Both Doug Osborn and Laura Small had reason to be happy as co-chairs and co-hosts for the annual SABEX awards earlier this week.

As it has in the past, Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc., which Small has led effectively for many years, had a good win percentage in the event categories. Clients who received start-up help and ongoing advice and support from Women Entrepreneurs included double winners Craving and Maternity and Baby Inc., Penney Murphy and Associates and Creative Compliments Baskets and Flowers.

Creative Compliments owner Ellie Richardson, in her acceptance speech, explained how her company has worked to create a global network of suppliers that can arrange gift baskets through an international wire service, similar to what the florist industry pioneered.

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Not that she was a name dropper, but Richardson mentioned her online service helped to ensure a gift basket was delivered on short notice to Bono this past month.

Which is where Osborn managed to shine. The MLT lawyer pointed out how difficult that delivery must have been if Bono lives on a "street with no name." People seemed to appreciate a pop culture, song title reference, especially coming from a lawyer.

As always, the brief video clips on finalists caused people at the tables to wonder aloud how judges could settle on a winner.

For example, UMA Engineering has doubled its staff to 120 people in two years. It was the winner in growth and expansion as it handles civil engineering work across the province.

Saskatchewan vice-president Don George explained how the company has managed to bring people from the United States, the U.K. and the Philippines as the company's project workload increases. Of note, the company recently landed an engineer from New York City who decided Saskatoon was where he wanted to be.

The three runners-up in the growth category -- Golder Associates Ltd. in environmental consulting, JNE Welding in steel fabrication and Venmar, CES Inc. -- are also no slouches in increasing the size of their workforce to meet demand. Quality products will travel far and you could tell people were impressed when they learned that heat exchanger components being manufactured by Venmar in Saskatoon are going into office ventilation systems in new office towers in New York.

Probably the best part of the SABEX evening was a rare chance for most people to hear business leader and philanthropist Ellen Remai speak. While Remai credits a loyal and dedicated staff for helping her get her footing after her beloved husband Frank died, it is clear there is a clear-headed business mind leading P.R. Developments and Remai Ventures.

"It's personal, meaningful and it's fun," Remai told her audience on the satisfaction of giving back to the community. "There is a whole world out there who needs us."

And if you believe you have to have millions set aside in a private foundation to do philanthropy, that's not the case, as Brad Hoffman explained later on. Hoffman owns Early Mailing and Printing on Third Avenue, a business with just two employees.