The Conestoga community was recognized with two 2024 Business Excellence Awards from the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce at a gala held March 21 at Bingemans Conference Centre in Kitchener.
The college’s Research team was honoured with the Innovation Award at the 2024 Business Excellence Awards, presented by the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.
The college’s Research team was honoured with the Innovation Award and Conestoga Police Foundations graduate Ediz Kemal was recognized with the Young Professional of the Year Award.
Sponsored by Scotiabank, the Innovation Award is presented to a business or organization that has created, invented or developed an innovative product or process that has resulted in significant and measurable increase in revenue or job creation; productivity or quality; reduction in costs; and/or improvements in service.
Conestoga was recognized for the impact its research activities have had on local businesses.
“We are thrilled to be honoured with this award from the KW Chamber. Our team of innovators, problem solvers, and industry experts is driven by a shared passion to make a meaningful impact and we are so pleased to have our work recognized,” said Michelle Chrétien, vice president, Research.
Conestoga’s Research team helps local businesses innovate and bring new ideas to life by connecting them with faculty, researchers, and students who have the expertise and experience required to address their research and development needs.
The college was ranked among the top 20 research colleges across Canada in 2023 and is home to six applied research centres spanning science, engineering, business, and social innovation and two centres focused on entrepreneurship and commercialization.
The chamber’s Young Professional of the Year award, sponsored by PwC, is awarded to an individual under the age of 40 who has tackled the challenges of entrepreneurship and/or has demonstrated professional growth and success in their respective field of work.
Conestoga graduate Ediz Kemal is general manager at Tone-Gar Security Services, a growing security company that provides services to clients throughout southern Ontario. Under his guidance, the company has achieved a client retention rate exceeding 98 per cent, and his emphasis on ongoing training and development has established a “Best in Class” standard within the region, positioning the company as a leader in the industry.
Conestoga was also pleased to sponsor the Employee Engagement Award, presented to Dillon Consulting Limited.
For more information on all award winners, visit the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.