Annual awards honour tops in North.

Few people realize the talent and the energy that exists in Northern Ontario, in its people and its businesses, says Bruno Niederer, dealer principal of Performance KIA in Thunder Bay.

KIA Canada and its six Northern Ontario dealerships was a major corporate sponsor of the 17th Annual Northern Ontario Business Awards held in Thunder Bay Oct.9.

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Niederer lauds the awards for bringing awareness of business and its concerns to this vast region of the province.

"It's recognition of the success of the people in Northern Ontario - a voice that gets the message out that we're here doing business, and doing it well.

'"Too often, we hear about tough times, how hard it is to get ahead. Well, despite that, things are happening, and there are successes. We need to focus on the people who have established their businesses here; many of them could have set up anywhere in Ontario, or Canada. They've chosen Northern Ontario, because they know they can find good staff, and there are many opportunities and good markets here."

Ron Hell, director of marketing and sales for Bearskin Airlines, also a major corporate sponsor of the awards, says Bearskin recognizes the need to honour the best and brightest in the North through the annual awards.

"(Our participation) relates entirely to the fact that we're a business airline by choice, and the service that we offer is a high frequency service catered to meet the needs of the business community; obviously we want to help develop, stimulate and celebrate the successes of our customers."

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This year's award recipients include: Lacasse Fine Wood Products, Company of the Year (1-15 employees); Miller Technology, Company of the Year (16-50 employees); Altas Copco Exploration Products, Company of the Year (51 + employees),

Fabio Belli, Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Tom Palangio, Entrepreneur of the Year; Serprent River Trading Post, First Nations Business Award of Excellence; Norfab Building Components Inc., Judges Choice Award; Ionic Engineering Ltd., Innovation Award; and Discover Abitibi, Entrepreneurial Community of the Year.

Ionic Engineering Ltd., situated in Greater Sudbury, so co-owned by Steve Reichle and Steve Matusch. Only four years in business, the two entrepreneurs were honoured, with the NOBA Innovation Award.

"We're still the new kids; we still seem to be proving ourselves," says Matusch.

Specializing in automation and robotics, the company currently has the equivalent of seven full-time employees. They sub-contract out as well, with machinists; fabricators and electricians.

"The people in Sudbury have the capabilities, the training, the skills we need-we must give ourselves credit for realizing that, and basing our operation here," says Matusch.

Expansion plans are in the works for the company, says Reichle.

"Putting up our manufacturing facility this year is the most visible plan, but continuing to develop and expand foreign markets in places like South America and Korea is also very important," Reichle says.

Ionic currently sell to customer in China, Korea, the U.S., and the Middle East, as well as Canada.

The company is diversifying into the automation sector, a market which Matusch predicts they will successfully penetrate.

Miller Technology Inc. of North Bay was represented in Thunder Bay by brothers Kent Miller, operations manager of the Seymour Location and head of engineering, and Chad Miller, operations manager of the Ferris Location and head of sales and marketing. The business was started by their parents Rona and Nancy Miller, and won the 1992 Company of the Year Award (1-25 Employees).

"Our father built the company, and it's thanks to our patents for giving us the opportunity to continue its growth from regional to worldwide," says Kent.

With 42 employees at present, the company's mining markets are mainly in Northern Ontario, but also include Montana, Nevada, and Tanzania, South America, and Africa.

RMH Equipment, the company's industrial division manufactures equipment such as snow groomers and forklifts.

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"We don't necessarily want to grow in size, but we do want to grow our business through additional products - two new products a year is our goal - and through increased markets," says Kent.

Research and development is also an important part of the company's future.

In its 24 years of operation, there has never been a lost-time accident, and the Millers give full credit to their employees.

Sharon Hacio, chief administrative officer of the Town of Marathon, was one of this year's award judges.

"What impressed me most was the completeness of the applications. I was amazed by what some small companies are doing in Northern Ontario - through both their entrepreneurial and their technical skills," Hacio says. "Small businesses are the backbone of Northern Ontario - they are what will keep our young people here. It's up to us to give them the help to succeed, and the recognition when they do."

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This year's sponsors include; KIA Canada, Dougallmedia, MCTV, City of Thunder Bay, Bearskin Airlines, Human Resources Development Canada, Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp., Bell, Wasaya Airways LP, Northern Ontario Business, Union Gas, IRAP, Scotiabank, CIBC, Tembec, Ontario Power Generation, BDC, PLM Group, an anonymous supporter, TBA Ytel, Signature Group, Bank of Montreal, One to One Fundraising Consulting Services Inc., Quality Inn Sudbury, Valhalla Inn, College Boreal, Dominion Construction, Thunder Bay International Airports Authority, Brooks Marketing Resources (BMR), Lakehead University, Bowater Canadian Forest Products Inc., Bristol Machine Works.

Full profiles of winners on www.noba.ca