This week, The Canadian Association of Family Enterprise announced the three finalists for the 2013 Family Enterprise of the Year Achievement Awards.  Trail Blazer Products Limited is looking to hire a new administrator.

The Canadian Association of Family Enterprise and National Corporate Platinum Sponsor, BMO Harris Private Banking announced the three finalists for the 2013 Family Enterprise of the Year Achievement Awards for Nova Scotia this week.  Archway Insurance, Able Electric Ltd. / Trail Blazer Products Limited, and Fairway Insurance Services Ltd.  Both the Able Electric and Trail Blazer teams are very proud of this recognition and I would like to take this opportunity to wish both Archway and Fairway the best of luck.  Canadian Association of Family Enterprise NS Family Enterprise of the Year Chair, Greg Leslie says, “These three families are great examples of successful family enterprises. They are defying the statistics that reveal that only a little more than 30 percent of family businesses survive into the second generation, even though 80 percent would like to keep the business in the family.”

This award is given annually by CAFE to recognize, celebrate and promote achievements of Canadian family businesses and the considerable contribution they make to both their local communities and our national economy. CAFE Chapters hold their individual awards programs with winners going on to participate in the national competition.

The finalists will be featured during a luncheon at the Brightwood country club on March 7.  The national finalists will be featured at a gala dinner in Toronto on June 8.  The national winner for 2012, Emily Tregunno of the Halifax Seed Company says, “The recognition from the Canadian business family community is both an honor and a privilege. Being recognized with the CAFE Family Enterprise of the Year Achievement Award has made a positive impression on the Halifax Seed Company family and team.   It has been a very valuable process, looking at our achievements, successes and challenges both as a family business and as a family.”

Recipients must be a “family-owned business” rather than “individually-owned business”.  A family-owned business is defined as a business organization that has one of the following characteristics.  Has been owned and operated by different generations of a family where the potential exists for ownership to be passed on to a younger generation.

Able Electric was started by my father, Curtis Levangie, in 1973 and he started Trail Blazer Saw in 1987.  Curtis hired the second generation in sales, me, in 1995 and I became owner of Trail Blazer Products in 2007.  The third generation, my son & daughters, Travis, Natalie & Victoria have been seen working on the plant floor and participating in various store demos and trade shows.  My wife Dawna also lends a hand on many occasions.  That was not the case this Friday because we were all together supporting Travis, has he had his wisdom teeth removed.  He is doing great, still looks funny, and we expect a speedy recovery … no holding a Levangie down.

My eldest daughter and princess, Natalie, had her wisdom teeth removed four years ago at the early age of 12 (she was funny looking then as well);  she is turning sweat 16 next month in Jamaica.  My youngest child and angel, Victoria is now 13 and the only one in the family that still has all her “wisdom” … now I see why teenagers know everything.

Back at the office, Trail Blazer Products is looking for a new administrator to provide both clerical and administrative support.  That’ll play a vital part in the administration & smooth-running of our business.  The administrators will be involved with the coordination and implementation of office procedures and frequently have responsibility for specific projects and tasks.  The administrative work will involve written & oral communication, word processing & typing, requires relevant skills such as IT support, organizational skills, and the ability to multi-task and work well under pressure, often juggling several tasks for several different people at once.

This will allow Justin Caldwell, who is presently handling both administration and customer service duties & tasks, to spend more of his time doing what he wants and loves.  That is making all our customers happy.  The administrator will also give valuable assistance to the other departments including Monica Furlotte in supplier development.

All the Best, Shawn Levangie