dana shortt gourmet shop
55 Erb Street East
Unit 101
Waterloo, Ontario
N2J 4K8

phone: 519-880-1555
email: retail@danashortt.ca
web: www.danashortt.ca

Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Young Entrepreneur of the Year - February 23, 2006

Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Media Release - February 23, 2006

"The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce celebrated excellence in our community as well as its 120 Anniversary at the Chamber’s 8th Annual Business Excellence Awards Gala tonight at Bingemans."

"Approximately 800 community leaders and guests attended this auspicious black and white event when the Business Excellence Awards were presented to Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce members that excelled in their category."

"The 9 award categories, with a record 95 nominations, included New Member of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Innovation, Workplace Training, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Business Leader of the Year (under 20 Employees), Environment, Business Leader of the Year Award (over 20 employees) and the Michael R. Follett Community Leader of the Year."

"The awards recognize Chamber members who through their outstanding leadership have contributed to the Chamber, to their industries and to the communities in which they live and work."

"Exemplifying excellence, professionalism and innovation in her approach to business, Dana Shortt has tapped into the food services market in a way that is truly unique. Taking the guesswork out of entertaining, she has created her own niche."

"Her entrepreneurial venture started at age 24 while studying in the Chef’s School at George Brown College, working as a private chef for a Toronto family and catering occasional small events. With her experience and talents she apprenticed for herself and launched her lifetime dream in 2004, renting kitchen space at the Breithaupt Community Centre.

"Today, with word of mouth from her loyal and an ever-growing clientele she has her own gourmet shop providing everything from catering to retailing ready-made gourmet food, high quality dinners for clients to take home, as well as a place for pick-up catering."

"Now with a resident chef and an executive catering chef, assistants, and a creative consultant, her full-service catering has more than doubled in the past year and monthly food shop sales have tripled with pick-up catering. She is constantly looking for new ideas to better her business and stay competitive. To excite and impress her clients with fresh ideas is one of the most rewarding aspects of her business!"

dana shortt named young entrepreneur - the record, Feb. 24, 2006