Leadership = Success

By Paul Fitzgerald - H2 Systems Inc. Of Burlington Wins a 2014 Business Excellence Award from Burlington Chamber of Commerce

H2 Systems Inc. of Burlington, ON, has just joined the elite ranks of companies which have been recognized as demonstrating the best in business leadership.

The Burlington Chamber of Commerce announced that the well-known home theatre and home integration company on Harvester Road have won a 2014 Business Excellence Award.

Clinton Howell, founder and owner of H2 Systems Inc., and his team, will be formally presented with the unique accolade at the Chamber’s Annual Gala Awards on April 10, 2014 at the Burlington Convention Centre.

Howell is elated that his company has been recognized for its excellence in leadership. After all, the long list of nominations are from his clients and which speaks volumes to the company’s innovative and forward thinking approach and its staunch commitment to its clients.

“We are tremendously proud to win the 2014 Business Excellence Award from the Chamber,” says Howell.

“Winning this award speaks volumes to the hard work and dedication our team provides and our promise of loyalty and top notch service to each and every client we work with.”

He adds with a smile, “And when you when an award like this it simply means you are doing things just right.”

Howell has built more than just a successful home theatre and home integration company here in town. Simply put, he evolved the company from a small "mom and pap" shop to a growing first class business that is a household name here Burlington and across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Howell’s expertise for homeowners is second to none on many levels. He is also a popular media figure as news outlets including The Toronto Sun, The London Free Press, The Burlington Post, The Oakville News, HOSS Magazine, WOW Magazine, The Examiner and the Digital Journal, rely on his experience and insights when it comes to home theatre and integration solutions.

His company has just announced that are part of the Baeumler Approved contractor network. H2 will soon be showcased on Bryan Baeumler's House of Bryan 3.

The home electronics entrepreneur has been in business since the mid 1990’s and each year his company only continues to grow. He was the founder of Howell & Associates Inc. (H&A) in 1995, and after a decade of growing and developing the business, he sold Howell & Associates Inc. to Best Buy Canada. Best Buy worked directly with Howell to leverage his experience and knowledge to consult on the design and implementing of a home theatre installation program for Future Shop. Following this dynamic project, he negotiated the re-purchase of all of the business assets of H&A. With a fresh new vision, heightened focus and an optimized business model Howell launched a new chapter in his career, H2 Systems Inc.

Under his leadership, his roster of staff have grown through new job creation and his locale on Harvester Road in Burlington is now being expanded due to the ever-increasing volume of business from existing and new clients. The company’s facility even houses a dynamic state-of-the-art Entertainment Room like no other.

As well, under Howell’s leadership, H2 Systems Inc. has won seven CEDIA Electronic Lifestyle Awards in its past four years of operation; two in 2010 and two more in 2011, one in 2012; and two in 2013. Between H2 Systems Inc. and Howell & Associates they have 17 awards to date for home theatre and integration which is more than any other company in Canada.

Source: Examiner

H2 Systems Launches Major Expansion, First of its Kind Experience Centre

By Paul Fitzgerald - H2 Systems Inc. has plenty of bragging rights with awards, accolades from clients, growth, and for becoming a household name here inBurlington and across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Evidence of this was clearly defined this past Thursday night (March 27, 2014) as the popular home theatre and home integration company unveiled its new expansion and its new Experience Centre for the media.

Members of the press had the chance to have a sneak peak at the company’s newly renovated facility that is spacious and wired with the best in home theatre and home integration technology. The new Experience Centre, unrivalled in every sense, brings the home theatre and entertainment experience to a whole new level.

Clinton Howell, founder and owner of H2 Systems Inc., is thrilled that his company is growing and that they are now offering a new Experience Centre, a first of its kind in Canada.

“We have spent the last year working hard to expand our facility which now includes a dynamic state-of-the-art Experience Centre,” says Howell. “The result of our growth stems directly from the ever-increasing volume of business from new and existing clients and most of all the tireless efforts of the H2 team who are committed to customer service on every level.”

H2 Systems Inc. is now part of the Baeumler Approved contractor network. H2 will soon be showcased on Bryan Baeumler's House of Bryan 3.

The expansion, growth and popularity of H2 Systems Inc. are also clearly evident in the prestigious awards the company has recently won.

The Burlington Chamber of Commerce announced that the well-known home theatre and home integration company on Harvester Road have won a 2014 Business Excellence Award.

And this past fall H2 Systems Inc. walked away with two major awards at the CEDIA (The Custom Design & Installation Association) Manufacturers’ Awards event held in Denver, CO.

The annual CEDIA awards show is considered the Oscars for the home theatre and home integration industry worldwide. Hundreds of people attended the major awards show that was full of style, pizazz and applause from start to finish. H2 Systems Inc. won the Gold Award for $101,000 to $150,000 in Best Technical Design, and they scooped up the Bronze Award for $100,000 and under in Best Technical Design.

This is not the first time the Burlington based home theatre and home integration company has won CEDIA Electronic Lifestyle Awards. They scooped up one award in 2012, two in 2011 and two in 2010, which is unprecedented for a local home theatre company.

Between H2 Systems Inc. and Howell & Associates (former company) they have 17 awards to date for home theatre and integration which is more than any other company in Canada.

Howell himself, hailed as a leader in every sense, has been instrumental in turning his one-time “ma and pa shop” into a major empire.

Howell’s expertise for homeowners never goes unnoticed. He is a popular media figure as news outlets including The Toronto Sun, The London Free Press, The Burlington Post, The Oakville News, HOSS Magazine, WOW Magazine, The Examiner, CNN iReport, and the Digital Journal, rely on his experience and insights when it comes to home theatre solutions.

“The expansion of our facility and our new Experience Centre marks a unique chapter for H2 Systems Inc.,” says Howell. “We are proud with our growth, but the real reason we have grown is stems directly from our commitment to our clients and for being innovative and forward thinking.”

Source: Examiner

Toronto Woman Takes Second at Arnold Sports Festival

By Paul Fitzgerald

At a local gym in Toronto, ON, Canada, Ania Anvaryfar begins her workout before she treks off to work, where she will spend a long 10 to 12 hour day working as financial project manager for an esteemed company in the city’s business and information technology district, dubbed as one of the best places to do business locally and globally. 

Ania, who hails from Tehran, is sported with the finest and latest in workout clothing – from head to toe. 

She is more than serious about an hour or so before work, in building her muscle, working on cardio and toning exercises, and most of all being sound fit. This is just part of her daily routine, and then it’s all about heading into the downtown core, where the information technology and financial services sector comes alive in so many ways.

Yes, she is a big part of the action even before the sun rises. 

From lifting weights to working the stair-master, you know right away that Ania means business. It’s just after 6:00 AM and she is alive in so many ways. You can tell she strives for that extra-edge in her performance: You can see it in her face, and you can hear it in her voice. Her eyes are on fire too. And yes, her smile is genuine, sincere and full of passion. She is a leader and compassionate on every level, there’s no doubt about it. 

What’s even more interesting about Ania is that while she is a fitness buff, bodybuilder, coach and trainer – outside of her big day job that is – she is also someone who is touting the powers of neuromuscular dentistry these days. 

Who would ever talk about this at the gym or even at work?

Call this one an anomaly, but call Ania a real trend setter. 

Ania, who is ambitious in so many ways with bodybuilding and living a healthy lifestyle at work and at play, has been researching extensively new natural performance enhancers on the market. With issues of lifting heavy weights and doing long workouts, Ania used to be a person who grinded her teeth, which is a result of the body working overtime in order to relieve tension, and she even experienced this in her sleep. 

She has spent years trying mouthpieces of all sorts in order to help alleviate grinding and pain in the neck, back and shoulders and even throughout other parts of the body that derived from working out and while also being enthralled in the long hours at work. Nothing ever really seemed to work. The tension she had from being so active was never cured. 

Being open minded and innovative, she has always been in tune with new ways of reaching her top performance naturally, and sure enough she recently heard about new sports orthotic called the New Age Performance Mouthpiece. 

The rest is history. 

She is now using the device day in and day out and her claim to fame to date is beyond outstanding. 

Ania was just crowned as the second place winner in the World’s Top Figure Competition at this year’s Arnold Sports Festival that was just held in Columbus, OH. 

“The Arnold Festival was truly an amazing experience,” says Ania during an interview after her workout. “I am thrilled to make Canada proud, Ontario proud, and Toronto proud. Words will never describe the feeling of being crowned as one of the best in the world.”

She credits her success to date with the powers of neuromuscular dentistry and how the New Age Performance Mouthpiece is making a huge difference in her performance overall – morning, day and night.

“I have been around and I know all about mouthpieces,” says Ania. “Nothing, I mean nothing tops the New Age experience. I sleep better, I workout better and I perform better, there is no ands ifs or buts about it; this new device is going to change the world.”

So, what’s the real deal behind this new sport orthotic that Ania and so many others are raving about? Well, it’s actually all based on science but yet simple to explain.

The device is placed on the back of your lower teeth. Once it’s locked in, your jaw alignment is more structurally sound. Years of research has proven that when your jaw is properly aligned, then your body is more able to reach its ultimate performance. Most of the population has a bite issue, so this new technology is a breakthrough on many levels. 

Rutgers University recently released a research paper on proper jaw alignment and concluded it has a definite positive impact on athletic performance. 

Dr. Anil Makkar, the co-inventor and one who has studied jaw alignment techniques extensively at the Las Vegas Institute (LVI) for Advanced Dentistry, explains that there have been a lot of scientific studies on performance mouthpieces and jaw alignment dating back to the 1950s. 

“Several research and scientific papers have clearly stated that when one’s bite is in the correct position, the alignment of your body is also affected in a positive way. Our new device, worn on the lower teeth, will allow everyone to experience immediate results with balance, increased strength, and flexibility,” says Dr. Makkar, a well-known neuromuscular dentist. 

Ania, who owns A2 Fitness Inc. in Toronto, explains that she was first fascinated with the science behind the New Age Performance Mouthpiece. “I researched the years of science involved with jaw alignment techniques, and this new invention is sound. I checked it all out and now I am telling all my clients and even coworkers to bite into this new natural sports enhancer. It works and there is nothing out there like it,” says the certified personal trainer and nutritionist.

Ania adds, “When I use this new mouthpiece, I don’t grind my teeth like I used to and the tension seems to leave my body naturally. In all, I don’t feel as tired and I want to strive for more when it comes to lifting and doing an array or workouts."

Ania arrived in Canada in 2002 with her family from Tehran. The Persian cultured and stylish professional who is global in every sense knew that coming to a peaceful and progressive country would allow her to fulfill her passion of weight training and living healthy via nutrition programs of sorts, something she never had back home. 

Shy but yet eager, and since calling Toronto home, Ania has made a real name for herself. Over the last decade she has won scores of bodybuilding awards and has received loads of fitness achievement accolades. Her accomplishments in bodybuilding and fitness have even been featured on Voice of America TV, and Persian TV, and in leading magazines which include Inside Fitness, Strong Athletes, Fitness Star, and Athletic Life. She is a hit here in North America and back home for that matter. 

Her nutrition coach is George Farah and she is part of the official George Farah team. Ania is also sponsored by Bigger Than Gods Apparel. As well, she spends her time working with the Ontario Physique Association (OPA) in presenting and doing show arrangements. 

Sure it’s cold, but keep active and fit

Chris Boucher, a well-know fitness trainer here in Burlington, ON, offers the best tips to stay in shape during the winter months.

By Paul Fitzgerald

The weather – cold temps, snow, freezing rain and dreary skies – can take its toll on us.

Many of us now are longing for warmer days where we can spend more time outdoors and taking part in all sorts of activities we enjoy.

While spring is only four weeks away, Chris Boucher, a popular personal fitness trainer and founder and owner of Custom Fitness, in Burlington, ON, has tips you need to follow in order stay healthy and in shape during the cold winter we are enduring.

Even more important, Boucher indicates that people should never avoid exercising just because it’s cold outside. Regardless of the weather, having a workout plan means you will always be fit and healthy.

Here are Boucher’s quick tips on fitting more activity into your day—and for getting more out of your daily activities.

1. Choose activities you like. A lot of different things count as exercise: dancing, walking, gardening, yoga, cycling, playing basketball. To make it easier to get moving, choose whatever gets you moving. Also, choose an activity that fits your self-identity. Do you see yourself wearing attractive clothes and bicycling comfortably to work, or wearing workout gear at the gym?

2. Piece your workout together. You don’t need to get all your exercise at one time. Ten minutes morning, noon, and night can give much of the same benefit as 30 minutes all at once.

3. Exercise with a friend. Finding a workout partner can help keep you on track and motivate you to get out the door.

4. Keep it brisk. When you walk, make it brisk, since this may help control weight better than walking at a leisurely pace. What is brisk enough? Walk as though you are meeting someone for lunch and you are a little late. You can also time your steps for one minute: 120 to 135 steps per minute corresponds to a walking pace of 3 to 4 miles per hour, a good goal for many people. If your steps are not quite that quick, trying picking up the pace for short bursts during your usual walk, on different days of the week. Over time, you’ll stride your way to a faster walking pace.

5. Take lunch on the move. Don’t spend all of your lunch time sitting. Hit the gym or go for a 20-minute walk with coworkers, and then have a meal when you are done.

6. Try a pedometer. Step-counters (pedometers) are cheap and easy to use. Best of all, they help you keep track of how active you are. Build up to 7,000 steps a day—or more.

7. Take the stairs. Use the stairs instead of elevators and escalators whenever possible.

8. Turn off the TV, computer, and smart phone. Cutting back on screen time is a great way to curb your “sit time.” Trade screen time for active time—visit the gym, or even just straighten up around the house.

9. Walk an extra stop. During your bus or subway commute, get off a stop or two earlier and walk the rest of the way.

10. Hunt for the farthest parking space. If you drive to work or to run errands, purposefully park your car a little farther from your office or the store. It may not seem like much, but over weeks and months, these minutes of exercise add up.

11. Make it your own. Consider buying a piece of cardiovascular equipment for your home, such as a treadmill, stationary bicycle, or elliptical machine. Home models can be more reasonable than you think, and you can’t beat the convenience. Keep in mind, though, that cheaper models tend to be less sturdy.

12. Make it fun. Try a new sport like tennis or rollerblading. The more that you enjoy exercise, the more likely you are to stick to it.

13. Make it social. Walk with a friend, your spouse, or your family in the morning or evening.

14. Sign up for a class. Check out the fitness course schedule at your local gym or community center, or the dance or yoga class schedule at a nearby studio. You may find that having the structure of a class helps you learn a new activity and keeps you on track.

15. Turn sit time into fit time. When you get busy, try to combine your cardiovascular exercise with a sedentary activity that you do already. Hop on that piece of home equipment while watching TV, reading, or returning phone calls.

16. Keep an exercise log. Monitoring the amount of activity you get each day will help to make you more accountable.

17. Walk or bike for errands around town. Leave the car at home for trips that are less than a mile or two. Cross something off your to-do list while getting in your physical activity.

18. Ask the experts. Hire a personal trainer for a session or two to help you with your weight training and flexibility training. Then you’ll have the confidence to branch out on your own.

19. Plan exercise into your day. Set aside a specific time in your schedule to exercise and put it in your planner.

20. Reward yourself. Set short-term goals—and reward yourself for achieving them. Try targeting a specific event, such as a road race or a walk-for-charity, to participate in—this can help keep you motivated. Choose fitness-focused rewards for reaching your goals, such as new workout gear or a heart rate monitor.

Home Theatre for the Holidays: Key things to consider when blendinghome electronics with décor

 

By Paul Fitzgerald, Special to the QMI Agency

 

A well designed family room with a home entertainment system will add value to your home,your lifestyle and décor.

 

While many may assume that having a home theatre system in the home might be ugly and unaffordable, well think again, according to Clinton Howell.

 

All homeowners need to do to get the best bang for their buck is understand what they are looking for and they, along with family and friends, will be more than entertained, says the popular home theatre expert.

 

Simply put, great solutions can be designed and you don’t need to live beyond your means.

 

Having a family room with a home theatre system is a great way to entertain, especially at this time of year where homeowners are hosting family and friends during the Holiday Season. As well, home theatre systems prove to bring families closer together. Spending time watching movies and enjoying entertainment creates a bonding experience in so many ways.

 

A home theatre system can easily be created in the living room or basement.

 

“Your space defines everything,” says Howell. “Once you identify where you want your home theatre to go, then just simply work from there,” adds the owner of H2 Systems Inc. in Burlington, ON

 

There are four pillars in creating the ideal home theatre system in an open space room: video, audio, furniture and décor.

 

The first is identifying the kind of HDTV you need and this is done based on the size of area you are working with.

 

“If you have a very large room, well then I would consider going with 60” to 80” TV, and if it’s a smaller area then go with a 40” to 55” TV,” says Howell. “Think of the TV and its placement as a work of art in terms of what size will have the right scale and work well with your space; there are plenty of options on the market that will fit your budget,” says the founder and owner of H2 Systems Inc.

 

HDTVs of all sizes can be wall mounted or placed on various kinds of shelving units, and these are fairly inexpensive.

 

On the audio side, there are many choices when it comes to picking the right speakers in order to get the best in sound. Believe it or not, you don’t need to go out and spend thousands of dollars on speakers and related gear. You would be amazed on deals out there for audio and you really don’t need to break the bank.  “Some less obvious, but very effective ideas for sound include recessed in-wall speakers which are paintable and putting the surround sound speakers in the ceiling.  Subwoofers can be hidden behind couches or other furniture and wireless speakers areanother possibility” he says.

 

For HDTV and audio, “there are plenty of ways to hide the wiring, such as fishing them inside walls and removing and reinstalling baseboards or shoe molding,” he says. “Many people don’t realize that RF remote controls work through walls and allow you to put equipment in another room, closet or basement which keeps the look of your family room clean and uncluttered.”  

 

When it comes to furniture the choices are endless, really. “Open space rooms with home theatre systems can be complimented with couches, small cushioned chairs, and even bean bags for seating,” he says. “The seating should be laid out for socializing as well as being focused on the main source of entertainment in your room: the TV.”

 

On the décor side, there is plenty that can be done without spending a wad of money. Paint your room with dark, rich colours. This helps of course with the quality of viewing on your HDTV.

 

Howell says enhancing the décor is a fun and innovative process and great examples to be inspired by can easily and cheaply be gathered by searching online for the style you are looking for and then clicking the images tab in your browser.

 

“Go ahead, add architectural details,” he says. “Try moldings and pillars that are decorative and which can be purchased at various places.”

 

Take things one step further and add in new lighting. Installing sconces on the wall adds for additional lighting and brings out that cozy feeling for when watching movies, TV shows or sporting events during the evening. Installing dimmers is also a great trick for fading out the lights before movie time.

 

As well, pick the right kind of drapery or blinds that blend in well with the room. Thicker drapes and blinds also helps keep sound in the room and more defined.  Carpets and area rugs will greatly improve the sound quality and acoustics of your space.

 

There are also motorized picture lift mechanisms that can be installed. With the click of yourremote control, your art slides up and your HDTV is exposed and ready for use, making it a real wow factor.  “Affordable luxury options for your space and can be achieved for less money than you think and far less than a custom wall unit which looks quite dated these days.”

 

“In all, follow your space and your budget when building a home theatre system in an open space family area,” says Howell. “There are many choices out there, so take your time, shop around and build for your needs.” 

 

He adds, “This is a very popular time of the year to install a home theatre system in a family area as this is the season to entertain. As well, having an open space room with a home theatre system looks impressive and shows you have made an investment in your home.”