Focal Point receives Business Excellence Award
Focal Point Comprehensive Vision Care has been honoured with the Morden Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Award.
The presentation was part of the chamber’s annual business awards gala last Thursday where four other companies and community leaders were also honoured.
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to Lisa Zacharias, owner and operator of Coffee Culture, while the new Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Appelt’s Diamonds.
The Community Builder Business of the Year was Access Credit Union, and the Community Builder Organization of the Year was Pembina Valley Child Care Centre.
Nominated for the Business Excellence Award alongside Focal Point were Huron Windows and Fentro Technologies.
Speaking for Focal Point, Dr. Tio Bellisario expressed gratitude for the recognition of his team’s dedication and hard work.
“This award is not just a testament to our business acumen, but it is a celebration of the trust and confidence that our patients and clients have bestowed upon us. Without their unwavering support and loyalty, this achievement would not have been possible.
“We are immensely proud of our team, whose relentless commitment to excellence, innovation and patient care has propelled us to this moment,” Bellisario continued. “Each member of our staff—from our optometrists to our management team and our front desk, our technicians, our gallery team, contact lens team, and our on-site lab—play an integral role in our success, and we share this award with all of them.
“In the ever evolving landscape of health care, particularly in optometry, we understand the importance of staying at the forefront of technology and advancements,” he added. “We remain committed to enhancing our services, embracing innovation and delivering the highest standard of care to our patients.”
Bellisario concluded by noting they always aim to make a positive impact in the lives of the people they serve.
“Our community we serve is very important to us. We look to give back whenever we can, whether it be charities, fundraisers, or other worthy events,” he said. “We do this to better our community.”
Pembina Valley Child Care Centre’s Jessica Lautenschlager said the day care is honoured to accept the Community Builder Organization of the Year Award.
Photo by Lorne Stelmach/Voice
Morden chamber board chair Michelle Sawatzky presented awards to (left photo) Access Credit Union’s Kathy Sauerborn and Candace Collins, (centre photo) Entrepreneur of the Year Lisa Zacharias, and (right photo) Jessica Lautenschlager and Angela Hildebrand from the Pembina Valley Child Care Centre.
“We were shocked to even find out we were nominated, never mind win the award,” she said.
Lautenschlager especially cited the staff for their dedication to serving the community.
“We feel this award acknowledges the importance of the work that we do, especially at a time when there is such an overwhelming need for child care,” she said. “Our staff work incredibly hard every single day to provide a safe, caring and fun place for our children to grow and learn that it’s really nice to be recognized as being a community builder.”
Lisa Zacharias said she felt deeply honoured to be this year’s entrepreneur of the year. She firstly thanked her husband Vern for being her biggest supporter and business partner, and then gave thanks to the community at large as well.
“My biggest thanks goes out to all of you … your love, your encouragement, your patience for me and my staff as we grew the business over the years.”
She noted her goal “has always been to support the community and not only to provide a place to eat and drink but also to spend some good times with family and friends.
“My journey hasn’t always been easy, as I learned to be a business owner, but it has been worth the wisdom and experience that I have gained. It has made me a better person.”
Kathy Sauerborn, vice president of retail banking for Access Credit Union, noted the financial institution has a long history of supporting Morden and the surrounding area.
“The Morden branch opened up in 1947, and while the name has changed, the commitment to the credit union and our staff to serving the community has not,” she said.
“For Access Credit Union, our members and communities are at the forefront of what we do. We are dedicated to supporting our communities in a variety of ways,” Sauerborn added, noting that Access Credit Union gave back over $600,000 in the area in 2023.
“Often you will see members of our team volunteering at local events and venues,” said Sauerborn, who concluded by giving credit to Morden branch manager Candace Collins and the local team of staff for their passion to serve the community.
Speaking for Appelt’s Diamonds, Jeff Appelt described being blown away by the lifetime achievement honour.
“To realize that we’ve been in this community, now it’s 86 years … I know that my grandpa would be so proud,” said Appelt. “When he came to this town in 1938, he had a dream. He had a dream, but his dream was to just make ends meet and serve the people of Morden.
“He didn’t understand the legacy that he was going to leave behind. His legacy was not just with his son, which is my dad Bert … and then his grandson, which is me,” concluded Appelt. “He would never ever have thought that I would be standing in his place here. And now I get to be honoured that I also have my son right here, fourth generation, and it makes me so proud.”
