Gallery: Business winners sparkle at prestigious awards event
Toowoomba businesses were celebrated at the Business Excellence Awards at the weekend. See the full list of winners and our photo gallery here.
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Every business has a story worth sharing whether it is a tale of success, resilience or inspiration, and those heartfelt narratives were celebrated in style at a prestigious awards event.
The Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce hosted the Focus HR Business Excellence Awards on Saturday night to recognise the nominees and winners across 19 categories.
Among some of the worthy recipients were Power Tynan, the Toowoomba Choral Society and McAdam and Turnball Realty.
A leader in the agricultural sector Mort and Co was also welcomed into the chamber’s Hall of Fame as the 2023 inductee, joining the award predecessors Hogans Family Jewellers and Rowes.
Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce president Kate Venables said the annual event had been running for 35 years and was designed to recognise the region’s diverse business community.
“The main goal of this rich tradition is to put a spotlight on and share the stories of our amazing local business community – their optimism, innovation, dreams, and its successes,” she said.
“Ultimately, the awards are designed to return real value to local businesses in their quest for excellence and growth.
“(On Saturday night) we celebrated our achievements, promoted best business practice and recognised the contribution each one of you (our members and event participants) has added to the fabric of our city, and the land of opportunity.”
The theme of the event this year was for local businesses to “tell their story”.
Ms Venables said the competition remained tough this year, after more than 700 nominations were submitted – more than 70 of which were named finalists.
Focus HR founding director Naomi Wilson congratulated all the businesses for applying for an award.
“Hearing about challenges overcome, goals reached, and failures learned from is one of the things I feel most fortunate to experience as a trusted consultant in the Toowoomba business community,” Ms Wilson said.
“The awards provide an amazing opportunity for businesses to tell their stories proudly and for others to be motivated, energised, and inspired by seeing what can be achieved.
“Applying for (an) award requires a willingness to be vulnerable, to share your unique story, and to invite scrutiny in your pursuit of improvement and demonstrates initiative and determination.”
The awards were held at the Rumours International Convention Centre.
See the full list of winners and our photo gallery below.
Award Winners:
– Best Regional Business: Power Tynan
– Community and Not for Profit: Momentum Mental Health
– Employer of Choice: Harness Energy
– Future Leader of the Year: Molly Bell
– Gerry Doumany Export: Milton and King
– Health and Wellbeing: Momentum Mental Health
– Hospitality: Quest Apartment Hotel Toowoomba
– Industry: X Factor Plumbing
– Innovation and Technology: Milton and King
– Professional Services with 10 or less employees: Co Bright
– Professional Services with 11 or more employees: Hot Property
– Retail: Hogans Family Jewellers
– Tourism: Crows Nest Tourist Park
– Sole Trader of the Year: Oh Tilly Brand Photography
– Micro Business of the Year: Darling Downs Smoke Haus
– People’s Choice: McAdam and Turnball Reality
– 2023 Business of the Year: Power Tynan
– 2023 Chamber CEO Award: Toowoomba Choral Society
– 2023 Hall of Fame Inductee: Mort and Co
Photo gallery:
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