is shipped very far north of here but Elias DOES agree that their location has a LOT to do with their success. Not just from a proximity to markets point of view, but being located in a community of people who genuinely LOVE working and take pride in what they do makes almost any place a good place to do business.
Elias Woodwork was purchased from Mr Peter Elias in the village of Blumenfeld and brought to Winkler about 27 years ago by John Fehr and Ron Elias. It was John's interest in woodworking that led him to find a partner and buy the company. Even though it employed only a few people, it was a going concern from day one for them. After some minor financial restructuring, John's brother Ralph joined the company a couple of years later, buying Ron's shares and bringing his engineering background in to help grow the company. He saw the machinery and realized he could be challenged and make good use of his skills as an engineer. Though Ralph may not have initially shared his brother's zest for woodworking, he caught the wave and eventually became the major shareholder. He also took on the role of operations manager several years ago as John moved on to run a second local company which manufactures thermo-foiled cabinet doors and other components Elias markets for them.
Elias now operates out of over 100,000 square feet in Winkler's South industrial park and at times has employed up to 250 people. Plans for further growth are once again in the works. Now promoting themselves as "your one-stop wood component manufacturer", Elias Woodwork still works largely on cabinet doors, but also manufactures everything from mouldings, architectural millwork, and solid wood furniture, to pre-finished edge banding and veneer. Elias is also one of the most automated companies in their field which has helped them keep competitive when exchange rates have fallen out of favor.
While many other companies have been going out of business during these last two challenging years, this one has used the opportunity to position itself for further growth. Many of the factories that are shutting down have not modernized and much of their equipment is antiquated.
Woodworking is still a very "hands on" kind of business but automation and techonology has improved the working conditions and replaced some of the most tedious and dangerous jobs with some of the best and most rewarding. Elias management will tell you, "It improves quality, consistency, and through-put so we NEVER want to be behind the curve on that front." Having the latest equipment adds so much to Elias Woodworks manufacturing potential. The company has the most high-tech panel-shaping/sanding equipment and has recently installed a new automatic cut-to-length shape and tennon line which will barcode, and then further into the machine, read the barcodes on the
parts, change and select it's own tools, depending on the shapes, lengths, and sizes required, and cuts and shapes the finished parts with minimal intervention. Truly amazing technology. There are many examples like this throughout it's operation.
Elias has also begun to explore the most environmentally friendly choices, including bamboo which they recently added to their product offerings. Trade magazines are all about what's "green" these days, and after some research, Elias found bamboo to be a good material to work with. It machines well, stains well, is attractive and there seems to
be a growing market for it. Looking to the future, Elias would like to get both LEED and FSC certified, exploring further the marketing possibilities that the inherently environmentally friendly properties of wood afford.
Despite having a firm hold on their market, shipping to every state and province in North America, Elias Woodwork has no plans to slow down. They have been busy using the recent economic downturn as a chance to buy equipment and lock down contracts with customers who have lost there suppliers. The future looks bright for Elias Woodwork and the community they feel fortunate to be part of. With the business now miles from where it started and new plans for the future always bringing excitement, it looks like for Elias Woodwork, a "location off the well-worn path", is right at the center of where they want to be.

Business Builder Award: Spenst Brother's Premium Meats

Spenst Brother’s Premium Meats was born out of the BSE crisis. We are a farming family and in 2003 when the US closed border to Canadian beef our cow/calf and heifer herds began to multiply very quickly. We started trying to decrease the herd by selling ½ and ¼’s cut and wrapped. After marketing 40 animals in this way, we realized there could be a market for premium, steroid and hormone free beef. After much contemplation as to what would be the best way to market the animals, we decided on moving to town with our idea and offer a “meat shop” complete with a fresh meat counter, deli, pizzeria, and a kitchen in which we could prepare products that would complement our sausages. The
store has grown from 2 full time and 4 part time staff to 4 full time and 26 part time employees excluding family members.
We feel we are able to offer customer service in a way that larger stores are not able to. One of our main goals is to greet and offer assistance to each customer as they enter the door. Specialty cuts, sized steaks and roasts, and a preference to aged meats are some of the features that make us unique. Our deli offers the community a healthy choice in meats as our deli meats are made fresh every week without the use of artificial color or animal by-products.
As a family business we are unified in giving back to the community in various ways. Schools, church young peoples, students going out on mission work, hockey, soccer and gymnastic teams and many others have come to us for fund raising, and we promote that in various ways. We have had the pleasure of hosting several barbeque fundraisers at the store to meet local needs as well as the needs of others less fortunate in other countries.
What began as a business to “help ourselves” out of a crisis has now allowed us to offer employment to others. As we continue to move ahead we see the need for expansion and along with expansion will come more employment opportunity and growth for our local economy.

Business Builder Award: Wiebe Funeral Homes Ltd.

In 1949, Nick Wiebe left his secure job as an embalmer with Sherrin's Funeral Home in Toronto and with his wife Lorraine, moved back to his home town of Winkler to establish a modernized funeral service. He had received his mortuary science degree the year prior.
Until this time, a local furniture maker was also the local undertaker. Nick had to borrow money from his family because the bank felt that with no collateral, they could not loan the $750 that was necessary to purchase a funeral coach, some equipment and a little building on Main Street in Winkler where Valley Bakery is now.
As the years went on, in 1951 Nick bought a building in Altona and asked his brother, Hank to come and learn the profession to take care of Wiebe Funeral Home there.
A few years later, he had an opportunity to partner with a few men in Morden to start the Wiebe & Minty Funeral Home until buying the partnership a few years later. In 1960, Nick encouraged his brother, John to take up the funeral profession and taught him what was necessary to start what is now the Morris Funeral Home.
The years from the early fifties until 1971 were very busy for Nick and Hank. Nick felt that his son, Rick was now old enough and responsible enough to start with the business. So from 1971 until 1988, Rick worked for Nick. After Hank's untimely passing in 1974, his son, Terry also worked for Wiebe Funeral Home. In 1988, Rick purchased the Winkler, Morden and Altona Funeral Homes from his dad. Later that year, Rick sold the Altona branch of Wiebe Funeral Home to Terry. The volume of work continued to increase over the next number of years. In 1995, an exceptional young man, Jake Giesbrecht approached Rick for ajob - offering his services for free if he could just be hired part time. Rick's son, Chris
did not feel that the funeral profession was right for him, so Jake was hired. A few years later in 1997, to the delight of Rick's mother Lorraine, Kiley Wilson was hired and began the process of acquiring his Embalmer's and Funeral Director's License.
The next year in 1998, Joey Grenier was hired and completed the team of Embalmers and Funeral Directors that Rick had envisioned from the start. It brought Wiebe Funeral Homes Ltd. to a professional level that has not been surpassed by any funeral business anywhere. Wiebe Funeral Homes has continued to expand their support staff over the years with Sandra Ens, who was the first secretary in years past, Janet Haslam, who has
been doing the bookkeeping and clerical duties for nearly 13 years, Kim Doell is the current receptionist, Rick's wife, Y olanna Yerex has been Cemetery Administrator for Chapel Cemetery in Morden for the past 9 years and Sheldon Thiessen does full time maintenance of both properties. Most recently, Ron Adrian was brought on staff to assist the Directors with their various duties.
Wiebe Funeral Homes has always supported local causes, benefits and organizations. Historically, Rick's dad, Nick still holds the record for 35 years serving as Winkler Town Councilor and even a short time as Deputy Mayor. Rick is Manitoba's Provincial representative for the Canadian Independent Group of Funeral Homes Association. Kiley Wilson is on the Board of Directors for the Manitoba Funeral Service Association. To accommodate the expanding population, Rick and Wiebe Funeral Home have expanded the buildings, vehicle fleet, Winkler and Morden properties including Chapel Cemetery in Morden. Two majestic Columbariums have been placed in each cemetery; Chapel Cemetery in Morden and the Harvest Heritage Columbarium in Westridge Memorial Gardens. In 2009, Wiebe Funeral Homes Ltd. celebrated 60 years of family funeral service
to Southern Manitoba.

P. W. Enns Business Achievement Awards

Achievement, Nominate, Celebrate

1. The Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce desires to offer a full range of business awards to its membership to achieve the outcomes listed below:
   • Raise the profile of the Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce within the community and within the membership.
   • Recognize, celebrate and profile the accomplishments of members.
   • Motivate members to excel within their respective businesses while also giving back to the community.
   • Offer added value to a Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce membership.
2. Nomination information is available at the Chamber office. Deadline for nominations will be February of 2011. All nominations shall be received at the Winkler Chamber office. Upon receipt, these nominations shall be forwarded to the Business Development Committee of the Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce. Results for all nominees along with recommended award recipient for each category will be forwarded to the Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce Executive to be voted on by the Executive.
3. All awards will be presented to the recipients at the Chamber Annual Banquet.

P. W. Enns Business Excellence Award

Recognizing a successful business that has made an exceptional contribution to Winkler Business and community service.

All award receipts will be evaluated in the following factors:

• Business achievement and growth
• Employment growth
• Contribution to the industry and community
• Overall positive impact on community through spirit, drive and vision
• Volunteer service and leadership

P. W. Enns Business Builder Award (10 employees or under)
AND
P. W. Enns Business Builder Award (over 10 employees)

Honours a business that demonstrates continual positive business growth, superior customer service and embraces an outstanding commitment to quality.

To nominate a business for a Business Builder Award, simply explain how the company has demonstrated excellence and commitment to quality in as many of the applicable areas listed below:

• A mission statement, vision, or goal for the business
• Exceptional customer service philosophy and practices
• Product service offerings
• Positive business growth
• Overall positive impact on community through spirit, drive and vision

Business Achievements Awards Rules & Regulations

Nominees may receive an award in one category only. If a nominee is a finalist in more than one category, their submission will stand in the category where they have achieved the highest score.

Nomination packages must be for one business only.

A separate nomination package must be submitted for each award category in which the nominee is to be considered.

A business may be re-nominated in any future year.

The Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to limit the number of selected nominees and/or withhold an award in any category.

Nomination packages will not be returned. Please do no include materials that you would like returned.

Tapes or videos will not be accepted.

All applicants must be a chamber member in good standing.

After awards are presented, all of the nomination information is destroyed.