Tell Us Your Story. What motivated you to start your business? Why are you passionate about what you do?

Chops Consulting was founded in the middle of the pandemic (September 2021) when founder, Celene Hoag, was forced to leave an incredibly toxic work environment immediately after coming off maternity leave with her youngest child. She had a baby and 4 years old, bills that needed to be paid, and no plans. She had been COO of a fully remote business for the past 5 years and knew every element of running a business - immediately business owners she had known through networking and past work started reaching out and asking for help. Despite having no funding, Chops Consulting quickly grew, and already hired its first employee after only 2 months. By setting up systems, tech and processes from day 1, we have never had a single unprofitable month in our 24 months in business. We have more than doubled our team size in the past 6 months and continue to grow. Although we are only coming up on our third birthday (September 2024!) we have already built a resilient business with fully built-out tech, systems, operations, marketing and written processes in every area. We have served dozens of clients on projects of varying sizes and built an incredible reputation for ourselves. We have already accomplished in two years what many businesses accomplish in ten. As we continue to grow and move forward, our goals are to stay relatively small and agile (under 10 employees for now), but be able to provide more benefits to our employees, and value to our clients.

Describe and demonstrate, including metrics, your community support. How do you support and uplift your community, and how do they show that support in return? Minimum 25 words, maximum 2500 characters.

At Chops Consulting Ltd., we are dedicated to supporting and uplifting our community through a comprehensive range of initiatives aimed at empowering small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across Canada. Our partnership with the Canadian Federal Government as a federally-approved CDAP Digital Advisor plays a crucial role in this mission. We leverage the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) to provide essential resources and expertise to businesses that might otherwise struggle to meet their technological needs due to budget constraints or lack of expertise. We have facilitated grants for more than 100 businesses, enabling them to modernize their tech capabilities and improve overall performance. We help businesses obtain $2,400 grants to enhance their online presence through marketing, website upgrades, and SEO. This initiative boosts visibility and attracts more customers. resulting in a #% average increase in web traffic and a #% increase in online sales. We host workshops and webinars on business optimization, technology integration, and marketing strategies. These sessions are designed to equip business owners with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive. Our podcast serves as a valuable resource for business owners and entrepreneurs, featuring expert insights on SEO, paid ads, HR, hiring, tech systems, AI/chatbots, and more.

Why do you deserve to win the Business Impact award?

Chops Consulting Ltd. stands out as a premier example of a company that has successfully cultivated a sustainable and healthy workplace. Our commitment to creating an inclusive, empowering, and growth-oriented environment for all employees is unparalleled, and this dedication is a cornerstone of our success. Here’s why we believe Chops Consulting Ltd. should be recognized for our exceptional workplace culture. As a fully remote company, we have embraced the flexibility and inclusivity that remote work offers, allowing us to attract top talent from across the country. This flexibility not only promotes a healthy work-life balance but also demonstrates our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint. Our employees benefit from the ability to work from anywhere, and we offer flexible working hours to accommodate the diverse needs of our team, particularly those with children or other caregiving responsibilities. This approach ensures that our team members can effectively manage their personal and professional commitments, fostering a happier, more productive workforce. Leadership at Chops Consulting Ltd. exemplifies inclusivity and empowerment. Our CEO, a woman who leads by example, along with our female managers, promotes gender equality and empowers women within the organization. This leadership creates an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and respected, setting a strong foundation for an inclusive culture. The management team prioritizes open communication, transparency, and support, ensuring that every team member feels heard and valued. Regular check-ins, virtual team meetings, and an open-door policy are key practices that maintain this supportive atmosphere. Building strong relationships is at the heart of Chops Consulting Ltd.’s approach to business. We maintain clear and consistent communication with our clients and vendors, ensuring that our relationships are rooted in respect and transparency. This commitment to mutual success extends to our contractors and staff, whom we treat with the same level of respect and support as our full-time employees. Regular virtual gatherings, team-building activities, and recognition programs foster a sense of community and belonging, strengthening our organizational culture. Recognizing Chops Consulting Ltd. for our exceptional workplace culture would highlight the significant strides we have made in creating a supportive, empowering, and sustainable work environment. This recognition wo

Tell Us About Your Culture. How are you creating a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome? Provide examples of leadership you show in interactions with clients, vendors, contractors, staff and others.

At Chops Consulting Ltd., we pride ourselves on fostering a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome, valued, and empowered. As a fully remote company, we embrace flexibility and inclusivity in every aspect of our operations, ensuring that our team members can thrive both personally and professionally. Being fully remote allows us to attract top talent from across the country, providing our employees with the flexibility to work from anywhere. This not only promotes a healthy work-life balance but also reduces our carbon footprint.We offer flexible working hours to accommodate the diverse needs of our team members, particularly those with children or other caregiving responsibilities. This flexibility ensures that our employees can manage their personal and professional commitments effectively. Our CEO is a woman, and alongside our female managers, she leads by example, promoting gender equality and empowering women within our organization. Their leadership fosters an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and respected. Our management team prioritizes open communication, transparency, and support. Regular check-ins, virtual team meetings, and an open-door policy ensure that every team member feels heard and supported. Continuous learning and growth are integral to our culture. We provide access to online courses, workshops, and mentorship programs, empowering our team members to enhance their skills and advance their careers. Our culture is built on the principles of respect, empowerment, and continuous growth, making Chops Consulting Ltd. a great place to work and grow.

Why do you think you should win the Premier’s People’s Choice Award?

Chops Consulting helps build resilient businesses by taking a strategic approach that combines operations, technology, and marketing improvements. We connect strategy to execution by diving deep into our clients’ businesses, goals and roadblocks to create systems that not only solve their current problems but serve their future needs as well. Collectively we have started, grown and ran more than 7 businesses. Managed 3 government departments, overseen the administration of an additional 3 businesses. We have leadership experience in marketing, web design, commercial real estate, trucking and logistics, veterinary, law, CP Rail, BC College of Phsyisians, BC Parks and Recreation, and 2010 Olympics. Rarely do you see such talent in such a small team. We are unique in that we have always been fully remote, allowing us to serve businesses across Canada and the United States. By reducing office space overhead and hiring exceptionally talented women, we are able to deliver amazing experiences to our clients, who then refer us again and again. Although we do work with many large firms, one thing we are really passionate about is helping small or local businesses (especially ones led by women and other underrepresented groups) gain traction in their businesses. Our clients love us because we work within their processes and systems. We think outside the box and take a customized approach to our clients, instead of trying to put a "one size fits all" product into their business. We prioritize clear and consistent communication, and support our clients at every stage, including team training and video processes.