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10 WINTER 2018 SKIPTHEDISHES (WINNIPEG) Outstanding Large Business, Sponsored by FastAir Executive Aviation Services, and 2018 MCC Business of the Year SkipTheDishes was founded in 2012 by brothers Chris and Joshua Simair, who left their traditional careers to launch a tech startup, offering Canadians a better way to order restaurant food, through online delivery. The founding group also included another Simair brother, Daniel, and two university friends, Jeff Adamson and Andrew Chau. Skip established its Winnipeg headquarters in 2013 and is one of the city's largest private- sector employers, with a staff of 2,000. The company now partners with more than 14,000 independent, local and national restaurants in over 115 Canadian markets coast to coast. Its rapid growth and success in tech innovation, job creation, and workforce development encourages economic development across the sector. Finalists for Large Business: HyLife Ltd.; Westman Communications Group BARKMAN CONCRETE (WINNIPEG) Outstanding Long-term Achievement, Sponsored by Winnipeg Airports Authority For 70 years, Barkman has built a name as an innovator and an industry leader in precast concrete manufacturing. Founded in Steinbach, it started as a small septic tank-producing operation and now offers Canada's most diverse, quality tested precast product line for residential, commercial, and agricultural applications. With more than 200 employees in three locations, Barkman works hard to maintain a family-led atmosphere, which translates to a commitment to customer service. Barkman values integrity in its relationships, quality in its products and services, loyalty to its people, and innovation in its field. Finalists: The North West Company; Triple E Canada Ltd. FEDERATED CO-OPERATIVES – WINNIPEG DISTRIBUTION CENTRE (WINNIPEG) Return to Work Award, Sponsored by Workers Compensation Board Federated Co-operatives Ltd. (FCL) is a different kind of business, focused on serving independent retail co-operative members with a core business model, including wholesaling, manufacturing, marketing and administration in four areas: Agriculture, energy, food & home, and building solutions. The Winnipeg Distribution Centre — which serves 212 Co-op locations in 132 Manitoba communities — made enormous strides in safety between 2011 and 2017. The FCL Return to Work program includes extensive group safety training and cross-training of all employees. Since the program was implemented, FCL has reduced its rates and premiums by more than half. Lost time due to injury has dropped 90 per cent since 2017, and time lost claims saw a reduction of 96 per cent, setting a course as an employee health and safety leader working to achieve zero accidents. Finalists: Actionmarguerite; Gardewine Group LP The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce would like to thank all our dedicated partners for their continued belief in the Chamber movement. We also send our congratulations to all the finalists and look forward to the next chapter of the awards in 2019. ■ From top: Bell MTS Vice-President of Business Solutions Ryan Klassen (left) with representatives of StandardAero, which was the recipient of the Lieutenant Governor Award for a Business, and MCC Board Chair Paul Holden; Jamie Jurczak (left), partner at Taylor McCaffrey LLP, with Prairie Barnwood owner and Entrepreneur of the Year Blayne Wyton and Paul Holden; CPHR Manitoba Board Chair Janice Harper (left), with Justin Phillips, CEO & co-founder of Outstanding Small Business winner Sycamore Energy and Paul Holden; Rogers Communications Canada's Karen Holden (left) with Keystone Western Inc. Vice-President Dave Tardi, who accepted the award for Outstanding Medium Business, and Paul Holden. Photos by David Moder Photography

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