Fusion Production Systems Inc. has been named the recipient of the inaugural Red Deer Bottling Small Business Award.
The business, which is located in the Blindman Industrial Park, will receive $5,000 in tuition credits for employee training in any credit or non-credit program at Red Deer College’s Donald School of Business.
“This is a privilege,” Dan Chapman, Fusion production manager, said of the win.
He thanked all those involved in the creation of the award that honours small businesses throughout Central Alberta.
Companies that operate within the region with fewer than 100 employees were eligible to apply for the annual award.
Chapman and president Dean Simpson operate Fusion Production Systems Inc. with the help of about 30 employees. The company is a fabrication and design provider for oil and gas process equipment and officially opened in August 2005.
Chapman said they’re still trying to decide how to use the tuition credits but figured a couple of employees are likely to enrol in a program management course at the college.
The Red Deer Bottling Small Business Award was created as part of Red Deer Bottling and the Truant family’s $500,000 contribution to Red Deer College’s Building Communities Through Learning campaign in 2007.
This year, nominees were asked to describe in 500 words how their business stands out in its pursuit of innovation, excellence and entrepreneurship.
A selection committee, which included representatives from Red Deer College and the Chamber of Commerce, considered each applicant based on innovation in marketing, product development or business process, excellence in customer service, growth in staff of facility size, and evidence of community leadership, awards and any other special aspects of the business.
“Really, when it came right down to it, Fusion was the best fit,” said Joanne Packham, dean of the Donald School of Business and Human Services at Red Deer College.
She said the company’s commitment to provide unique product and quality service to the oil and gas sector as well as a commitment their employees matched the award criteria determined by the donors.
Packham said they hope to start accepting a new round of applications for Red Deer Bottling Small Business Award during Small Business Week in October.