FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Critish Columbia, Canada (September 25, 2014) - Lourdes Gant, vice-president of Manatee Holdings Ltd. in the Comox Valley, made the 16th annual W100 ranking of Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs, released Thursday, September 18, 2014. Produced by PROFIT, Canadian Business and Chatelaine, the W100 ranks Canada’s top female entrepreneurs on a composite score based on the size, growth rate and profitability of their businesses, the W100 profiles the country’s most successful female business owners.

“This year's W100 represent the absolute best of Canada's business community,” said James Cowan, Editor-in-chief of Canadian Business and PROFIT. “Female entrepreneurs are too often stereotyped as 'mompreneurs' pursuing part-time hobby businesses. But the W100 demonstrate just how vital they are to driving innovation and growth in the Canadian economy.”

“Being recognized for doing what I love makes it so much more rewarding,” says Gant, who balances a busy career with an active family life. “Someone once told me that I’m a passionate mentor. Whenever I feel challenged, that’s the image that grounds me and moves me to a place of action, whether I’m mentoring my son or helping a client bring their vision to life.”

Gant joined Manatee Holdings, which sustainably harvests geoduck clams and sea cucumbers from wild fisheries, in 2008. With a background in financial and procedural auditing, she oversees marketing, finances and broad-level management. She’s now being groomed to become CEO, thanks in part to her impressive track record with the company.

This is Gant’s second appearance in the W100 ranking – she ranked 84th in 2012 after helping her company realize a 77 per cent growth in revenue. This time she feels her ranking is in recognition of acquiring $2.5 million of back-financing as Manatee Holdings works to grow aquaculture and expand as a “profitable ecological caretaker.”

“We’re trailblazing a shift from fishing to sustainable aquaculture in the local area,” explains Gant. “We’re looking to seed 20 hectares of aquaculture this year; and that, of course, takes money.”

Even with her past experience and impressive accomplishments, Gant admits she had to do some soul searching before deciding to submit her application for this year’s W100 competition.

“It took me two months to make my mind up to apply,” she admits. “But I decided it’s not just about me; this recognition represents the hard work of everyone at the company.

“One of my mentors told me, ‘No reward you apply for can give you the internal value that's available to each and every person,’” she continues. “So in the end, I decided to push the submit button but also take the opportunity to practice not being attached to the outcome."

Her reaction to finding out that she did, in fact, make the list once again?

“I think I’m actually more excited this time because it was more of an emotional decision to apply. I learned more about myself and I truly wasn’t expecting it.”

Gant will soon head to Toronto to receive the recognition in person at the W100 reception in November. The complete W100 ranking will be published in the October issue of Canadian Business, the November issue of Chatelaine and online at PROFITguide.com.

The complete list of winners is available online at www.PROFITguide.com and www.chatelaine.com. To learn more about Manatee Holdings, visit www.sustainableaquaculture.ca. For more on Gant herself, visit http://www.theintegratedbusinessdoctor.com/

About PROFIT and PROFITguide.com
PROFIT: Your Guide to Business Success is Canada’s preeminent media brand dedicated to the management issues and opportunities facing small and mid-sized businesses. For 32 years, Canadian entrepreneurs across a vast array of economic sectors have remained loyal to PROFIT because it’s a timely and reliable source of actionable information that helps them achieve business success and get the recognition they deserve for generating positive economic and social change. PROFIT appears inside every issue of Canadian Business and is online at PROFITguide.com.

About Canadian Business
Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-serving, best-selling and most-trusted business publication in the country. With a readership of more than 750,000, it is the country's premier media brand for executives and senior business leaders. It fuels the success of Canada's business elite with a focus on the things that matter most: leadership, innovation, business strategy and management tactics. Canadian Business provides concrete examples of business achievement, thought-provoking analysis and compelling storytelling, all in an elegant package with bold graphics and great photography. Canadian Business-what leadership looks like.

About Chatelaine
The country's leading women's media brand, Chatelaine makes "Everyday Extraordinary" for Canadian women and has been doing so for more than 85 years. Today, Chatelaine is a six-platform brand: available on television, radio, tablet and smartphone, plus in print and online. Chatelaine has a lively presence on social media sites, and Chatelaine.com is Canada's most engaged digital community for women 18+. With a team of "extraordinary" experts, Chatelaine brings together the very best of food (from The Chatelaine Kitchen powered by GE Café), style, decor, health and real life for women who want to look good, do good, feel great and make every day a little bit special. Chatelaine also has a line of retail products. Chatelaine is owned and operated by Rogers Media Inc., a division of Rogers Communications.

Contact:
Manatee Holdings
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone Number: 2503310486

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