Triple crown winners, Servers Australia Pty Ltd, at the
Annual Central Coast Business Excellence Awards
The fourth Annual Central Coast Business Excellence Awards were held at the Crowne Plaza in Terrigal on Saturday, August 16, with Tuggerah based IT specialists, Servers Australia, taking out the triple crown.
The ceremony had guests donning a pair of sunglasses as they entered the Grand Ballroom, with entry conditional on the wearing of the sunnies as the venue had been transformed into a thick white haze sliced by bright lights befitting the theme of Think Bright Shining Lights One Night. A video message from Prime Minister Mr Tony Abbott opened the Awards evening and Minister for the Central Coast Mr Rob Stokes gave the keynote address. Awards director Mr Kerry Ruffels said: “We had a brilliant night, some truly outstanding finalists and winners and the atmosphere created was full of anticipation and genuine excitement.” Servers Australia was awarded the prestigious title of Business of the Year as well as Excellence in Business [for 20 plus full time employees] and CEO Jared Hirst won the hotly contested Young Entrepreneur Award. He was not the only one to enjoy multiple successes, with Steinbok Schnapps taking out Excellence in Small Business and Excellence in Innovation. Treehouse Creative, who won Excellence in Business Ethics, joined them as owner Jason van Genderen won the coveted Business Leader Award. Life Time Achievement was awarded to Harvey World Travel Erina’s Maxeine McKeon, the second person to receive this Award. Rod McCormack won a special award for his Contribution to Creative Industries, Alison Cook won Young Business Executive and the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce took out Local Chamber of the Year. Crowne Plaza Terrigal won Excellence in Sustainability introducing new systems and undertaking energy audits that see it saving tens of thousands of dollars and Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing won the coveted Employer of Choice Award. Mr Ruffels said: “Our independent judging panel found this year to be the toughest yet, with some great competition amongst a very diverse group of businesses.” Award winners now become automatic finalists in the state-wide NSW Business Chamber Awards to be held in November. The irrepressible and laconic Adam Harvey had guests in raptures, singing along with him. S e v e n t e e n – y e a r- o l d Alicia Brock entertained the audience with a beautiful performance, and Joe Coffee proved he was a popular act. Both feature on the recently released Coast Sessions CD.
Media release,
26 Aug 2014
Kerry Ruffels,
Central Coast Business
Excellence Awards