Nicola Wealth Management Honoured as a Top 10 Finalist for the 2015 Private Business Growth Award

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Oct. 29, 2015) - The 10 finalists for the 2015 Private Business Growth Award have been announced - and for the second consecutive year, Vancouver's own Nicola Wealth Management (NWM) was named. The award, presented by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Grant Thornton, celebrates Canadian private businesses that implement sustainable growth strategies-focusing on more than just the current top line.

NWM was selected for its leadership, innovation, market development and ability to build a successful private business that plays a pivotal role in the Vancouver community and beyond.

"We are honoured to once again be among the finalists for this award," said David Sung, President of NWM. "Our clients, many of whom are successful entrepreneurs and business owners themselves, expect a level of innovation and service from our firm. This is what truly motivates NWM and propels our continued growth."

"Growing a successful, sustainable private business is no easy feat-but it can be done," says Phil Noble, Executive Partner and CEO, Grant Thornton. "The purpose of the Private Business Growth Award is to showcase those companies that are getting it right - fearlessly introducing new product lines and entering new markets, developing new employee engagement strategies and demonstrating different models of leadership-and setting their businesses up for long-term success. We think this is an important thing to celebrate and it's an important message to relay to others."

An eight-person jury used growth across the following five criteria to select the finalists:

• Innovation: Developing new products and services, bringing old products to market in a new way as well as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of internal processes.
• Market development: How they go to market and expand into new domestic or international markets.
• People and culture: Investing in their people by helping employees learn and develop as a critical part of overall growth.
• Strategic leadership: How they interact with partners, stakeholders, their succession planning and community involvement.
• Improvements in financial measures: Ensuring revenue growth and improvements in profitability.

"When Canadian businesses get the edge on their competitors, they create new jobs and generate greater prosperity for communities across the country. Those that grow strategically by looking past the next quarter raise the bar for others that follow and deserve to be celebrated. This year's finalists are examples of companies that are building a Canada that wins," says Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Nicola Wealth Management and all of the finalists will be celebrated, and the winner announced, at a gala evening at the Design Exchange in Toronto on November 25, 2015. The evening will be hosted by renowned Canadian business journalist, Dierdre McMurdy.

About Nicola Wealth Management

Established in 1994, Nicola Wealth Management (www.nicolawealth.com) is Canada's fastest growing asset fund management and private investment counsel firms (Investor Economics 2015) with almost $4-billion in assets under management. The firm provides wealth accumulation, retirement and legacy planning services and expertise to high net worth families, institutions, and foundations across Canada. NWM's team of experienced advisors and support staff offer one of the best advisor-to-client ratios in the industry.

About the Private Business Growth Award

The Private Business Growth Award recognizes Canadian-owned, privately-held businesses that have been in business a minimum of three years, have $5 million or more in revenues and have demonstrated outstanding strategic growth. A partnership between the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Grant Thornton LLP, this national business award was created to recognize and celebrate the successful growth of private businesses in Canada. A jury of high-profile Canadian business leaders selects 10 finalists and one winning company based on the following criteria: innovation, market development, people and culture, strategic leadership, and improvements in financial measures. For further information, visit www.privatebusinessgrowthaward.com.