From the distinctive Nike ‘Swoosh’ logo to McDonald’s iconic Golden Arches, reaching consumers and fostering brand loyalty is more important to companies than ever before.

With COVID-19, businesses big and small have had to rethink their immediate and long-term goals. Advanced Test and Automation Inc. (ATA) has not only pivoted its approach, processes, and manufacturing, but has done it with the briefest of notice.

Fourth-generation, family-owned business Jac. Vandenberg imports and distributes its full product line of counter-seasonal fresh fruits throughout the United States and Canada. The company’s history dates back to 1905 in the Netherlands, but today, it is based in Tarrytown, New York with a second office in Los Angeles that services the West Coast.

A few months ago, Lester R. Summers, Inc., a venerable, family-owned, heavy haul transport company based in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, met with each individual in its company to discuss the company’s response to COVID-19. The effects had hit Pennsylvania hard.

Door County is a narrow peninsula reaching out roughly seventy miles from the eastern edge of Wisconsin, separating Green Bay from Lake Michigan. This popular upper-Midwest vacation spot is known for its beautiful coastal landscapes. With three hundred miles of shoreline and countless beaches dotted with more lighthouses than any other county in the United States, thirty-four named islands, and dozens of unique communities, the county is a wonderful destination.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is recognized for its miles of beaches, ocean air, the bright lights of boardwalk and promenade, and the nighttime glow of its SkyWheel. But more than that, it’s part of a region that’s becoming a hive of activity and opportunity.

With nearly 400 stores from coast to coast, The Source has long been a trusted neighbourhood brand that connects Canadians with the latest in consumer electronics, small business technology solutions, and mobile and internet services – and now, a new level of support to help Canadians during a global pandemic.

The St. Louis Rams defeated the Tennessee Titans in 1999’s Super Bowl. The St. Louis Cardinals swept the San Diego Padres to win the 2006 World Series. And in 2019, the St. Louis Blues beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 for their first Stanley Cup. What do these champions have in common?

IAM Robotics is a Pennsylvania-based automation maker that has been providing autonomous solutions for facilities across the United States since 2012. The company’s stance is that adaptability and flexibility are the keys to a viable and profitable future.

With customers in 106 different countries, C-COM Satellite Systems is a global leader in the development and deployment of commercial grade, mobile satellite-based technology. The Ottawa-based company helps people around the world access high-speed Internet, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and video services from their vehicles, while stationary.

As Canada continues its ambitious goal to become carbon neutral, the drive for sustainable and renewable energy sources has rapidly shifted from pipe dream to national priority. Borea Construction, Canada’s largest renewables constructor, is working to blaze a trail of colossal projects across North America.

ABI-LAB 2, in Natick, Massachusetts, is the result of both inspired thinking and the desire to create functional, attainable workspace for dedicated scientists researching potentially life-altering and life-saving products.

Perhaps no industry has borne the brunt of COVID-19 more than hospitality and tourism. In a socially distanced world, tourism providers across North America are reinventing themselves to present a new type of business to an equally new type of customer. Halifax’s Ambassatours Gray Line has reoriented and consolidated its business practice to offer more affordable tours while expanding to capitalize on growing area opportunities.

Omnichannel has changed the way we shop forever, a reality that was cemented this year as millions of consumers turned to online shopping to avoid exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Social distancing and reduced store hours have accelerated eCommerce and alternative digital shopping methods such as curbside pickup, Buy Online Pickup in Store (BOPIS), and new home delivery options to transform retail customer experiences.

The consensus is clear: 2020 is a year that will not be readily forgotten. It has been a year filled with uncertainty and a sense of anxiety.