Matt Strano, CEO of Charlotte Products Ltd., was named the recipient of the Business Citizen of the Year, during the annual Business and Excellence Awards in Peterborough on Wednesday night.
The 19th annual awards event hosted by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce acknowledges and recognizes businesses and entrepreneurs in a number of categories.
To see the entire ceremony, which was held at the Showplace Performance Centre, visit the chamber’s YouTube channel.
Strano, a native of Peterborough, leads the cleaning products company. He was recognized for his entrepreneurial and community spirit which includes launching Charlotte Cares, a program that supports charities such as the Peterborough Humane Society, Junior Achievement, Hospice Peterborough, Habitat for Humanity, Five Counties Children’s Centre, and more.
The father of three teenagers is also an active volunteer and coach in the community. In 2020 he was named volunteer of the year with the Peterborough City Soccer Association.
Strano congratulated all the winners and nominees and said “we live in a great community.” He credited outgoing chamber president Stu Harrison who “inspired” him to get involved in the community. Harrison is retiring at the end of the month after 20 years in the role.
Strano said the honour is a “team effort,” rather than his own.
“Although I stand here accepting this prestigious award individually, I strongly feel it is more of a team recognition involving the Charlotte team, my family and friends, and the community,” Strano said during his acceptance speech. “Without the efforts, support and encouragement of all of the above, I would never be in this position.”
The chamber noted during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Strano’s company partnered with other companies to increase production for sanitizer and disinfectant products. The efforts doubled production capacity in two weeks.
Other award recipients included:
- Business Citizen of the Year: Matt Strano with Charlotte Products Ltd.
- Businesswoman of the Year — entrepreneur: Brenda Ibey with The Avant-Garden Shop
- Businesswoman of the Year — organization: Alicia Dafoe with Village Dental Centre
- Employer of the Year: Friendly Fires
- Not-for-profit: Community Care Peterborough
- Retail: Millbrook Mercantile
- Commercial development or renovation: Lakeshore Designs (Boathouse Boutique and Bikini Beans Cafe)
- Hospitality: The Boardwalk Board Game Lounge
- Professional services: Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory
- Green initiatives: The Nutty Bean Café
- Skilled trades: New Beginnings Contracting Services
- Micro business: The Mane Intent
- The President’s Award: Ashley Lamothe with Creative Kwe
- Marketing and promotion: The Peterborough Humane Society for the “Our Pet Project”
- Tourism: Lang Pioneer Village Museum
- Customer first: Kawartha Country Wines
- Health and wellness: The Mane Intent
- Entrepreneurial spirit: Organized by Design
- Local focus: Living Local Marketplace
- Four, Under-40 profiles: Dr. Nicole Edgar, Michael Gallant, Chad Hogan and Caitlin Smith
- Business student leadership: Jehan Mahboob (Trent University) and Aiden Rice (Fleming College)
- New Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year: Faheem Mohammadzada with Brothers Pizza
- Peterborough County Farm Family of the Year: The Cornish Family at Indian River Acres
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