AWARD WINNERS WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Young Business Person of the Year
Posted: 22 July 2024
AWARD WINNERS WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Young Business Person of the Year
Since 1998, the Townsville Chamber of Commerce Business Awards have been elevating and celebrating entrepreneurs, business owners, operators, and employees.
Let's take a quick look at some of our YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON AWARD winners and see where they are now!
GLEN RICHARDS - YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR 2000
Glen is the founding Managing Director of Greencross, was a co-founder and Director of Mammoth Pet Holdings Pty Ltd (Petbarn) before it merged with Greencross and Shark Tank Australia panellist and investor since 2016 promoting entrepreneurship and innovation by assisting early stage entrepreneurs with funding, publicity and mentorship.
His childhood was spent in the Richmond District, in western Queensland on sheep and cattle grazing properties and then he headed to boarding school for his secondary school education on the Gold Coast , followed by five years studying his Bachelor of Veterinary Science at University of Queensland and two years doing a Research Masters of Science at Jame Cook University.
At 27, Glen bought a small vet practice in Townsville and within 10 short years, had developed five vet clinics and a large format pet store in Townsville as well as two veterinary hospitals in China. From there, he and his fellow co-founders, went on to build a multi-million dollar integrated pet care enterprise, which now operates more than 200 veterinary hospitals in Australia and New Zealand.
Greencross is also Australasia’s leading specialty pet care retailer, with more than 300 stores operating under the brand names Petbarn and City Farmers in Australia and Animates in New Zealand. The company employs over 6000 employees including veterinarians, nurses, retail team members and managers.
Utilising over thirty years of commercial experience in management, executive and board roles, Glen now spends his time as a professional investor, mentor, and director with a number of businesses. Glen’s experience in developing companies, sourcing funding, capital allocation and strategy has helped to see (in recent years) several of his companies evolve into large private and public companies.
He is Chairman and one of the founding shareholders of Healthia ( ex-ASX:HLA, now privately held with private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners as the largest shareholder) (a national network of over 400 physiotherapy, podiatry, optometry, exercise physiology and hand therapy clinics with more than 2000 employees) and Chairman and shareholder of People Infrastructure (ASX:PPE) (a diversified workforce solutions firm delivering a wide range of services to Australian businesses across three main sectors including healthcare and community services, industrial and mining services and professional services and information technology with over 600 internal employees and 15000 staff.
He is also chairman and shareholder of Naturo Technologies (food technology businesses value adding the supply chain in Avocado and Milk industries in Australia, Mexico, USA and South Africa).
He is also a non-executive director and shareholder of De Motu Cordis (Qld based Medical Technology Device Co) and Adventure Holdings Australia (Oztrail, Companion and Campfire brands operating in camping and leisure industry across Australia).
Glen was a resident panellist and investor on Channel 10’s Shark Tank Series. Shark Tank, as well as being prime time entertainment promoted entrepreneurship and innovation and assisted early-stage entrepreneurs with funding, publicity and mentorship.
Why are business awards important?
Participating in business awards like the Townsville Chamber of Commerce awards is a very useful process to go through that forces one to reflect on our business journey, on the challenges and opportunities, the failures and successes that most of us go through as we evolve our businesses and compete in the business market place. Business awards are important as a forum to share our stories and perhaps inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators and business owners.
How did winning the award impact your business, both in the short term and long term?
It was at the time, a good opportunity to reflect on what I was doing well and what I was doing badly and it helped assist my thinking about perhaps where my fledgling Townsville based veterinary group could evolve.
What advice would you give to current and future nominees and winners of the Townsville Chamber of Commerce Business Awards?
Surround yourself with a great team and seek out mentors and peer mentors that can help de-risk your journey and assist with helping solve the many problems and roadblocks that you are going to face. Stay humble and respectful of how hard it is to be a business owner, no matter how successful you think you are.
What moment or decision in your career are you most proud of, and why?
The epiphany that the only way to achieve success in business is to find people that are much smarter than you and inspire them to get involved with your vision for the future of the business you are trying to evolve. Great businesses only evolve on the back of great teams. The role of the business leader is to inspire and create a high-performance, team-focused culture.
What lessons and words of wisdom would you like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs in Townsville?
Lift your line of sight, challenge yourself and your team, plan where you are going and regularly review and reset your business (every 90 days) based on the feedback from your customers and employees, and the changes and trends that are taking place in your external and internal environment. You aim to stay relevant, ALWAYS, to your team and your customer.
KYLIE McCRAE - YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR 2001
Kylie won the award for a Jet Ski and Motorcycle Hire Company she owned in Townsville in 2001. Now Kylie has her own Real Estate office based in Bowen where she originates from after selling real estate in Bowen for over 20 years. Kylie opened her own office 6 years ago and now is the Office Principle with a team of 7 people. The McCrae property Group are the Number One selling agent in Bowen and have been recognised for their abilities from shortly after opening our office. They handle both sales and property management.
What was your experience of winning the Townsville Chamber of Commerce business award?
I was very young when I won this award and was working in a Jetski & Motorcycle business with my husband. It was such an honour to be recognised amongst a number of other very high calibre nominees. We were a small business in Townsville at the time and after receiving this reward our business continued to grow and establish a wonderful and loyal local clientele. We continued in that business until 2004 when we sold the business and relocated back to Bowen where we are originally from and I started my Real Estate career that I am still in today. I have now also brought my husband into this industry and business with me.
What impact did winning the award have on your business, both in the short term and long term?
The immediate impact was a recognition from my peers, also a recognition of our business within the Townsville business community. At the time our business was very unique and this award brought a lot of eyes onto our business. We also were very fortunate to receive an advertising package as a prize and this really helped boost our profile in the region. It was very humbling to win and drove me to achieve more than I ever thought possible. My humble beginnings have made me the person I am today. Working in Townsville I met some wonderful people, many of who we are still in touch with today. The longer you work; the more amazing people you meet and may of those have touched my life and taught me many life lessons.
What advice would you give to current and future nominees and winners of the Townsville Chamber of Commerce Business Awards?
Always strive to achieve the perceived impossible. There will always be people who tell you that you can’t or won’t succeed. I always took this as a challenge and made an extra effort to prove them wrong.
Looking back, what particular moment or decision in your career are you most proud of, and why?
I feel as though I have had many moments where I have been incredibly proud of what I have achieved. I have always found myself working in very male dominated industries at quite a young age. This has always made things very hard for me; I have had to work twice as hard to prove myself so I really feel proud every day that I am now a leader in my field and have the recognition on a daily basis through my loyal clientele. I have had many setbacks in my life and a very good friend once said to me ‘you just keep getting back up’ and that is a life motto I live by.
Never give up
MARCEL MCLEOD - YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR 2005
In 2017 Marcel moved to Tasmania with his family to escape the heat. In Hobart Marcel re-established his steel fabrication business Totalfab and his first project was constructing a playground at MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art. This included the installation of a giant bronze sculpture by USA artist Tom Otterness, Girls Rule, which is the centre piece of the playground. Totalfab is currently completing the supply and installation of a Structural Steel and metalwork package for a new defence call centre in Hobart, and has just been awarded another work package at MONA. Tasmania has been a great experience, Marcel and his family have made some lifelong friends, however in the near future they will be moving back up to North Queensland to be closer to family. Turns out they miss the heat!!
How did it feel to win the Chamber award?
Winning the Townsville Chamber of Commerce business award was gratifying, however the nomination and interview process was probably the most rewarding component. This gave me the opportunity to delve deep into my own business, looking at it from a different perspective and understanding. It brought to the surface everything we were doing well, and helped to identify the areas we could make improvements. The process provided clarity and confirmation, whilst winning the award provided certainty and verification that we were pointed in the right direction which gave me confidence.
How did it feel to win the Chamber award?
Winning the Townsville Chamber of Commerce business award was gratifying, however the nomination and interview process was probably the most rewarding component. This gave me the opportunity to delve deep into my own business, looking at it from a different perspective and understanding. It brought to the surface everything we were doing well, and helped to identify the areas we could make improvements. The process provided clarity and confirmation, whilst winning the award provided certainty and verification that we were pointed in the right direction which gave me confidence.
What impact did winning the award have on your business?
Initially, I thought winning would be an opportunity to leverage the exposure, however after some reflection the biggest impact we found was exposure to our own business and the opportunities that lay ahead. It gave us the determination and drive to forge forward, to improve and grow the business.
What advise would you give to future finalists and winners of business awards?
Receiving the accolades and recognition was humbling, very rewarding and gratifying, a moment to celebrate the hard work and sacrifice you have dedicated to your passion. However, winning is grasping all the lessons from participating, the process, the people and the networks that you can establish along the way.
What moment or decision in your career are you most proud of?
At the time of the award, I was in the process of implementing a system or practice known as Lean Manufacturing into my business. Most of what I was learning or exposed too was from courses and content provided through QMI Solutions, which provided great foundational tools to start the Lean Manufacturing journey, but it was a challenge to implement and sustain. I decided to take a study tour to Japan in 2008 which gave me first hand exposure to the Japanese practice of Kaizen, the art of continuous improvement. Kaizen is the core discipline required in Lean manufacturing, and exposure to this discipline and seeing what this practice looked like gave me the ability to better communicate Lean manufacturing to my team. 7 days touring factories in Japan changed the way we did business, and this is what helped us get through the impact of the Global Financial Crisis.
How has the chamber influenced your business?
After the awards I maintained my membership of the Chamber, which included serving on the board as a vice president. Winning the award gave me the opportunity to connect with people and businesses. The networking was instrumental in developing my own business and friendships.
What insights would you like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs?
Master your craft, become the best at what you do. The key to success is to focus, stay in your lane and avoid the distractions that take your eye off your game. However, be prepared to pivot in another direction when things change.
BEN WOODFORD - YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR 2010
Ben was born in Townsville and grew up in Douglas. He enjoyed sport from a young age and in his early twenties he discovered triathlon, road cycling and mountain biking - competing in his first half ironman and cross-country events such as the Paluma Push. After visiting bicycle trade shows in Europe, US and Asia, Ben decided to commit to his passion in the bicycle industry. With his wife Glenda, Ben established BNG Sports importing and wholesaling world renowned brands throughout Australia. A few years later they opened a bicycle retail store in Railway Estate and Ben completed a trade certificate in Bicycle Mechanics. The store is now located in the Hyde Park Centre, and this year the team are celebrating 20 years of business. Every year they are major sponsors for the Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride and Mates on Mountain Bikes.
How did it feel to receive a Chamber award?
To be honest, I was shocked, I was part of a high-calibre group of finalists, and to be chosen as the award recipient was a little surreal at the time. I knew I had a good team around me and the support of my beautiful wife and family. I am very grateful for the recognition.
What impact did winning the award have on your business?
The Chamber of Commerce is one of the oldest institutions in Townsville, and renowned for supporting the business community, so it was an honour to be recognised. Receiving many accolades from our customers and industry partners over the years that followed was a positive experience for our business. It has now been 14 years since receiving the award and our business continues to prosper.
What advice would you give to fuure finalists and winners of the Chamber Awards?
As an entrepreneur, being in business has its many rewards like choosing your own destiny. A large part of a successful business is focusing on your own journey and being surrounded by a supportive team. Be an early adapter to industry changes and don’t be afraid to adopt new technologies to help systemise your business, this can bring you great rewards to both revenue and time. One of the most important things in business is knowing your target market- and always remember cash flow is king.
What moment or decision in your career are you most proud of?
When you are young in business you want to be the business. You have the passion, the drive and the determination to succeed. As the years go on, you learn that a successful businessperson is one that has created a solid team who can be the business, while you can spend more time building relationships, working on the business and having life choices.
Do you have any insights that might be valuable for aspiring entrepreneurs?
There are a whole range of factors that contribute to a successful business. Remember to always have clarity in your decision making. Make sure you know your WHY. Every business is unique, and every entrepreneur is unique so stay focused on YOUR journey. Stay resilient, know your industry inside out, and don’t be afraid to invest in yourself. Always surround yourself with your biggest supporters.
OTHER WINNERS OF THE CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS
Young Business Person of the year
1998 Shane Smith - SOS Hire
1999 Peter Collings - Westwing Aviation
2000 Glen Richards - Founder Greencross Vets, CoFounder Petbarn, Investor and mentor Shark Tank Australia
2001 Kylie McCrae - McCrae Property Group
2002 Amanda Blizzard - Blue Banana Hair
2003 Trent Small - SV Steel Supplies
2004 Dana Zolli / Brine - Bella Nova Skin
2005 Marcel McLeod - Total Fab Engineering
2006 Warren Thomson - Regional internet Aus
2007 Scott Ironside - CivilPlus Constructions
2008 Milo Gaffney - Outback Pie Co.
2009 Tanya Stainton - Building Industry Online
2010 Ben Woodford - BNG Sports
2011 Peter Jepson - Jepson Media
2012 Jacquelin Cole-Goldsack - Physionorth
2013 Joshua Hislop - Fusion Sola
2014 Simon Boyes - Benchmark Scaffolding
2016 Tim Keating - Gym Food Australia
2018 Maddy Voinea - BlueKino + BDMag
2022 Dahe Wie - Design Works Apparel
The rollercoaster of business life can be tough, we often look forward towards the next goal without celebrating completion of the last one. Many local businesses are achieving amazing things in their field and just get on with business, without taking the time to celebrate them. This is what the Raising Regions Business Awards are all about! Taking time to celebrate and elevate the hard work, innovation, and dedication of businesses and people in our region.
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