Manitoba Chamber of Commerce
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/683412
33 MBiz | may 2016 Bill Fenton, MBA President and CEO, Melet Plastics Inc. REGISTER NOW FOR OUR NEXT INFO SESSION asper-mba.ca AsperMBA The new TRAILBLAZERS DO. The new Asper MBA shapes exceptional leaders in professions across the spectrum. Our experiential learning model and unique, market-driven curriculum enable you to carve your own path, empower those around you and become the leader others want to follow. LEAD THE WAY EAST ST. PAUL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Until then, she shot mainly outdoor photos that did not require artificial light. As winner of the Just Watch Me! contest, Harel received a cash prize of $1,000 and a professional website, along with accountancy advice and professional tips on how to grow a small business. "I'll spend most of the prize money on more backdrops and lighting for a studio I rent in Steinbach," she says. Community Futures Manitoba Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program Manager Susan Bater says the contest has been popular with entrants and voters alike. "It has also underscored and publicized the tremendous business potential of persons living with disabilities or health issues. I believe it will continue to grow well into the future," Bater says. Votes for Prairie contestants were received from video viewers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and from countries throughout the world. "The voting was intense and the results for the contestants were very close," Bater says. Originally from Owen Sound, Ont., Harel moved to Steinbach 11 years ago. She and her husband have three children aged one, three and five. "My husband works full-time, so I manage the kids during the day and make time for my photography business when I can. I definitely love my job because I can pick my own hours," she says. Along with shooting weddings and portraits of couples, one of her favourite photo categories is cake smashing, in which toddlers are given birthday cakes and encouraged to play with them. "The results are messy but the photos are hilarious and become beloved memorabilia for parents and the children when they grow up." Two other Manitobans were among this year's winners. La Broquerie West's Cody Epp, owner of Eppic Industries, won third place in the Seasoned Entrepreneur category, and Michelle Wierda, owner of Curves in Gimli, was the World Trade Centre/ Business InfoCentre Manitoba Start Up Entrepreneur winner. ■ To learn more about the Just Watch Me! contest, visit www.justwatchmecontest.ca. Steinbach photographer Apryl Harel won this year's Just Watch Me! video contest.