The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce has named its 2018 Business Leader of the Year.
Dale Wentworth, founder of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Wentworth Music, will receive the chamber香蕉视频直播檚 top award for his contribution to the business community in the Central Okanagan on Oct. 24.
He will receive the award at the chamber香蕉视频直播檚 31st annual Business Excellence Awards ceremony, to be held at Delta Grand Hotel.
香蕉视频直播淒ale and his family, from his parents through to his children, have demonstrated not only a high level of business acumen, but an ability to change and evolve their business as Kelowna has grown up around them,香蕉视频直播� said Carmen Sparg, president of the chamber.
香蕉视频直播淒ale put himself through college giving music lessons and he truly is an inspiration to all of us. The level of pride and morals instilled in their children is a testament to the quality leadership that he embodies. I香蕉视频直播檓 passionate about this family because they made such an impact on my son香蕉视频直播檚 life.香蕉视频直播�
Last year, the chamber named Club Penguin co-founder Lane Merrifield as its Business Leader of the Year.
Related: Kelowna Chamber of Commerce hands out awards
According to Wentworth, not much has changed with his family香蕉视频直播檚 core values over the last 52 years, but the business has grown.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e bigger now, with four stores and an internationally recognized Music Education Centre,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Wentworth Music has 65 employees and is a three-generation family business with deep roots in the Okanagan.
Wentworth settled in Kelowna in 1966 and shortly thereafter teamed up with his parents, Walt and Vera, to opened a small music store in the Capri Shopping Centre.
The store香蕉视频直播檚 mission was to provide music lessons and sales as well as rentals and repairs of a broad range of musical instruments, chief among them, guitars.
Three years later, Hedy Wentworth, Dale香蕉视频直播檚 wife for 48 years, joined the family business as a music teacher.
香蕉视频直播淲e are a business that focuses on community values. We moved into our third generation of family ownership when our sons took over major corporate roles,香蕉视频直播� said Wentworth.
His children Noel (vice-president of education and media), Neil (vice-president of finance) and Nori (vice-president of sales) all work for the company, as well as Noel and Neil香蕉视频直播檚 wives.
A strong commitment to community has always been at the core of the family business and Wentworth Music has supported numerous not-for-profit organizations over the years.
Wentworth Music is well-known locally for its student-based rock 香蕉视频直播榥香蕉视频直播� roll productions at the Kelowna Community Theatre.
The semi-annual shows have raised almost a $250,000 in support of children香蕉视频直播檚 wards Okanagan hospitals and for the JoeAnna香蕉视频直播檚 House project. That project will see a 香蕉视频直播渉ome away from home香蕉视频直播� for the families of out-of-town patients requiring treatment at the hospital
Tickets for the chamber award gala are available online at until Friday.
To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.
newstips@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
