Ray Cole is International Business Personality of the Year
The shortlist for the 2016 Cavan Business and Tourism Awards has been announced and it paints a bright picture for the economic future of the county. The range of entrants in this year’s competition encompass business from sectors as diverse as marketing to cider making.
Yvonne Jackson, advertising sales manager with The Anglo Celt, said that the vibrancy of this year’s competition is a testament to the resilience of the Cavan business: “The cream will always rise to the top. The truth of that statesman is apparent when you take a step back and look at what the Cavan business community has achieved since the recession hit in 2008. The forward-thinking entrepreneurial spirit of this small county is inspiring. The last eight years have been extremely tough and local businesses have come out the other side stronger and more determined.”
Yvonne said that The Anglo-Celt works hand in hand with local business in a complementary manner: “The Awards are dependent on all our terrific sponsors and we would like to congratulate each and every one of the companies that took time out to enter the Business and Tourism Awards. I would personally like to wish them all the best for the future.”
This year the International Personality of the Year award will go to Ray Cole of Virginia International Logistics. Vying for the Tourism Gold Award are Crover House Hotel, ODD, The Oak Room Restaurant and The Breffni Arms Hotel.
Best in Fashion category contains Elena Brennan Jewellery, Off the Rack, House of Fashion and Stop & Stare. Best in Hair & Beauty sees Riverside Spa, City Lady Studio, Salon Tibo and Utopia contest the title.
The Most Inclusive Employer nominees are Moran’s Megajam, Rodney’s Centra and Mountain View Garden Centre. Under the Not for Profit banner SOSAD, The Clutterbug Charity Shop and the Cavan Cryo Spa will all be hoping to bring home the honour.
Customer Service Person of the year will be going to either Rudden’s Ann McKiernan, Eason’s Edel Smith, Carphone Warehouse’s Gary Maguire or iRestore’s Adam Gibbons.
The two contestants in the Customer Service (Food) group are Scotts Irish Cider and The Oak Room Restaurant. For Customer Service (Retail) Clarke’s Toymaster, Cavan Sports Company, Donnery Opel and Gerard Ellis & Sons are all in contention.
The Most Innovative companies award will be going to either Pureheat Technologies, O’Reilly Concrete, Moran’s Megajam, PreSonus or EMCA. And the Best New Business award sees Wordbird.ie, Císte Milis, Cavan Salt Clinic and Aprimedia facing off.
Judging in this year’s competition falls to Eamonn Rice, PJ Dunne and Marcella Rudden. Marcella is the acting head of enterprise in the Local Enterprise Office in Cavan, PJ has extensive experience in finance and insurance services and Eamonn has an MBS in Management Practices) and is a highly experienced business manager.
Tickets
The presentation dinner will be held in the Slieve Russell Hotel on Friday, October 28, at which the winners in each category will be announced and the overall Cavan Business of the Year. Tickets are available by contacting Bernie Harte on 049-9525142 or emaiing bernadette.harte@slieverussell.ie