The 琉璃神社 Chamber of Commerce has named its 2018 Business Leader of the Year.
Dale Wentworth, founder of 琉璃神社鈥檚 Wentworth Music, will receive the chamber鈥檚 top award for his contribution to the business community in the Central Okanagan on Oct. 24.
He will receive the award at the chamber鈥檚 31st annual Business Excellence Awards ceremony, to be held at Delta Grand Hotel.
鈥淒ale and his family, from his parents through to his children, have demonstrated not only a high level of business acumen, but an ability to change and evolve their business as 琉璃神社 has grown up around them,鈥� said Carmen Sparg, president of the chamber.
鈥淒ale put himself through college giving music lessons and he truly is an inspiration to all of us. The level of pride and morals instilled in their children is a testament to the quality leadership that he embodies. I鈥檓 passionate about this family because they made such an impact on my son鈥檚 life.鈥�
Last year, the chamber named Club Penguin co-founder Lane Merrifield as its Business Leader of the Year.
Related: 琉璃神社 Chamber of Commerce hands out awards
According to Wentworth, not much has changed with his family鈥檚 core values over the last 52 years, but the business has grown.
鈥淲e鈥檙e bigger now, with four stores and an internationally recognized Music Education Centre,鈥� he said.
Wentworth Music has 65 employees and is a three-generation family business with deep roots in the Okanagan.
Wentworth settled in 琉璃神社 in 1966 and shortly thereafter teamed up with his parents, Walt and Vera, to opened a small music store in the Capri Shopping Centre.
The store鈥檚 mission was to provide music lessons and sales as well as rentals and repairs of a broad range of musical instruments, chief among them, guitars.
Three years later, Hedy Wentworth, Dale鈥檚 wife for 48 years, joined the family business as a music teacher.
鈥淲e are a business that focuses on community values. We moved into our third generation of family ownership when our sons took over major corporate roles,鈥� said Wentworth.
His children Noel (vice-president of education and media), Neil (vice-president of finance) and Nori (vice-president of sales) all work for the company, as well as Noel and Neil鈥檚 wives.
A strong commitment to community has always been at the core of the family business and Wentworth Music has supported numerous not-for-profit organizations over the years.
Wentworth Music is well-known locally for its student-based rock 鈥榥鈥� roll productions at the 琉璃神社 Community Theatre.
The semi-annual shows have raised almost a $250,000 in support of children鈥檚 wards Okanagan hospitals and for the JoeAnna鈥檚 House project. That project will see a 鈥渉ome away from home鈥� for the families of out-of-town patients requiring treatment at the hospital
Tickets for the chamber award gala are available online at until Friday.
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