Name: Matthew Thomas
Position: Group CEO
You won Best Large and Best Overall Business can you give our members an insight into what it takes to become Best Large and Best Overall Business?
It’s really humbling to have won these awards and to have been recognized by the business community in our home town. Winning these awards is really a testament to the hard work that has been done by a very talented team of people within Shannon Group. Incorporating an airport, a property development company a tourism business and an aerospace cluster, the Group’s activities are very broad. The thread that runs through the entire Group though is the shared desire to “make a difference” and drive the economic development of our region
What is the biggest lesson you have learnt in business?
Surround yourself with people that a much smarter than you are.
Any advice for new business owners just getting started?
Try to keep a perspective on what’s really important to you – don’t get carried away with the high’s and don’t despair when the low’s come your way.
What is your proudest moment in business?
Aside from winning the awards on Friday night (!), it without doubt the numerous expressions of gratitude that I receive for the many amazing things Shannon Group does, whether that’s from school children that have visited one of our Castle’s; parents of children with special needs thanking us for helping make their airport experience a pleasure or charities that have been recipients of the Group’s fundraising activities. I am really lucky to have a role that can make a difference.
Would you recommend entering the awards and do you have any advice for people thinking of entering next year?
Absolutely – aside from the prestige and the recognition from your peers, the public recognition of the efforts of your employees is fantastic. I’m not sure it’s my place to give advice to people thinking of entering next year, I would just recommend that you make the effort to enter and try to focus on how your company is making a difference.
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