Every year, the Winkler and District Chamber of Commerce holds a luncheon to acknowledge the efforts of small businesses in the community.

The event invites business owners from within the community to speak on their successes and create an environment for businesses to find mentorship and connections to grow.

"There are so many success stories, so many great things going on here," said WDCC Board President Darren Heide. "One thing we want to do as a chamber is to continually recognize the success stories we have and elevate our members."

The two speakers were Monarch Industries and King's Deli Market & Eatery.

During the presentation of King's Deli mother-son team, Carrie Hiebert and Colton Schiller addressed how to go from dream to economically viable reality.

"It's important to buy-in, and it's important to take all of your effort and heart and put it into this one idea and push from that... It's a matter of understanding what you have and understanding how to use that. Everyone has something they can use that no one else has, and it can grow them in such great ways."

Now reaching two years in business, both Schiller and Hiebert say the experience of learning to manage a team and grow has been eye-opening. However, like any business, success isn't without its challenges. A significant challenge is finding staff willing to take ownership and grow with the company.

"When you find that great staff member, you try to keep them because they're awesome," said Hiebert. "We've got a great team right now," Hiebert added, continuing to

Monarch Industries Vice-president of Manufacturing Bo Blundell.offer local products is also top of mind. "Local product is great; we want to support local and put back into the community. To support the people around us so they can support us back."

Monarch Industries' Vice-president of Manufacturing, Bo Blundell, focused on how Monarch separates themselves from their competition and what path to take for the business to flourish.

To stand out from the crowd, Blundell says they focus on both customer service and their employees, ensuring the safety of their teams and meeting the costumer's needs. Diversification is key to continual growth added Blundell, explaining nearly 80 percent of Monarch's production was for agricultural equipment. That number is now 55 percent as they look to new avenues including lift and construction equipment.

The luncheon also served as the opportunity to announce the guest speaker at the 2019 P.W. Enns Businesses Gala, which will be Janet Bannister, an entrepreneur and founder of Kijiji.

With her successes, Heide says the board felt she was a great fit to speak at the gala a here story reflects the entrepreneurial spirit seen in the local area.