KingFisher named one of Canada’s best managed companies

While CEO Byron Bolton was the one to accept KingFisher Boats Canada’s Best Managed Companies award, he said it is important to remember that he shares it with 150 other people.

The Vernon-based watercraft manufacturer was announced one of Canada’s Best Managed companies by the Canada’s Best Managed companies program at a symposium in Toronto, Ont. on March 8.

Representatives from the program visited KingFisher’s Centre of Excellence in Vernon to present Bolton with the official hardware during an employee recognition celebration on April 18.

“There’s no ‘I’ in best managed,” Bolton told a crowd of 100 Kingfisher staff members gathered at the company’s Swan Lake office Wednesday afternoon.

“Our goal at KingFisher is to enrich lives through our work, and you have been a huge part of that. You have truly enriched people’s lives.”

Established in 1993, the program is considered one of the country’s leading business awards recognizing Canadian, privately-owned and managed companies with annual revenues over $15 million.

According to Thomas Tobias, a coach with the best managed companies program, KingFisher was recognized for overall business performance and sustained growth.

Bolton attributes his success to a strategy first approach including: annual forecasting and a “true passion” for sportfishing.

Founded by Bolton in 1992, KingFisher, he said, started with a small crew and has grown exponentially. The company currently employs 150 people who build and distribute 33 models in five series — offshore, coastal, sport, multi-species and river jet, through a global dealer network from California to Alaska.

Each year, hundreds of companies apply for the program, Tobias said, but less than 50 receive the designation.

This year, KingFisher was one of 44 new companies to join the best-managed alumni, and one of five recognized in British Columbia.

The 2018 Best Managed Companies list includes:

• Anatolia Tile + Stone — Vaughan, ON
• Arbor Memorial — Toronto, ON
• Bariatrix Nutrition — Lachine, QC
• Barkman Concrete — Steinbach, MB
• Baylis Medical Company Inc. — Mississauga, ON
• BMI CANADA INC. — Boisbriand, QC
• Bond Brand Loyalty — Mississauga, ON B
• Bradford Greenhouses Limited — Bradford ON
• BrettYoung — Winnipeg, MB
• Clio — Burnaby, BC
• CMiC — Toronto, ON
• Conceptromec inc. — Magog, QC
• DIALOG — Toronto, ON
• Electrozad Supply Company Limited — Windsor, ON
• FRAC SHACK Inc. — Acheson, AB
• Fruit d’Or Inc. — Villeroy, QC
• GEOTAB — Oakville, ON
• Harnois Groupe pétrolier — Saint-Thomas, QC
• Jam Industries. Ltd — Baie D’Urfe,QC
• KingFisher Boats — Vernon, BC

• Kohltech Windows and Entrance Systems — Debert, NS
• Kruger Products, L.P. — Mississauga, ON
• Les Industries Amisco ltée — L’Islet, QC
• LGM Financial Services Inc. — Vancouver, BC
• Location Brossard Inc. — Dorval,QC
• Maritime Paper Products Limited Partnership — Dartmouth, NS
• McKeil Marine — Burlington,ON
• Meridian Surveys Ltd — Saskatoon, SK
• MyHealth Centre TORONTO ON
• Nautel — Hacketts Cove,NS
• Nightingale Corp. — Mississauga, ON
• Noralta Lodge Ltd. — Nisku, AB
• OSL Retail Services — Mississauga,ON
• Payment Source Inc. — Ottawa, ON
• Pestell Minerals & Ingredients — New Hamburg, ON
• Pneus Unimax Ltée — Boucherville,QC
• priMED Medical Products — Edmonton, AB
• Scalar Decisions — Toronto, ON
• The PUR Company Inc. — Toronto,ON
• Trans-Herb e Inc. — Saint-Bruno,QC
• Trotman Auto Group — Surrey,BC
• Wesgroup Equipment — Surrey,BC
• Westech Industrial Ltd. — Calgary,AB
• Zulu Alpha Kilo — Toronto,ON

Erin Christie

Morning Star Staff