Page 27 - Conveniece World Magazine Nov/Dec 2020

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE RECOGNISED High-achieving small-business owners have been recognised by the Franchise Council of Australia at awards ceremonies held virtually across Australia recently. By Franchise Council of Australia CEO Mary Aldred. I n what has been an extremely difficult year for small-business owners, the achievements of all winners and finalists in the 2020 Regional Excellence in Franchising Awards is truly remarkable. We at the Franchise Council of Australia congratulate them all on their outstanding performances, resilience in the face of adversity, and continued contributions to their franchise systems and communities. Award winners were drawn from a broad range of sectors, including banking, convenience stores, bakeries, service franchises and more. In Queensland/Northern Territory, one of the first ANZ Mobile Lending franchisees, Chris McIntyre, was named the state/territory’s Multi-Unit Franchisee of the Year. Acquiring the Gold Coast Central and Gold Coast North franchises in 2004, he expanded to the Loganholme franchise in 2007 and the Ascot franchise in 2018. Mr McIntyre’s award was part of a strong showing for the brand, which across Australia took out six Regional Excellence in Franchising Awards. In NSW/ACT, Justin Leaney and Jeremy Whitelaw of RAMS Blue Mountains took out the Single Unit Franchisee of the Year (two or more staff) Award. Coming from diverse career paths, as a builder and small-business owner and an IT executive with small-business experience, neither had written a home loan before starting their RAMS business. They did, however, plan from the outset to recruit a highly skilled team to build their business around. They now have a team of 11 and two offices, which process 50-60 home finance applications a month. Born entrepreneur An Nguyen of Solar Run Australia, Taylors Hill, Victoria, who launched his first successful business at the end of Year 12 after borrowing $1000 from his mum to buy stock, took out the Victoria/Tasmania Single Unit Franchisee of the Year (less than two staff) Award. Also in Victoria/Tasmania, 7-Eleven Australia Swanston St (Melbourne) franchisee Wijitha Perera was awarded the Franchisee Community Responsibility & Contribution award for his extensive involvement with the Lion’s Club. 7-Eleven was also successful in two other Regional Awards categories, with the brand’s Kirsten Stone winning the Victoria/Tasmania Franchise Woman of the Year Award and Daniel Halaska being named the NSW/ACT Field Manager of the Year. In WA, Chatime Group’s Soon Aun Khoo, Wei Ming Chin and Jian How Lee were named Multi- Unit Franchisee of the Year, while Soon and Christine Teng and the team at Chatime, Carousel, were also winners of the WA Franchisee Community Responsibility & Contribution Award. Following their success, the state/ territory winners have qualified as finalists for the MYOB FCA National Excellence in Franchising Awards, to be held virtually later this year. 2020 Excellence in Franchising Awards winners NSW/ACT Multi-Unit Franchisee of the Year: Peter Kerr, ANZ Mobile Lending, Sydney CBD and North Sydney. Single Unit Franchisee of the Year, two or more staff: Justin Leaney and Jeremy Whitelaw, RAMS, Blue Mountains. Franchise Woman of the Year: Wendy Donaldson, Narellan Pools. Field Manager of the Year: Daniel Halaska, 7-Eleven Australia. Franchisee Community Responsibility & Contribution: Geoff and Jo Harrington, Bakers Delight, Southern Highlands. QUEENSLAND/NORTHERN TERRITORY Multi-Unit Franchisee of the Year: Chris McIntyre, ANZ Mobile Lending, Gold Coast. Single Unit Franchisee of the Year, two or more staff: John Smith and Ann Millman, Aramex Australia, Sunshine Coast. Franchise Woman of the Year: Allison French, Quest Apartment Hotels, Ipswich. Field Manager of the Year: Phil Colburn, Poolwerx. SOUTH AUSTRALIA Single Unit Franchisee of the Year, two or more staff: Andrew Toogood, Bakers Delight, Mount Gambier (Commercial Street). VICTORIA/TASMANIA Multi-Unit Franchisee of the Year: Sarah and Tony Walter, The Cheesecake Shop, Albury and Wodonga. Single Unit Franchisee of the Year, two or more staff: David Sulava and Janet Mu, ANZ Mobile Lending, Flemington. Single Unit Franchisee of the Year, less than two staff: An Nguyen, Solar Run Australia, Taylors Hill. Franchise Woman of the Year: Kirsten Stone, 7-Eleven Australia. Field Manager of the Year: Shane Rose, ANZ Mobile Lending. Franchisee Community Responsibility & Contribution: Wijitha Perera, 7-Eleven Australia, Swanston St, Melbourne. WESTERN AUSTRALA Multi-Unit Franchisee of the Year: Soon Aun Khoo, Wei Ming Chin and Jian How Lee, Chatime Carousel, Waterford and Willetton. Single Unit Franchisee of the Year, two or more staff: Rodney Gullan, Signarama, Midland. Single Unit Franchisee of the Year, less than two staff: Sallie Williams, ANZ Mobile Lending, Wanneroo. Franchise Woman of the Year: Becky Hughes, Baby Sensory Australia and New Zealand. Field Manager of the Year: Andrew Ierace, ANZ Mobile Lending. Franchisee Community Responsibility & Contribution: Soon Aun Khoo, Christine Teng and Co, Chatime, Carousel INDUSTRY INSIGHT About Mary Aldred Mary Aldred has been CEO of the Franchise Council of Australia, the peak body for the nation’s $184 billion franchise business segment, since April 2018, following extensive experience across government, industry and the corporate sectors. As CEO, Mary has led the FCA in developing and delivering strategic priorities to strengthen its role as an effective peak business organisation. NOV/DEC, 2020 CONVENIENCE WORLD 25