As the City of Surrey has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, so too have awards that seek out and recognize the best and brightest female business leaders in the community.
In just their second year, the Surrey Women in Business Awards received twice the number of nominations to last year, all worthy of being honoured.
According to Surrey Board of Trade (SBOT) CEO Anita Huberman, the board conceived of and organized the awards as a means of showcasing and “recognizing leadership within the city’s own backyard.”
The expansion of Surrey and its booming business sector have given way to a dearth of “fabulous leaders” – according to Huberman – whom the SBOT has endeavoured to honour in the last two years.
Huberman, a longtime Surrey resident, noted, “I’ve been here 19 years, and over that time, especially in the past five years, never before has it been so exciting in Surrey; with the number of businesses interested in relocating, the fact that there will finally be a downtown core for a city of this size, and we still have the land to develop … we are developing our business space to really reflect that we don’t have to go into Vancouver for everything. And Surrey is going to be the metropolitan centre of B.C.”
The judging panel reviewed the careers of each nominee and based its decision on each individual’s work in Surrey, their business acumen, leadership skills, balanced lifestyle and community involvement and service.
Beth Barlow, chief librarian for the City of Surrey and winner in the not-for-profit executive category, echoed Huberman’s sentiments.
She remarked that it is a very exciting time to be in Surrey and as head of the city’s library system she has been very involved in the planning and building of the new Surrey City Centre Library, designed by Bing Thom Architects and set to open in late summer or early fall.
She noted that it’s been a gratifying but very fast-track project because of infrastructure funding received from both the federal and provincial government.
The award from the SBOT was particularly meaningful to Barlow because as she sees it, “People often forget that not-for-profits are businesses – you hear business you think profit-making, bottom line dollars and all of that … I think the recognition of the not-for-profit sector being business-like and operating in a business-like manner is very important. And we certainly see that we do that.”
Barlow stresses the ability to manage a budget and to initiate fundraising is something needed by public libraries, and all organizations funded largely by taxpayers.
As the library embarks on launching its first major gift campaign, Barlow offers advice to others:
“You need to know the context you are working in, particularly at a not-for-profit. You need to understand where you fit in the city, you need to understand what’s happening in a very broad context in order to provide the services and be successful.”
Karen Baillie, executive director of Laurel Place and winner in the professional category, was surprised to find out that she had won.
“It was very special; I’ve been in a leadership role for 30 years, and to be acknowledged felt very affirming … like the community really noticed the impact you’re making.”
Laurel Place, an extended and complex-care home that is part of the Fraser Health Authority, is owned by the Ahmon Group, a company that has a 30-year legacy in Surrey. Baillie herself has been instrumental in the further expansion of the company in Surrey and was responsible for the implementation of a meal delivery program from Laurel Place to a local shelter.
Baillie is looking to continue the meal program and expand it beyond Surrey’s borders to a shelter in Burnaby.
When asked what advice she would give to people in her position, Baillie said, “Develop a network. I’m a great sharer, I never keep things to myself. Sharing, especially in health care can improve service to residents and staff much faster.”