The third in a series spotlighting nominees for the London Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Awards – this category, large-sized companies
AM Group of Companies
Founded: 1956
Product/service: Roofing, windows and doors, gutters and eavestroughs
Employees: 200
The AM Group of Companies is a third-generation family business that prides itself on being the only Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor in Canada. It has won honours in the Top Choice Award two years in a row and has recently expanded by adding a new facility and showroom.
It offers “full exterior solutions,” in the words of marketing director Daniel Fixler.
“We are continuously striving hard to come up with innovative processes to make the whole experience easier for our customers,” Fixler said. As for company high points, he adds, “We are proud to say we provided hundreds of emergency services during and after the windstorm we had in London in May 2018.”
Perks for AM employees include tickets to London Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs games, all-inclusive trips to the Caribbean and family picnics. “A poor (manager-employee) relationship hinders the company’s success by dragging morale down and limiting productivity, while a good relationship breeds a positive and functional work environment,” said Fixler.
As for training and employee development, he said, “Our professionals go on an actual roof only when they are trained.” Among the causes supported by AM Roofing are Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House.
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Digital Echidna
Founded: 2002
Product/service: Technology, professional services
Employees: 70
“We are a leading advocate of accessible web design,” said marketing manager Roxanne Regier. The company uses open-source technology, and has employees who telecommute from Kitchener and Vancouver. It was founded by Andrew McClenaghan.
It serves markets such as higher education, health care and non-profit/NGOs. Clients include the Juilliard School, Napoleon Grills and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
Between 2015 and 2017, Digital Echidna experienced 38 per cent growth in the number of employees, from 45 salaried full-timers to 62.
It released its flagship product, EchidNET, a “revolutionary” open-source social intranet in 2015. It has users ranging from Sifton Properties to the McGill University Health Centre.
Employees enjoy a number of benefits, including unlimited vacation days and flexible remote working. Annual activities include the Pride Parade float and walk. The company’s team is 40 per cent women, and women make up 50 per cent of the executive leadership team. A quarter of all employees are visible minorities and there are several new Canadians on staff, the company boasts.
Digital Echidna has only six per cent average staff turnover. “We perform annual pro bono website work equal to $200,000,” Regier said. The company also uses local vendors for stocking office items like coffee, beer and chocolate. “We buy art from local Iindigenous artists to adorn our walls,” Regier explained.
London Chamber@LdnOntChamberIt’s official! Our judges have chosen the finalists for the 2019 London Business Achievement Awards! See full list on our website. #BAA2019 http://ow.ly/yw6e30na7d3
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8:40 PM – Jan 15, 2019
About the 2019 Business Achievement Awards
- The London Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Awards gala is the main event on the city’s business calendar, billed as the largest event of its kind in Canada, typically drawing more than 1,200 people.
- Awards include small, medium and large business of the year, agribusiness, beyond borders, corporate social responsibility, human resources excellence, innovation and environmental leadership.
- This year’s event will be held March 20 at the London Convention Centre at 300 York St., with cocktail reception at 5 p.m., dinner program starting at 6 p.m. and gala after-party from 9:30 to 11 p.m.
For tickets and other awards information, visit londonchamber.com.
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