A Dural business that is a world leader in entertainment communications with a name that is synonymous with big events has won the title of 2012 Telstra New South Wales Business of the Year.
Laservision Pty Ltd, founded by its Managing Director Paul McCloskey in 1984, also won the MYOB Small Business Award. It was joined by two Albury businesses, Evolve Orthodontics and Hume Building Society, Wetherell Park paving innovators Stoneset Permeable Paving and Surry Hills Vietnamese restaurant Red Lantern as winners of the 2012 Telstra NSW Business Awards.
As a teenager working in television during the conversion from black and white to colour, Paul McCloskey fell in love with the marriage of technology and entertainment. Preferring to be a pioneer than a follower, he experimented with lasers and lighting for fashion parades and nightclubs so he could perfect his equipment.
Laservision has gone from strength to strength, offering products and services to the entertainment industry in three areas of specialty - architectural lighting, permanent attractions and special events. Its high-powered laser shows, water features, pyrotechnics, surround sound and special effects have been seen by millions of people in more than 25 countries. To keep pace with international demand, Laservision has offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and India.
Paul McCloskey said: “We get more enquiries from clients than we can possibly action, so we have the benefit of being able to pick the projects that intrigue us.”
Telstra Business Group Managing Director and Telstra Business Awards Ambassador, Will Irving, said Laservision had many attributes that made it a stand-out among the 24 finalists in 2012.
“Judges said Laservision is an outstanding business with global customers that has been inducted into Australia’s export hall of fame. It works collaboratively with international governments to deliver amazing spectacles like the laser light show that lights up Hong Kong buildings each evening as a tourist attraction,” Mr Irving said.
The Telstra Australian Business Awards were launched in 1992 to recognise the achievements of small and medium businesses and to encourage strategic planning for business growth.
“I’m pleased to see that each year we uncover exceptional small and medium businesses such as Laservision and I encourage all New South Wales residents to nominate businesses now for the 2013 Awards,” he said.
MYOB CEO Tim Reed said: “Telstra Australian Business Awards winners, such as Laservision, can be just as much an inspiration to industry leaders as they are to their peers, staff, family and friends. They demonstrate the heights that can be reached with the application of passion, strategic vision and a strong execution plan. It never ceases to delight me that we have such a deep pool of talented business owners situated in cities, regional centres and rural communities around this country.”
The winners of the 2012 Telstra New South Wales Business Awards announced in Sydney are:
Telstra New South Wales Business of the Year
Laservision Pty Ltd, Dural |
|
HTC Start Up Award
Evolve Orthodontics, Albury
Albury-based Evolve Orthodontics serves patients from southern NSW and north-east Victoria with seven satellite practices. Believing all businesses should give back to their community, owner Dr John Brabant launched the Carevan Foundation which feeds local homeless and disadvantaged people. Judges said the business combines professional competencies and technical excellence with sound marketing.
News Ltd Micro Business Award
Stoneset Permeable Paving, Wetherill Park
StoneSet Permeable Paving started in Australia in 2008 after the company’s founders emigrated from the UK with an idea to introduce an innovative porous paving solution. Its products are made from natural or coloured recycled glass bound in a crystal clear resin. Judges said the business has a strong focus on sustainability and is underpinned by continuing innovation that enables it to differentiate from its competitors.
MYOB Small Business Award
Laservision Pty Ltd, Dural
Commonwealth Bank Medium Business Award
Red Lantern, Surry Hills
In 2002, Luke Nguyen put his life savings into a Surry Hills terrace house to open Red Lantern, a restaurant serving Vietnamese cuisine that subscribes to the culture of ‘Kaizen’ – constant, never-ending improvement – and uses the freshest in local and sustainable organic produce. Judges said the business was an amazing story of overcoming adversity by absolute dedication and passion for people, customers and the environment.
Regional Award
Hume Building Society, Albury
Founded 57 years ago by local residents, Hume Building Society today enjoys the business of almost half of Albury’s population. It recently expanded to Wangaratta and Wagga Wagga. CEO Andrew Saxby believes branches of financial institutions are regaining importance as finance becomes more complex. Judges said it was an outstanding regional business and that all of its activity has a positive impact on the community.
1300Australia People’s Choice Award
Booktopia Pty Ltd, Lane Cove West |
|
Online bookseller Booktopia’s growth since launch in 2007 has matched the spiralling popularity of sales over the web. It expects to ship 1.2 million books from its warehouse in 2012 and employs more than 50 people.
Open to all entrants in the 2012 Awards, the People’s Choice Award is decided by a public vote, allowing customers, staff, suppliers and colleagues to show their support for their local businesses.
The winners of the Telstra NSW Business Awards will be judged against category winners from other states and territories in the lead up to the national Telstra Australian Business Awards to be announced in Sydney on 29 August. Winners of the 2012 Awards receive a share of $500,000 in cash and prizes and become part of an exclusive national business alumni.
For more information about the Telstra Australian Business Awards, visit telstrabusinessawards.com.