Top small business advisors awarded

Top small business advisors awarded

Online technologies key to achievements

Small business advisors nationwide were honoured for their service to New Zealand’s SME sector at MYOB’s recent Partner Connect event in Auckland.

Each year MYOB recognises leaders in the business advisory and accountancy fields. There is a specific focus on the innovations and online transformations that are driving change in the industry, but also acknowledgement of the commitment to seeing their customers succeed that drives many partners.

The prestigious ‘Partner of the Year’ award went to Debbie Marshall from Christchurch-basedBusiness Solutions Limited. Debbie has been part of MYOB’s partner network since she established her business management IT solutions company in 2005 and is counted amongst MYOB’s top resellers.

MYOB General Manager James Scollay announced the award, complimenting Ms Marshall on her innovation and activity in the local SME community.

“Whenever we roll out a new product or feature, Debbie is always one of the first to adopt the new technology,” says Mr Scollay. “Debbie understands how keeping up-to-date with the latest innovations can really benefit her clients and is adept at working out the best technology suited to helping businesses succeed.”

Ms Marshall was honoured to receive the top award.

“Working closely with MYOB has really helped me provide some fantastic solutions to my clients,” she says. “Being part of the MYOB community is really rewarding and I am very proud to have the recognition of Partner of the Year”.

“There are some great innovative business management solutions out there that give business owners much more control over their operations. We’re focused on helping our customers use technology to achieve even more success.”

MYOB’s ‘Online Transformation’ award was presented to Sue Inkersell from 3rd Arm Admin, based in Porirua.

“Sue is a strong advocate for the power of cloud technology,” says Mr Scollay. “By maintaining a great online presence for her own business almost 80 per cent of her sales come through online referrals. In turn she helps her customers utilise leading online tools such as MYOB Essentials and Essentials Payroll to run their businesses efficiently.”

Receiving the award, Ms Inkersell says she was “blown away”. “I came to Partner Connect not expecting to win the award at all. However, it really reiterates to me that we are heading in the right direction with our business,” she says.

Ms Inkersell prides herself on having almost all her clients in the cloud, with the final few moving across shortly. Being able to pick up the phone to speak to someone at MYOB easily is key to the “awesome” relationship that she has with the company.

MYOB also awarded their ‘Newcomer of the Year’ award at the glitzy partner event. Joanne Mankelow from Mankelow Accounts in Auckland suburb Maraetai picked up the accolade, having substantially grown her client base since starting her company in 2014.

“Jo is a real go-getter,” says Mr Scollay. “Her company has grown from strength to strength, and her clients love her. She is extremely passionate about what she does and it shows through how popular her business has become.”

Mankelow Accounts has grown to a company of four employees with a fifth joining the team when they open their Highland Park office in November this year.

“I feel that this award is really all the determination and hard-work paying off,” says Mrs Mankelow.

The MYOB Partner Connect dinner also celebrated the loyalty of their partners, presenting six long-term service awards and honouring those partners who achieved the top sales figures including:

· Gold Sales Hall of Fame – Lynley Averis, Accounting Training

· Silver Sales Hall of Fame – Helen Webley, Bay Business Support

· Bronze Sales Hall of Fame – Jennie Kingma, JK Business Systems

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