BIZZ BUZZ

Murray Hogarth as been chosen Burlington’s 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Burlington Economic Development Corporation.  As the founder, president and CEO of the Pioneer Group, he opened the first Pioneer gas station in 1956 and built the company into Canada’s largest privately-owned gasoline chain.  Murray is known for his volunteer work and charitable contributions to local philanthropic causes. 

The Entrepreneur of the Year award honours a person who has built a successful, globally-engaged company in Burlington, demonstrates entrepreneurship and has given back to the community.  The 2010 award will be presented on Thursday, June 10 at the Burlington Convention Centre.

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Burlington’s Brant Auto Body has moved from a rented shop on Graham’s Lane to a new building purchased by the company’s owners, Alan and Carol Giles.  The new location, at 667 Enfield Road (off King Road) better suits the needs of the business, Alan says.  It has bigger doors and can accommodate large vans and trucks in the shop.   Established in 1963, Brant Auto Body is one of only a few licensed Ministry of Transportation Structural Inspection facilities in the area.

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Sandy Shaw has been appointed chair of the Board of Directors of First Ontario Credit Union.

A board member since 2006, she also sits on the board of the Hamilton Social Enterprise Network.  Sandy formerly worked as a senior research analyst with the United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton and as a senior planner with the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton. 

Tricia Hellingman is president of Hellingman Communications, a Hamilton-based public relations and marketing agency.  You can email her at thellingman@hellingman.com.  BizzBuzz appears every other Friday.