2016
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Sean’s entrepreneurial flair emerged at age 17. He established URBAN ANIMALS; a successful party photo business that captured 1-2 events per week every week over a two year period. It also enjoyed a huge social media following.
Following on from this venture, Sean built his first Photo Booth with the plan to hire it out at events. Fast forward 3 years and Sean has built 9 booths for his business INSTABOOTH. These booths have appeared at over 300 events including numerous Uni balls (sometimes with all three booths operating side by side), business and community functions. Keen to innovate away from hiring as the only income stream, Sean created one of the first Photo Booths in Australia that is operated using PayPass. He has since sold 4 of these booths to nightclubs across Melbourne. Sean has also been generous with these booths and has used them to support the fundraising efforts for charities including Challenge, Blue September and the Learning 4 Life Autism Centre. Sean has been in a position to provide employment for causal staff through his business. He operated his business in Perth whilst living there for a short time and is about to launch in Canberra.
Sean came to my attention at the age of 17 with a proposal for a project called BANYULE 100. Banyule 100 is a project that celebrates young people in our community who are achieving significant things and acknowledges adults who play a role in supporting young people. Sean developed the concept and is the principal photographer, taking stunning portraits of outstanding members of our community. This is a project that he has committed to as a volunteer for well over 5 years. Banyule 100 has been the spring board for a number of other successful youth projects including the Truth 4 Youth blog and the Banyule 100 in Schools motivational program.
Sean is utterly professional in all his dealings. He is polite, obliging and hard working. He has an exceptional skill for identifying opportunities and is generous with both his talents and in giving opportunities to others. It has been a rare privilege to watch such a fine young man develop his successful business from a simple idea and an honour to work alongside him on the Banyule 100 project.
2015
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Victoria is 25 years of age and owns and operates a successful hair and beauty business with five staff working for her who is not afraid to work hard and continues to learn every day. Victoria is very proud of what she has achieved so far in life and is looking forward to many more exciting, challenging and inspiring opportunities in the future. Victoria's advice to anyone who wishes to pursue their dream is to "Be positive, keep believing in yourself, work hard and the end result is 'Dreams do come True'".
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Moreland City Council's nomination for their Young Business Achiever is the co-founder of a start up that wants to change how Melburnians buy groceries. Your Grocer offers easy online ordering and same day delivery with one key difference: all the produce comes from local shops! Morgan Ranieri started Your Grocer in 2013 with a rented refrigerated van, a basic website, deliveries a couple of days of the week and couple of local shops involved. The now deliver seven days a week to 30 different suburbs out of 17 local shops and have hundreds of customers. They're helping over 300 people in the northern suburbs, shopping locally, which means an extra $50,000 a month goes back into the local community. What's unique about Your Grocer, is that it's a convenient service for consumers that want to buy local but don't have the time. Morgan's passionate about making a change in the world, he believes a successful business should always be working to benefit and empower the community that sustains it. Morgan Ranieri is destined for big things and is certainly going places.
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Daniel was awarded an Australian Vocational Student Prize in 2013, award for demonstrating outstanding skills while completing vocational training in senior secondary education. Daniel was nominated for the AVSP based on his outstanding contribution to his School Based Apprenticeship in Plumbing, which he began in 2012. The nomination was supported by Daniel's employer, Adam Ratkovic of Forte Plumbing, Plenty. Adam said "Over the course of this past year Daniel has not only focused on his trade and area of discipline, he has also begun to build strong relationships with colleagues, clients and other trades on site. All of which are critical for a small business like Forte Plumbing to be successful. As his employer we value this approach - as it demonstrates that he is acting with the whole business in mind". Adam continues to employ Daniel, now as a full-time plumbing apprentice and is performing very well. The Federal Assistant Minister for Education, the Hon Sussan Ley, in presenting Daniel his award stated "Your achievements are a great example to others".
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Alex has been involved in music and media programs at Banyule Creative Arts Centre Jets for the past 5 years. Over this time Alex has transitioned from participant to a leader and now a professional film maker.
His passion and commitment has grown for film making which has enabled him to begin his own small business "Masterworks Media Productions" creating media for a large range of organisations.
Alex is obliging, professional, skilled, courteous and efficient with his time. He is prompt with communication and always happy to do whatever is required to meet customer's needs. Alex has been referred to a number of colleagues and external organisations with confidence, knowing that he will provide exemplary customer service and a top quality outcome.
Alex has produced a number of professionally filmed and edited videos for: Banyule Council (Jets Studios, Youth Services, Community Safety, Metro Access); Banyule Community Health Centre; North East Partnership for Healthy Communities; City of Yarra; City of Moonee Valley; Gamblers Help; Youth Foundations 3081, plus a range of documentary, corporate and instructional videos. As an example the video he produced to explain the SHYNE youth project was highly effective in conveying our processes and outcomes to our State Government funding body. Another video he produced for our Youth Summit last year was an incredibly successful tool - it was meticulously planned prior to the event, then filmed and edited all during the event enabling us to show it to the large gathering of dignitaries at the conclusion of the event. Further to his professional outcomes, Alex has also been employed to training other young people in the field of film making. Alex is self motivated who is not afraid to ask questions and listens to and action any advice with diligence.
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Kimberley started as a part time staff member after school at People and has worked her way up to becoming store manager. Kimberley is loyal, and even though we say nobody is indispensible - except her! She is vital to the business. Kimberley also does work in her own time that benefits the business.
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Ror is an active passionate and dedicated young man. He has worked hard at creating music - with an album launch and some work with Molly Meldrum. He uses his musical talents to teach, motivate and inspire others both locally in his own community and places as far flung as Mornington Island. He recently had a documentary about his journey screened at the Melbourne International Film festival. Not content with just his music he is also working on a clothing brand.
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Kate started Mary Mary Studio less than two years ago. In that time, her business has flourished from being a humble little Facebook page to a busy floral studio with an ever growing customer base. With features on the Frankie Magazine blog and other prominent industry websites, successful campaigns for Mother's Day and Mental Health Week, wedding bookings at some of Melbourne's most prestigious venues, a loyal customer following and community support for organisations such as Beyond Blue and White Ribbon Day, Mary Mary Studio is a small business full of promise and exciting plans for the future.
2014
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Samantha Gunn is 19 years old and has been employed by KMR Safety First for the past two years undertaking a variety of roles and responsibilities. Samantha works part time while she is studying to become a neo-natal special care nurse, she has also recently completed her personal trainer's qualification.
Her initial role was completing office administration and providing customer service. Samantha excelled in this role and showed the initiative to look for ways she could enhance processes that would improve the overall customer experience, newly introduced processes were developed, documented and implemented. The contribution to process improvement is outstanding and was enhanced with the dedication shown to supporting staff through the changes, offering guidance to junior staff and offering support to senior staff.
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Brent came recommended to EnerMech in 2012. Upon employment he showed immediately his enthusiasm and commitment to the job and to his colleagues alike. His appetite to learn and absorb information is of a high standard and he has the respect of his managers, supervisors and of his fellow colleagues. As an apprentice Brent also takes an active role and represents the workforce on the companies Occupational Health and Safety Committee.
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Dempsey began her employment at Parkroyal in August 2012. She is extremely hard working, and is extremely passionate about every facet of her role. She is constantly striving to increase her skillset and knowledge.
Dempsey was promoted from her graduate position to full time Coordinator within 1 year. Her high level of customer service and professional attitude has seen her win some of the largest pieces of business the hotel has ever seen, bringing in high revenue and assisting the department to achieve its budget targets, as well as bringing revenue to the local community.
Dempsey is an asset to the hotel, and makes achievements within her role on a regular basis. Her dedication and hard work will definitely see her succeed in her chosen career path of hotel events.
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Colin was initially employed at Dolphin Products as a graduate engineer reporting to the Project Manager. His role was to support services from an Engineering, Manufacturing and Product perspective for new and existing business.
Colin was promoted to Project Engineer and his focus is now on supporting new business opportunities, developing quotes and liaising with the customer base whilst still continuing to fulfil the duties of the previous job.
He has demonstrated professional growth and development since he started at Dolphin Products on 25th September 2012. Colin has a can do attitude, a thirst for knowledge and an infectious laugh that immediately wins customers and suppliers over.
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Beginning POP IT in 2012, Elsje Jordan has created a viable way to gain exposure for emerging Melbourne designers and artists while involving the community and supporting local spaces. POP IT runs as a temporary retail innovation or pop up shop and Elsje organises, markets and promotes every event and with sponsorship has managed to host workshops with local artists and designers gaining magazine and local winery partners. After almost two years POP IT has worked with the City of Darebin's Active Spaces program, as well as with Moreland City Council, Melbourne Spring fashion festival and the Substation Cultural Arts Hub. POP IT runs to benefit Artists and Designers, gaining them retailing experience with sales potential.
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Nicole was recruited in January 2011 as a business trainee. As part of her traineeship, she studied towards her Certificate III and IV in Business Administration and then achieved her Diploma of Management. She is now studying towards her Bachelor of Business Management in her own time. Nicole has coordinated her work and shown tremendous commitment to her job and studies. In the 3 years that Nicole has worked for Continental, she has always been extremely diligent, reliable and often gone above and beyond. She is very eager to learn and take on extra responsibilities and has a very positive attitude.
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Wilson Pateras believe that Linan is deserved of this recognition in two ways:
Firstly, her nature and personality. Linan is constant of positive energy. Always happy to be around, polite and courteous to all. Always willing and able to go the extra mile when required. Meticulous, exacting and efficient in her work.
Secondly, her tremendous academic and professional success in recent years. Completion of a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and a Master of Financial Analysis from La Trobe University followed by a start to her working career at Wilson Pateras.
2013
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Stacey started her own pre-school photography business, Allure Photography two years ago. She studied her Certificate 3 in Micro Business in early 2012 and then started working full time in her business. Stacey is proud of her determination and hard work that has contributed towards her achieving her dream of running her own business. Allure photography is going so well that Stacey has hired two staff members to support her growing business.
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Jessica assists with the management of a team of 10 plus employees. Jessica is a strong team leader. Her skills include customer service, merchandising, rostering and sales tracking. She always has a positive outlook, keeps the team motivated and consistent and helps drive a strong team and delivers results. Jessica has vast knowledge of her department and has always assisted others above and beyond. She is extremely kind hearted and finds friendship in everyone she meets.
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After spending over a year in Africa - studying, travelling, working and experiencing, Bec returned home to Australia and founded The Projection Room. The Projection Room is a project management consultancy company that makes project(ion)s happen. She chose this title for her business as she believed it encapsulated the types of projects she desired to attract and engage with. Basically The Projection Room focuses on projects that embrace creativity, innovation and social entrepreneurship, and that pursue improved social outcomes. Through such projects, Bec is able to help others achieve their projections for a better world. Thanks to Bec's relentless, passionate nature, and her commitment to growing social enterprise here in Australia. The Projection Room is going from strength to strength, evolving as a small-but-mighty "conscious company" that is helping to define a better way of doing business.
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Stacey has been working at Barry Plant Preston for 3 years. Stacey is hardworking, enthusiastic and completed her course before commencing her role at Barry Plant. She looks after 200+ properties and treats each property like it's her own. Stacey was "thrown in the deep end" with her portfolio (which was neglected) and was able to get it back in order within 12 months and decrease the average percentage of arrears by 1.5%.
Stacey is very passionate and focuses on her tasks. She is a team player, good communicator and has a career goal to remain in real estate.
