October provided “winning” news for Fiddleheads and its owner, Rhiannon Nachbaur. The 30-year-old violinist and young entrepreneur took home two more pieces of prestigious hardware within 10 days.

Pregnant Rhiannon poses with the award presenter

Photo: Rhiannon, pregnant with her second child, holds her latest award in the company of the presenter at the gala event

 

Not only was Rhiannon was declared winner of the Okanagan Music Awards "Classical Artist of the Year" for the second time running 10 days previously, but she also scooped up the Shuswap Business Excellence Awards Green Award. This sees Rhiannon winning awards in both events for two consecutive years. The repeat wins are also strong indication she has successfully developed her artistic and business endeavors simultaneously.

Rhiannon won the “People’s Choice Award” in the Business Awards last year and made a repeat with on October 20 in Salmon Arm with the new “Green Business Award.” The honour is reserved for a recipient who shows "commitment to environmental friendly practices" and:

Acts in a responsible manner in all environmental issues, demonstrates a commitment to green space and workplace enhancements and em- ploys significant efforts in waste control measures, air quality improve- ments and reduction in water or energy consumption.

Rhiannon, an avid environmentalist, initiated a green policy for her violin shop and school in 2006. Though she is most known locally for her school branch of the business, 95% of her work goes into her online shop which serves customers around the world and is receiving high praise and increasing sales. With this success comes responsibility.

Rhiannon said, “Though my violin business operations could hardly be considered harmful to our environment, I strongly feel we business own- ers can no longer be complacent in our actions.”

She added, “The time is ripe to raise our standards to a more environ- mentally conscious level and work to reduce waste and pollution.”

Rhiannon with the other award winners in formal clothing on a curved staircase

[Photo: Rhiannon with the other award-winning business owners at the Gala event held at the Prestige Hotel in Salmon Arm]

Rhiannon has made significant changes in product packaging & shipping, office supplies and equipment, recycling, going digital to save paper and by educating others on her discoveries. She also drives a hybrid vehicle and gets double the mileage over her previous vehicle: a whopping 55MPG [Imperial/Canadian gallons].

Being a home-based business her family and work lives converge and have allowed Rhiannon and her family to become more efficient in their day to day lives. Rhiannon installed low-energy lighting, put the furnace on a timer and has replaced energy and resource-hogging appliances with efficient models.

The family recycle all packaging and containers, even storing plastics for a year until the recycling fair comes to town. They use cloth bags for shopping and buy eco-friendly soaps, cleaners and products in limited or no packaging.

The family also sponsors a child in Guatemala and subscribe to an organic produce delivery service which delivers to their door. They plan to build a new home next year which will feature geothermal heating and cooling, sun tubes, a greywater/rain storage system, xeriscaping without grass and other energy and resource saving features.

In the end Rhiannon and her family hope to prove to other families and businesses the savings in efficiency: that “going green pays for itself." Post-event thanks go out to the awards organizers and Rhiannon’s family, friends and customers who have supported her music, business and projects.