W&F 2017 Business awards

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Best Escrow Fund Management Provider 2017 Coinpayments is a leader in the rapidly changing payments sector, offering a wide range of services to meet the ever changing needs of its clients. We invited Alex Alexandrov to talk us through the firm and its innovative solutions in more detail and provide us with a fascinating insight into this dynamic and exciting company.

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Welcome to the 2017 Business Awards.

Success in business is a challenge in today’s fast paced global market, as companies compete for customers with competitors from around the world thanks to the increased prevalence of technology in the international corporate landscape.

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Despite this, many firms are flourishing and constantly seeking to offer clients the very highest standards of service and innovative products that will meet their exact needs. As such, the 2017 Wealth & Finance Business Awards aims to recognise these companies, and the individuals driving them, showcasing their achievements and successes from the past 12 months.

Hannah Stevenson, Editor Phone: +44 (0) 203 725 6842 Email: h.stevenson@aiglobalmedialtd.com Website: www.wealthandfinance-news.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them.

The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements.

In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions.

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Contents

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CoinPayments Inc. Best Escrow Fund Management Provider 2017

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Tassos Group LLC Best for Gourmet Mediterranean Foods - USA

12. Chartercross Best Capital Management Firm - UAE 14. Consulate General of Macedonia Mediterranean Trade Facilitator of the Year 2017 16. Eternal Peace Health Best Emerging Health Care Services Organisation - Zimbabwe 18. Onyx Solar Most Advanced Renewable Energy Company 2017 20. Parklands Group Independent Care Home Provider of the Year 2017 - Scotland 22. Salon Nouveau Best Unisex Salon & Spa 2017 - Indiana 24. United Energy Services LLC Best Full-Service Speciality Energy Contractor 2017 & Award for Excellence in Rapid Response Welding Solutions 28. Waha Capital Best Diversified Investment Company - MENA Wealth & Finance International - 2017 Business Awards 3

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CoinPayments Coinpayments is a leader in the rapidly changing payments sector, offering a wide range of services to meet the ever changing needs of its clients. We invited Alex Alexandrov to talk us through the firm and its innovative solutions in more detail and provide us with a fascinating insight into this dynamic and exciting company.

Established in 2013, CoinPayments is the first, and largest, cloud based transfer agent for digital assets, tokens and cryptocurrencies, as well as acting as a wallet service provider and payment processor for merchants and users globally. Alex discusses the firm’s service offering and how it is designed with the needs of its users in mind.

“To ensure we meet the evolving needs of our clients in this rapidly advancing industry, here at Coinpayments we have carefully listened to them and try to incorporate their ideas into our service offering. Organic growth and constant innovation are at the center of our corporate identity. Over the years we have built a platform which started off as a hobby and flourished into a multi-national brand. Our platform is exponentially evolving with new features added every day. Each year we have grown more than 1000% in volume and user base since inception.

“Initially, Coinpayments accepted Litecoin and Peercoin, because at that time no one else in industry was offering support for cryptocurrencies outside of Bitcoin. We saw a need for a multi-currency wallet solution based on the unprecedented growth of these markets. Since then we have expanded to over 70 different digital currencies. As our userbase started to grow and request these new coins, we added support for wallets and exchanges, along with some banking options through integrations with third parties around the world. Coinpayments provides a wide variety of innovative services, including cold storage, multi-signature, instant confirmations, plugins for easy integration of our payment features and merchant tools, vaulting for long term storage, and many more features to be rolled out in the coming months. Most were created as part of our constant evolution based on user requests and feedback from the industry.

“Onboarding of new clients at our company is a very personalized and custom-tailored service. With regards to ICOs, we establish new parameters with each incoming company and create a mutually beneficial services package based on specific needs. Our goal at Coinpayments is to adapt and expand our capabilities by continuing to pave the way in a new era of financial technology.”

Discussing the services the company now provides, Alex is proud to highlight how every aspect of Coinpayments’ offering is designed to be at the very cutting edge of industry developments.

“Our open-source API (Application Programming Interface) allows any user to simply integrate our platform online today, or program using our open API and merchant tools to accept digital currencies as payment for products or services offered. We offer the lowest fee in the industry, at only 0.5% for merchant transaction fees while providing free wallet services to hold or send cryptocurrencies. We created a one stop solution for accepting payments, storing over 70 different cryptocurrencies and conversion between them with a single login credential. Every user account is additionally protected with a Two-factor Authentication system for extra security.

“In addition to our host of services for merchants and users, we have developed a robust and secure escrow service which supports ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings). Our longstanding reputation for integrity and trust in the community makes us the best choice for Escrow services and builds confidence for investors where concerns of the handling of their funds are present. The technical support and backend features developed for the CoinPayments developers offers unparalleled ease of integration and seamless offerings. We also offer offline secure storage of funds to these ICO projects to ensure the highest level of safety during the fundraising process.

“Typically, our clients include online merchants, “hodlers” (those storing cryptocurrency), and ICO crowdfunding organizations. We scrutinize all ICOs which approach us and select only those which meet strict criteria. Due to the volume of ICO’s using our services, and unfortunately those who only claim to be, we have setup two divisions to handle the volume.”

It is the firm’s innovative technology and focus on creating new solutions that sets it apart from its competitors and marks it out as a true leader in this fledgling industry. As such, Alex provides us with a detailed account of the firm’s passion for creating new solutions which change the way the industry sees cryptocurrency.

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Company: CoinPayments Inc. Contact: Alex Alexandrov Email: pr@coinpayments.net Address: 808 Nelson St Suite 1904, Vancouver, V6Z 2H2, Canada Web Address: www.coinpayments.net

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“At Coinpayments we try not to integrate existing technologies, but develop them in an effort to grow our industry. Alongside many others, we have been pioneers in this emerging sector of digital finance. We are very active in the community and have partnered with innovators to help blockchain technology become what is today.

Our core developer team is comprised of some of the brightest minds in the fintech world, who pride themselves on developing leading edge technology. Efficiency is key for us, as we operate with a very tight core group and strive to maximize the output of each individual.”

Alongside its collaborative approach with clients, Coinpayments strives to work closely with its internal team to ensure excellence, as Alex is eager to emphasise.

“Internally, our team is very close. We have spent a great deal of time building trust and friendship within our group. This trust is integral to the security of our firm and ensures that people are happy to be here. This enhances our customer experience as we are all working for the greater good of the company and ultimately benefit from its success. Everyone who works for CoinPayments is a shareholder and the loyalty to the company and to each other is the backbone of our corporate identity. We work in an open-style office space and encourage each employee to collaborate on projects and work together.

“Additionally, we also have regular Corporate Retreats including various team building exercises and ensuring our team stays close and ideas stay fresh. We are also huge advocates of travel, and within our industry we have the luxury of working anywhere in the world. Our head office is the epicenter of most of our innovation and embodies this culture fully, however we have core developers in different parts of the world that contribute many of our inventions. It was very important for us to find a unique and inspiring spot for day to day operations, and our workplace is more like a second home.

“Fundamentally, we strive to be at the forefront of this emerging market and the peripheral industries. We are fluid in our business model and constantly adapt to bring the very best in services and features to our clients. We have weekly meetings with core members of our team every Monday to ensure we are all on the same page and maximizing efficiency. Because of the nature of our business and how quickly things can change daily, this is vital to remain relevant and stay at the forefront of financial technology. A year ago, the majority of our business was merchant based transactions, but as the ICO craze started to grow, we had to shift focus and direct our attention to where the market was headed. We believe this industry is still in the early adoption phase, and there is still so much room to grow. As we continue down this path to the future of finance, we will continue to cultivate this brilliant technology and usher in a new era of decentralized banking.”

“As we look to the future, we expect to see a mass adoption of Cryptocurrencies over the next few years, and with that comes the need for regulations to provide guidance, protection and stability. We do not fear this progression, but rather hope that misinformation does not lead to misdirection when creating the legislation which will one day apply to this industry.

“When working in this fast-paced environment, you start to realize that the future is now. We are witnessing a massive overhaul of the current financial system, that is going to allow people to take control of their own money and privacy without the need of a central institution on untrustworthy third parties. In the last 12 months, over $2 billion dollars has been raised in ICO by over 200 blockchain companies worldwide. This is just the beginning of a financial revolution, the technology is growing so quickly, that it out-paces traditional regulators and policy-makers. Faster than any new type of market in history, people are quickly learning the ins and outs of cryptocurrency.

Additionally, we have added new features to our service including our $PayByName technology, that allows all Coinpayments users to send any of our 80 supported cryptocurrencies between each other via a nickname or “cashtag”, rather than using each individual wallet address. The future will include smarter investors, more in depth white papers, and likely a sort of self-regulation never seen before in the financial world.

“Initially, Coinpayments accepted Litecoin and Peercoin, because at that time no one else in industry was offering support for cryptocurrencies outside of Bitcoin.”

“Ultimately, Blockchain Technology is the most exciting and important development of our generation. We are excited to be at the forefront of this emerging new technology. As pioneers on these new frontiers, we hold a great responsibility to adapt to the fast changing markets and implement systems to help newcomers decipher this new world. We are currently in a wild-west sort of situation, but we have barely scratched the surface. The way payments are processed and the way money is handled will never be the same.

There are over 2000 different digital currencies in the world today and that number is growing rapidly.

Markets are being heavily manipulated due to low liquidity and high speculation and uncertainty.

Coinpayments is one of many contributors to this paradigm shift and we cannot wait to see what the future has in store.”

Thanks to its leadership in this rapidly evolving market, Coinpayments has an invigorating future ahead, as Alex is proud to conclude.

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Best Escrow Fund Management Provider 2017

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Tassos Group LLC The Tassos® Group is the Number One exporter of Greek olives, Extra Virgin Olive Oils and olive-based foods. We profile the firm and speak to Tassos Chronopoulos, President and CEO of the Tassos Group®, as we explore the secrets behind its success.

Since its establishment in 1996, The Tassos® Group has overseen incomparable growth with their products now being sold around the globe. Part of, if not all of, the company’s success is due to the fact that it is a family owned and operated company. The founders know that they are different than many of their competitors, and are proud to remain a distinct and important category of commerce. Tassos Chronopoulos, CEO & President, himself talks about the benefits of being a family owned company, highlighting that the company places a firm focus on its employees and customers.

“By being family owned, we are able to create for ourselves a different set of values than those espoused by corporations. We possess, almost at the DNA level, a sense of stewardship and responsibility towards the communities we live and operate in, and towards what people eat and where their food comes from.

“We are very employee and customer centric.

We are committed to all our clients and we view our clients to be our employees, our retail and Club buyers, the consumers of our products as well as the entire value chain from the olive groves to the grocery store shelves.

“We know that family owned businesses are recognized as important and dynamic participants in the world economy and we are on a mission to uphold our part of that responsibility. Our company values have sustained and propelled us forward in remarkable and positive ways. Our expansion onto the global stage is due to our focus on quality and ethics and we are known for upholding those qualities.

“Through this approach, we have been able to make artisanal Greek food accessible and affordable. We have taken Greek food off the international food aisle and moved it into the main-stream.

“Greek cuisine allows for creativity and innovation. It is like a luscious indulgence with health benefits. While that is said, it is a challenge to promote a greater appreciation of the importance of regional and specialty foods.

It is also a challenge but imperative for us all to take on the massive challenge of elbowing out highly processed foods. Our response to the challenge is to maintain our resolve to only participate in the healthiness of wholesome foods and we want our consumers to know where their food comes from and make informed choices.

Leaders in the industry, Tassos® was the first to create the Double Stuffed Olive and the first to pit the Kalamata “I believe that what is also crucial to our success is that we practice values based management. Our values strongly determine our conduct, our business strategy and the commitment we have to our customers and our employees. We do not focus exclusively on financial profit, and thus, when we approach a new project or a new client we are able to do so with the aim to have a positive outcome and relationship. We begin with asking ourselves a series of questions. For example, is this good for us, is this good for our customer, will this promote our brand and company legacy?

“If the answer is no to any of these, we do not do a work-around and slap something together to make a round peg fit into a square.

We go back and ask more questions, assess our internal resources to meet the customer’s needs and re-evaluate. We want to meet the needs and wants of our customers by providing quality food at affordable prices.

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Company: Tassos Group LLC Contact: Barbara Randolph Address: 2575 White Oak Circle, Aurora, IL 60502, USA Phone: 0018004827767 Website: www.tassos.com

Best for Gourmet Mediterranean Foods - USA

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“In our striving to be a virtuous organization we cannot sacrifice quality or integrity for a profit, that is a bad formula for longevity and sustainability.”

The Tassos® Group operates in a fastpaced industry. Tassos explains how the company keeps ahead of the quick-moving food industry. “Besides being cognizant of everything from the latest nutritional research to global warming to changing economic and social shifts and still remain at the forefront of emerging developments, we must observe, ask lots of questions, study and then contemplate.

Contemplation is an action verb to us and an integral part of our being in the forefront.

“We do not follow the pack but we must stay current with what is occurring in the market place and at the same time always forwardthinking. While doing this, we must remain comfortable in our own skins, in other words, staying true to our value system. Simply put we never cut corners when it comes to the food we sell. We walk the walk. We believe that what we eat determines our health. We believe that what we eat influences the health of our planet. So, when you put our food into your mouth, you know you are eating wholesome food and you know where and how the food came to be on your plate.”

Tassos explains why his products are unique.

“We want Greek olives and olive oil to be in kitchens all over the world, from Arizona to Australia, because they are both delicious and healthy. Many do not realize that the olive is not just the number one fruit sold in the world, but it is listed among the top most nutritious foods. Our agricultural products come from, or are of Protected Designation of Origin

(PDO). PDO is a European Union (EU) product certification system recognized worldwide. It holds to the French idea of terroir, that where something is made or grown affects the end product and has distinct characteristics from that area.

“We choose PDO because the consumer is guaranteed that the natural origin of tastes is a ‘point of perfection’ and the authenticity and origin are guaranteed and legally protected against imitation. We don’t use chemicals, pesticides, artificial dyes or additives in our foods.

“Where something is grown has special distinguishing characteristics. The chemical composition of Greek PDO foods are higher in nutrients and antioxidants and have constant, superior physical characteristics in taste, shape, size, texture, colour and aroma.

Also, equally important to us is that the PDO seal conveys that there are preservation and ecological protections in place.”

“Throughout the industry, we consider ourselves trail blazers and one significant path we took was the decision to keep or olives healthy. We only hand-harvest to ensure that bruising does not negatively impact the taste and nutritional content but we also use an oldworld curing method of naturally fermenting our olives in fresh spring water and 5% sea salt.

We never add harsh chemicals or use mined salt which is often polluted with contaminates.”

As pioneers in the industry, The Tassos® Group developed the very first PDO Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This is the pinnacle of olive oils. The team has bottled the embodiment of premium, quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil in taste, aroma and with phenomenal

antioxidants and other phytochemical content.

“This olive oil puts in perspective what we all know is true, that food is health care and medicine is sick care.”

Another area the company is excited about opening up their markets to is Greek wines. “The Greeks were the first to make wine, some 6,500 years ago, and they are the best. They are not well known but because of their exceptional qualities, we are committed to raising awareness and introducing the world to these fine wines.”

The company is headquartered in the Chicago area and finds this an ideal hub as it has great energy and the work force is educated and dynamic. Chicago, IL is part of the Central Plains of the United States and they have found it is an area to easily receive and distribute.

Tassos® has an outstanding line of deliciously healthy olives, olive-based foods and olive oil.

With a line of huge, crunchy Halkidiki green olives that are single and doubled stuffed, authentic Kalamata olives, real Florinas red and yellow peppers, bruschettas, spreads, sauces and their olive oils are sheer liquid gold. Their products are renowned as foods that not just accompany and compliment any hot or cold dishes but are in themselves meals or appetizers.

In his concluding comments, Tassos is keen to highlight what makes the company stand out amongst its competitors. He signs off by talking about the ethical nature of the company, particularly when it comes to Extra Virgin Olive Oil and how The Tassos® Group sets the highest standards possible.

“We are one of the few companies that puts ethics in producing authentic and unadulterated Extra Virgin Olive Oils. Our Extra Virgin Olive Oils restores the sense of trust consumers have lost in big olive oil brands and retailers that have only benefited fraudsters who sell adulterated products at a huge cost to consumers in terms of both money and health.

When consumers confuse fresh Extra Virgin Olive Oil with rancid and vice versa, we have a problem in the olive oil industry. “ Tassos states that his olive oils are bold but balanced, robust yet layers while remaining perfectly equilibrated. “An important part of assessing authentic quality oil is the role our sensory organs play. Our oils’ aroma has the fresh smell of unripe olive fruit, and the taste is fruity, including green apple and lingering notes of banana with a radicchio level of bitterness.

The finish is intensely robust as noted by a peppery burst type sensation at the back of the throat.” Tassos explains that this is the actual taste of antioxidants. The Tassos® brand has four distinguished Extra Virgin Olive Oil offerings and are available along with all their delicious line-up of olives and other olive-based foods on their website www.tassos.com

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Best Escrow Fund Management Provider 2017

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Chartercross Chartercross Capital Management are specialists in wealth management and asset protection and are headquartered in Dubai. We spoke to James Dodds, ACSI Managing Director, to find out more.

Established in 2013, Chartercross has since flourished and today the firm serves a wide range of clients around the world. James discusses how the company works to meet the individual needs of all of its valued clients.

correctly structured and under control, we focus on understanding client’s goals and priorities and make recommendations on how to ensure the money is working as hard as our clients did to accumulate their wealth in the first place.”

“At Chartercross Capital Management, we know that the world of investments is complex, thus making informed decisions is paramount for success. With our ever-expanding global reach, we help clients around the world make the important decisions that are right for them.

Earlier this year Chartercross has launched a new CSR policy and now Chartercross offers green ethical options for Socially Responsible Investor.

As such, James is keen to emphasise how the company implements sustainability across its service offering.

“Working with individuals as well as corporate clients, we are uniquely positioned to provide advice on wealth management and asset protection that would usually be inaccessible to them due to the country or territory in which they reside.”

“Sustainability is more than a success factor for a business. A sustainable lifestyle should also be viewed as personal enrichment and represents a conscious decision for many people worldwide including our employees and clients. We believe every individual can make a difference towards building a brighter outcome for future generations on our planet earth.”

It is the firm’s client focus that sets it apart from its competitors, as James is eager to highlight.

“Key to our success is that we understand that every client is an individual, with their own circumstances and goals. At Chartercross you will be treated as such, and we ensure that only the appropriate options respective to specific needs are offered. With a full spectrum view of each individual case, we assist in not just the creation of wealth, but its preservation as well. Our expertise stems from our ability to listen to our clients, and formulate strategies tailored to fit. We are here for our clients every stage of life to help maximise their financial potential. We stand behind every financial decision we help our clients make, with years of experience in providing sound guidance to draw from.

“Fundamentally, too many wealth management companies focus on selling their own products irrespective of them being suitable for the client.

We believe best advice can only be given when you are completely impartial and therefore all recommendations are solely based on our client’s needs.

“As such, at Chartercross, we use a three-step approach when managing our clients’ assets; first we analyze any existing assets, products and portfolios a client already has, focusing on ensuring these are still compliant with current legislation and regulation within the country of residence. Secondly, we eliminate any excess fees and unnecessary management costs currently being paid. Finally, when the existing assets are

Overall, as part of its global mission Chartercross is dedicated to changing the perception of wealth management services; Chartercross is built upon the foundation of our greatest asset – its people. The firm’s goal is to enrich and benefit the lives of its clients, and the company’s ability to do so is directly influenced by the quality of its advisors and the qualifications of our team as a whole. That is why working with the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments (CISI), Chartercross ensures that all its employees are internationally qualified and up to date with the latest regulation changes in the industry. The CISI is the professional body of choice for professionals in the securities and investment industry in the major financial centres’ globally. They believe a professional is someone who has a combination of knowledge and skills, and acts with integrity.

In his concluding comments, James explains how Chartercross utilises this new partnership to ensure ongoing excellence for both staff and clients.

“Chartercross is delighted to align ourselves with what the CISI stands for Professionalism Integrity and Excellence. Our ongoing commitment to the standards of professional excellence and integrity set out by the institute dovetails perfectly with our passion of offering the best possible service to our clients across the world. Chartercross is devoted to working with key industry bodies such as CISI, to raise competency standards within the industry and to underpin the worldwide reputation of our organisation.”

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Company: Chartercross Capital Management DWC LLC Address: Office 110, Building A, 644330, Dubai World Central, United Arab Emirates Phone: +44 207 193 7638 Fax number: +44 845 591 6271 Email: info@chartercross.com Website: www.chartercross.com

Best Capital Management Firm - UAE

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Consulate General of Macedonia Supporting the rights and interests of Macedonian citizens in the USA, as well as facilitating trade and communication with the country, the Consulate General of Macedonia has a wide-reaching remit. We profile the consulate to find out more about this and how it works to achieve it.

The Consulate General of Macedonia performs in accordance with the Vienna Convention for Consular Relations, operating in various roles to ensure excellence for everyone who uses its services.

Among its varied roles, the consulate protects the interests of the Republic of Macedonia, its citizen and legal entities and performs in other consular and legal issues It also encourages and develops the relations between the Republic of Macedonia and United States of America in the field of economy, culture, education and science and reports of events from all Consulate areas and beyond for the events coming from the United States America.

Alongside this, it develops cooperation with the diaspora from the Republic of Macedonia who live in the United States of America and maintains contact with state and local authorities in the United States of America. Finally, the consulate takes care of the labor and social rights of the citizens from the Republic of Macedonia who live in the United States of America.

Minister Nikola Dimitrov draws on a wealth of experience to collaborate with and support the United States and ensure excellence for Macedonia and its citizens.

Looking ahead, the Consulate General of Macedonia will seek to continue supporting its citizens and driving trade and collaboration between Macedonia and the United States of America.

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Company: Consulate General of Macedonia Contact: Elena Zarkovska Email: Elena.Zarkovska@mfa.gov.mk Address: 2000 Town Center Suite 1130, Southfield, MI 48075, USA Phone: 12483545537

Mediterranean Trade Facilitator of the Year 2017

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Eternal Peace Health

Company: Eternal Peace Health Contact: Geshem Mutero Email: gmutero@eternalpeace.co.zw Address: 139 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Harare, Zimbabwe Phone: 2634799470/1, +263 775 606 083 Web Address: www.eternalpeace.co.zw

Eternal Peace Health is a privately incorporated healthcare company in based in Zimbabwe. We invited Geshem Mutero to tell us more about the firm and the services it offers.

Established in 2016, Eternal Peace Health is an inter-related company to Eternal Peace Funeral Services (Pvt) Limited. Eternal Peace Health aims to offer the Zimbabwean market valuepriced medical aid. The products are mainly for the informal sector, communal groups, SMEs and students that mainly have limited access to affordable medical aid that can give basic access to healthcare facilities.

Additionally, Eternal Peace Health also offers managed healthcare services. This allows groups to “pay claims as they go” as opposed to paying monthly subscriptions that they have no access to.

In as much as this allows flexibility and control of the funds, the risk remains with the members in the event bills exceed the value of the managed funds.

Geshem discusses the firm’s service offering in more detail and how it aims to offer the very highest standards of support and service to its clients.

“Here at Eternal Peace Health, we take pride in helping our members to find the best coverage at the right price that suits their needs and expectations. Good communication between Eternal Peace Health and its members has earmarked us as a leader in service excellence and growth. Our company’s strength lies in the quality and depth of our products and staff who are committed to serve our members 24 hours a day.”

Technology is vital to ensuring that the organisation stays at the forefront of emerging developments in the ever evolving healthcare market, as Geshem is keen to highlight.

“Today’s technology provides Eternal Peace Health with advanced reporting and business analysis capabilities to help us gain a deep understanding of business performance, customer preferences, and market trends. Furthermore, our executives and business managers can access performance metrics and analytical reports and use this information to work together to set or redesign strategy in the everchanging business environment.

“As such, Eternal Peace Health uses a business productivity software that assists us as an organization to have the tools to overcome the challenges of executing on strategy every day and prospering in today’s economic times. Furthermore, most of our processes are automated allowing

for faster communication, increased response time and a greater completion rate to our clients.

The teams within our organisation are connected virtually, which helps increase work productively across the organization, no matter what location or team – hence eliminating ‘corporate silos.’”

Thanks to its commitment to working with technology to be ahead of the latest changes in the healthcare industry, the firm has a strong overview of the market which Geshem is proud to share with us.

“According to a report presented at the 2017 Association of Health Funders Association of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) stakeholder’s conference, the total number of lives covered by medical aid remained static at 1.3 million showing that the industry is not growing. Some of the major challenges that have affected our sector include company closures, the structural shift in the domestic economy towards informal economy and liquidity constraints have been cited as some of the major challenges. Furthermore, Zimbabweans have raised concern over the high cost of medical services and perceived unfair practices by healthcare providers and distortion of tariffs.

“Overall, the Southern African Region’s growth outlook is looking positive with marked resilience mainly anchored on strong domestic demand, based on the African Outlook 2017 Report compiled by the African Development Bank, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations Development Programme. In as much as there is a focus of growth that is dependent on natural resources especially in Zimbabwe, there is also an increasingly favoured need to improve its business environment and macroeconomic governance which will enable its ability to withstand external shocks. Being part of an emerging economy is the ideal hub for our business as currently policies that are positive for the cultivation of entrepreneurship are at the heart of policy formulation. The need for private capital flows in the Southern Region of Africa, has seen the spurring of technologybased innovations that have given our business the platform to not only market, but to increase methods of payments from clients that are remotely-based, for example through mobile banking technologies.”

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Looking ahead, Eternal Peace Health has ambitious plans to grow and continue providing exceptional services to its clients, as Geshem concludes.

“Moving forward, Eternal Peace Health plans to live up to its Vision, which is to be the premier healthcare provider for all social classes in Zimbabwe and beyond. Furthermore, our Mission is to provide affordable and comprehensive access to quality healthcare solutions that endorse wellness.”

Best Emerging Health Care Services Organisation - Zimbabwe

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Onyx Solar

Company: Onyx Solar Email: info@onyxsolar.com Address: Calle Río Cea 1, 46, Ávila, [05004], Spain Phone: 34 920 21 00 50 Website: www.onyxsolar.com

Onyx Solar is a company devoted to the design and manufacture of photovoltaic glass for buildings. We profile the firm to find out more about the unique products it offers.

Established in 2009, Onyx Solar designs and manufactures architectural photovoltaic glass. This innovative glass generates free and clean energy from the sun, provides high thermal and acoustic insulation and protection from harmful solar radiation (filtering out 99% of ultraviolet radiation and 95% of infrared radiation).

It minimizes the energy demand of any property, while increasing its value. Furthermore, the glass can be produced using two cutting-edge technologies (amorphous silicon and crystalline silicon), is fully customizable in terms of size, shape, color, degree of transparency and finishing, and is able to replace conventional glass in different parts of the buildings (skylights, curtain walls, canopies, and the building envelope in general). Finally, Onyx Solar have developed the first photovoltaic walkable floor, as well as photovoltaic furniture, capable of charging electronic devices.

As energy costs and sustainability concerns rise, it becomes imperative to employ new solutions that increase energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions without compromising architectural and structural requirements. Onyx Solar’s photovoltaic glass is a prime example of such solutions, and we work hard to fulfil every need architects, constructors and clients might have in a world where change occurs at a rapid pace. In addition, Onyx Solar’s PV glass is the only building material that pays for itself, with payback periods that could be as low as few months.Other renewable energy sources like solar farms or wind farms could help to solve this problem also, but they are not so effective at addressing the problem, since they do not produce energy within cities, and 15% of all the energy generated is lost in distribution. The main obstacle to overcome this problem is to convince building owners and policy makers that society should move to photovoltaic glass.

With over 150 projects executed in the five continents, the firm has taken part in large-scale projects for leading companies such as Samsung, FEMSA/Coca-Cola, Pfizer or Novartis, who are already enjoying the benefits of Onyx Solar’s glass in their buildings. Additionally, the company provide advice to preeminent architects worldwide, such as Norman Foster, Frank Gehry, SOM, KPF, ASGG or Rafael Vinoly, and we have worked for the most important construction companies in the world, such as ACS, Skanska, Turner, Jacobs or Ferrovial.

One of the firm’s last projects has involved the largest-of-its-kind photovoltaic skylight in the world. As a part of the complete revitalization of the two-million square-foot former Bell Labs facility into an iconic mixed-use metroburb located in Holmdel, New Jersey, Onyx Solar is supplying Bell Works with 60,000 SqFt (5,500 sqm) of amorphous Silicon photovoltaic glass.

To ensure its continued developments, Onyx Solar, as a technology based company, is actively involved in many R&D&i projects dealing with universities, research centers, technology centers and international renowned companies clearly focused on innovation, that enable our company, to be considered, despite its short history, as a reference in Building Integrated Photovoltaics and bioclimatic architecture fields.

Within the market, a big focus currently is how the product looks. Aesthetic integration has become one of the top concerns for architects and clients.

This reality has forced Onyx Solar to move in the direction of providing a glass that is fully customizable in terms of shape, color, transparency degree and others, while retaining all of its photovoltaic characteristics and structural integrity.

The firm has also noted an increased focus on refurbishment and renovation of older buildings and, as sustainability requirements become even more prevalent, this trend will only grow in the future.

Ultimately, there is a huge global market of conventional architectural glass, which could be replaced by Onyx Solar’s PV glass.

Ultimately, there is a huge global market of conventional architectural glass, which could be replaced by Onyx Solar’s PV glass. As such, the company plan to continue expanding in the near future, and it has already increased its production capacity in order to take on an even larger list of exciting projects over the years to come.

Alongside this, the Onyx Solar is also developing new solutions to continue leading the PV glass for buildings market in the future, and building a network of accredited installers to offer turnkey solutions to its customers all around the world.

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Most Advanced Renewable Energy Company 2017

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Parklands Group

Company: Parklands Group Contact: Ron Taylor Email: Ron.Taylor@parklandsgroup.com Address: High St, Buckie, AB56 4AD, UK Phone: 1542836000 Website: www.parklandsgroup.com

The award-winning Parklands Group is one of the largest independent care home providers in the north of Scotland with care homes across Moray and the Highlands. Managing Director Ron Taylor provides an overview of the firm and how it works to ensure excellence for everyone it serves.

Parklands is a group comprising of eight care homes operating in the Highlands of Scotland and dedicated to providing the very highest standards of care to their residents, as Ron explains.

“Each of the Parklands homes is located within small rural communities of around 10,000 people.

The homes are integrated within that community and all of our staff come from those locations. We offer Day Care, Respite Care, Palliative, Nursing and Residential and lately Convalescence Care.

As testimony to the level of excellence we offer, Parklands was the first care group in Scotland to achieve Investors in People status and was one of the first to implement the British Standard, Customer Service Excellence.

“In order to ensure that we meet the needs of our potential resident, before we admit them, we carry out 2 Initial Assessments – one completed by the NHS and the other by Parklands. These assessments are then fed into our system and monitored daily. The Assessment includes a detailed personal history of the life of that resident.

Each week we compile a monitoring report which is discussed with the internal management team.

Each month we liaise with the family members who may or may not be available to visit and give them a summary of the past month and ask for their input. That way, we feel that we get a more holistic view on our resident.”

As a service based firm, Parklands understands the importance of its staff, and to make sure that every client receives the very best level of service, they do not employ agency staff. Ron discusses how the firm’s internal culture helps to create a supportive environment for clients.

“Crucially, at Parklands we never lose sight of our roots or the fact that our job, above all else, is to care for people. Most of our employees live and work in their home community. That’s important to us because they often find themselves caring for family, friends and neighbours. As a result, there is a close bond between our staff and residents and a strong family atmosphere in our homes.”

Looking ahead, there are a number of initiatives being put in place at Parklands which will help the group to provide services which meet the evergrowing needs of its residents, as Ron concludes.

“Internally, our culture is very person centred – typically 70% of our staff have been with Parklands for more than 10 years, rare for a sector with a traditionally high staff turnover.”

“To ensure that we continue to give our clients the help they need, we work closely with NHS Highland and are presently piloting a new scheme for Convalescence Care whereby, anyone recuperating from surgery over the age of 65 will probably convalesce in one of our homes before returning home. This helps free up acute beds in the local hospital. We are also piloting a new scheme for Dementia called the Purple Bicycle based on spirituality – not in a religious sense but looking at what lifts their spirits today.”

“Internally, our culture is very person centred – typically 70% of our staff have been with Parklands for more than 10 years, rare for a sector with a traditionally high staff turnover. Parklands operate its own training centre and we deliver Vocational Qualifications internally.

20 Wealth & Finance International - 2017 Business Awards

Independent Care Home Provider of the Year 2017 - Scotland

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Salon Nouveau Salon Nouveau is a luxurious salon and spa environment dedicated to providing a truly exceptional experience for every client. Founder Cheryl Copelin talks us through how the salon achieves this aim through its dedication to excellence and focus on client service.

Salon Nouveau was founded by owner Cheryl in 1990 as an Aveda Concept salon and spa. This first location was moved to 1733 N Ironwood Dr, South Bend, In. in 1996. In February 2007 Cheri opened her 2nd location as an Aveda Lifestyle salon and spa at Heritage Square shopping center in Granger Indiana. Cheryl highlights how the firm works to provide the very highest standard of support to all her clients.

“At Salon Nouveau, we feel that our culture is a large part of our success and is tightly linked with our commitment to the “Aveda Mission”: to care for the world we live in. From the products we make to the ways in which we give back to society. At Aveda, we strive to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility.”

Staff are essential to providing good customer service, therefore, at Salon Nouveau Cheryl works hard to create a supportive and collaborative working environment, as she is eager to emphasise.

“To ensure truly excellent service for our clients, we have been able to nurture a healthy, prosperous environment for our team to thrive in. We have a fabulous benefits, education and coaching system that ensures our team of a happy, flexible and successful career.

“A testament to our business and culture is the great staff retention we have enjoyed. Many of our team have been with us up to 24 years. We have earned numerous awards for our internal culture and are proud of much our team has achieved. Our guests frequently comment on the happy camaraderie and professionalism of our salon team.”

Being based in South Bend offers the salons a vast array of benefits and opportunities as Cheryl highlights.

“The Michiana area that includes our locations is rapidly growing in areas of jobs, retail, education, housing and entertainment making it a great choice for expansion. We feel we have a presence in all the right areas, our Granger location is a great mix of new condo/loft style living with retail, restaurants and services. Our current South Bend location is within walking distance of Notre Dame University and our new location is in downtown South Bend adjacent to Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium where new hotels, restaurants, jobs and condominiums are currently being constructed.”

Looking to the future, Cheryl is currently designing her 3rd location in downtown South Bend, and hopes to grow Salon Nouveau even further to support even more clients.

22 Wealth & Finance International - 2017 Business Awards

Company: Salon Nouveau Contact: Cheryl Copelin Email: cheri@salonnouveau.com Address: South Bend 1733 North Ironwood Drive South Bend, Indiana, 46635, USA Phone:18007709809 Website: www.salonnouveau.com

Best Unisex Salon & Spa 2017 - Indiana

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United Energy Services LLC

Company: United Energy Services LLC Contact: Josh Armstrong Email: jarmstrong@united-services.com Address: 2835 Jeff Adams Drive, Suite G, Charlotte, NC 28206, USA Phone: 19802371335 Website: www.united-services.com

United Services Group is disrupting the multibillion dollar Energy sector with their all-inclusive specialty contractor model. Co-owners Josh Armstrong and Stephen Gillman sat down with us to tell us how their company is working to ensure their customers are receiving the highest standards of both service and support under their watchful eye.

United Services Group is a double-breasted specialty contractor. Their two subsidiaries United Energy Services, the firm’s non-union division, and United Technical Services, its union division are both full-service specialty contractors serving general contractors and utilities in the nuclear, fossil, natural gas, solar, and petrochemical industries.

Stephen Gillman and Josh Armstrong formed United Services Group in 2013, after working together at a previous company. “We saw a lot of similar specialty companies, changing their business model and shifting their focus to become EPC contractors,” Stephen said. He continued “Josh and I both saw this shift happening and knew there was an even bigger need to continue to provide a set of core specialty services to aid these larger energy companies in the building and maintenance of their facilities. We both stepped away from other companies to form United Services Group. We knew our industry knowledge plus the need for these services was the starting point for this business.”

Josh added his comment: “We knew our customers, we had built relationships with them for many years by providing them with quality services,” he continued “We knew they were looking for an organization they could turn to provide them with specific services that they didn’t have to think twice about. This is where our philosophy of ‘service excellence’ was born.” Their company slogan, Achieving Service Excellence, has grown throughout the industry. They define it by partnering with a company to provide them cost effective and quality options for all their specialty needs.

This philosophy has proven to be a successful one for them, seeing their business revenue double in each of their first four years in business. They seem to have found a successful recipe and their clients are responding. Josh and Steve said they have been able to forge new relationship since starting this new business venture and due to successes in the field, the word of mouth referrals they have been receiving have continued to be rewarding. Josh and Steve were both quick to defer the accomplishments, “None of this would have been a success without the people we employ or do business with.”

“None of this would have been a success without the people we employ or do business with.”

Initially, United Services Group was formed by offering two core company services, specialty field welding and specialty field machining. They knew early on that they had to diversify their services to meet their vision and industry need of being a fullservice contractor. Four years into their business, they offer a wide variety of specialty services, including pre-and post-weld heat treatment, staff augmentation of craft, including welders, machinists, safety and quality personnel, and project oversight; as well as a profitable equipment rental fleet that has over two million dollars’ worth of equipment currently.

24 Wealth & Finance International - 2017 Business Awards

Best Full-Service Speciality Energy Contractor 2017 & Award for Excellence in Rapid Response Welding Solutions

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Additionally, they offer fabrication and delivery services, decommissioning, a quality assurance program, and long-term staffing, through their third and newest subsidiary, the Staffing Specialists. To ensure excellence for their clients, United Services Group holds both the ASME S-Stamp and National Board R-Stamp Certificates of Authorization. Their quality assurance program meets the requirements of ASME NQA-1 and 10 CFR 50 Appendix B. Steve boasted about the services they offer, “being able to unite with our customers with multiple field services provides our clients with a cost-savings and helps their projects be completed on-time and in a lot of cases under budget. The ability to call us as a turnkey option cuts down on the extra fees and charges other companies charge for providing each service. It’s a competitive advance that allows us to win a lot of competitively bided projects.”

“We set ourselves apart from the competition by building a team of skilled employees and not just assembling a workforce. Our craftsmen are specialized in their skill sets and our supporting staff is cross trained to fulfil our commitment of providing our customers with service excellence.”

When asked about their employees, Josh could not have been more impressed with the team they have at their disposal. “We set ourselves apart from the competition by building a team of skilled employees and not just assembling a workforce.

Our craftsmen are specialized in their skill sets and our supporting staff is cross trained to fulfil our commitment of providing our customers with service excellence.” To date, United Services Group has employed over 500 individuals, worked collectively over 750,000 man hours and has yet to record a lost-time accident or injury. Additionally, they are known for their quality within the industry, boasting a welding reject rate of less than two percent.

Ultimately, United Services Group continues to look for ways to grow their business. They told us they are currently looking to further diversify the services they offer and are currently working on various strategic partnerships with other vendors in the industry. They are in the process of building out a state-of-the-art headquarters location in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their new office will feature a top of the line machine shop, a certified weld testing facility, and will allow them to grow their equipment fleet further. Furthermore, they are planning on opening various satellite offices throughout the United States very soon.

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Best Full-Service Speciality Energy Contractor 2017 & Award for Excellence in Rapid Response Welding Solutions

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Waha Capital Waha Capital is an Abu Dhabi-listed investment company that offers shareholders and third-party investors exposure to high-potential opportunities in diversified asset classes. We profile the firm to find out more.

Established in 2007, Waha Capital manages assets across several sectors, including aircraft leasing, healthcare, financial services, energy, infrastructure, industrial real estate and capital markets.

Through its Principal Investments unit, Waha Capital has established a strong investment trackrecord, deploying capital in sectors that display strong fundamentals and that have been prioritised by governments in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The company has also built a strong capability in managing global and regional credit and equity portfolios, which have enhanced the diversification and liquidity of Waha Capital’s balance sheet.

The excellent performance of the company’s direct investments and capital markets portfolios has laid the foundations for the launch of an asset management business and a private equity platform, both aimed at third-party investors.

Over the years, Waha Capital has been consistently profitable, and its investment teams are singularly focused on deploying capital efficiently, where they see and can add value, in order to deliver sustainable and attractive returns to shareholders and investment partners.

The management team has extensive experience operating in the regional market, with expertise honed at leading international blue-chip corporations and financial institutions. Waha Capital also benefits from a roster of prominent local shareholders that includes Mubadala Development Company, and a distinguished board, chaired by H.E Hussain Jasim Al Nowais.

Overall, Waha Capital works hard to ensure strong returns for its investors and excellence for the companies with which it works, and moving forward this focus on providing the very highest standards of service and support will continue as the company looks to build upon its current success.

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Company: Waha Capital Contact: Amer Aidi Email: amer.aidi@wahacapital.ae Address: Etihad Towers, 42nd – 43rd Floor, Ras Al Akhdar Area, Abu Dhabi, UAE Phone: 971563296437 Website: www.wahacapital.ae

Best Diversified Investment Company - MENA

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