2012 Nominee Bios / Overviews Entrepreneur of the Year
This award is for an entrepreneur who demonstrates proficiency as a risk taker, enthusiasm, motivation, displays creativity, originality, dedication, innovation and vision.
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Andrea Butera – Haliburton Indoor Cycling
Andrea Butera is the owner of Haliburton Indoor Cycling, which offers a Spinning training program to residents of the Haliburton Highlands, regardless of age or current fitness level. The program is unique in that it is unlike other group exercise programs. It is a system with purpose, direction and components that are not only physical, but mental and inspirational as well. It isn’t just a “workout” in a group exercise class where everyone is pushed to keep the pace set by the instructor with no purpose, direction, or heart rate guidelines. The program is always individually paced and conducted under guidelines using heart rate training parameters, energy zones, mental components, terrain and movements. Everyone is encouraged to ride at their own pace and control their own intensity to complete a session that’s right for them without worrying about keeping up with the rider next to them.
The use of Star Trac’s patented line of Spinner bikes makes for an eco-friendly exercise program as no electricity is required! Class members are encouraged to use their Spinning program water bottles to save on plastic bottle waste.
The Studio recently raised over $1,000 in the Do It For Daron Spin-a-thon, where all proceeds went to awareness programs related to suicide prevention and children’s mental health. Future Spin-a-thons will include raising money for the breakfast program at the local schools. The Spinning program gives people the opportunity to finally be somewhere where they don’t feel like they have to compete with another class participant, and where no one is judging them.
W. R. (Bill) Dewey – WRD Cottage Rental Agency
Established in 1995, and owned and operated by Bill Dewey, WRD Cottage Rental Agency has enjoyed a steady growthfrom initial sales in 1995 of $18,000 at 5 cottages listed back then to thecurrent sales of $1,530,300 at 194 cottages listed during 2011 – 60% of their business is repeat business. Much of the money stays in the County of Haliburton in the form of mortgages, taxes, repairs, food, fuel and sundry other services used by the owners of the cottages as well as the money which is spent in the county by the cottage renters.
In 2011, there were a total of over 700 groups of renters or well over 5000 people who used WRD’s rental service and who would not have come to Haliburton County if not for the ability of WRD to attract their attention and ultimately service their cottage rental needs – making WRD a significant contributor to the economic health of The Haliburton Highlands.
At the present time, WRD is one of the largest and oldest agencies in Ontario and a member of TICO, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario. WRD designs and publishs an in-house, 200+ page web site – with over a million visits to their website, it is their #1 advertising medium.
WRD is an enthusiastic supporter of several local charities and organizations through contributions and assistance.
WRD’s objective is to continue to offer quality accommodations to our market segment and encourage people to evaluate Haliburton County as nature’s “Natural Work Of Art” and the #1 vacation destination in Central Ontario.
Brandi Hewson – WAI Products Limited
Picture yourself riding a rocket that needs constant refueling and tends to do the odd flip; that’s what the first year of WAI Products Ltd. felt like! While there were some challenges, there were also some significant accomplishments and successes. Owner Brandi Hewson believes that her success is rooted in clear determination, passion, and relationships, in combination with the selection of innovative products and making the right moves at the right time.
Some of WAI’s 2011 milestones have included: negotiations with multi-billion dollar companies securing distribution agreements as well as a market presence; nailing sales within 10% of forecasts; travelling over 40,000 km in 6 months to build their market; providing employment for the community; building a new corporate website in combination with a new ecommerce website; building a brand people associate with an ultimate level of customer service – gaining recognition in a 40 billion dollar industry!; building and moving into a new office to promote enhanced service to the local community and an expanded inventory.
WAI Products has definitely experienced a positive and satisfying first year in business! And in all of this, Hewson, still managed to fulfill her other roles as a mother, a wife, a friend, a daughter…. Brandi does not expect the next years to be easy; she didn’t become an entrepreneur to take the easy road. She embraces the road ahead and all the challenges it may bring. She finds great reward in knowing that she has built a little empire that will support her community and her family. Looking back Brandi has a sense of a solid foundation and moving forward – she’s strapped onto her little rocket and ready to take off!
Charlie Teljeur & Wayde Greer – Highways to Fairways
Bent Nose Media is founded and run on the concept of challenging ‘Why’. Why can’t two guys with a dream and minimal experience make a TV show? Why do you have to be the biz to be IN the biz? And Why can’t a successful multimedia company be run out of a small town like Haliburton?
Charlie and Wayde are not ones to be told what they can’t do, but would rather expend boundless energy figuring out what they can. They teamed up two years ago to create a concept, then made a plan, then formed a budget followed by (literally) mapping a route to their dream. Highways to Fairways – the simple yet daunting dream to create their own television show, was born.
What they didn’t already have they found a way to get. What they didn’t already know, they found a way to learn. Whoever they didn’t know, they found connections to. All this, based on a little fear, a little more sweat and a whole lot of perseverance.
Two years later, after financing, shooting and editing, Highways to Fairways went to air in Canada on four different networks. Shortly thereafter, the show entered into a deal that would take it to the international level. Highways to Fairways sits ready to, quite literally, take on the world. Meanwhile their company, Bent Nose Media, has filmed at the pre-eminent Canadian country music festival; shot exclusive video for the most famous hockey team in the world (Montreal Canadiens) and was the official videographer to Canada’s most star-studded celebrity golf event.
All this for two guys from Haliburton? Why not?
Close this browser window/tab to return to the Nomination Voting form
2012 Nominee Bios / Overviews
Entrepreneur of the Year
This award is for an entrepreneur who demonstrates proficiency as a risk taker, enthusiasm, motivation, displays creativity, originality, dedication, innovation and vision.
Andrea Butera – Haliburton Indoor Cycling
Andrea Butera is the owner of Haliburton Indoor Cycling, which offers a Spinning training program to residents of the Haliburton Highlands, regardless of age or current fitness level. The program is unique in that it is unlike other group exercise programs. It is a system with purpose, direction and components that are not only physical, but mental and inspirational as well. It isn’t just a “workout” in a group exercise class where everyone is pushed to keep the pace set by the instructor with no purpose, direction, or heart rate guidelines. The program is always individually paced and conducted under guidelines using heart rate training parameters, energy zones, mental components, terrain and movements. Everyone is encouraged to ride at their own pace and control their own intensity to complete a session that’s right for them without worrying about keeping up with the rider next to them.
The use of Star Trac’s patented line of Spinner bikes makes for an eco-friendly exercise program as no electricity is required! Class members are encouraged to use their Spinning program water bottles to save on plastic bottle waste.
The Studio recently raised over $1,000 in the Do It For Daron Spin-a-thon, where all proceeds went to awareness programs related to suicide prevention and children’s mental health. Future Spin-a-thons will include raising money for the breakfast program at the local schools. The Spinning program gives people the opportunity to finally be somewhere where they don’t feel like they have to compete with another class participant, and where no one is judging them.
W. R. (Bill) Dewey – WRD Cottage Rental Agency
Established in 1995, and owned and operated by Bill Dewey, WRD Cottage Rental Agency has enjoyed a steady growthfrom initial sales in 1995 of $18,000 at 5 cottages listed back then to thecurrent sales of $1,530,300 at 194 cottages listed during 2011 – 60% of their business is repeat business. Much of the money stays in the County of Haliburton in the form of mortgages, taxes, repairs, food, fuel and sundry other services used by the owners of the cottages as well as the money which is spent in the county by the cottage renters.
In 2011, there were a total of over 700 groups of renters or well over 5000 people who used WRD’s rental service and who would not have come to Haliburton County if not for the ability of WRD to attract their attention and ultimately service their cottage rental needs – making WRD a significant contributor to the economic health of The Haliburton Highlands.
At the present time, WRD is one of the largest and oldest agencies in Ontario and a member of TICO, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario. WRD designs and publishs an in-house, 200+ page web site – with over a million visits to their website, it is their #1 advertising medium.
WRD is an enthusiastic supporter of several local charities and organizations through contributions and assistance.
WRD’s objective is to continue to offer quality accommodations to our market segment and encourage people to evaluate Haliburton County as nature’s “Natural Work Of Art” and the #1 vacation destination in Central Ontario.
Brandi Hewson – WAI Products Limited
Picture yourself riding a rocket that needs constant refueling and tends to do the odd flip; that’s what the first year of WAI Products Ltd. felt like! While there were some challenges, there were also some significant accomplishments and successes. Owner Brandi Hewson believes that her success is rooted in clear determination, passion, and relationships, in combination with the selection of innovative products and making the right moves at the right time.
Some of WAI’s 2011 milestones have included: negotiations with multi-billion dollar companies securing distribution agreements as well as a market presence; nailing sales within 10% of forecasts; travelling over 40,000 km in 6 months to build their market; providing employment for the community; building a new corporate website in combination with a new ecommerce website; building a brand people associate with an ultimate level of customer service – gaining recognition in a 40 billion dollar industry!; building and moving into a new office to promote enhanced service to the local community and an expanded inventory.
WAI Products has definitely experienced a positive and satisfying first year in business! And in all of this, Hewson, still managed to fulfill her other roles as a mother, a wife, a friend, a daughter…. Brandi does not expect the next years to be easy; she didn’t become an entrepreneur to take the easy road. She embraces the road ahead and all the challenges it may bring. She finds great reward in knowing that she has built a little empire that will support her community and her family. Looking back Brandi has a sense of a solid foundation and moving forward – she’s strapped onto her little rocket and ready to take off!
Charlie Teljeur & Wayde Greer – Highways to Fairways
Bent Nose Media is founded and run on the concept of challenging ‘Why’. Why can’t two guys with a dream and minimal experience make a TV show? Why do you have to be the biz to be IN the biz? And Why can’t a successful multimedia company be run out of a small town like Haliburton?
Charlie and Wayde are not ones to be told what they can’t do, but would rather expend boundless energy figuring out what they can. They teamed up two years ago to create a concept, then made a plan, then formed a budget followed by (literally) mapping a route to their dream. Highways to Fairways – the simple yet daunting dream to create their own television show, was born.
What they didn’t already have they found a way to get. What they didn’t already know, they found a way to learn. Whoever they didn’t know, they found connections to. All this, based on a little fear, a little more sweat and a whole lot of perseverance.
Two years later, after financing, shooting and editing, Highways to Fairways went to air in Canada on four different networks. Shortly thereafter, the show entered into a deal that would take it to the international level. Highways to Fairways sits ready to, quite literally, take on the world. Meanwhile their company, Bent Nose Media, has filmed at the pre-eminent Canadian country music festival; shot exclusive video for the most famous hockey team in the world (Montreal Canadiens) and was the official videographer to Canada’s most star-studded celebrity golf event.
All this for two guys from Haliburton? Why not?