SUDBURY—Jeff Smith, vice-chair of Manitoulin Transport, was bestowed the ‘Executive of the Year’ award at the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce annual Business Excellence Awards gala.
“I’m very honoured to be considered and chosen for this award,” Mr. Smith told The Expositor. “It’s the people I’ve worked with over the years, company staff and customers, who have provided support over many years that share in this award.”
Mr. Smith, who graduated from Western University with a degree in economics explained, “I have been with Manitoulin Transport for the past 38 years. There are not many departments of the company I haven’t worked in. I started out in accounting, accounts receivables, sales and several more departments of the company over the years.”
Mr. Smith, of Gore Bay, has lived with his family in Sudbury since 1998, has served almost two full three-year terms on the Cambrian College Board and in 2023 was chair. He has served on Cambrian’s board since 2018. He has expertise in the fields of continuous improvement, quality management and environmental systems. One of the many things he is involved with in the community is as a director of the Sudbury Food Bank.
In a video shown prior to his being presented his award, Mr. Smith said Manitoulin Transport was established in 1960 and the company’s roots in Gore Bay and Manitoulin run deep. “’Shipping Your World’ is not just our slogan, it is our mission,” he said. He pointed out he has worked with the company since he was a kid, and his first job with Manitoulin, “My grandmother had me folding invoices. From helping to steer the company to new horizons, the journey has been more than just logistics.”
He further explained in winning the award one of the reasons may be, “because of my involvement in the community. I have been out there working with a lot of different people, and learning from a lot of people in the community, on boards and organizations whether they be in education, with Cambrian (College), Mining Supplies and Service, Mine Connect Supply Association, or charities, such as Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre and HSN (Health Sciences North) and a whole lot of others who provide services to people in Sudbury who need this support the most.”
The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce honoured 10 of Greater Sudbury’s outstanding entrepreneurs, businesses and associations on Thursday, May 23 at its 27th annual Business Excellence Awards gala, presented by Bell. The business community came together in a sold-out crowd of over 440 people to celebrate the award finalists and recipients.
“For the past 27 years, the chamber has hosted its Business Excellence Awards as an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of area business owners, and learn from them, and about them. From young entrepreneurs operating out of their homes to established owners of international companies, the Business Excellence Awards are a celebratory evening that shines a spotlight on the people who form the backbone of our community and the family, friends and experiences that keep them going.”
The Chamber received 161 nominations for its 10 award categories this year.
