QLD - Telstra Australian Business Awards

“Our logo is an elephant which can represent knowledge, strength of character and positive energy – values that have made us successful.” – Julie Agnew, CEO.

Since 2003, JADE Corporate and Community Development has delivered training and organisational and career development services. Corporate clients include Queensland Rail, CSR Ethanol, CSR Sugar and the Valley Retirement Centre. Their career development expertise has been supplied to the likes of Bradken, P&H Mine Pro and Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal. JADE is also active and respected in the community – for the past seven years it has run the Mackay & District Careers Market Expo and in 2010 it organised its inaugural Human Resources Conference in Mackay. CEO Julie Agnew said JADE has maintained revenue during recent floods, the global financial crisis and political unrest through innovation and service excellence. It won a Federal Government grant to provide succession planning for businesses throughout regional Queensland and is contracted to the state government as mentors for small business.

“We operated two photographic road show vans that were on the road for a combined total of 364 days in 2010 while visiting 45 locations.” – Melanie Schwartze, Director.

Melanie Schwartze and two partners established Top Shots Glamour Photography in 2005 but two years later rising debt led to discussions about closing. Melanie bravely decided to take over the business as sole shareholder and, from the ashes, Flash Fotos was born, offering clients glamour photography services that would make them look like models. Melanie invested in her professional development with a photography business coach and refined the marketing and pricing plans for the Sunshine Coast photography studio. The business really turned the corner when Melanie established full-time photographic road shows in five states and territories. Flash Fotos has serviced more than 10,000 customers, has 18 full-time equivalent staff and posted net profit growth of about 35 per cent in the past two years. In 2010, Flash Fotos later opened new premises in Maroochydore’s retail precinct. Further expansion and success has followed this year with the addition of a third road show servicing Western Australia.

“Stream Group's goal is that our brand is associated with quality and service. For a homeowner, making an insurance claim can be a stressful situation and therefore needs to be as painless as possible.” – Don McKenzie, Director.

Stream Group was established in 2007 and provides assessing and repairs management services to insurance companies across Australia and New Zealand. Founder and director, Don McKenzie, said claims managed by Stream Group have risen from 2,000 in 2008 to 15,000 in 2010. Last year’s activity was matched in the first three months of 2011 due to recent natural disasters in Australia and New Zealand. Staff numbers have increased from 122 to 145 since the beginning of the year. Stream developed a new IT platform to improve the claims management processes by managing costs without sacrificing service to the insured. The system allows accredited suppliers to tender and manage claims remotely, reducing the time it takes to authorise and complete repairs. In 2008, the company’s efforts were recognised when it received the Australia and New Zealand Institute for Insurance and Finance Innovation of the Year Award.

“Our company is driven by innovation and a desire to constantly better what we do, improving both products and operations.” - Josef Zehnder, Director.

Zehnder Gluten Free, a processor of gluten free baked foods based at Maleny, eliminated some processing steps and developed new techniques in its bread production. The family owned business led by Swiss-born Josef Zehnder plans to supplement its existing range by releasing more than 60 new gluten free products. Josef said that coeliacs - people with gluten intolerance - are willing to try new products and 80 to 90 per cent are usually converted to Zehnder’s superior products. The business plans to have a continuous release of a new product every four weeks. Zehnder Gluten Free, which is opening a factory in Switzerland in 2011 to supply European markets, is applying new European baking technology in its processing. This rapid cooling baking process will deliver products with less weight loss and longer shelf life, at reduced energy cost with a shortening of the baking time by five to 20 per cent.

“The inspiration for my Save Our Sea Turtles initiative is a belief that as we take from the sea we need to give back.” – Kristina Georges, Managing Director.

In 2005 fishmonger Kristina Georges established Samies Girl Seafoods, buying a business formerly owned by her family that had gone into receivership. Kristina’s passion in turning the business around was reflected by public goodwill and the recovery of this Brisbane supplier of fresh and frozen seafood. In 2009 Samies Girl Seafoods won the environment award at the Queensland Seafood Awards for its ‘Save Our Sea Turtles’ program. Kristina, whose business employs 11 full-time equivalent staff, is a strong advocate of sustainability in the seafood industry. Samies Girl promotes the protection and tagging of Moreton Bay turtles by raising funds from selling environmental cooler bags. The Save Our Sea Turtles initiative has been introduced into 667 Queensland Primary Schools with an education kit and Kristina’s book “Angels Do Swim.” Samies Girl proudly promotes the fish names program by selling fish labelled with name and origin so that customers can see the business sources non-endangered seafood.

“We operated two photographic road show vans that were on the road for a combined total of 364 days in 2010 while visiting 45 locations.” – Melanie Schwartze, Director.

Melanie Schwartze and two partners established Top Shots Glamour Photography in 2005 but two years later rising debt led to discussions about closing. Melanie bravely decided to take over the business as sole shareholder and, from the ashes, Flash Fotos was born, offering clients glamour photography services that would make them look like models. Melanie invested in her professional development with a photography business coach and refined the marketing and pricing plans for the Sunshine Coast photography studio. The business really turned the corner when Melanie established full-time photographic road shows in five states and territories. Flash Fotos has serviced more than 10,000 customers, has 18 full-time equivalent staff and posted net profit growth of about 35 per cent in the past two years. In 2010, Flash Fotos later opened new premises in Maroochydore’s retail precinct. Further expansion and success has followed this year with the addition of a third road show servicing Western Australia.