Karl Hendrickson and Sameer Younis took separate paths towards entrepreneurism and building enduring legacies within post independent Jamaica: Hendrickson as the creator and patriarch of an impressive baking, manufacturing and hotel empire; and Younis, as an inspirational agent of civic pride, and an unapologetic advocate for the interests of local businesses.

The national spotlight will turn on both lives next week Tuesday, November 30, when Younis and Hendrickson are presented with lifetime achievement awards, as part of the Business Leader Award gala at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

Six foreign investors have been nominated for the Business Leader Award: Arthur Lok Jack; Luis and Carmen Riu; Denis O’Brien; Carlos del Rio; Brendan Paddick; and Michael Lee Chin.

As is customary, Hendrickson and Younis were selected for the lifetime award by the chairman of the Jamaica Observer newspaper, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart. The awards are branded ‘J Wray & Nephew Lifetime Achievement Award’; and ‘Pan Caribbean Lifetime Achievement Award – in recognition of the two main sponsors of the annual award programme.

Younis 68, founded Fabrics de Younis garment stores in 1970, beginning with a single branch at the former Spanish Court plaza in New Kingston – and from there created a network of stores including Samm’s, that employed dozens of Jamaicans and became a household name.

But this businessman was best known for leading the national charge for the protection of indigenous companies – first as president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce between 1986 -1991, and then as president of the Jamaica Manufacturer’s Association between 1996 – 2000.

He spearheaded the JCC’s “Clean as a Whistle” campaign that took hold in the 1980s, and followed this project up with the “Helping Hands” campaign which took scores of mentally ill persons off the streets and placed them at the Bellevue Hospital in Kingston. He was also behind the “People against Road Accidents Campaign” that was launched in 1989.

Younis led the move to expose young people to the ins-and-outs of businesses when he chaired the chamber’s Junior Achievement Programme between 1986 and 2001. Since 1974 he has been chairman of the chamber’s JCC Civic Affairs Committee which organizes its annual Grand Charity Ball that has helped to raise funds for the inner city development community leadership training programme and other enterprises in the inner city.

In 1989 he was conferred with the Order of Distinction, Commander Class.

Hendrickson’s entrepreneurial journey began a generation before Younis’ – dating back to 1952, when at his urging, his parents invested in an automated bakery for sliced bread, like the type that Karl had seen while in Canada attending McGill University.

It was however, Karl who ultimately transformed the upstart into Jamaica’s largest bakery empire — the National Continental Group.

Hendrickson has also achieved what has become an improbable feat in Jamaica: by pulling his four children and his in-laws into the business, he has not only ensured continuity beyond three generations, he has fundamentally secured the future of these companies. The family is now within the top three largest indigenous owners and operators of hotel rooms in Jamaica.

Collectively they operate: Coconut Bay Resort and Spa in St Lucia; the Courtleigh Hotel, Knutsford Court Hotel both in Kingston; the Holiday Inn in Montego Bay;Sunset Beach Resort and Spa in Montego Bay; Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios; and Sunset at the Palms in Negril.

They also own Caribbean Broilers, Newport Mills and their subsidiaries as well as Yummy Bakery in Mandeville.

Hendrickson has also contributed to public service. As chairman of the Jamaica Public Service Company from1972 to 1976, he steered the Rural Electrification Programme that brought light and power to thousands in deep rural areas. He has been conferred with the Order of Jamaica, the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of the West Indies, induction into the PSOJ Hall of Fame, and was awarded Florida International University’s Business Leader Award.