Right: Alexx Verdichizzi was presented with a youth enterprise nomination by Paul Saddler.
By Nicole Williams
THE first three nominees for the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce 2011 Premier Regional Business Awards were announced at a breakfast at the Sandhurst Club last Wednesday.
Sensient Technologies Australia, ALS Laboratory Group and Camerons Industrial Commercial were all nominated for continued excellence.
The Youth Enterprise Nominee was Alexx Verdichizzi who provides IT services to five local primary schools through his employer, Network Neighbourhood.
Sensient is a world leading supplier of colour and flavours and has a local manufacturing site in Keysborough.
Research and development is a key focus of the business, which is proven by 25 per cent of its employees working in that area.
Sensient was nominated in the areas of service excellence, employment and innovation.
Sensient national sales manager Brad Voysey couldn’t attend the breakfast.
ALS Laboratory Group state manager Geoff Le Cornu said that although 2011 was the year of innovation for the company, it was always involved in innovation.
Because the business was involved in pharmaceuticals, it was important to “look at pharmaceuticals and how they end up”, Mr Le Cornu said.
The company’s focus on innovation saw it nominated in the innovation category and last year’s focus on client service saw ALS nominated for service excellence.
ALS was also nominated for employment.
The nomination for Cameron Industrial Commercial was accepted by co-founder David Cooper and managing director Ben Cooper.
David Cooper said that in hindsight he regretted not having Cooper in the business name but when they started in 1979, “Neil (Cameron) had a licence and I didn’t”.
The industrial and commercial real estate business has been involved in “nearly every” property transaction in Dandenong.
Ben Cooper said the changes in Dandenong’s property market helped the growth of Cameron Industrial Commercial
“Back in 2000, Dandenong was not the place to be, now it is. It has lifted itself out of the hole,” Ben Cooper said.
Cameron Industrial Commercial was nominated for service excellence, employment and small business.
Fifteen nominees will be announced during breakfast meetings during the year and the winners will be announced at a forthcoming dinner.
