Throughout Peterborough and across the Kawarthas, close to each and every day, business owners and entrepreneurs put their nose to the grindstone, paying attention to all the details, big and small, that make their ventures a resounding success.
That makes sense. It’s what successful business people so. Still, when all is said and done, each takes little or no notice of the influential impact their work ethic has on those just starting out who are looking to emulate their success and carve their own niche.
Enter Junior Achievement of Peterborough Lakeland Muskoka (JA-PLM) which, since 2016, has annually recognized business champions via their induction into the Business Hall of Fame.
On Wednesday, January 22nd, the class of 2020 was introduced before a large crowd gathered in the lobby of VentureNorth in downtown Peterborough, many of them past inductees on hand to show their support.
Set to be inducted during a ceremony on Thursday, March 28 at The Venue are:
- Morris Cox of Brant Basics
- Lisa Dixon of Black Honey Bakery and Café
- Bill and Cora Edgar of Lucky Strike Bait Works
- Jim Glenn of Glen Isle Farms Limited
- Haig Kelly of Kelly Fuels
- Bill and Marion Morrison of Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn
- Sanjeev Sukumaran of The Ear Company-Peterborough Audiology
“The inductees unveiled today, as well as inductees from the past four years, are inspiring role models, for the students in our community,” said Mike Baxter, CIBC commercial banking manager and a JA-PLM board director.
“They have proven that you can make a good career and influence lives right here in Peterborough.”
Outgoing JA-PLM Chancellor Mike Skinner echoed that sentiment before introducing Trent Valley Honda general manager/principal dealer Monika Carmichael as the new chancellor for 2020. As part of her duties, she chairs the selection committee, which reviewed Business Hall of Fame nominations and ultimately selected the new batch of inductees.
“It was a real privilege to oversee the process we went through with the amazing people on the selection committee … we had the honour of going through, and hearing, amazing stories,” noted Carmichael, herself inducted into the Business Hall of Fame back in 2018.
To a person, each of the inductees was beaming over their induction with Lisa Dixon, the owner of Black Honey Bakery and Café in downtown Peterborough, nothing short of overwhelmed by her selection.
“For some reason I’m nervous … I’m much more comfortable at work than I am at a big occasion,” admitted Dixon, who opened her Hunter Street West business in 2005 and currently employs 24 staff.
“I realize if it for wasn’t me, and my hopes and ideas and ambition, we wouldn’t have a business to help them live. Staff have given me a lot of energy and reward me every day with their excitement.”
“What I’m most impressed with today is the years that people have put into their business. I thought 15 (years) was long. I just can’t imagine going another 10. It’s exhausting. I was hoping to have a coffee shop with desserts and eventually open a bakery. I did that but on top of that I’m now catering a lot of weddings.”
Like most any entrepreneur who has walked the walk, Dixon has learned lessons along the way.
“A risk, for some, may be scary but risk is are good as long you put thought to it. What I had, and still have, is excitement and anticipation and that’s because I backed what I do with confidence.”
For his part, Morris Cox, at age 84, still keeps his hand in Brant Basics that is now operated by his three grown children. He explained that he and partner started a business out of his home in 1965 that refurbished old typewriters for resale and then opened a store location about three years later.
“The biggest mistake that people make is they try to do everything at once … they go in way over their heads and all of a sudden the money isn’t coming in fast enough,” assessed Cox.
He notes Brant Basics, located on George Street North, found an early niche market providing high-end office furniture, which it still provides today. That brought sales to large companies such as Quaker Oats and Canadian General Electric. Retired some years ago, Cox still pops into store most days to lend a hand where he can.
“Now I go in and build something if I can. I stay for half a day and then I go home and have a nap.”
Near the lobby of VentureNorth, a wall-mounted touch screen display features bios of all the Business Hall of Fame inductees to date with the new inductees to be added upon their induction. Meanwhile, details on ticketing for the May 28 induction ceremony are forthcoming.
Established in 1955, Junior Achievement Canada has been inspiring and preparing youth to succeed by providing opportunities to learn financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness skills with engaging programs and the help of dedicated volunteers.
Since 2007, Junior Achievement Peterborough, Lakefield, Muskoka has served an area stretching from the Grey-Bruce Peninsula to the Ontario-Quebec border. That effort has been aided by a number of corporate and media sponsors, KawarthaNOW.com among them.
For more information Junior Achievement of Peterborough Lakefield Muskoka, visit jacanada.org/plm.
