Australian Enterprise Awards 2026 | 61 Belonging to a genuine community is essential for connection, confidence, and a sense of identity. This is especially true for those living with disabilities, not only providing essential support but also growth and independence through opportunities for social interaction, learning, and skill development. Based in Redcliffe, Queensland, Freedom Disability Support is a company helping individuals achieve their life goals and build lifelong relationships through the creation of a community where everyone is embraced, valued, and empowered. Maria Tsalamandris, Founder of Freedom Disability Support, told us more below. When Maria Tsalamandris first dreamt up Freedom Disability Support, it did not begin as a business idea. Maria noticed a gap in the disability support industry that nobody else was filling; supports were being delivered everywhere, but no professionals were going above and beyond the brief. Whilst individuals’ support needs were technically being met on paper, the lack of connection and interest meant that they still felt truly alone on a regular basis. “I kept seeing participants ticking boxes, attending appointments, and receiving services, but missing connection, confidence, and community,” Maria told us. “I wanted to create something that went further than the plan on the page; a place where people were shown possibilities they hadn’t even thought to ask for. A place where support meant more than tasks, and where people felt genuinely seen, included, and valued.” Today, Freedom is a vital pillar of its community, providing essential services to clients of all ages and abilities. These clients are individuals seeking more than mere support and have typically approached the company after feeling overlooked or misunderstood elsewhere. Regardless of their personal background, each client is united in their desire to be seen as a human first and have come to Freedom with hopes to find connection, confidence, purpose, and create a life that feels full. “Freedom is not just a service; it is a community. It is a place where people feel proud of who they are and excited about their life again.” Freedom offers access to a growing community and a dedicated team of support staff. This team provides mentoring, daily living support, creative programmes, supported employment through Freedom HQ, and the opportunity to embark on unique STA experiences through Freedom Adventures. Alongside this, the company also offers outreach experiences through its farm, allowing clients to connect with nature, animals, and open spaces in a way that feels grounding and real. “What we want for our clients is simple,” Maria stated. “We want them to feel alive and seen. We want them to have confidence, friendships, adventure, and purpose. We want them to wake up excited instead of anxious. We want them to feel proud of who they are and know that they matter. When someone looks at us and says, sometimes through tears, ‘I finally feel like I belong’, we know we have done our job.” Of course, this would not be possible without the company’s standout team, who have worked tirelessly to build and maintain a supportive community. Every day, each member of the Freedom team goes above and beyond in their role, serving as mentors, cheerleaders, and trusted people in the client’s life. The trust that has naturally grown between the team and their clients cannot be emulated and serves as the very foundation of all Freedom has achieved. Naturally, Freedom nurtures its employees in the same ways they nurture its clients: treating them with care, honesty, encouragement, and space to grow. The company maintains an internal culture that is warm, honest, and loud, intentionally building its team with ssssssssspeople who bring empathy, patience, and the ability to make others feel safe by simply being present. It listens to and supports its employees, understanding that staff perform at their best when they feel valued, and that energy ripples through the entire community. This year will see Freedom making efforts to further strengthen its community. The company is seeking to expand the creative and skill building opportunities offered by Freedom HQ while also growing supported employment pathways and continuing to evolve Freedom Adventures so that more clients can experience confidence and independence through real life experiences. Alongside this, the team will be actively working to create new experiences at the farm for participants to connect with the land, animals, and themselves. “The future of Freedom is about growing deeper, not just bigger,” Maria concluded. “We are focusing on strengthening connection, creativity, and community. If there is just one thing to mention for 2026, is it this: Freedom is continuing to build a community where people feel alive, connected, and proud of who they are.” Contact: Maria Tsalamandris Company: Freedom Disability Support Pty Ltd Web Address: www.freedomdisabilitysupport.com.au Most Empowering Disability Support Community 2026
16 | Acquisition International, November 2025 Auctioneering CFO of the Year 2025 (Italy): Alessandro Consoli & Financial Leadership Excellence Award 2025 ounded in 1959 by the Milanese banker Gian Marco Manusardi and later acquired by a new group of investorshareholders with the vision of creating an auction house that was “by collectors for collectors,” Finarte is a company that has written the history of the Italian art market. Over the decades, the company has grown steadily, broadening its scope and building an increasingly diversified offering. Today, Finarte stands as a leading player in the artistic and collecting landscape with 21 departments, 70 auctions held annually, and ongoing expansion into the luxury, art, and design sectors. The company serves a highly diverse clientele, from private collectors to enthusiast, foundations to galleries, and clients active in the world of luxury and fine craftsmanship. Alongside this network are the professionals who contribute to the creation of the auction product, comprising photographers, graphic designers, experts, consultants, printers, and many other specialised suppliers who, behind the scenes, ensure a high quality result, meticulously curated to the smallest detail. Finarte is a multifaceted group composed of three companies, operating in the auction world with a unique, cross-sector vision: from luxury – jewellery, watches, and fashion – to art and photography; from wine, books, comics, and design to antique arms and militaria. It operates within a diverse and constantly evolving universe, one that requires the ability to navigate across very different, internationally oriented markets. In such a complex environment, characterised by increasingly strict regulatory constraints and profound structural changes, it became necessary for Finarte to undergo a true cultural transformation: moving away from the traditional family-run business model to embrace a more managerial, solid, and structured approach. Leading this transition required a complete redesign of central functions to build a broad, integrated system. Alongside the traditional areas of accounting, administration, IT, and HR, new strategic functions were introduced: legal and organisational, to establish clear procedures; finance and treasury, focused on cash flow and forward-looking projections; planning and control, to support agile decision-making; commercial planning, driven by data and performance forecasting; procurement, to monitor spending and negotiate commitments; and anti-money laundering, ensuring regulatory compliance and risk protection. This journey of transformation was steered by Alessandro Consoli, Finarte’s Chief Financial Officer, whose strategic vision and operational leadership have been instrumental in reshaping the company’s internal architecture. Today, Alessandro oversees the Group’s core functions – ranging from administration, finance, and compliance to ICT infrastructure, HR, and procurement – ensuring that every area operates with precision, agility, and alignment to broader business goals. A key part of Alessandro’s role at Finarte involves supporting the CEO in defining both qualitative and quantitative objectives, setting the Group’s general policies in human resources development and management, designing and evolving organisational models aimed at enhancing effectiveness and efficiency, defining corporate strategies and objectives, and optimising cost structures through targeted planning and investment. Over the course of his career, Alessandro has taken on a variety of responsibilities that have shaped both his professional and personal growth. Yet it was his accumulated experience within the AFC area that proved most instrumental in preparing him for the CFO role. Early positions in accounting – first at a tax consultancy firm, then at a major telecommunications company – provided a solid foundation in financial reporting. Later, as a controller in two banking startups, Alessandro developed a strategic mindset, learning to support decisions with reliable data and forward-looking analysis. Working in the banking sector from the very startup phase was particularly formative. There, Alessandro learned that no barrier is insurmountable, only challenges to be met with the right mindset. In such a dynamic and uncertain environment, Alessandro strengthened his flexibility, learned to reassess priorities, and maintained longterm focus until ideas became tangible results. Starting out as an intern, he also learned humility: the importance of staying open to learning, even at the highest levels. Determination and patience became the cornerstones of his approach, shaping a leadership style rooted in perseverance. “These steps naturally led me to my current position as CFO,” he told us, “where I draw daily on what I learned in the past: the precision of accounting, the ability to read and interpret numbers, the skill to translate financial data into actionable guidelines for business growth, and the capacity to constantly simulate future scenarios in order to anticipate key variables. My professional journey has allowed me to grow not only from a technical standpoint, but also in the development of soft skills that I now consider fundamental for a CFO.” Today, Alessandro operates with a leadership style built upon two main pillars: clarity in communication and sharing of vision. He believes that a leader should not simply give instructions but rather create an environment where everyone understands the bigger picture, the reasoning behind decisions, and how their individual contribution impacts the organisation’s objectives. To Alessandro, it is essential that each person feels part of a single organism, with both the power and the responsibility to help improve the direction and the speed at with Finarte moves. To ensure that everyone moves in the same direction, Alessandro dedicates time to communicating transparency, explaining In a sector increasingly shaped by internationalisation, regulatory complexity, and agile competition, Finarte stands out as a leading Italian auction house with a rich legacy and a forward-looking strategy. At its heart is Chief Financial Officer Alessandro Consoli, guiding the company with clarity, discipline, and a sharp focus on long-term resilience. Following Alessandro’s recent successes in the Global CFO Excellence Awards, we caught up with the driving force behind Finarte’s financial strategy to learn more about the journey, the mindset, and the milestones that have defined his path to success. both strategic priorities and the rationale behind each decision. He reinforces this communication through continuous alignment tools, including regular meetings, shared reports, and open discussions that allow every team member to see how their work connects to overall goals. Another key element of Alessandro’s approach is refusing to accept “no” as an answer. He leads his team with the steadfast belief that any problem or initiative, if addressed and analysed correctly, can be achieved or resolved. Central to Alessandro’s leadership is an absolute intolerance for downtime and poor performance. While some may view it as rigid, Alessandro considers a meritocratic system essential in such a fast-paced environment – where his team must move quickly and deliver concrete results. In this environment, only those who achieve their objectives are rewarded, not only with monetary recognition but also with greater organisational involvement, increasing responsibilities, and participation in strategic projects. To sum up this approach, Alessandro stated: “With me, you work hard, but you learn and grow even more.” To sustain this model, Alessandro pairs work activities with moments dedicated to personal and team development, which he calls “moments for group culture.” In these sessions, participants are guided by pre-defined themes and can exchange ideas, create synergies, and strengthen cohesion. In the long-term, this approach plays a crucial role in building a consolidated and autonomous team, one ready to handle growing responsibilities and enables delegation to be truly effective. Alessandro’s strategic approach to leadership has enabled Finarte to thrive in the auction house sector, a shifting landscape that is increasingly adopting an international outlook enriched by lean and dynamic players, within an ever more complex regulatory framework. In this transformatory phase, the greatest challenges are being presented to longestablished companies, who must now rethink management approaches and move towards a more structured, managerial model. In this scenario, Alessandro’s role as CFO becomes crucial; to ensure competitiveness in a more agile and flexible market, it is essential to build a structured organisation that can simultaneously preserve agility and speed in decision-making. In Finarte’s case, the team worked on two main fronts: analysing and redesigning processes to identify waste and inefficiencies; and reviewing costs line-by-line, eliminating duplications and renegotiating contracts and suppliers to achieve significant savings. At the same time, the team adapted Finarte to the new regulatory environment, placing a particular focus on anti-money laundering. The entire process was redesigned, defining new roles and structures, in order to protect the commercial network without stifling the business. This forward-thinking approach F made it possible for Finarte to avoid risks related to dealing with non-compliant parties, which would have represented more of a threat than an opportunity in the longer-term. Looking ahead, Alessandro’s vision for the future is rooted in building increasingly solid foundations – both for Finarte and for his own leadership. His focus lies in strengthening what has already been built: consolidating processes, tools, and internal competencies so they become stable, shared assets. At the same time, he is committed to developing new opportunities for growth, both strategically and personally. For the company, this means continuing to evolve a managerial structure that is agile yet robust, capable of anticipating market shifts, enhancing regulatory oversight, and driving innovation through sustainable business models and improved financial planning. On a personal level, Alessandro aims to cultivate a leadership style that places people at the centre, investing in their development and building autonomous teams. He believes that true success lies not only in financial results, but in leaving the organisation stronger than it was before. “In short, he said, “my project for the future is to transform today’s success into a stable, innovative, and long-term model, ensuring that what we are building now becomes the foundation for tomorrow’s achievements.” There is no universal formula to becoming a CFO – a fact that Alessandro places great emphasis on. Instead, he promotes the importance of building solid technical foundations – mastering accounting, having a deep understanding of taxation, and navigating management control with confidence. These are skills that require constant updating, which is why a CFO must be driven by relentless curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. To those pursuing this path, Alessandro offered clear advice: “Study, study, and study. Never stop questioning yourself and striving to improve. And then, work, work, and work with genuine passion – because only by loving what you do will you stop seeing time and effort as a sacrifice and instead recognise them as a precious resource that enriches you and keeps moving you forward. Stay curious and never fully satisfied, because it is only with this mindset that you will keep improving and growing.” Contact: Alessandro Consoli Company: Finarte s.p.a. Web Address: www.finarte.it Auctioneering CFO of the Year 2025 (Italy): Alessandro Consoli & Financial Leadership Excellence Award 2025
Small Business Awards 2023 | 13 November 2025 | 13 From its academy to its app, every aspect of ADHD 360’s work has been driven by a steadfast dedication to highlighting and addressing the challenges faced by those living with ADHD. It has championed outstanding levels of care since its inception, committing itself to diagnosing, treating, and empowering its clients, enabling them to unlock their true potential and lead brighter, more fulfilling lives. ADHD 360 has amassed a remarkable 4.8 star rating for its services on Trustpilot, with more than 11,000 reviews left by clients past and present. One client reported: “My clinician was incredibly friendly and supportive throughout my assessment process. She listened to all of my concerns and questions thoroughly, offering advice and making sure I understood and felt comfortable throughout the consultation. I am very happy with my experience!” At its core, ADHD 360 understands that diagnosis alone is not enough. People living with ADHD must be supported beyond their diagnosis, with treatments that adapt, people who listen, and systems that work. Not only has ADHD 360 enhanced the diagnosis process in response to this rising need, but the clinic has also been a key advocate for higher standards of care, a more personalised and rewarding patient journey, and a more empathetic understanding across society. For its tireless work in the field of ADHD diagnosis and support, effectively changing the lives of countless individuals across the country, ADHD 360 has been named the UK’s Best Private ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment Clinic 2025. Contact: Lucy Hunter Company: ADHD 360 Web Address: www.adhd-360.com ADHD 360 is the UK’s largest and most innovative ADHD clinic, founded in 2018 to meet a growing need for better and more timely support to those navigating an ADHD diagnosis. The company boasts a national footprint, with headquarters in Lincoln and clinics in various towns and cities, as well as remote clinical capabilities to ensure that individuals can receive the care they deserve, wherever they are in the UK. With so much information and so many healthcare options, it can be easy for an individual to get lost when navigating the complexities of ADHD – whether a parent worrying about their child or an adult questioning their own focus and organisation. ADHD 360 aims to shine a light on this daunting process for patients and their loved ones, with the understanding that ADHD not only impacts the individual but also their families and relationships. To combat the complexities, ADHD 360 has launched a proprietary app that provides users with everything they need to manage their treatment in one convenient place. With the ADHD 360 app, users can easily view and manage their prescriptions, appointments, and letters; track the progress of their treatment and pay for prescriptions online; receive notifications about tasks, care, and requests from their clinician; and access live chat with the ADHD 360 team for support and advice. This app is a significant step in ADHD 360’s endeavours to offer comprehensive, ethical, and personalised diagnoses and treatments that are expertly tailored to address ADHD symptoms whilst empowering clients and their loved ones to live fulfilling lives. Such services are upheld by a team of motivated professionals – from clinicians and prescribers to patient advisors and support staff – each united by a shared dedication to delivering exceptional ADHD care across the UK. To ensure the continuation of such high quality services, the clinic developed the ADHD 360 Academy – the nationwide centre for ADHD knowledge, skills, and continuous development. The academy was created to increase the number of qualified, competent, and confident ADHD specialists, with a CPD-accredited Advanced Practitioners training course delivered as the first step to joining the ADHD 360 clinical team. The ADHD 360 Academy equips mental health professionals with the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to deliver top-tier ADHD care and support. The team offers earlier diagnosis from qualified ADHD clinicians, personalised treatment plans and patient-led care, transparency in pricing, and ongoing support. This is a revolutionary offering for those navigating ADHD, a community that has been long underserved. ADHD is one of the most underserved conditions in the UK. Even once a diagnosis has been received, individuals are often left without the support they need – burdened by ineffective treatments, disengaged support workers, and fragmented systems. ADHD 360 is here to change that, with a commitment to delivering expert-led, patient-first support at every stage of the journey. We took a closer look at the clinic’s exceptional endeavours below, as ADHD 360 is named in the Corporate Excellence Awards 2025. A 360 Degree Approach to Navigating ADHD
15 GHP Q1 2026 umineux Aesthetics was founded by Jacqui Thomasson, a Registered Nurse Practitioner in General Nursing and Mental Health Nursing. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Clinical Education and Training at the University of Southampton, Jacqui built experience as a Lead Nurse in the Undergraduate Medical Teaching Team. She has trained extensively in all aspects of facial aesthetics, including completing the Level 7 Diploma in injectable therapies at Harley Street. Jacqui established Lumineux Aesthetics with the aim of providing safe, bespoke care and treatments to her clients. She believes that beauty is fundamental, not superficial, and strives to help clients with treatments that enhance their natural features and bring out their best selves. This ethos has enabled Jacqui to build trusting relationships with an array of clients, who know that she will always work towards the best outcomes for them as individuals. Under Jacqui’s leadership, Lumineux Aesthetics offers a variety of luxury aesthetic treatments that are all designed to give clients a natural boost to their confidence. Injectable treatments include dermal fillers, lip fillers, anti-wrinkle injections, profhilo skin boosters, polynucleotides, platelet rich plasma (PRP), nonsurgical rhinoplasty, Microsclerotherapy, fat-dissolving injections, hyperhidrosis, and vitamin injections. As for skin-based treatments, Lumineux Aesthetics offers advanced microneedling, 3D Dermaforce, 3D HydrO2 Facial, carboxytherapy facial, CryoPen wart and mole removal, facial dermaplaning, cold plasma skin rejuvenation, dual injector pro mesotherapy, LED light therapy, ZO skin health, and the Lumineux Jelly Fusion mask. What’s more, a free consultation can be arranged for anyone who is unsure where to begin with this plethora of options, ensuring that every patient is provided with the treatments they truly need. Lumineux Aesthetics is accredited by Save Face, the UK’s leading register for medical aesthetic practitioners. The register is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority and is recognised by the Government, the Department of Health, the CQC, and NHS England. Lumineux Aesthetics underwent a robust 116-point assessment process that ensures its team operates in accordance with the highest standards of practice. From its confidence-boosting ethos to its wide range of top-tier treatments, Lumineux Aesthetics has earned its place as the community’s trusted clinic. Jacqui has certainly led her team from strength to strength, championing natural results, inner beauty, and self-love throughout the journey. With a remarkable five-star rating on Google Reviews, and an expanding base of loyal clientele, Everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their own skin, and like the best possible version of themselves. Confidence is how you feel inside, shining brightly outside. Lumineux Aesthetics champions this belief, delivering aesthetics treatments with natural results that give clients the true confidence boost they deserve. As Lumineux Aesthetics earns much-deserved recognition in the Global Excellence Awards 2026, we took a closer look at the clinic below. Illuminating confidence with subtle enhancements; ensuring transformative results it is truly no surprise that Luminex Aesthetics has been recognised as Hampshire’s Best Non-Surgical Aesthetics Clinic 2026. Of Lumineux Aesthetics’ services, one client wrote: “I have had several different aesthetic treatments with Jacqui, and I couldn’t be happier. She is a trained medic, a true professional, and I felt completely safe in her hands. The results have been fantastic; I valued Jacqui’s honest advice and extensive knowledge. I highly recommend Luminex Aesthetics.” While another shared: “From the moment I walked in, Jacqui made me feel completely at ease with her warm and welcoming demeanour. She took the time to listen to my concerns and understood exactly what I was looking for. Her professionalism, expertise, and gentle touch made the whole experience so enjoyable. I left feeling refreshed, confident, and truly cared for. If you’re looking for someone who genuinely cares about your wellbeing and is incredibly skilled at what they do, Jacqui is the one to go to.” Contact: Jacqueline Thomasson Company: Lumineux Aesthetics Web Address: www.lumineuxaesthetics.co.uk L
Sustainable Building Awards 2025 11 Cottage Advisors is a Maine-based, multi-generational family business dedicated to designing and building cottage communities that combine timeless architecture, efficient living, and a true sense of neighbourhood. Its clients include homebuyers seeking high-quality, low-maintenance living; investors and landowners pursuing smart development opportunities; and municipalities looking to expand housing options through responsible design. The first seed of Cottage Advisors was sowed in 1976, when Founder Howard Hall dedicated to plant roots and develop his first residential community. Howard was a noted Massachusetts Real Estate and Land Use Attorney for more than three decades, in addition to his role as a developer. In 2005, Howard established Cottage Advisors, fuelled by his newfound passion for making efficient use of land with high-quality homes that are Best Sustainable Cottage Home Builder 2025 – North America & BUILD Low-Impact Construction Excellence Award 2025 Pocket neighbourhoods are becoming an increasingly popular option across the property market, offering a unique perspective on residential design and community living. These neighbourhoods are intentionally created to promote interaction and collaboration among residents, providing a place where community is transformed from a concept into a daily lived experience. This perspective is being championed by Cottage Advisors, a family-owned design and construction business dedicated to creating residential cottage neighbourhoods that emphasise communityfocused, sustainable living. We took a closer look at the company below, following its well-deserved recognition in the Sustainable Building Awards 2025. designed for socialising. He deplored the country-wide shift from 1950s-era close-knit neighbourhoods, whilst also recognising the need for affordable recreational properties that the working family could enjoy. With this new chapter, Howard set out to reintroduce the neighbourhood feeling that many modern residential developments have been sorely lacking, providing a sense of community to a new generation of homeowners. Howard was joined in 2007 by his son, Howard “Chip” Hall, whose primary responsibilities include site selection, property entitlement, and community development oversight. Before entering the family business, Chip held senior management positions across a number of high technology companies, including seven startups – two of which he co-founded. This experience has been instrumental to Chip’s success in the field, and, to date, he has now overseen the permitting and development of more than 500 cottages. Initially, Cottage Advisors focused on creating classic resort cottage communities throughout New England and Canada. Serving as both developer and building partner across its projects, the company created The Cottages at Summer Village in Wells, Maine; Summer Village at the Pond in Westford, Maine; Seaglass Village in Wells, Maine; and Sandbanks Summer Village in Prince Edward County, Ontario. With Chip assuming the day to day operations in 2014 he took these design principles and expanded them to benefit the residential home market with The Cottages at River Hill in West Newbury, Massachusetts, the company’s first pocket neighbourhood. A pocket neighbourhood is a collection of homes strategically placed together and centred on a shared open space or common area. This design promotes neighbourly interaction whilst facilitating personal space and privacy, fostering a sense of belonging and community through wellpositioned homes that encourage neighbours to spend time with one another. What’s more, the shared ownership of land, parks, and trails ensures that each homeowner holds a vested interest in the neighbourhood’s oversight and care, enhancing the security and strengthening the bonds of the overall community. Since its operational pivot in 2014, Cottage Advisors has developed a diverse range of pocket neighborhoods and clustered communities designed to foster strong social connections and efficient land use. In Massachusetts, the company has completed several notable residential communities in West Newbury, including The Cottages at RiverHill and The Cottages at Drakes Landing, along with The Cottages at Port Place in Newburyport. In 2021, Chip relocated the company to Maine, where Cottage Advisors has since delivered a number of successful communities, including The Porches and Coastal Pines in Kennebunk, as well as The Cottages at Windswept and The Cottages at Stonefield in Gorham. Most recently, the company has begun infrastructure work on its newest development, Creekside Crossing, a close-knit community of 24 townhomes in the heart of Kennebunk. Designed to offer the best of both worlds—small-town charm with modern conveniences—each townhome includes two bedrooms with the option for a third, an open-concept kitchen and living area, and a private deck ideal for relaxation or entertaining. Cottage Advisors is also in the final stages of construction at The Cottages at Winding Ridge, the fastest-selling 55+ community in the Greater Portland area. These thoughtfully designed homes offer bright and spacious open-concept floor plans ideal for casual living and gatherings. Each cottage features warm, cottage-style finishes, beautifully designed kitchens, and flexible layouts that create a tranquil and welcoming living environment. Every Cottage Advisors home is designed in-house by the company’s own architects. The team builds on proven floorplans whilst continually refining and refreshing the designs in order to elevate each site’s unique character. Throughout the development process, Cottage Advisors upholds its signature design principles of energy efficiency, strategic land use, a front-porch focus, right-sizing, and the concept of “own easy.” This stringent focus allows the team to deliver cost-effective homes that maintain timeless architectural appeal and a distinctly custom design. Across its development projects, Cottage Advisors maintains a steadfast dedication to designing energy-efficient homes that reduce the environmental footprint of entire communities. The company focuses on maximising land use and efficiency whilst preserving the natural features of the site, ensuring that every Cottage Advisors community enhances both the surrounding landscape and the lives of those who call it home. This commitment has earned Cottage Advisors the BUILD Low-Impact Construction Excellence Award 2025. Equally important to Cottage Advisors is, of course, community. The company places a priority on personal relationships and local ties, driven by its status as a family business. Each community is built by a core Cottage Advisors construction team, working in close collaboration with local tradespeople. This provides ample employment opportunities to the local communities, which not only offers a cost-effective option to external construction teams but also reinforces a sense of pride and community spirit across the local area. Looking to the future, Cottage Advisors is entering a period of significant growth. With his three sons, Howie, Nickolas, and Lukas, working alongside Chip, the company is poised to build on its strong foundation and continue shaping communities across southern Maine. Beyond its active projects at Creekside Crossing and The Cottages at Winding Ridge, Cottage Advisors has several additional tracts of land currently in due diligence, positioning the company for continued expansion of its portfolio of thoughtfully designed, community-focused neighbourhoods. From its community-first ethos to its tireless dedication to environmentally conscious practices, Cottage Advisors has played a significant role in shaping the residential market for the better, demonstrating precisely why it has been named North America’s Best Sustainable Cottage Home Builder 2025. Contact: Howard “Chip” Hall Company: Cottage Advisors ME LLC Web Address: www.cottageadvisors.com
14 | LUXlife Magazine Best Astrotourism Travel & Events Company 2025 – North America Astrotourism is an emerging tourism industry sector that offers an exclusive intersection of science, culture, and sustainability. The sector has gained popularity recently, providing tourists with unparalleled opportunities to witness rare and magnificent celestial events. Cliff Valley Astronomy of New Brunswick, Canada is a leading company in the astrotourism sector, offering travellers memorable experiences that are truly out of this world. We learn more from Founder Stéphane Picard, below. Cliff Valley Astronomy was founded in 2022, born from the vision of its founder, Stéphane Picard. An avid and proficient astronomer and astrophotographer, Stéphane identified a niche market for stargazing events and private star parties to allow people to see the night sky through the eyes of a well-seasoned astronomer. With this vision in mind, Stéphane established Cliff Valley Astronomy and began offering Private Star Parties for small groups. Today, Cliff Valley Astronomy is a market leader and the only mobile astronomy service provider in Canada. It brings high-end telescopes and equipment to provide a fun and educational experience—aptly labelled ‘edutainment.’ Stéphane leverages over 25 years of business background to lead Cliff Valley Astronomy, combining this experience with his deep passion for astronomy and astrophotography to dominate what has been identified as the fastest-growing sector in the global travel and tourism industry. In its first year of operation, Cliff Valley Astronomy saw significant success in its star party services and quickly pivoted towards positioning itself as a leader in astrotourism. A proud member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Stéphane has taken advantage of his geographic location. Although small in size and population, New Brunswick is 85% forested with vast untouched wilderness and it has four of Canada’s 23 certified dark-sky sites. This realisation inspired Cliff Valley Astronomy to create the first-ever network of tourism operators in Canada focused on rural and coastal areas, where starry skies are abundant. Beginning with just four partners in its first year, the network expanded to 30 members in 2024, including New Brunswick’s 11 provincial parks. Now branded as Dark Sky Destinations, this network has grown to more than 40 members, with a goal of reaching 75 by year’s end. Having achieved remarkable success since its inception, Cliff Valley Astronomy continues to reach new heights with a focus on three core pillars: cutting-edge equipment, expert knowledge, and exceptional service delivery. Each session is thoughtfully designed to perfectly balance showcasing diverse celestial wonders while educating enthusiasts on proper methodologies. This comprehensive approach guarantees not only an enjoyable experience but also deepens clients’ understanding and appreciation of the cosmos. “As we experience astronomical growth, we are balancing our focus to remain true to our tagline and mission: ‘Make Memories Out of This World!’” says Stéphane. “Whether it is a Star Party for a child’s birthday, a festival celebrating local culture, or travelling the world for trips, no one will ever forget our goal will always remain to make memorable life experiences. We still get immense satisfaction when a stargazing client gets teary-eyed and emotional at our telescopes.” With growth comes adversity, and Cliff Valley Astronomy is no stranger to the challenges of operating within the astrotourism sector. The biggest obstacle is demonstrating to tourism agencies and governments the immense opportunities and economic power surrounding astrotourism, which is still a novel concept in Canada, though it has been introduced to Europe, New Zealand, and parts of the United States with significant success and impact. Alongside this, light pollution is becoming an increasing hurdle to overcome for the astrotourism industry as a whole. Dark skies are becoming a precious asset as global light pollution impacts the world’s ability to see a star-filled night sky. With this in mind, Cliff Valley Astronomy strives to address sustainability on a global scale to make starry nights accessible to all. This forward-thinking approach to operations has enabled Cliff Valley Astronomy to succeed in the emerging sector of astrotourism. “2025 is a critical year for Cliff Valley Astronomy as we expand across Canada and beyond,” Stéphane announces. “The further we delve into executing our growth plan, the more excited we become as we get to see the most exciting tourism operators, communities, regions, and beauty around the world. If astronomy is looking at objects beyond the horizon, astrotourism brings into focus what lies within it – nature, landmarks, history, culture, and people. It’s one aspect every human shares: we see the same moon. Let our minds open and tap into our innermost curiosity as we witness the beauty and vastness of the universe. We want to share this with everyone.” Contact: Stéphane Picard Company: Cliff Valley Astronomy Web Address: www.cliffvalleyastronomy.com
MEA | African Excellence Awards 2025 27 Africa’s business landscape offers entrepreneurs a dynamic mix of rapid growth, digital transformation, and sectoral diversification. It stands as an ever-evolving environment, requiring contextually relevant and high-impact organisational development from entities hoping to succeed in this space. Based in Gqeberha, Amekh Group is an emerging company aiming to help leaders and teams build the capabilities needed to thrive in such complex, advancing environments. Amekh Group was founded in 2020 by Merle Kock and Khavitha Singh, two experienced strategists and educators striving to bridge the gap between strategy and execution by delivering tailored solutions that combine insight, innovation, and action. A purpose-led advisory and capability-building firm, Amekh Group was created to respond to the necessity for organisational development in Africa that is effective, relevant, and adapted to the continent’s distinct needs. The company is broken into two subdivisions: AmekhOE, standing for Operations Excellence, and AmekhQE, or Quality Excellence. Under these two subdivisions, Amekh Group provides a comprehensive service to its clientele that entails both advisory and development, including consultancy, training, and coaching. The company caters to a variety of industries across the supply chain, including pharmaceutical, healthcare, supply chain and distribution, fast-moving consumer goods companies, business schools, and many more. “We co-create practical, people-focused solutions. With deep local insight and global perspective, we help organisations unlock performance, strengthen leadership, and drive lasting impact.” “Our vision is to be a trustworthy and preferred supplier of leadership capability enablement within operational excellence and quality leadership,” said Merle, “with our mission being to provide both our clients and our partners with a service that is underpinned by professionalism, excellence, and integrity. Our services are delivered by industry professionals who combine practical experience and skills with current best practices and theory, incorporating various models, tools, and our frameworks.” What truly sets Amekh Group apart from the crowd is the company’s comprehensive suite of capabilities. Rather than selecting a focused specialty, Merle and Khavitha opt to utilise their broad spectrum of knowledge and experience to cover a wide range of Operations and Quality offerings. The pair’s associate pool also includes subject matter experts in Sustainability, Laboratory Controls and Testing, Manufacturing Validation and Qualification, and Data Management and Technology Systems, with proven track records in both realms of consulting and teaching. These associates are used as required throughout its various processes and are generally selected based on a process of due diligence that ensures they share Amekh Group’s principles and work ethics. Each new associate is guided and coached in alignment with the specific project, with regular check-ins and performance feedback provided throughout. Outside of the associate pool, Merle and Khavitha work together with a strong sense integrity, committed to building relationships with their clients and network through continual value-added offerings. This has proven an entirely successful approach, with Amekh Group having undertaken a number of prosperous projects across the continent. This includes developing, implementing, and coordinating a Management Development Program (MDP) for a multinational beer company; executing an MDP for a Private Hospital Group with 19 hospitals across Africa and the Middle East; and conducting international pharmaceutical inspections to ensure compliance with global regulatory standards. “These are just some examples of the ways in which Amekh Group is ensuring the development of leadership within the continent,” Merle and Khavitha highlighted. “By enabling leaders to perform in lIne with companies’ strategic drive and goals, this will ensure the growth of companies and economies across Africa.” At its core, Amekh Group is a company dedicated to facilitating the advancement of Africa’s socioeconomic development. Social responsibility is something the company takes incredibly seriously, having received the Standard Bank Top Women in Business Awards in 2022 and 2024 for its empowerment of women across South Africa. This is an accolade that sits very close to Merle and Khavitha’s heart, understanding that the gap in gender equality, especially within Africa, will take a concerted effort from every citizen. Moving forward, Amekh Group has a number of exciting projects in the pipeline. In fact, the company has recently secured a significant project within the vaccine sector, with the goal of establishing efficient vaccine production while also transferring the necessary technology and expertise to local manufacturers in South Africa. Bestowed with the MEA’s Supply Chain Operations and Quality Excellence Award 2025 in the 2025 African Excellence Awards, it is clear that Amekh Group is on an upward trajectory that the company has no intentions of slowing down. Reflecting upon the company’s significant successes, Merle shared: “We are a young company, but we have shown consistent growth year on year, guided by our vision and strategic intent.” Contact: Merle Kock Company: Amekh Group Web Address: https://amekhgroup.co.za/ Supply Chain Operations & Quality Excellence Award 2025 – MEA “Empowering Leaders, Enabling Excellence.”
CEO MONTHLY / FEBRUARY 2026 12 CEO MONTHLY / FEBRUARY 2026 13 The Goodeill Mindset: Expansion, Expertise, and Exceptional Ambition Driven by three generations of pest control expertise, Pest Control Consultants is not only Illinois’s largest private pest control firms but also one of the fastest-growing pest control companies in North America. Since 2003, the company has been on a mission to safeguard the homes and businesses of its clientele, serving more than 20,000 clients across Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Western Michigan. Boasting same-day services and personalised plans, Pest Control Consultants offers Dec25062 Dec25062 While many skills of great leadership can be taught, ambition remains something that must come from within. A powerful leader is one with a strong vision, deep industry expertise, and an unwavering commitment to achieving excellence. This is an ethos championed by Chase Goodeill, CEO of Pest Control Consultants and visionary leader in the field of pest control services. We took a closer look at Chase and his journey to success below, following his recent recognition in the CEO of the Year Awards 2025. D a comprehensive suite of services expertly designed to solve even the most unique pest problem. The company caters to residential, commercial, and industrial clients alike, providing them with unparalleled protection against an array of invaders including cockroaches, hornets, bedbugs, fleas and mites, termites, mice, and rats. Of course, the most effective method of combatting invasion is preventing the problem from ever taking root. In addition to the control and disinfection of immediate pest problems, the Pest Control Consultants team also provides clients with a selection of pest prevention plans that are expertly tailored to fit various needs and budgets. These plans entail regular treatments – occurring monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly – and even include free re-services if a problem arises in between visits. The company is headed by Owner and CEO Chase Goodeill, a passionate entrepreneur with a clear vision for growth. Chase has been deeply embedded within the pest control industry for as long as he can remember; his grandfather had owned his own pest control company, for which his father had also worked throughout Chase’s childhood. In 1996, the decision was made to sell his grandfather’s business and, after continuing to work under the business for a few years, his father branched out to establish Pest Control Consultants in 2003. Chase cultivated a drive for success from a young age and began to go door to door to find work mowing lawns at 13. Soon after, his father set him to work spraying the outside of houses for the family business. While this new position was not nearly as lucrative as his earlier venture, it did place Chase into the pest control sector and opened his eyes up to the true potential of the profession. After witnessing two Goodeill generations leading the charge in pest control, Chase felt even hungrier for success. He attained an associate’s degree in business administration and management from Sauk Valley Community College and leveraged the invaluable experience he had gained from his father to enter the industry with force. He hit the ground running, steadily building the company’s accounts through a combination of cold-calling, door-knocking, and relentless determination. This persistence paid off; Chase was made a partner of Pest Control Consultants at the age of 23, after making hundreds of thousands of dollars per year for the company. Chase learned to balance quality and quantity over time, understanding that sales must come before scale but that they do also successfully go hand-in-hand. He continued to knock on doors, expanding into new markets once he had exhausted his current landscape, and eventually took over the company as 100% Owner and CEO in 2021. As CEO of Pest Control Consultants, Chase is now responsible for guiding the company’s success, serving as a direct link between overall vision and strategic direction. He manages short- and long-term growth strategies whilst leading a superlative sales force, in addition to implementing first-in-class marketing strategies to sell pest control services to clients across the region. He has built a team of trusted partners who share his bold vision and leverages this ambition to drive Pest Control Consultants to success. The results of Chase’s salesover-scale mindset speaks for themselves: from July 2023, Chase has personally sold more than 9,000 pest accounts that have generated over $4.1 million in annual recurring revenue; in 2020, he sold 621 accounts that generated more than $546,237, followed by 590 accounts generating $388,000 in revenue throughout 2021. Under Chase’s expert guidance, Pest Control Consultants achieved impressive new sales in 2024, reaching $3.5 million in recurring revenue across 5,890 accounts – representing a 67% growth from the previous year. Such growth has enabled Pest Control Consultants to emerge as one of the country’s fastest-growing pest control companies. Since its inception, the company has extended its roots across the region, with offices now located in Dixon, Sycamore, St. Charles, North Barrington, Clinton, Delavan, La Valle, and Grand Rapids. The team proudly participates in local initiatives and endeavours, earning recognition from its community with the 2019 Dixon Main Street and Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award and the 2023 Sycamore Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Small Business Award. This rapid expansion has been facilitated by Goodeill Holdings, of which Chase is President. The company aims to find successful pest control companies that can be purchased and operated under Pest Control Consultants and, since 2019, it has acquired ten successful pest control companies across Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Tennessee. Goodeill Holdings boosted sales revenue by $6 million in 2025 alone, almost double its $3.5 million revenue in 2024. For three generations, the Goodeill family have been instrumental in reshaping the pest control sector, identifying the true potential of this landscape and setting new benchmarks for excellence amongst peers. Chase has successfully upheld this legacy since he first entered the industry, demonstrating the true power of persistence and resilience over the course of his professional career. For his passion, expertise, and unwavering dedication, Chase Goodeill has been rightfully recognised as the USA’s Pest Control CEO of the Year 2025. Contact: Chase Goodeill Company: PCC Enterprises – Pest Control Consultants Web Address: www. pestsprotection.com
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