WBE CANADA EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Recognizing the accomplishments of Canadian Women Business Enterprises (WBES)
Celebrating the impact of corporate and government Supplier Diversity Initiatives
Recognizing Champions, Change Makers and Leaders in Supplier Diversity in Canada
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF WBE CANADA'S 2021 EXCELLENCE AWARDS!
2021 PRESIDENT'S AWARD
WBE Canada’s President’s Award recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated significant contribution in supplier diversity benefiting or promoting Canadian women-owned businesses. Selected by WBE Canada’s President, Silvia Pencak, this year’s honour was awarded to two individuals. Both recipients have significantly contributed to the success and awareness of supplier diversity and growth of women-owned businesses in Canada.
Anne-Marie Deslauriers
President & Founder, DELAN
2021 President's Award
Anne-Marie has worked tirelessly to ensure the growth of her IT recruitment company, quadrupling her team over the past five years, while remaining a predominantly female, yet very diverse team. Thanks to this growth and diversity, Anne-Marie Deslauriers has made a real impact in her industry by creating jobs in Quebec, helping companies find concrete solutions to overcome the labor shortage in the province. Anne-Marie never hesitates to promote the strength behind WBE certification and the power of supplier diversity to drive change and help women-owned businesses succeed.
Melissa Simmons
CEO & Publisher, Diversity Professional Magazine
2021 President's Award
Melissa has been integral in directing and highlighting the focus on issues that impact employment, entrepreneurship, business, social trends and all aspects of the diversity space. As the CEO and publisher of Diversity Professional, the interactive international magazine she founded in 2016, this year’s President’s Award recipient, together with her team, has generously and continuously supported WBE Canada’s work and the advancement of women-owned businesses and supplier diversity in Canada.
2021 Top Corporation in Supplier Diversity
Recognizing a WBE Canada Corporate Member who is making a distinct and describable difference in the advancement of Supplier Diversity in Canada.
BMO
2021 Top Corporation in Supplier Diversity
As one of WBE Canada’s founding corporations, BMO continues to demonstrate its passion and advocacy for Canadian supplier diversity and promotion of diverse suppliers. BMO has had a long-standing, established supplier diversity program, in which they provide opportunities to and network with certified diverse businesses, hold their large non-diverse suppliers accountable for supplier diversity, and embed supplier diversity into the procurement sourcing process. This past year BMO embarked on several aggressive growth initiatives that include expanding the supplier diversity council to have an enterprise focus and enhanced level of leadership with executives from each line of business and several functional areas; setting supplier diversity goals at the line of business level; and launching BMO’s first-ever diverse business development program, BMO Elevate.
2021 Top WBE Supplier
Celebrating a certified women-owned business that has demonstrated excellence in business and support for other women owned businesses
Robinson Global Management
2021 Top WBE Supplier
Robinson Global Management Inc. is a multidisciplinary management consulting firm specializing in public sector procurement, dispute resolution, process risk review, negotiation and contract management. Since certifying in May 2019, RGM has enjoyed incredible growth and in 2021 currently holds contracts (both direct and vendors of record) across the global public sector valued over 6X their first year’s contracts awarded to date.
RGM has increased customer and shareholder value through the development of new business lines external to the Canadian region, in the US and Caribbean which focuses on innovative, ethical and sustainable procurement. Extending their offerings outside of their core services for SMEs, including many other WBEs, is designed to increase focus on women-owned businesses seeking to pivot or add public sector procurement into their portfolios. This new business line has led to RGM’s year over year growth as they enter the 3.5 year mark in business.
2021 WBE Leaders
Celebrating leaders from within certified women-owned businesses that are actively engaged with WBE Canada Community or our partner organizations. Recipients are recognized for their contributions to the growth and support of other women-owned businesses in their region or industry.
Ann Gomez
Clear Concept Inc.
2021 WBE Leader
Ann Gomez is passionate about contributing to the diverse community. She is committed to both learning and driving positive change, doing her part to promote diversity within her community and in parallel with her work. As the owner of a training company, this WBE is always coming forward to lead workshops with empowering messages and practical support, helping her fellow women entrepreneurs grow and succeed together. Anne not only inspired with her keynote remarks at 2020 conference and Women’s Day earlier this year, she also found time to co-publish “Driving Innovation Within a Diverse Supply Chain” report alongside WBE Canada to inspire both, buyers and WBEs with stories and tips from WBE Canada community.
Mandy Lunn
Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp.
2021 WBE Leader
After assuming the role of VP Strategic Sustainability and Innovations at Universal Geomatics Solutions Corp, Mandy immediately took the company from passive to passionate in its approach to Diversity & Inclusion. Acting as a role model in a traditionally male dominated industry, and with her support, influence and encouragement, her company became a majority female-owned and female-led business with two thirds of its executive team being women - a statistic previously unheard of in the land survey industry in Canada.
Michèle Leduc
ZIP Communication
2021 WBE Leader
As President, Creative Director and Strategist of her communications company in Montreal, Michèle Leduc, who certified her company in 2016, is a true champion of women-owned businesses, sharing her knowledge and expertise with other WBEs. Her commitment to the success of WBE Canada and Canadian WBEs is unshakeable. As a Supplier Advisory Committee member she established the Engagement Subcommittee that works very effectively with the WBE Canada Leadership team. Her wit and openness are huge contributors to getting things going.
2021 Most Improved Supplier Diversity Program
Recognizing a WBE Canada Corporate Member that has made a distinct and describable difference in their Supplier Diversity Program.
Bell
2021 Most Improved Supplier Diversity Program
During 2021, Bell further enhanced their Supplier Diversity Program by leveraging all of WBE Canada’s tools and resources at their disposal as a Corporate Member. From implementation of key strategies, through augmented internal communications, Bell championed Supplier Diversity across all departments internally with the result that full time staff is dedicated to manage their SD Program including tracking and reporting.
2021 Rising Star
Awarded to a certified WBE who, within their first 3 years of certification, has demonstrated significant achievements or progress.
The Roundtable
2021 Rising star
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Toronto, The Roundtable helps leaders build the mindsets they need to navigate change, disruption and growth. A recognized team and group coaching authority, The Roundtable’s innovative group coaching programs deliver learning that is entirely relevant to today’s workplaces and empowers leaders to coach each other. Over the course of the last two years, The Roundtable has experienced tremendous business growth, doubling its business year over year in part as a result of significant projects with WBE Canada Corporate members.
2021 Supplier Diversity Leader
Recognizing an individual who has demonstrated significant contribution as a volunteer of WBE Canada in 2021.
Lisa Ross
Magna
2021 Supplier Diversity Leader
Lisa Ross is consistent and diligent in her commitment to the actions she will take on behalf of WBE's. She is passionate about advancing Supplier Diversity within her organization. She leads with poise, honesty, and authenticity. She is focused on helping suppliers better understand their relationship with Magna and its customers and the importance of being a quality WBE supplier.Lisa was heavily engaged with WBE Canada in 2021 - actively participating in events and providing insights to other Corporates around developing SD programs.
2021 Top Volunteer
Recognizing an individual who has demonstrated significant contribution as a volunteer of WBE Canada in 2021.
Lorena Diaz
Accenture
2021 Top Volunteer
Lorena is Program-Project Manager / Ventures and Acquisitions at Accenture and has been a volunteer on WBE Canada committees since 2018. She is highly engaged, willing to step into whatever role is necessary, is always prepared with creative insights to tackle whatever she takes on, earning the respect of her peers and those she works with on the WBE Canada Team. Lorena’s commitment to WBE Canada and her eagerness to work with others while representing Accenture, one of WBE Canada’s founding corporate members, is incredibly valued by all who have the privilege to know and work with her.
2021 WBE Canada Champion
This category recognizes an individual or organization that demonstrates commitment to supplier diversity in Canada, namely through referring new Corporate Members and/ or WBEs to WBE Canada, tracked through membership and certification applications approved between October 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021.
BDC
(Business Development Bank of Canada)
2021 WBE Canada Champion
BDC has been a supporter of WBE Canada for many years and in 2019, became a corporate member. BDC recognizes the impact supplier diversity has on Canadian women-owned businesses, and has been excited to share the work of WBE Canada with women-owned businesses who might benefit from WBE certification or organizations with buying power and potential to impact the growth of Canadian women-owned businesses. This is the second consecutive award for BDC in this category.