By CASEY NEILL
OUN Chao has lofty goals for his career in the electrical industry.
“I want to be the go-to guy for solar,” he said.
The 23-year-old was the Youth Enterprise Award nominee at Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce’s final Premier Regional Business Awards breakfast for the year which was held at Sandown Greyhound Racing Track last Wednesday 26 November.
Attendees donated non-perishable food items to the Springvale Benevolent Society and committee member Roy Sanderson presented Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Anna Hays with a cheque for $7000 raised at the chamber’s Grand Final Luncheon in September.
Objective 3D and Exova Warringtonfire were named nominees for the Premier Regional Business Award.
Oun comes from a hardworking Cambodian family and between his studies helps at its business – the Woori Yallock Bakery.
He’s studying a certificate III in electrotechnology at Chisholm in Dandenong and has his sights set on a certificate II in telecommunications, certificate III in electrical contracting and a certificate IV in photovoltaic (PV) solar generation.
Oun said he regularly read articles about solar electricity.
“That’s the next step in our technology,” he said.
“They’re building solar everything.”
His interest in electricity came from his foam plane hobby – he understood the physics of flight and wanted to understand electricity in the same way.
His goal is to become an electrical contractor, run his own business and pass his skills onto an apprentice.
Managing director Matt Minio and technical director Darryl Wootton started Objective 3D in Carrum Downs four years ago when the opportunity to be a Stratasys 3D printer Australian distributor arose.
Mr Minio said the move followed “a healthy burst of insanity” but his only regret was not doing it sooner.
Objective 3D has grown from two to 15 employees and expects 30 per cent growth year on year for the next three to five years.
The company also services 3D printers and offers printing services.
The printers can produce skateboards, dental moulds, hearing aids, race car parts and much more.
Exova Warringtonfire in Hammond Road, Dandenong, started in the early 1990s.
The business tests materials and products to strict Australian and international standards, including fire doors, windows and road tunnel lining.
It has a $9 million turnover, last year experienced growth of 19 per cent and expects 10 per cent growth consistently.
The award winners will be announced and presented at a gala dinner in March.
