Fitness trainer honoured at luncheon
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Longtime local fitness trainer Tracie Smith-Beyak was selected the special section cover award winner at the annual Kingston Whig-Standard Women in Business luncheon on Wednesday at the Residence Inn by Marriott Kingston Hotel Water's Edge.
Smith-Beyak did a double fist pump and let out a "woohoo" in front of about 200 attending the luncheon when her name was announced.
A total of 16 women representing a variety of local businesses were nominated for the award.
Smith-Beyak and her business will be the cover feature in the special section, which will be published in the Whig-Standard on Nov. 28.
In her brief speech, she said she was honoured to be in the presence of so many successful women.
"I'm just taken aback for words, that's very unusual for me," she said.
"I just want to thank you and hopefully I can work with more of you as we go ahead into the next decade."
She added that she's interested in forming business partnerships with many of the businesswomen in the room.
"And learning from the best of the best."
Smith-Beyak is the owner of Conquer Training and Education and has been a business owner in the fitness industry since 2006.
Her business specializes in youth athlete development, prenatal & postnatal fitness, seniors health and wellness and provides customized personal training to individual clients of any age.
She also writes a weekly health and fitness column in the Whig-Standard and is a supporter of many local charities.
The luncheon's keynote speaker was Carolyn Trudel, the director of marketing for the Farm Boy grocery store chain.
Farm Boy has a store in Kingston as well as 17 others in the province.
The store specializes in fresh produce, high-quality meats and healthy, pre-made meals, salads and soups.
"We have over 300 fresh items in our produce department and it is the engine that powers every other department.
In her presentation, she offered a variety of marketing advice to the assembled crowd that included advice on knowing your company's mission and staying true to that, engaging the customer, product quality and innovation, among other things.
"You can't stop moving forward or your customers will leave you behind and your competitors will leap frog ahead of you," said Trudel.
Through sales of 50/50 tickets and other donations, the luncheon raised just over $1,500 for the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at Kingston General Hospital.
ian.macalpine@sunmedia.ca
Twitter.com @IanMacAlpine
FACT BOX
Nominees for the The Kingston Whig-Standard Women in Business Cover Feature Award
* Pat Angelis, Owner, Peter's Place.
* Meghann Kathleen Brunet, owner-manager, Allign Orthotics & Rehabilitation.
* Emily Dowling, owner Root RadicalCommunity Shared Agriculture.
* Melissa Eapen & Emma Rochon, owners & directors Improbably Escapes Inc.
* Linda Fraser, general manager, Camden Braes Golf & Country Club.
* Kristine Geary, owner McCoy Bus Service & Tours.
* Lisa Gibson-Burgess & Angela Gibson, administrator and asst. Administrator Helen Henderson Care Centre.
* Jules Green, sales manager, Front Runner Professional.
* Stacey Hickman, owner-operator Kingston Dementia Homecare Services.
* Jackie Marshall, owner, 1000 Islands Soap Company.
* Ashley Montroy, marketing director FrontRunner Professional.
* Stephanie Montroy, customer relations manager, FrontRunner Professional.
* Tracie Smith-Beyak, owner Conquer Training & Education.
* Josee Theriault, investment adviser/portfolio manager, RBC Dominion Securities.
