He’s only 38 years old, but Ernst & Young has named Chad Wasilenkoff as its entrepreneur of the year for the Pacific region.
The head of North Vancouver’s Fortress Paper Ltd. (TSX:FTP) collected the award Tuesday night for his ability to create a successful forest products company in a sector hit hard by the economic downturn.
“Chad is a shining example of how our British Columbia entrepreneurs are demonstrating they’re not afraid of the shake-up of an economic downturn,” said Fred Withers, Ernst & Young's director of entrepreneur of the year for the Pacific region. “Instead, Chad saw an opportunity to up the competitive ante by focusing on innovation, enhancing Fortress’ presence in new markets and ultimately emerging stronger than ever before.”
Although Fortress calls B.C. home, the company produces banknotes and specialty papers at mills in Switzerland and Germany.
BIV last caught up with Wasilenkoff in February shortly after Fortress announced its first contract to produce electronic passports (See “Fortress banks on new passports to success” – issue 1058, February 2 to 8).
Wasilenkoff will now compete with top entrepreneurs from the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic region for a chance to be named Canada’s entrepreneur of the year. That award will be presented at a gala in Toronto on November 17.
At press time, Fortress’ shares were up 1.43% to $39.