The Comox Valley was well represented at the third annual Vancouver Island Top 20 Under 40 Business & Community Achievement Awards, with two local businesswomen taking home some new hardware.
Kristen Pronick, co-owner and president of Axis Heating + Cooling, and Angela Zumbo, Accredited Mortgage Professional and owner of The Mortgage Centre 鈥� Your Island Mortgage Team, were recognized at the event, held in Courtenay last month. Chosen from 100 nominees for qualities such as achievement, business judgment, leadership and community involvement, both women were pleasantly surprised to receive the honour.
鈥淚 was just happy to be in the company of such worthy nominees,鈥� says Pronick. 鈥淭o actually win was quite a thrill 鈥� and a bit nerve-wracking having to make a speech in front of 300 people!鈥�
Pronick nonetheless welcomed the opportunity to thank her parents, who started the second-generation business more than 25 years ago, as well as her husband and co-owner Mikhail, their clients and their staff.
鈥淲e have some of the best people in the industry, and I couldn鈥檛 do what I do without them,鈥� she admits. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e the real stars of Axis.鈥�
Under Pronick鈥檚 guidance, Axis Heating + Cooling has maintained a consistent A+ rating with the BBB. Trane, the company鈥檚 major heat pump provider, recently designated Axis as one of only 10 鈥淭otal Comfort Solution鈥� dealers across Canada in acknowledgement of its superior customer service and installation practices.
No stranger to awards, Pronick was recently named one of the Comox Valley鈥檚 Top 40 Under 40, and Axis Heating + Cooling was a top-three finalist for the Comox Valley Small Business of the Year award.
Zumbo has likewise been on the receiving end of numerous accolades. A fellow Top 40 Under 40 honoree, Zumbo and her team at The Mortgage Centre also received the Comox Valley Small Business Association鈥檚 2014 Business of the Year award and its 2013 Innovation Award.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful recognition,鈥� says Zumbo. 鈥淭o be chosen from such a deep pool of amazing entrepreneurial talent in the Comox Valley truly is an honour.鈥�
In the mortgage industry for 10 years, Zumbo started with The Mortgage Centre in 2005 and eventually purchased the business in 2012. She鈥檚 since grown her team of mortgage professionals and has exceeded previous sales projections.
Just as important to the G.P. Vanier grad, though, is giving back to her community, which she does generously via organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Ducks Unlimited, YANA and L鈥橝rche Comox Valley. A proud supporter of many local associations, Zumbo is also the president of the Comox Valley Women鈥檚 Business Network (WBN).
鈥淥ur philosophy has always been to put our clients and the community first,鈥� says Zumbo. 鈥淲e work together as a team to ensure all our clients receive the same care and attention. Giving back to the community gives us purpose, which has led to the continued growth and success of our team.鈥�
To learn more about Angela or Kristen, visit www.yourislandmortgage.ca or www.axisheating.ca.
