Winners June 2011

EMERGING BUSINESS – Signal Advantage

Signal Advantage was established in 2007 by the current CEO and controlling shareholder, Mr Graham Budinger. The company manufactures and supplies name badges, metal badges, button badges, name tags and badge holders for any company that needs to identify their staff or visitors and raise the value of customer brands.

FAMILY BUSINESS – Technigro

Technigro is a family owned and operated business established in 1987 by CEO, Nick Bloor. The company has grown from a one-man business operating on the Gold Coast to a multimillion-dollar business servicing government and commercial customers between Northern NSW and the Sunshine Coast. At present Technigro employee over 125 staff, 4 of which are family members holding executive roles. Technigro has sustained an average growth of 20% per annum for the past 10 years.

MANUFACTURING & CONSTRUCTION – P&M Plastics & Rubber

P&M Plastics & Rubber is now in its 21st year. Their services have grown over the years to include all facets of Plastic Fabrication, Vacuumforming, Waterjet, Router & Laser Cutting. The materials they work with are as versatile as the services they offer. P&M have become a major player in their industry throughout Australia & were once again named as one of the top 400 privately owned businesses in Queensland.

MAYOR’S INNOVATION GC AWARD – Bantix Worldwide Limited

Bantix Worldwide Ltd is a technology development company incorporated in 2002 by Caren and Andrew Coventry. Bantix and its 100% owned subsidiaries M-Tech International (mosquito trap business) and Protocorp Technologies (Rapid Prototyping and Design Company). Bantix also owns 30% of a newly formed company called Footy Tee & 50% of ProtIP Innovations which provides patent and trade mark services to the public and industry. Bantix subsidiary M- Tech export sales of mosquito traps to 78 countries providing 60% of their revenue.

RETAIL, WHOLESALE & DISTRIBUTION - Coolabah Tree Cafes

Coolabah Tree Cafes are a national cafe operator specialising in supplying a good, healthy and hearty, carvery-based option to busy travel centre & services station locations. The Gold Coast-based franchisor commenced in 2001 and celebrates its 10 years in operation this year. Now operating 11 company-owned cafes & 5 franchised outlets across 4 states, Coolabah provides good quality 'Australian-owned’ food as an alternative to the mass fast food chains.

TOURISM, HOSPITALITY & EVENTS - Radisson Resort Gold Coast

Radisson Resort Gold Coast opened in December 1997 with world-class facilities appealing to golfing groups, leisure travellers, business conferences and meeting planners. The resort offers a range of tourism and business products. Radisson takes eco sustainability very seriously. The resort won this year's Meeting Events Australia (MEA) Queensland Best Venue for under 500 Delegates Awards and the MEA Queensland Corporate Social Responsibility Award.

TRADES, PROFESSIONS & SERVICES - Lucy Cole Prestige Properties

Lucy Cole Prestige Properties started operations in January 2000 in a small one person office on Isle of Capri. Celebrating its 10th year, the company now has more than 20 employees, operates from two offices & is on track to sell more than $170 million of property this year. Lucy Cole Prestige Properties is also on the list of Queensland’s top 400 privately owned companies.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & MULTIMEDIA - Bloomtools

Bloomtools began as a boutique software development house in 2004 servicing a few local businesses with website design and Internet marketing. Just seven years later they are now an International company with resellers, franchisees and clients across Australia, New Zealand and the UK. The tools and strategies they provide clients have resulted in very significant improvements to the health and revenue of their business, even doubling the income of well established companies.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT – Smartprint Fleet Management

Smartprint is one of the largest independent and fastest growing print companies in Australia. Smartprint specialize in MPS managed print services for laser printer and photocopier fleets nationally, encompassing all service, equipment, maintenance and consumables. In addition to normal manufacturer environmental policies, Smartprint plant trees to offset carbon emission so their client’s printing has a mini forest of eucalypts with a 100 year chipping & logging covenant on it.