The Skyline Group of Companies is proud to announce that it has been selected as a finalist for the 2014 Private Business Growth Award. Presented by Grant Thornton LLP and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the award celebrates private businesses that put sustainable growth at the top of their agenda. Ten companies across the country were shortlisted for their ability to achieve growth across five core aspects of their business.
“I want to congratulate all the finalists for being bold enough to look beyond the top line and focus on long-term growth,” said Phil Noble, Executive Partner and Chief Executive Officer, Grant Thornton LLP. “These model private businesses all demonstrate critical skills to ensure sustainable growth, including market development and strategic leadership, and, as a result, they have built strong companies of which they should be proud. Not only does each of them contribute to the communities in which they operate, they are a source of pride for Canada both at home, and, in some cases, abroad.”
The Skyline Group and other finalists will be celebrated at a gala dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto on November 19, 2014, when the winning company will be announced.
“Skyline is a people business. As long as we take excellent care of our key stakeholders, employees and communities, the growth takes care of itself,” said Jason Castellan, CEO and Co-Founder of the Skyline Group of Companies. “Since we founded the company 15 years ago, we have experienced incredible organic growth, which can only be credited to our fantastic team, and the amazing people with whom we do business every day. It is an honour to be selected as a finalist for the 2014 Private Business Growth Award, and I want to thank everyone who has helped build Skyline from the ground up.”
Finalists were evaluated using the following five criteria to assess growth across various aspects of their business:
- Innovation: Developing new products and services, bringing old products to market in a new way, as well as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of internal processes.
- Market development: How they go to market and expand into new domestic or international markets.
- People and culture: Investing in their people by helping employees learn and develop as a critical part of overall growth.
- Strategic leadership: How they interact with partners, stakeholders, their succession planning and community involvement.
- Improvements in financial measures: Ensuring revenue growth and improvements in profitability.
“This year’s finalists demonstrate that successful growth isn’t just about being bigger, it’s about building a strong foundation for long-term growth,” said Perrin Beatty, President and Chief Executive Officer of the 200,000-member Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada’s largest and most representative national business association. “All ten finalists have distinguished themselves by looking beyond their quarterly results to drive growth in areas such as innovation, market development, and their people. It’s this type of growth that will enable the Canadian economy to grow and remain strong year after year.”
Further to this incredible nomination, Skyline’s CEO and Co-Founder, Jason Castellan, was also recently celebrated as a top finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Jason was recognized as a visionary and leader among some of Canada’s greatest business pioneers. Skyline continues to be humbled by such honourable acknowledgements.