Aircraft communications manufacturer wins big at Kelowna Business Excellence Awards

Quickly and quietly from Kelowna's North End, Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing has made an international success of itself.

But, the latest accolade is local -- winning the 'large business of the year' award at the 36th annual Kelowna Chamber Business Excellence Awards.

The marquee accolade is also simply dubbed Kelowna's 'business of the year.'

The business excellence awards gala, presented by Lawson Lundell Lawyers and Interior Savings Credit Union, was Friday night at the Delta Grand hotel with 400 business and community leaders in attendance as trophies were handed out in 17 categories.

The other banner award handed out was 'business leader of the year.'

That award was actually announced a week before the ceremony as a way to hype Friday night's gala.

However, winner Sam Samaddar, director of Kelowna International Airport, was at the Grand to be recognized and actually pick up the trophy.

"The city applauds all of you who make our community such a great place to live and work," said Mayor Tom Dyas in his remarks to kick off the awards gala.

"I particularly want to congratulate the 2023 'business leader of the year' our own Sam Samaddar of YLW."

Back to Kelowna's 'business of the year' Anodyne.

At its 40,000-square-foot headquarters at 966 Crowley Ave. at the base of Knox Mountain, 112 people work at designing, developing and manufacturing aircraft communication systems, loudspeaker systems, caution and warning panels and other illuminated panel products.

Anodyne has more than 500 dealers worldwide who sell, service and install its avionics solutions in airplanes and helicopters, including Sea King and Twin Otter planes and Bell, Boeing, Airbus and Sikorsky helicopters.

Some of the airborne law enforcement, aerial firefighting, search-and-rescue and surveillance clients that use Anodyne-made equipment include the US Customs & Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety, Tokyo Metropolitan Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Anodyne was born in 2009 when Northern Airborne Technology stopped manufacturing and a group of employees took over ownership and manufacturing under a new name.

Anodyne's success comes down to its core values, which include: fair and straightforward conduct between ourselves and our customers, delivering on commitments, employees supporting one another for the great good of our customers and leadership setting the example for others to follow.

Here's the full list of winners in 17 categories:

- Large business of the year, aka 'business of the year'

Winner: Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing

Finalist: FH&P Lawyers

- Business leader of the year

Winner: Sam Samaddar of Kelowna International Airport

(No list of finalists is released)

- People's choice business of the year (new category)

Winner: Kelowna Pet Resort

Finalists: Interactive Counselling and Supplement King Kelowna

- Mid-size business of the year

Winner: Secure-Rite Mobile Storage

Finalists: RauDZ Creative Concepts (RauDZ Regional Table, Sunny's Modern Diner and The Okanagan Table)

- Small business of the year

Winner: Potentia HR

Finalist: BlackBean Marketing

- Young entrepreneur of the year

Winner: Ashton Olsen of E-Kruise electric bikes

Finalist: Missy MacKintosh of MisMacK Clean Cosmetics

- Indigenous business of the year

Winner: Sncewips Heritage Museum

Finalist: Fireweeds Boutique

- Rising Star business of the year

Winner: EntheoMed

Finalist: Do Gooders

- Excellence in environmental impact

Winner: FILL -- Kelowna's Refill Store

Finalist: AgriForest Bio-Technologies

- Excellence in tourism

Winner: Splash BC Water Parks (Wibit)

Finalist: Sncewips Heritage Museum

- Excellence in agriculture

Winner: There & Back Again Farms

Finalist: KLO Farm Market

- Excellence in business ethics

Winner: Manchester Signs, Printing & Graphics

Finalist: The MAKR Group

- Excellence in equity, diversity and inclusion

Winner: Peter's Your Independent Grocer

Finalist: Vadium Security

- Technology innovator of the year

Winner: AgriForest Bio-Technologies

Finalist: V-Metrics

- Excellence in community impact (new category)

Winner: BrainTrust Canada

Finalist: Dress for Success Kelowna

- Not-for-profit excellence

Winner: Canadian Mental Health Association (Kelowna and district)

Finalist: Kelowna General Hospital Foundation

- Arts and entertainment achievement

Winner: Rotary Centre for the Arts

Finalist: The Kore Dance Project

Watch the recorded live stream of the 2023 Awards: