2014 Business Leader of the Year Announced by Kelowna Chamber

Kelowna, BC – The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce announced today that Mike Jacobs has been named Business Leader of the Year for 2014. The award recognizes and celebrates Mr. Jacobs for his outstanding contribution to the business community in Kelowna.

Mike Jacobs is the fourth generation leader of the family owned Emil Anderson Construction group of companies who are involved in Road Building, Earthworks and Heavy Civil Projects throughout the province of B.C.; Highway Road Maintenance in the Fraser Valley; and Residential Land Development and Housing in the Okanagan Valley. Recent highlight projects include the Whistler Bobsleigh and Luge Sliding Centre, the Whistler Ski Jump, a road/rail expansion for the Port of Prince Rupert, a rock shed in the Fraser Canyon for CN Rail, the WR Bennett Bridge/Campbell Road Interchange and Sneena Overpass projects in Kelowna.

Mike is now President and CEO of the family of companies having moved to Kelowna in 1988 with a Masters in Construction Management from Stanford University to help initiate a new venture for the company when they purchased Dilworth Mountain.

During that busy decade, he expanded the business by founding Dilworth Quality Homes in 1989 which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year having built over a thousand homes and condominiums in the Okanagan and received many regional and provincial awards of excellence.

“We’ve worked hard, and are proud of the infrastructure that we have built to help grow the economy of BC and make roads safer for the traveling public. We are also equally proud of the homes we have built in all price categories and the many repeat buyers who just love their Dilworth Home”, said Jacobs recently.

On top of being a busy contractor, developer and homebuilder, Jacobs has been active in industry organizations as a founding member and past president of the Okanagan Chapter of the Urban Development Institute, past chair of the BC Roadbuilders, active in his church and past chair of the Kelowna Catholic School Council and a convener and coach for Kelowna minor basketball.

The company is active within communities where we have an ongoing presence. “We are very big supporters of local charities and organizations,” says Jacobs. We support many projects with our equipment and construction expertise as well as monetary support such as the Hope Golf Course, Mission Creek Greenway, the YMCA strong kids campaign, UBCO engineering and Okanagan College Bright Horizons.

EAC has been a major roadbuilding and heavy civil contractor in BC for more than 70 years and look forward next year to celebrating its 80th year in business since Founder and great grandfather Emil Anderson started the business in Fort William, Ontario.

In recent years, Jacobs has diversified EAC’s business model to now include a golf course development at Tower Ranch, rental apartments and commercial holdings such as a Tim Horton’s in Armstrong.

On a personal level, Jacobs met his wife Kim on a volleyball court at Parkinson Rec Centre and not surprisingly have raised a son and daughter who both have played CIS volleyball for the University of Toronto while studying engineering and life sciences. Kim and Mike are transitioning into the empty nest lifestyle after many years constantly in gymnasiums or on ski hills supporting their children’s athletic endeavours.

Jacobs will receive his award at this year’s ceremony at the Coast Capri Hotel on Tuesday, October 21st. The awards mark the Kelowna Chamber’s 27th annual Business Excellence Awards, which fall during Small Business Week®.


The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce acts as a single powerful voice for their 1200 members and their 25,000 plus employees to promote local business interests. The Chamber provides a cohesive business network for its members to expand their business contacts, value-added benefits, programs, and services aimed at improving the bottom line of Chamber members. Their mission is to foster a positive business environment by providing members with leadership, advocacy and services of value.

For the past 35 years, Small Business Week® has paid tribute to Canadian entrepreneurs and created opportunities for them to share success stories and innovative ideas. Unprecedented synergy has resulted from the active participation of members of the Chambers of Commerce, and various national and local partners/sponsors in organizing events with BDC branches across the country – all dedicated to the growth and development of small and medium sized business.

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For more information:
Dicky Dack
Operations Manager
Kelowna Chamber of Commerce
250-469-7355