"Small Business of the Year" Finalist Slot for Fiddleheads

Rhiannon, with rainbow hair and wearing black, holding her finalist certificate
 
Fiddleheads’ owner and professional violinist Rhiannon Nachbaur was nominated for a coveted area award in the spring. Last night she was announced one of four "Small Business of the Year" finalists in the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce 2018 Business Excellence Awards. The ceremony announcing the finalists' names was held at Kamloops Ford Lincoln [as pictured].

Fifty-one selection committee members were tasked with the monumental undertaking of choosing the finalists of each award category by scoring every nominee's responses to their rigorous shortlist questions and requirements. This year saw a significant increase in nominations. “Every year, the quantity and quality of the nominations speak to the calibre of our businesses and how they have built loyalty with their customers and clients,” Chamber of Commerce President Joshua Knaak said in an interview with local media.

Apparently the Small Business of the Year Award category received the most nominations and the competition was stiff. A representative for the awards stated that this category, coupled with Business Person of the Year, is the most coveted award.

Nachbaur is scheduled to meet with a committee for a detailed, on-site interview at her studio in September for an in-depth interview to determine her suitability for the award. One of the committee members to be interviewing Nachbaur runs a competing music store. All winners will be revealed at the formal Business Excellence Awards Gala on October 27 at Kamloops' Convention Centre.

Old brick building with Venture Kamloops signage

Nachbaur thanks the incredible team at Venture Kamloops not only for sponsoring the award, but also for providing assistance and expertise to her previously. She was guided by a Venture Kamloops Business Expansion Specialist in the summer of 2015 as she prepared a business relocation plan for her move to Kamloops from Canoe (Salmon Arm), BC for her performance career and the betterment of her business and family life overall. She found the assistance to be highly valuable in her planning and projections.

The move proved even more fruitful than predicted as, after less than three years living and running Fiddleheads in the new city, Nachbaur found herself shortlisted for this prestigious award and in the company of many successful and prosperous business owners.

"I moved from a tiny village within an overall city of 17,000 people to a large, by British Columbian standards, city of 90,000 people. I'm the little fish in a big pond now. And I am swimming with some pretty impressive fish," she laughed. Kamloops is home to the headquarters of several acclaimed businesses and organizations including the BC Lottery Corporation, NRI Distribution, Western Canada Theatre, BC Wildfire Service, and the renowned technological feat, the Telus Datacenter.

Perhaps more impressive is how this is not Nachbaur's first recognition with the Chamber Business Excellence Awards overall. Rhiannon and Fiddleheads previously won three honours in the Business Excellence Awards hosted in her former town by the Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce. She won “Best Young Entrepreneur” (2004), “People's Choice Award” (2006), and was the first-ever recipient of the “Green Award” (2007) for her business' dedication to eco-friendly practices. She received twelve nominations as well.

Rhiannon graciously thanks her customers for their support and trust over these past 21 years in business. Wish her luck in October!

 

2018 Business Excellence Awards Finalists:

City of Kamloops Community Service Award:

  • Cascades Casino Kamloops
  • Kamloops Ford Lincoln
  • Lyons Landscaping

Rocky Mountaineer Environmental Stewardship Award:

  • Changes Hair Studio
  • Habitat for Humanity Kamloops Restore
  • Kamloops Food Bank

Open Door Group Inclusive Workplace Award:

  • Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
  • Sprott Shaw College
  • Staples
  • Teck Highland Valley Copper

BDC Business Development Bank Manufacturer Award:

  • Axis Forestry Inc.
  • Fresh is Best Salsa & Co.
  • Scorpion Technologies Ltd.

Domtar Resource Industry Award:

  • New Gold Inc.-New Afton Mine
  • Teck Highland Valley Copper

Aberdeen Mall Retailer 1 – 10 Staff Award:

  • Canopy West
  • Sweet Spot Cupcakes
  • Tumbleweed Toys

Valley First Insurance Retailer 11+ Staff Award:

  • Monte Creek Ranch Winery
  • Kamloops Home Hardware Building Centre
  • Kamloops Office Systems

Berwick on the Park Service Provider 1- 10 Staff Award:

  • Mastermind Studios
  • Someday Retrievers Dog Academy
  • Thrive Business Strategies

Kamloops Lincoln Service Provider 11+ Award:

  • Abbott Wealth Management
  • Señor Froggy Restaurant
  • TasteFull Excursions

BCLC Technology Innovator Award:

  • Axis Forestry Inc.
  • ICI Electrical Engineering Ltd.
  • Katipult Technology

TRU Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts & Tourism and Tourism Kamloops Tourism & Hospitality Award:

  • DiVine Tours
  • Monte Creek Ranch Winery
  • Tobiano Golf Course

FIT Financial Development of the Year:

  • BIG Little Science Centre Society
  • Nexbuild Construction Corporation
  • TRU Community Trust & Thompson Rivers University

Coast Kamloops Hotel & Conference Centre Employer of the Year:

  • ICI Electrical Engineering Ltd.
  • Petland Kamloops
  • Scott's Inn & Restaurant

United Way Not-For-Profit of the Year:

  • BIG Little Science Centre Society
  • Kamloops Food Bank
  • The Kamloops & District Society for People in Motion

TRU School of Business and Economics Young Entrepreneur of the Year:

  • Greg Klohn | GK Sound
  • Rozalind Panasuk | Rozalind Photography
  • Ryan Scorgie | Forward Law LLP

Venture Kamloops Small Business of the Year:

  • Best Version Media
  • Fiddleheads Violin Studio
  • Lizzie Bits Baby Co.
  • SilverServers Inc.

Excel Personnel Business Person of the Year:

  • Al Patel | Scott's Inn & Restaurant
  • Colin Lyons | Lyons Landscaping
  • Frank D'Amore | River City Rock Products Ltd.
  • Peter Cameron-Inglis | Mastermind Studios
  • Terri Axani | DiVine Tours

The 2018 Business Excellence Awards’ premier sponsor is TD. Media sponsors are Kamloops This Week, CFJC-TV, 98.3 CIFM, B-100 and Lee’s Music.

Supporting sponsors are Fresh Inc., Wayside Printing and RTOWN. Select sponsors are Kent Wong Photography and Viva Bridal & Event Design. Finalists announcement sponsor is Kamloops Lincoln.

#BusinessExcellenceAwards #Fiddleheads #WomenInBusiness #RhiannonNachbaur