Kamloops Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards ... · Kamloops Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards Excel Personnel ... The Yoga Loft (Whole Family Yoga ... Trish

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Kamloops Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards

Excel Personnel | Business Person of the Year

Selection Committee Package

Contents Nominee 1: Danielle Fauteux | All by Design .............................................................................................. 3

Nominee 2: Sheryl Corrigal-Snider | Beautiful U ......................................................................................... 4

Nominee 3: Brandy Maddison | Brandy Maddison Event Planning & Design ............................................. 5

Nominee 4: Tom Broad | Broad Spectrum Pest Solutions ............................................................................ 7

Nominee 5: Alana Krenz | Changes Hair Studio .......................................................................................... 9

Nominee 6: Candace Reid | First Comes Love Gowns & Events ............................................................... 10

Nominee 7: Doug Cook | Fountain Tire Commercial (Kamloops) ............................................................. 11

Nominee 8: Dawn Petrie | Four Star Communications Inc. ........................................................................ 12

Nominee 9: Robert Conroy | Inspire Chiropractic & Wellness Studio Inc. ................................................ 15

Nominee 10: Dan Rink | iTel Networks Inc. ............................................................................................... 16

Nominee 11: Gavin Rasmussen | K&C's Construction & Renovations Ltd ............................................... 18

Nominee 12: Steve Davidson | Kamloops Ford Lincoln............................................................................. 20

Nominee 13: Michael Forbes | Kamloops Insurance .................................................................................. 22

Nominee 14: Dennis Wilson | LNB Construction Inc. ............................................................................... 23

Nominee 15: Dylan Methot | Mostly Mental Shuttles ................................................................................ 25

Nominee 16: Greg Munden | Munden Ventures Ltd. ................................................................................. 26

Nominee 17: Carolynne McKenzie | Nature's Face & Body ...................................................................... 28

Nominee 18: Ryan Holowaychuk | Noran Printing Ltd .............................................................................. 30

Nominee 19: George Campbell | Overland Press (1990) Ltd. .................................................................... 31

Nominee 20: Sheila MacKenzie | Rainbow's Roost .................................................................................... 33

Nominee 21: Cristina Ostapovitch | RTOWN Kamloops ........................................................................... 35

Nominee 22: Linda Cline | Someday Retrievers & Hunt Club Ltd ............................................................ 37

Nominee 23: Natalie Fournier | Sweet Spot Cupcakes ............................................................................... 39

Nominee 24: Mario Piva | Tenisci Piva ...................................................................................................... 41

Nominee 25: Marcia Wilson | The Yoga Loft (Whole Family Yoga Inc.) ................................................. 43

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Nominee 26: Denis Lessard | TLC For Pets ................................................................................................ 45

Nominee 27: Trish Morelli | Trish Morelli Marketing Solutions ................................................................ 46

Nominee 28: Tyler Meade | Tyler Meade Photography .............................................................................. 48

Nominee 29: Terry Lowe | Volkswagen of Kamloops ............................................................................... 49

Nominee 30: Robin Clark | WestJet Airlines .............................................................................................. 51

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Nominee 1: Danielle Fauteux | All by Design

Nominators’ Comments:

1. Im nominating All By Design Danielle is amazing Business person, Her work is unbelievable.

Nominee Submission:

1. Provide a short overview/promotion of your business and yourself. State the position that you

hold within your company(ies). (Limit 300 words)

a. Founder/Owner since 2009, have designed 100+ projects in Kamloops and area

including the 2015 Y-Dream Home. We specialize in designing new homes (architecture)

as well as renovations with a focus on passive solar and passive ventilation. Recently

completed the new degree at TRU Bachelor of Building Science.

2. Outline the success you have had within your business career, highlighting more recent

achievements. (Limit 300 words)

a. 2015 Y-Dream Home designer (Gold Sponsor), 2015 Keystone award winner: Best

Renovation $300K+, Keystone Silver Award Finalist: Best House Design, Keystone Award

Silver Finalist: Best Interior Design

3. Explain how you have personally made a positive economic and/or social impact on our

region. Outline what makes you a leader in the community. (Limit 300 words)

a. As a business owner I have made an economic impact on my region by staying current

with technology and design practices. I have a diploma in Architecture and Engineering

Technology and recently completed a Bachelor of Building Sciences from TRU. I also stay

up to date on business practices with the help of my business coach who has been a

pivotal role in my success in the community.

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Nominee 2: Sheryl Corrigal-Snider | Beautiful U


Sheryl has been a long time small business owner in Kamloops. Her business has been in the community

for over 30 years. She has grown her business from offering only a few services to offering a wide range

of services for all skin types. Sheryl has invested in the highest quality state of the art machines to give

the highest results. Her strong business focus and quality service is very well known throughout

Kamloops. Sheryl ensures everyone receives the best customer service and leaves Beautiful U eager for

their next appointment and sharing the name Beautiful U to friends and family. Sheryl donates

generously to many organizations for fundraiser and other charitable events. Most recently to one of

her own staff members as she was raising funds to go build in Fiji for habitat to humanity.

Nominee Submission:



a. Beautiful U provides our clients with the most innovative cutting edge laser and anti-

aging Medical Aesthetic and body treatments in a clinical yet warm comfortable

environment. We use the latest technologies and finest quality products. Sheryl is the

founder, owner and most senior laser technician at Beautiful U. She leads her team by

making sure they are well versed in all aspects of the Medical Aesthetic industry. How to

help our clients look and feel their best.



a. Sheryl Corrigal founded Beautiful-U in 1984 to provide a health-centered, total body

approach to helping clients look and feel their best. Her philosophy is to not just focus

on procedures, but also the inclusion of the latest and safest technology. highest

standards. The focus on skin care and anti-aging treatments has meant clients can trust

her knowledge, professionalism, experience and training. Sheryl has lectured for the

American Academy of Family Practice (Scientific Assembly), specifically discussing the

importance of anti-aging products with peptides, sun care and sunscreen.



a. In the early 90's when Sheryl had her office on Victoria she worked with Ray Fuoco to

organize block parties prior to the downtown merchant markets of Kamloops now.

Sheryl Volunteers with communities in Bloom and Sun Rivers . Sheryl has also

volunteered as a big sister. Has made numerous donations to support many local

charities in Kamloops and always wanting to give back.

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Nominee 3: Brandy Maddison | Brandy Maddison Event Planning

& Design


1. Brandy Maddison created Brandy Maddison Event Planning & Design in Kamloops and with all

her hard work, her business is growing by leaps and bounds. She started a Wedding and Event

Planner and now she has expanded into floral design. She has been attending workshops to

hone her skills and all her hard work shows in every event she creates. Brandy goes above and

beyond her clients' expectations every time. When she is not busy making her clients' dreams

come true, or travelling to workshops, she's bringing workshops to Kamloops for other people to

enjoy with her.

Nominee Submission:



a. I am the owner, planner, stylist, and florist of Brandy Maddison Events. I have always

had a passion for design and a love for transforming spaces that move guests as they

enter the venue. Something that sets us apart, are the small details and decor touches

that represent the couple and their personality. Sitting down with each couple during

our coffee chat and hearing their story is one of my favourite parts. At BME we have

worked very hard on our "brand" and who we represent. We strive to be supportive and

build relationships with all businesses that we get to work with so we can all come

together to create amazing designs as a team and in the end complete a successful day

with extremely happy clients.



a. My first success was definitely having the courage of starting my own business. I just

kept following the happy and exciting moments and went for it. I didn't let the fear stop

me or slow me down. After one year in business I want from 4 weddings to 12 in my

second year. And it just keeps growing. I started by myself running BME alone and now I

have an incredible team of 6 who help and support me every step of the way. Being a

part of Homes For The Holiday's last year was a wonderful opportunity. They must have

known how much I love the holiday season when they asked me to be a part of it.

Getting to show the community some Christmas spirit through design and creativity was

a wonderful feeling to share. Another great opportunity was getting asked by Style Me

Pretty a top wedding blog to be a part of their vendor list. As well as getting featured on

their blog with a styled wedding shoot I collaborated on with a team of incredible

vendors. The one thing I learnt from this was to keep dreaming and to never give up on

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your goals. Before their yes, I heard many no's and I am so grateful for those no's

because they taught me to keep pushing, and growing as a person and in my business.



a. Our region doesn't have a lot of event planning and decorating companies. When I first

started I could feel the demand of what people were looking for and wanting. Even now

I am having to say no to clients because I am booked that same weekend. I think now a

days people are busy and having a hard time keeping up. So when a big life change

happens and they need to start planning their wedding their lives become very stressful.

And I love that I get to support them through that and take the stress away so they can

just worry about what really matters, being in love and starting a legacy together. I am

volunteering to be apart of a new initiative here in Kamloops called Common Initiative

through an amazing DJ company called Common Sound. What they are doing and I feel

so passionate about is taking floral arrangements from weddings at the end of the night

(agreed to by the wedding couple) going through the flowers and re-creating

arrangements and donating those flowers to people at Royal Inland Hospital, The

Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home, Berwick On The Park, and Kamloops

Seniors Village. The love from my client and willingness to donate their flowers has been

so amazing so far. My team and I will be delivering these arrangements, sitting down

with some amazing people and get to hear their stories. I can't wait to bring a smile to

someone in our city who needs it.

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Nominee 4: Tom Broad | Broad Spectrum Pest Solutions


1. I cannot say enough good things about Tom. Tom is my boss and is the most generous person I

have ever worked with. Not worked for, but with. He makes his employees feel valued and

respects our ideas and values. Tom has been in the pest control industry for 25 plus years and

started Broad Spectrum just over 3 years ago. It has been amazing to see just how fast the

business has grown and how respected Tom is. This describes the reasons for employer of the

year, small business of the year, and service provider of the year. Tom will work 7 days a week if

he has to just to make the client happy. It is never about Tom, it never has been about Tom. The

client is his top priority.

Nominee Submission:

1. Provide a short overview/promotion of your business and yourself. State the position that

you hold within your company(ies). (Limit 300 words)

a. I started Broad Spectrum Pest Solutions Ltd. in January 2013 with my wife and partner

Candace Broad. Although our company is quite new to Kamloops I have been in the pest

control industry in Kamloops since 1993.We offer residential, commercial and industrial

pest control services throughout Kamloops and surrounding areas. I look after how our

company operates in the field and my wife looks after the office. Our goal since the

beginning has been to offer exemplary service at fair prices within the community we

live in ourselves. We absolutely love what we do and hope to continue long into the

future!



a. Our company has seen excellent growth to this point. We started with just the two of us

and were able to hire our first fulltime employee in our first year of operation. Since

then we have had a few seasonal employees but have now grown to accommodate a

third fulltime licenced technician. Since our first year in business we have increased our

gross sales by more than three times. We have been very fortunate to have received the

support that we have from our community and look forward to many years to come.



a. I hope we have been able to help make a positive social impact with our work in the

ongoing battle against bed bugs. We have been able to work with many wonderful

organizations that provide housing in which bed bugs have become an epidemic and a

very real part of social housing. We try to provide education whenever possible and also

provide reduced rates for groups struggling with confined budgets. Working alongside

these groups has been a very humbling experience. Although I have never really tried to

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be a leader in the community, I certainly try every day to be a leader in our industry. We

take great pride in trying to do the best job possible with every customer.

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Nominee 5: Alana Krenz | Changes Hair Studio


1. Alana was my Wife's boss for 5 years. My hat is off to her and her outstanding leadership and

managing skills. A very selfless person. Also the salon and all it ls employees are hands down the

best in the business for both quality and service.

Nominee Submission:



a. I am the owner of Changes Hair Studio, we are leaders in our Industry, we go above and

beyond hair. We are environmentally conscience, involved in our community, give back

to society, key players in Earth Month, 100 Women who care, Food Bank, Jail and Bail,

believe in educating our guests and excel in customer service.



a. This year we raised just under $14,000. We were number three in Canada. We have

been in Salon 200. This is the top 200 Salons in North America. Green Circle Salons for

environmental leadership. We also put on events for our local charities.



a. We have had employment growth 13 employees, expanded in renos last November.

Went from 8 stylist s to 10. We have offered Apprenticeships. Being involved with 100

Women Who Care- Support our local community to support grass roots activities. We

have a loyalty program and Customer Appreciation Events.

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Nominee 6: Candace Reid | First Comes Love Gowns & Events


1. Candace Reid has owned this business for a few years, proving her business ethics and its

growth withIn such a short time Her staff is amazing!

Nominee Submission:



a. I am the owner of First Comes Love. FCL offers an array of services for an engaged

couple. We offer full service planning, decorating setup and take down services, photo

booths, and ceiling drapery. We also have a bridal shop in downtown Kamloops and

offer wedding, prom, bridesmaids, flower girl dresses and so much more! We work with

our clients from the beginning stages of their engagement to the final wedding day,

executing a perfect wedding day with no stress to the couple or their families and

guests. We pride our business on offering the most current trends in both gowns as well

as decor



a. Our most recent achievement is moving our store from Valleyview to Downtown! We

found the perfect space after looking for what seemed like forever. We have a large

beautiful storefront downtown that we love! We have the space to grow and offer any

services that we choose! I couldn't be more proud of what my little home based

business has become and am so excited to see what it has in store for our family.



a. At First Comes Love we try and be a part of as many community events as we can. We

donate to the Diamond Dinner through the fire fighters every year offering our decor

inventory for them as well the setup and take down. There is many other events we

donate time and inventory to.

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Nominee 7: Doug Cook | Fountain Tire Commercial (Kamloops)


1. Had my car into his location. I needed more work done than I could afford. Doug worked with

me to have the things fixed first that would keep me safe on our roads. We later fixed the

balance of issues my car was having. Being a woman going into a man’s world you feel defeated

before you start. This was not the case for me. I felt comfortable with what he was telling me

was wrong with my car. Explained I should fix the safety things first then come back to have the

balance completed. No pressure. I left there and went and got a second opinion and I did not

feel the same at the second location I went to. I took my car back and had it repaired. This man

deserves the highest award you can give. Thanks

Nominee Submission:



a. We are a commercial and automotive facility. We repair passenger & commercial

vehicle's from tires to engines. We pride our self on honestly and integrity and keeping

our customers happy with the work we have completed for them. I am the owner/

manager.



a. We are successful because of the staff we have that work for us. Our staff goes over and

beyond to help make thing right for our customers, without them we would not be

successful. Our business is growing each year and we believe this is because of the high

level of customer service we provide to our customers.



a. One of the things that makes us a leader in our community is we support the Kamloops

food bank by repairing there vehicles at cost and free oil changes. We also support them

with basics for babies. to date we have donated aprox 40,000.00 to this great cause. We

also support the ASK Wellness center in town through cash donations as well as home

items we can help get to help them.

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Nominee 8: Dawn Petrie | Four Star Communications Inc.


1. In 1994 Dawn Petrie had a idea for a Call Center/Answering Service Business that could be different

from the rest. At the time their was one service in town that handled a few clients. Dawn totally

transformed the Industry in the Thompson Region with the implementation of an up to date, state of

the art, Communications Equipment, and soon found her service was desperately needed.

She was told by many clients, ie: Remax, Crime Stoppers, Telus etc that they were so pleased with her

service and the chatter blossomed and flowered and grew and grew so fast that additional staff were

always being recruited in Kamloops.

Now 22 years later they have 61 employess and still growing. Four Star Communications provides Call

Centre / Answering Service assistance to all provinces across Canada (Vancouver, Victoria, Kamloops,

Prince George, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Manitoba, Ontario) with a client base of over 1200. Dawn

believes in Kamloops and her staff thrive from being a part of a growing company.

The reason Four Star Communications should be nominated for the Business of the Year award is that

they consistantly give exceptional customer service to their customers 24/7, manage all issues their staff

may have in implementing a new service to their business, answer all calls as if it were their own

business, on the clients behalf, send messages via, email, text, and voice mail to their clients while

keeping their Head Office in Kamloops and providing local employment to our region.

2. Dawn Petrie has been in business for over 20 + years in Kamloops. She has successfully grown her

business into one of the most successful answering services in Canada. She is committed to providing

long term jobs in our local community, and does not source elsewhere.

Nominee Submission:



a. My name is Dawn Petrie and I am the Founder, President and Owner of Four Star

Communications Inc. I am extremely honoured to be nominated for the Kamloops

Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year Award for 2016. Born in Victoria, BC

in 1968, but raised in Fort St. John, I moved to Kamloops in 1992 to attend the Kam Ed

Institution for a course in Business Skills. After graduating from Kam Ed, I developed a

business plan for Four Star Answering Service. Started in Kamloops, BC in 1994, Four

Star Communications Inc. is a 24/7/365 Telephone Answering Service that provides a

variety of Communications services for a diverse set of clients throughout North

America. Leasing my first office from George Wright, owner of Schoening’s Funeral

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Home and the building at 546 St. Paul St., I started Four Star Communications in 1994 in

a 400 square foot office with 2 computers. I spent days walking around the downtown

core, knocking on doors, soliciting business and nights answering calls. Canadian

Helicopters was my first customer, but it was Lyn Gannon at Sutton Realty that became

the beginning of Four Star’s success! Once I had the support of Lyn Gannon and her

team, Ross Spina with Coldwell Banker, Tom Bone with Argo Road Maintenance and Jim

Thomson of Plainsman Construction all came on board and I was able to consider Four

Star a real business. Since our small office on St. Paul St., we have grown out of 2 other

offices, moving to our 4th and largest office 3 years ago at 989 McGill Place. Our client

base has expanded to more than 1,100 customers across the country; we have acquired

7 additional territories of answering services; we currently employ 60 staff, with the

majority residing in the Kamloops community.



a. Success continues to be redefined to me. In the beginning, success was “closing” a

sale….and receiving after hours calls. Then it was being able to afford my first employee.

For several years, “success” was watching my “small business” grow its customer base

and expand into other communities. I acquired other local answering services and

developed a management team that helped Four Star grow into one of the top 5 largest

answering services in Canada. With locations in Kamloops, Prince George, Alberta and

Saskatchewan ~ and a major contract out of Ontario, this was the success I thought I

was after. For a girl from small town BC, I considered this plan to define success.

However, after 20 years in the business, what I have learned is that it wasn’t growing my

business that is my greatest success story ~ it was growing my employees! Developing a

team, empowering people, instilling confidence, watching employees expand their skills,

and their lives is the greatest accomplishment and success I will ever be a part of! There

is nothing that gives me more of a sense of success than watching my employees

improve their lives after they start working at Four Star. Watching them have the

confidence to buy new cars, get bigger apartments, go back to school, treat themselves

to more shoes, leave abusive relationships, or start their first RSP accounts brings me

the greatest sense of success imaginable. Knowing that you helped them feed their

family, raise their kids, go on vacation, that you provided them with opportunities that

maybe they wouldn’t have otherwise have ~ just knowing that you helped create a

better life for a some is more rewarding than any other measure of success I can think

of.



a. As the sole owner of Four Star, I feel that as a result of the growth my company has

experienced I am personally responsible for the influx of millions of dollars into the local

economy. By providing employment for approximately 40 local residents, the revenue

that Four Star generates internationally ends up helping support our local community

through the rents my employees pay, the local groceries they purchase, bus transit

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used, car sales, clothing,….it all helps support Kamloops families. What makes me a

leader in the community, the positive social impact I have had on our region is not only

by providing employment, but by providing “Careers” for men and women that enable

them to provide for their families. I don’t just provide minimum wage paying, part time

jobs. I provide decent paying, full time jobs with medical benefits. I have provided

steady incomes for some Kamloops families for 5, 10, 20 years. I have enabled families

to grow here, to buy homes, to have children, to buy new cars. I take a great deal of

pride by being able to provide my incredible team with opportunities they otherwise

may not have been given. My contributions to the community tend to all come back to

my staff. I’m not the type of person that advertises what I do for others. But I will admit

to taking care of my staff, those that take care of me and my business. After

contributing to community causes for those less fortunate, I had an epiphany that I had

my own less fortunate, in my own company. From that day forward, I choose to better

the lives of my employees at every opportunity. I believe it has created a loyalty from

my staff that makes me feel like the best business person every day!

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Nominee 9: Robert Conroy | Inspire Chiropractic & Wellness Studio

Inc.


1. Rob Conroy has done an amazing job growing this business in Kamloops but also not losing sight

of the need to give back to the community in which his business is located. I have seen the

company go through a massive reno, complete personal change and never once as a customer

felt like it effected the level of professional care I received.

Nominee Submission:



a. Inspire Chiropractic & Wellness Studio Inc is a Family chiropractic office which focuses

on providing the best chiropractic services, including: infants, paediatrics, and

pre/postnatal care. I currently am co-owner, chiropractor.



a. In only our fifth year of serving Kamloops and the surrounding areas we have quickly

become one of the premier family and paediatric chiropractic offices in the interior of

BC. Our mission is to educate and adjust as many families back towards optimal health,

through natural chiropractic care. With that in mind we have implemented community

education workshops designed to provide our patients with real strategies which will

help them, reach and maintain their desired levels of health not only now but into the

future. In addition we provide our patients and their families with the most up-to-date

information on nutrition, exercise, and stress management.



a. In 2016 My wife Dr Lisa Conroy & I have partnered with Kamloops Fit By Design with one

goal; to make Kamloops the healthiest communities in Canada. Offering Community

education for families and Kids on Backpack safety, Scoliosis checks, Dynamic flexibility

workshops, pelvic floor workshops _ our office has become a resource for our

community. Since opening in 2012 we have grown from 2 employees to 5 employees.

We have raised over $3,000 dollars for the Kamloops YMCA- Women's Emergency

Shelter. In 2013 we implemented Veterans' Scholarship for deployed

servicemen/women injured in service to our country to help get them back adapted to

civilian life. These scholarships provide them men and women up to 1 years’ worth of

care in our office. As always, we could not do it without our team they make it all

happen. I am so honoured to have been nominated for this award. Thank you all for

your consideration.

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Nominee 10: Dan Rink | iTel Networks Inc.


1. Dan Rink is the CEO of iTel Networks located at 348 Tranquile Road in Kamloops. The company

currently employs upwards of 60 employees here in Kamloops and is on a fast growth pattern

and expect to be at 200 employees by 2018. They provide fiber optic networks and technical

solutions to business all across Canada.

Dan Rink has been immersed in the Kamloops technology sector all of his life and has been

passionate about helping others develop their ideas into sustainable businesses. This passion led

Dan into becoming one of the founding partners of the Kamloops Innovation Centre in 2013.

Dan continues to play a key role in the Kamloops Innovation Centre which now is home to

numerous technology companies that contribute over $450,000 monthly payroll into the

Kamloops economy.

Nominee Submission:



a. I am the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of iTel Networks. iTel is a national carrier

of business-exclusive internet, telecom and cloud services with a simple philosophy:

provide the best and most reliable solutions at the most affordable price. We are the

first real alternative in a market dominated by unresponsive mega corporations and

small operations who don’t have the infrastructure and expertise to create and support

reliable services. We have built a “network of networks” that allows us to combine the

power of every service provider into one, which enables us to provide 100% uptime and

service to businesses all across the country, even in the most remote locations.



a. In addition to my work as the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of iTel Networks, my

first entrepreneurial pursuit began as the Founder and CEO of Carecaller Emergency Call

Systems. I am also Co-Founder of Kamloops Innovation, a technology incubator created

to enable commercialization and technological innovation in Kamloops. Additionally, I

am Co-Founder and Board Chair for Lightship Works, a cloud application company that

connects multiple devices and worksite sensors to protect, manage, and inform

workers. And finally, I am also Co-Founder of Truvian Labs Inc., a map-centric data

management company that lets you create, visualize, and manage information. All of

the above mentioned companies have undergone tremendous growth and have

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contributed to the local economy by creating jobs and building a flourishing tech scene.

It’s my long-term goal to help put Kamloops on the map through this broad reach of

endeavours that provide corporate and non-profit services to businesses and

communities all over the country.



a. As Co-Founder of Kamloops Innovation, an organization created to enable

commercialization and technological innovation in Kamloops, I am a proud proponent of

the growing Kamloops tech scene and one of the primary ongoing sponsors of Kamloops

Innovation. I have successfully created over 100+ jobs locally in Kamloops, as well as

remotely in Vancouver, Alberta, and Ontario. While jobs are most definitely important, I

also value development and education in the technology field. iTel Networks and

Kamloops Innovation have created the lvl1 apprenticeship program, which is an

initiative for high school and university students that helps train and build technology

innovators of tomorrow. We have invested millions in creating a national network

infrastructure that enables businesses across the country to connect and communicate

better. Before iTel, the industry was dominated by mega corporations and my goal has

been to create a true carrier alternative that provides high quality telephony services to

Canadian businesses at a much lower cost. I like to think that my work enables

organizations to have customized networks and connections that otherwise would not

have been possible.

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Nominee 11: Gavin Rasmussen | K&C's Construction &

Renovations Ltd


1. Gavin volunteered to oversee a huge community project for our non-profit while we were

building a neighbourhood kitchen. He easily contributed over $20,000 worth of time and

materials to the project. He gave us advice and assisted with every aspect of the project. We

never would have been able to complete the project without his help and are forever grateful to

him for his generosity and wisdom.

Nominee Submission:



a. K&C’s Construction & Renovations Ltd. is a well-established, diverse construction

company serving both the commercial and residential sector markets for over twenty-

five years. In addition to our expertise in building, we also offer project management,

site supervision, general contracting and labour services. A privately owned company,

K&C’s has shown over the years its ability to accurately quote, deliver and satisfy its

many customers by providing tremendous value at a reasonable price. The lean

company environment and focus on efficiency, planning and coordination have ensured

its ability to adapt to changes and provide excellent results in a timely fashion. With a

core of skilled team members, K&C’s also has an extended group of qualified suppliers

and subcontractors to round out their team of trade partners. Everyone involved on

company projects adheres to high industry standard and sustainable values, which

underscore the company’s commitment to their customers. As a leader in the

construction industry, K&C’s continues to educate their team so that they can provide

creative and innovative solutions to each customer’s vision no matter how large or

small. The company has undertaken the stringent health and safety requirements to

become a COR* certified company and expects to complete the final audit this year.

Environmentally responsible building practices and community participation are

important aspects of the company. K&C’s has been a member of the Canadian Home

Builders Association Central Interior (CHBA CI) for 10 years, and the Southern Interior

Construction Association (SICA) for six years. I am the President of the company and

have the following qualifications: • Professional CCA gold seal superintendent •Certified

Mold and Water Remediation Technician • Journeyman Carpenter • Certified

Residential Builder (CHBA) • Certified Built Green Builder • SICA Board director

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a. I have been in the building business since I was 19 years old and have taken as many

courses as possible to develop a thorough expertise in best building practices. In

building as in life you have to be committed to lifelong learning and I support my

employees in doing that as well. My desire to tackle and successfully complete a wide

variety of projects has broadened my company’s scope, experience and growth from a

one man show to a corporation of 8 to 12 people. In 2010, I took on a partner, Jeff

Mann, a red seal journeyman carpenter, to help me lead the expanding business and we

have not looked back since then. Good partnerships are rare and ours has been very

complementary to our enhanced success. Between Jeff and myself we were involved in

building the following: • The Green Dream Home Equilibrium House project (A CMHC

Challenge to build a home for a family of 4 that would generate as much energy as was

used over a one-year period) • The bear enclosure for the BC Wildlife Park’s new

addition Clover, the white Kermode bear • The new wave roof on the Old Main building

at TRU •Solar Hot water conversion for TRU in three of their buildings • Solar powered

and solar hot water conversion to the Village of Ashcroft community swimming pool •

Various commercial and residential renovations in town both completed and in process

•Gold Keystone Award from CHBA CI for their 2013 Kitchen Renovation under $75,000

My motto, “Keeping Customers’ Satisfied” and my determination to provide excellence

in our building projects is what establishes our brand. I hold our whole team to that

standard.



a. My desire to grow and become a better builder and person is the foundation of my

leadership skills. I continue to learn how to become a better leader, role model and

example. Building “green’ is a basic foundation principle of my company and we explore

how to do that in every project we undertake. Although I spend considerable time

working on my company to ensure we are doing the right things and managing

efficiently, effectively, I have realized that belonging to the greater business community

is important. My company is not only a member of the Kamloops Chamber of

Commerce but took on a corporate partner role with the organization in 2016. My

participation with the Chamber has stretched my comfort level as the premier sponsor

of the annual LeaderCast initiative, a one-day world Leadership event created to provide

current and future leaders with inspiring ideas and success stories. The sponsorship was

beneficial to the Chamber but the experience was of more value to me and my vision in

leading the company. Giving back to the community where you make your living is not a

new concept for businesses. I have been an active advocate of this since I first started

my company. Being involved with community organizations who need assistance in

building and renovating from time to time, has served them and has helped me to grow

as a person. The satisfaction I have gained from contributing my skills, abilities and time

can’t be calculated in dollars and cents. I have been involved with Family Tree Family

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Centre, helping with their house renovations and most recently Kamloops Senior

Information Centre renovating their community kitchen

Nominee 12: Steve Davidson | Kamloops Ford Lincoln


1. Steve Davidson and the team at Kamloops Ford Lincoln has participated in a variety of

community initiatives this year alone, including fundraising and donating over $17,500 to the

local Royal Inland Hospital to upgrade the patient care lounge and to raise more awareness for

Mental Health. Steve's second dealership, Kamloops Kia also helped raise funds for the cause

and collected donations for the patients using the mental health department. After that, the

dealership began raising money for the local Kamloops SPCA in order to help them build a new

shelter. By early June, they had already raised $12,000 for the shelter. Additionally, the team at

Kamloops Ford has worked with a number of local schools to help them fundraise for safe

school activities such as the Norkam Secondary and Westsyde Secondary Dry grads, and the

Brock Middle School Basketball teams, which they donated over $1300 to the schools and the

students so they could participate in activities they might not otherwise be able to.

Steve has demonstrated that he also provides a safe, diverse workplace for all of the staff. The

staff are always friendly, and working together as a team to help customers. The dealership has

a strong sense of community involvement, and is even sponsoring a FREE golf clinic on the 29th

of June so that kids in Kamloops can learn how to golf at The Dunes.

Steve announced that the goal of the company is to raise $100,000 for the community and its

nice to see that funds raised are staying within the city and we are seeing how it is benefiting

local needs rather than going to large charities.

Nominee Submission:



a. As the owner of multiple businesses in Kamloops and area, my goal is to build healthy

businesses, which achieves sales and profits adequate for corporate and personal

growth, community programs, meaningful work opportunities, and security for every

employee.



a. I started my career in the automotive business in 1992, working in sales for Kamloops

Ford Lincoln. After earning a myriad of top achiever awards, I moved my way through

the ranks of sales and finance management. In 2006 we purchased the store from Gary

Candido and in 2009 added Kamloops Kia. We have seen our business grow from a

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combined $45,000,000 in annual sales to just over $57,000,000 in 2015. In 2012

Kamloops Ford Lincoln was fortunate enough to win the Chambers "Business of the

Year" as well as being nominated this year for both a community service award and

"Employer of the Year". We are proud of the fact that between the new Kamloops Ford

facility on Halston Ave and the new Kia facility on 8th St we have been able to push

$15,000,000 into the Kamloops market in capital investment and helped in small part

towards revitalizing the North Shore. Kamloops Ford Lincoln has received numerous

President's Awards from Ford Motor Co for continued success in client satisfaction and

Kamloops Kia was recently awarded the "Kia Act Smart Award" given globally to a

handful of dealers. In the past number of years I have or am currently sitting as a

director on the following boards. -Ford National Roundtable -Kia National Dealer

Advisory Board -Ford National Advertising Association -Western Automotive Dealers Co-

Auto -North Kamloops Rotary -BNI Platinum Chapter



a. Every part of my success has been made possible by our wonderful staff and the

members of the Kamloops community. That is why I believe so strongly in giving back in

any way that we can, and in order for us to do that, we support a number of local

charities each year. I understand that there is more to being a successful dealership than

just selling cars. In the past year, we have made initiatives to support our community in

a variety of ways, including fundraising for a new operating room at RIH in the fall of

2015, in which we raised over $22,000. In March/April of this year, we met with the

management of the Mental Health department at RIH, and upon learning they were in

dire need of a new patient lounge, we teamed up with the hospital once again and

raised $17,500 to go towards renovations. The following 2 months, we helped our furry

friends at the SPCA raise $13,600 to build a new animal shelter and we are just finishing

up our most recent fundraiser with KISSM, in which we have so far raised $8,000. We

have also supported three different local schools through test drive events, helping

them raise over $4,000 collectively to go towards safe dry grad events. During August

and September we will be teaming up with the local Kamloops Hospice, with a goal of

raising $20,000 for their association! Since 2010 we have been running our annual

Kamloops Kia community cleanup day where we volunteer a day in August to make a

positive impact on an area of Kamloops. One year we won the National Prize from Kia

Canada and used the funds to purchase park benches along Schubert Dr and at the end

of the red bridge.

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Nominee 13: Michael Forbes | Kamloops Insurance Nominators’ Comments:

1. Michael is a humble leader who is always doing things for the community without asking for

much publicity in return.

Nominee Submission:



a. Kamloops Insurance is a local general insurance brokerage with a singular focus to

create and keep customers. We are so proud of our community and to be part of it...we

named our company accordingly.



a. Kamloops Insurance has enjoyed support for many reasons. We want to always value

our clients, our fellow citizens, to respect them and to understand them; to give them

uncompromising personal service however they want it.



a. We have grown since 2010 from zero revenue to what is gross premiums of millions

today...from two workers to ten....and our growth continues. Watch for expansion soon.

As we grow so does our support and commitment to the people of Kamloops because

without them, there is no Kamloops Insurance.

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Nominee 14: Dennis Wilson | LNB Construction Inc.


1. Having learned of the nominations for the Business Person of the Year award, I am writing to

nominate Dennis Wilson, CEO of LNB Construction Inc., a division of Infracon. Dennis’s ambitions

and accomplishments make him an ideal candidate for this award. Dennis has a vision of

changing the landscape of the industry by building meaningful relationships with First Nations

organizations. LNB already has one successful relationship in place, which exemplifies Dennis’s

integrity and belief in the value of partnerships.

Dennis has worked hard internally to restore the moral of the LNB team. He has a hands on,

active role within the company, ensures that all employees have a work life balance, while also

reaching their full potential. Under his leadership, professional development is a strong focus of

LNB, as is community involvement.

Nominee Submission:



a. I am the President and CEO of LNB Construction Inc. and Infracon Energy Services. I have

over 20 years of local and international experience in mining, oil and gas, petrochemical,

project management, engineering management, and construction. I am a professional

engineer and hold a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta, hold a

Project Management Profession (PMP) designation, and am also a member of the

Project Management Institute. LNB is a local company that has been operating for

almost 40 years in Kamloops and Merritt. LNB specializes in heavy civil earthworks

construction. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work and engagement within the

communities that we work in. LNB gives back to these communities through the

continued sponsorship of multiple local organizations such as the food bank, local sports

teams and First Nations education and enrichment programs. LNB also provides

employment to 40 full time employees and 200-300 seasonal workers.



a. Although I have achieved multiple designations and been involved with many prominent

and successful companies, my highest achievement to date is the work that I have done

with LNB. I was able to refocus and realign a company struggling with the challenges of a

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declining resource market and deteriorating morale. I have renewed employee morale

and pulled LNB out of a downturn by diversifying the company’s market base and

investing in organic growth within the local area. I believe that employees are the

strongest asset to an organization and have ensured that we reinvest capital back into

the training and development of our core group. I have improved the operational

efficiency of the company by cutting operational costs in a downturned market, and

refocused the vision of LNB. LNB is now focused on investment into the local community

and we exemplify that by devoting considerable time and financial resources into a

Trades school with a local First Nations band. Addressing industry needs, such as the

training and development of local youth, is a core tenant to the way that LNB does

business. I am passionate about it because not only does it create opportunity, it helps

transition young men and women into fulfilling careers while delivering resources

addressing the urgent need to provide skilled trades. I have formed a limited

partnership with a First Nations organization that resulted in securing a multiyear

contract with Highland Valley Copper. This provides well paying, meaningful

employment to local community members. I believe that any successful company starts

locally. My goal is to see our local communities benefit from our prosperity and growth.

A strong dedication and commitment to our health and safety culture is a key to our

success, we view our employees as our most valuable asset. Every meeting at LNB starts

with a safety moment. Our safety statistics are second to none. At LNB, safety is part of

the company culture, rather than just statistics and talk. It is part of the way we work

and it is part of who we are.



a. Since joining LNB I have created multiple successful joint ventures and partnerships with

First Nations Organizations in the local area. I consider this to be one of my highest

achievements, along with being nominated for business person of the year. These

partnerships are meaningful, sustainable and lead to increased training and

opportunities for all. LNB has now developed relationships with the following First

Nations Organizations: Lower Nicola, Neskonlith, Adams Lake, and Splatsin and we are

currently in discussions with the Tk’emlups (Kamloops) and Skeetchestn Bands. Under

my direction LNB has taken a much stronger community outreach approach. We have

donated to the Kamloops Food Bank, the Sk’elep School of Excellence, the Shulus

Community Arena, and the Secwepemc Hunting Camp. LNB sponsors local sports teams

because we believe in the future of our youth and understand that sports and team

building are key component to the development of future generations. Although our

jobs are often elsewhere in Western Canada, LNB chooses to hire from our home base,

namely Kamloops and Merritt, before hiring elsewhere. Hiring local to our base can cost

more, but we believe so strongly in the communities we are based in that we make it a

priority. Under my leadership LNB has refocused on local work, and the local

community. Our focus is on the safety of our employees and the communities that we

work in. LNB has turned around in this poor economic market so that we can make a

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positive contribution to society as a whole, and will have many more prosperous years

ahead of us.

Nominee 15: Dylan Methot | Mostly Mental Shuttles


1. Dylan, (Mostly Mental Shuttles) goes beyond what would be expected from a shuttle company.

-organizes and hosts two weekly group rides (for enjoyment, non profit)

-takes time with younger riders, providing experienced mechanical help and riding advice to

help them enjoy and join in mountain biking

Is a great ambassador for the sport of mountain biking and promoting Kamloops as a destination

spot to ride.

Nominee Submission:



a. I am the owner and operator of Mostly Mental Shuttles based here in the city of

Kamloops. We've been in operation for 6 years, and never want to leave! I started the

company because I saw a need for a shuttle service at the Kamloops Bike Ranch in 2010,

as kids were stuck either walking for hitchhiking. This has quickly transitioned into a

guiding and shuttling service that serves both people coming into Kamloops, and our

local bike community. We now offer twice a week, free, group rides, as well as coaching,

guiding, and of course mountain bike shuttles.



a. Every year so far we have found a need to grow and expand. We started with a single 8

seater vehicle with a 6 person bike rack, and are now operating a 15 passenger van with

a soon to be 14 bike trailer! We have grown very popular within the global mountain

bike scene, and have had continued success working with a lot of professional mountain

bike riders. Above all though, we have grown leaps and bounds with the help of our

local mountain bike industry.



a. As the premier mountain bike outfit in B.C., we've made a huge impact in mountain

biking in general. We've given young and upcoming riders the access and reliability to

hone their craft, as well as introduced hundreds of now serious mountain bikers to the

sport. We also have given kids and adults alike a service that allows them to get outside

and enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle, which also helps them stay out of trouble!

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Nominee 16: Greg Munden | Munden Ventures Ltd.


1. Greg is very dedicated to supporting and helping in the community and working on maintaining

a health staff environment. He's always looking at ways to improve his industry through

innovation and technology! A great community leader!

Nominee Submission:



a. Munden Ventures Ltd. is a 3rd generation transportation, forestry, commercial vehicle

repair and manufacturing business based in Kamloops. We employ approximately 45

staff and subcontractors in our various divisions. Our businesses operate on the basis of

providing exceptional customer service in an open and honest way, with an emphasis on

creating partnership relationships both with our customers and with our suppliers -

most of whom are also local businesses whenever possible. The key to our success has

always been our long term, loyal team members who deliver the professional services to

our customers. We hold long term contracts with major forest licensees in the BC

interior for whom we both haul logs and conduct log harvesting operations. Our

commercial maintenance facility provides repair, preventative maintenance and

government inspection services to our own fleet of trucks, as well as to external

customers ranging from independent owner operators to some of the largest fleets

serving the region. Our newest division is engaged in tank manufacturing and repair.

Primarily serving the petroleum industry, we build, repair and provide government

certified inspections to many of the largest petroleum transportation companies serving

the local region and beyond. As President of our business, I have been very proud to

lead an organization that has seen growth, faced significant industry change and has

been unafraid of taking risks to adapt while always trying to take the moral and ethical

high road in reaching our goals. I take great satisfaction in being proud of the services

we provide and the products we make, but mostly in the development of our

outstanding employees.



a. As I often say to people who ask the question, as a third generation business owner,

"I'm just trying not to screw it up". As recently as 10 years ago, Munden Ventures Ltd.

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was primarily engaged in lumber hauling for Weyerhaeuser Canada and Tolko

Industries. Unfortunately, one-by-one Weyerhaeuser began closing all of their BC

operations. In the end, our main customers were two of their three remaining BC

operations (Vavenby and Kamloops), as well as Tolko Industries in Barriere. The

announcement of Vavenby closing was followed within a few months by the Tolko mill

burning down during the McClure wildfire - representing our first and second largest

customers. Within a couple of years the Weyerhaeuser Kamloops sawmill was also

closed. As a result, our business had to be completely reconfigured in a short period of

time. I am proud of our successes in redeveloping our business into a log hauling

company and ensuring that all of our key staff, at the time, remained gainfully employed

by the Company. In fact, we never skipped a beat and were fortunate in having

continuing opportunities to develop the other divisions mentioned earlier. From a

personal achievement standpoint, I have been privileged to hold ongoing Board and

Executive Committee positions for more than 12 years with the British Columbia

Trucking Association, culminating in a recent term as Chairman. I was honored in June at

the BCTA AGM with the most prestigious award of "Service to Industry", given out to

only one person within the industry each year by the Association. For the past 4 years, I

have been on the Board of the Canadian Trucking Alliance (the trucking industry

national body), and was recently nominated to the Alliance's Executive Committee.

Locally, I have served on the Board of Venture Kamloops for the past 4 years.



a. As a Board and Executive Committee member of the BC Trucking Association, I have

taken every opportunity to promote Kamloops. During my term as Chair, it became a

standing joke that I would always profess Kamloops to be the "center of the universe"

during every presentation that I made. I have been an advocate for improving the safety

and lifestyles of professional truck drivers both within our community and across the

province. In doing so, I was invited to work with SD73 in the development of a

Professional Driver Training Program for rollout at the Norkam Trades School (still

currently in the concept phase). As well, I have presented two policy positions for: 1) the

mandatory adoption of electronic onboard recording devices in commercial vehicles,

and 2) minimum mandatory commercial driver training at the most recent Kamloops

Chamber of Commerce policy session - both of which were adopted locally and

subsequently adopted by the BC Chamber of Commerce. With Venture Kamloops, I have

donated my time with the Board to help advance the initiatives undertaken by the

organization to ensure Kamloops is an open, inviting and progressive community for

people to locate or grow their existing business. I was invited to be a representative for

the trucking industry at the Small Business Roundtable formed by Christie Clark under

the direction of Naomi Yamamoto, and I became one of the developers and signatories

of the BC Small Business Accord which helped to guide the provincial government's

development of policy around the small business community in BC. Recently, I was

asked to sit on the committee which is directing the development of the City of

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Kamloops' updated Transportation Plan. I am very proud to live, work and raise my

family in Kamloops.

Nominee 17: Carolynne McKenzie | Nature's Face & Body


1. Exceptional, natural face and body products. Huge variety of soaps and products to choose

from, all homemade and natural!!

Nominee Submission:



a. I am the founder and owner of Nature’s Face & Body and I strive to provide

competitively priced organic and natural products. With the help of my family, I have

produced products that at are safe for my customers, their pets and the environment. In

order to produce my product, I worked relentlessly to research ingredients that were

commonly used for many household cleaners, makeup and lotions. What I found was

disturbing to me as many of the ingredients were toxic to both people and the

environment. I made a promise to myself to make products (or source other products)

that would be safe for people, animals and the environment. This is something I am

passionate about and I wanted to make a positive change within my community. I have

selected suppliers who guarantee quality and free trade and I stand behind my products

100%. It is important to me to provide safe, natural/ organic products that have never

been tested on animals. I am proud to sell my products within the Kamloops community

and all across Canada!



a. I feel my biggest achievement is the amount my online business has grown over the past

year. My wholesale customer base has tripled in this time. I hear my achievements

through customer feedback, which I encourage. More recently, one of my clients who

have a septic tank thanked me for providing a laundry liquid that does not disturb the

bacterial balance in her septic tank. She stated she had been searching for a product

that would work for several years. I had a client who was looking for eye gels and

creams that would combat dark circles and wrinkles, but she had reactions from

everything she had tried. I worked with her to target her areas of concern without the

reaction to the product. I am happy to say we were successful and she no longer worries

about severe reactions to products. I am proud I can individualize my products for

clients and supply products that I know will help them.

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a. The success of our business comes from hard work and research. My products are

natural and organic and do not harm our environment. I sell my products at very

competitive prices because I want everyone, no matter what their socioeconomic

background, to have access to safe products for their families. My products do not

contain toxic ingredients and they are an option people can afford. My products range

from septic safe shampoos, body washes and laundry liquid, environmentally safe bug

spray, make up, lotions, cleaners, essential oils, and even jewellery. If I cannot make the

product someone is looking for I will help them find a provider that follows the

natural/organic philosophy that I stand for. In turn, this helps my fellow business owner.

My main concern is to have safe products in my community and to make my customers

satisfied “always” whether they purchase from me or another business. When my

business started there were few businesses like mine. I’m happy to say that providing

natural products for consumers has increased dramatically since then!

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Nominee 18: Ryan Holowaychuk | Noran Printing Ltd


1. Exceptional service in all areas.

Nominee Submission:



a. Ryan Holowaychuk took over as the new owner of Noran Printing in 2009. Ryan was

born and raised in the industry and has over 20 years of experience. He first started

sweeping floors and emptying garbage for his dad, Louis Holowaychuk, who owned

Kamloops Commercial Press. Ryan’s extensive knowledge of the printing industry and

his background in IT made this move the perfect fit. At Noran Printing, we have the

capability to do just about anything that has to do with Paper… and so much more!

Services we offer include printing of all stationary and marketing materials, business

forms and booklets etc. We also offer our customers a wide variety of promotional

products and embroidery. We are very proud to be part of the Kamloops community

and appreciate this nomination.



a. Noran Printing is a well-established company in the Kamloops community. We are 100%

local, we employ a handful of staff and are proud supporters of many events that take

place here and around Kamloops. In 2015 Noran was honoured to receive the Business

in the Arts Award presented at the Mayors Gala. That was a highlight and a testament to

our success in the Kamloops community.



a. I believe Noran has made a positive impact on our community. We are always excited to

be part of the many events that take place in our city and help out in any way we can.

We are firm believers in “Keeping Business Local”. In the past years we have been proud

supporters of many events and organizations including the Kamloops Symphony,

Western Canada Theatre, JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), The Kamloops

Brain Injury Association, Rib Fest and most recently the Kamloops Komedy Festival. Ryan

is also a firm believer in giving back to the community. He has been a Hockey Coach for

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KMHA for many years and coaches his sons soccer team. We continue to grow and look

for any way we can make a positive impact on our community.

Nominee 19: George Campbell | Overland Press (1990) Ltd.


1. -Long-time Kamloops Business

-2nd generation business.

-High degree of innovation

-George gives a huge amount of his time to supporting the community through volunteering for

projects and various service groups!

-Has mentored dozens of new business owners of the years!!

-Profitability

-stable employment provided over the years

-Amazing product quality and diversity

I would like to nominate George Campbell of Overland Press for Business Person of the Year.

When I think about someone in our community who exemplifies this, George is the first person

that comes to mind. Overland Press has served many of us in the community for printing needs.

Not only is the business well run, but the staff listen to customers’ needs and go above and

beyond. I have received product that is great quality and value.

Nominee Submission:



a. I have been an owner of Overland Press since 1979. Over this time there have been a

number of changes to the market place as well as the equipment used to produce

products. Because of our highly qualified employees we are able to provide services that

few other businesses in our field are able to provide. As a matter of fact we count a

number of other printing companies amongst our clients. A number of our clients have

been with us for decades, a couple since the founding of the company in 1960. We

enjoy a personal relationship with most of our customers as we help find solutions to

their printed needs.



a. I have many successes in my career, recognition, gratifying feedback and awards. What I

have learned is success is very simple to measure. It boils down to people `doing

ordinary things exceptionally well` or as Al McNair loved to say `Little things mean a lot?

Wrong, they mean everything`. So, when the people I work with take a plain magazine

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for B.C. Trappers and turn it into an exceptional, world class product; or the University

of California contacts us to produce a series of books for them because of our

knowledge in a certain area; or numerous authors like Dennis Robertson, Helen

Sakeskanip, Mike Politis and Don Klancher, to name but a few, come to us to for help

and advice on telling their stories; that is success. Success to me is seeing people grow

and achieve great things in their careers. Helping people become self-confident, skilled

individuals making a valuable contribution to our society is a very gratifying bit of

success to me.



a. Winston Churchill once said: “What you do is how you make a living; what you give is

how you make a life.” My contributions to the community make mine a very rich life.

Working with a number of people who make such valuable contributions to our way of

life is truly a blessing. I am involved in the scouting movement. I started working with

youth in different age groups from seven up to eighteen. Watching these young people

grow and become valuable citizens in their communities is extremely rewarding. Later

on I moved on to become a trainer, giving adults the skills to work successfully with

youth. I have served on a number of boards and committees; this allowed me to gain

insight into the multitude of needs communities in our region have. These include for

example: Youth, Camp Grafton, Scouts Canada; Seniors, North Shore Community Center

Society; Special Needs, Interior Community Services and Chris Rose Foundation; Arts

and Culture, Western Canada Theatre Company; Business, Kamloops Chamber of

Commerce and B.C. Graphic Arts Industry Association to name but a few. I just

completed a term as president of the B.C. Interior Community Foundation. This is

particularly gratifying because of the many communities and organizations the

Foundation helps through the generous donations by people who live and work in our

region. The number of people in the business community that look to me for

mentorship demonstrates my leadership skills. The number of organizations that I have

chaired or sat as part of the executive committee is also testament to my leadership

ability.

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Nominee 20: Sheila MacKenzie | Rainbow's Roost


1. No-one is doing anything like Rainbow's Roost they are very unique, they treat all their staff like

close family, putting kamloops on the map, only using local produce and supplies, not trying to

make money more into providing a tailored service for anyone and everyone

2. The Rainbow's Roost provides unique opportunities to celebrate special events in a farm setting.

Sheila and Ed are always around and so kind and welcoming to all they meet. There is such a

diversity in their product and everyone who goes there is always so happy.

Nominee Submission:



a. Rainbow’s Roost is a family-owned and operated farm and events centre located along

the bank of the North Thompson River in Kamloops, BC. Our property includes 53 acres

of fields, creeks, ponds, wild flowers, and other natural vegetation, making it an ideal

location for weddings, corporate retreats, kids camps, festivals, art shows, and much

more. Complemented with over two acres of lawn and a 3,000 square foot post and

beam event hall, we are able to provide a diverse range of authentic, indoor, and open-

air experiences. Our property also features a zip-line, geocaching activities, carriage and

pony rides, fishing in our stocked pond, a petting farm, and a chance to adventure

through our property and enjoy numerous creeks, animals, and natural vegetation. The

Rainbow's Roost has many activities to keep the entire family engaged throughout their

stay. Through exploration and programs, we provide opportunities for our younger

generations to learn about sustainable farming, develop skills such as how to rope a

cow, spin wool, and fish, and enjoy the outdoors in a fun and engaging way. We have to

admit, the adults love it too! We are The Rainbow’s Roost, Acres of Wonder, and

Everything Under One Roost!



a. When we consider how we achieve business success, we don't measure it by

streamlining systems, optimizing inefficiencies, and measuring the little minutiae of our

business. We look at the relationships we create and the way we make a difference in

our clients and customers lives, children and adults alike. For example, when we hold

events and we notice people watching our animals or exploring our farm, we engage

them, and educate them even further about the land, animals, and living sustainably.

Although this doesn't turn into immediate, measured business success, it contributes to

our overall goal of educating and changing people's lives. We measure this success by

tracking how many repeat customers we have, and how excited people are to

experience nature with us. We see the smiles on their faces when they leave, and we

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know they're coming back. This is why we have been so fortunate to be as busy as we

have been over the years. Another indicator which demonstrates our success is our

relationships with our staff. The staff we attract are excited about their work, and

volunteer experiences. They are dedicated to the goals of the Roost, and even travel

from the lower mainland each summer to work for us!



a. I had worked in the public school system for over 20 years. It was then that I made two

decisions. The first was to adhere to the physicians oath, and “do no harm” The second

was to do whatever I could to have a positive impact on my community, and the lives I

touched. When building my business, I made it my mission to create a facility which was

physically accessible with: paved roads, gravel pathways, wooden bridges, and entry

level hall. I also made it my mission to ensure that all members of society had access to

our facilities no matter what their financial situation. We often welcome families and

individuals to our farm and spend time taking them on tours and teaching them about

our animals. As well, school groups, daycares, group homes, care facilities, and social

organizations such as People in Motion, In Sight, Patient Care, (Grief Support) and the

Chris Rose Society, are invited on a regular basis to experience the Roost and all it has to

offer free of charge. While with us we encourage members of the special interest groups

to explore, and build new skills. As part of the skill building opportunities we offer these

special people work and volunteer experiences. Opportunities Fund also recognizes the

Roost as a positive placement for workers. Over the year we have contributed time,

money, and resources to a number of local causes. Examples of this would be:

purchasing and raising a pig for David Thompson Elementary for their “Shave Your

Head/Kiss a Pig” fundraiser for Mitch, and the subsequent dinner in his honour;

donation of the hall for fundraisers; providing organic produce for community events

such as Boxing Day dinners; hosting events such as the barbeque and motorbike ride to

raise money for Y Kids, and holding events such as craft fairs and art shows and giving

the proceeds to charity.

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Nominee 21: Cristina Ostapovitch | RTOWN Kamloops


1. They've worked with small business to bring them up to speed in technology and where the

future lies in fast marketing. Not only does it work for the business owners, individuals received

info on places they may have looked passed or never thought to visit. Deals & endless up to date

what's happening now. Love this company!!

Nominee Submission:



a. The company I work for is RTOWN. RTOWN is a digital marketing company whose

mission is to help other small businesses succeed. The digital landscape is growing and

changing at an alarming rate. Companies like this did not even exist 5 years ago. We

have the tools and expert staff to help business owners with complex marketing

strategies such as social media, reputation management, and SEO. We also provide

services such as websites, videos and online customer survey and satisfaction reports.

Through these tools we help businesses increase their bottom line, which in turn makes

for a healthy economy. I run (and started) the Kamloops division of the company. My

official title is Regional Digital Marketing Strategist. My role has been to consult,

educate and acquire customers in the Kamloops and surrounding area. Unofficially, I am

the company guru on motivation, team building and ethical sales training. We have had

such success in the Kamloops market, my role has evolved to help us do the same in

new markets such as Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Quesnel and Williams Lake. What I

get to do for a living is such a joy. It is the quintessential win/win situation. A small

business’s success is our success.



a. When I first heard I was nominated for this award I thought it was comical. I was

reminded by a few friends how far I have come in the last 5 years. Please excuse the

personal nature of this answer but I believe it will best explain my success if you knew

my beginnings. Five years ago I had just became a single mom with no job and a six year

absence in the workforce. Fortunately, this was short lived and I was offered a job

working at a small, local coffee shop paper selling advertising space. I was able to earn

enough to keep my house. There was no room for extras but I was able to pay the bills,

completely on my own. Then came RTOWN. When Luke, the CEO, offered me this

position, he had only one client in Vancouver. One! I polity declined but thank goodness

he didn’t take no for an answer! After a few more meetings I accepted the position to

head up the Kamloops branch of RTOWN. It has been hair straight back ever since. I

personally have obtained over 250 clients in the past three years. Kamloops is RTOWN’S

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strongest division, even over Vancouver. So strong in fact that RTOWN changed the

business model of how we were to grow and scale into other markets. I have helped

create well-paying jobs in our community. (We are about to hire our third employee for

Kamloops) I have helped so many businesses in this community grow their business. This

is very difficult for me to say because it sounds self-serving but I was an integral part of

RTOWN’s success and helped beat astronomical odds of a business succeeding in the

first 3 years. Not only have we succeeded but we have become a million dollar

company.



a. My job is to help other businesses succeed. Period. I can’t tell you how exciting that is!

When businesses succeed, the effects on the economy have a ripple effect. If we shift

just 1% of our spending to shopping locally in BC, we will create 3100 new jobs and

increase $94 million into the annual economy. RTOWN looks at the big picture. When I

am talking to clients, it’s not about what I can sell them. It’s about how can we get more

people through their doors, spending local dollars that stay local. Everything I do helps

makes a positive economic impact and that is why I do it. Perhaps that is not necessarily

the answer you are looking for so I will try this: Personally I am involved with one charity

and one not for profit. I have been on the board of Kidsport for two years. My role is

marketing and sponsorship. We help kids from low income families be able to play

sports and be involved, regardless of financial limitations. It is extremely rewarding work

knowing every child deserves the same opportunities in life. I also volunteer for

something else that is near and dear to my heart, JAC, Junior Achievements. I believe

sharing life experiences with youth today can have a greater impact than just the

education system alone. The way in which I feel I am a leader in the community is by the

way I conduct business. I believe that by being ethical, genuinely caring, and giving back

in some way inspires other to do the same. It certainly inspires me when I see others

step up. I want people to know that if you work hard but actually have purpose to what

you are doing, you’re going to succeed.

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Nominee 22: Linda Cline | Someday Retrievers & Hunt Club Ltd


1. Linda goes above and beyond with her breeding program and training. My family had the joy of

purchasing a chocolate lab from Linda, and he spent 6 months with her being trained for hunt

tests and bird hunting. By far the most amazing bird dog, thanks to Linda.

2. I cant say enough about Linda, she has such a love for the dogs. She trains then to be a pet for

your home, a hunting dog , a bomb dection dog, and police dogs.

3. Linda takes in Dogs that people just cant have and finds then a loving home, she takes dogs

that are scared of there own shadow and shows them theres more to life than being scared of

everything. She gives these dogs a life they deserve to have. She helps people who have

troubled dogs in there family have a dog that can be apart of the family. She has a pool on her

properity for extreme air dogs and host a family even FREE to ome watch theses amazing dogs

fly through the air and land in the pool. she teaches dogs to swim in the pool. it also can be used

to help dogs get exercise that have health issues. I could go on and on, But this lady deserves the

highest award she can get.

4. Last year I had the pleasure of dealing with Linda Cline of Someday Retrievers when I purchased

a puppy from her. Here professionalism in running her business was impress, the dog kennels

were clean and well run. I also liked that she raised dogs that would become service dogs for

persons with special needs and provided training for owners and their new dogs.

Nominee Submission:



a. My name is Linda Cline, I am the Owner/Operator of Someday Retrievers. For over 20

years, I have been breeding pure bred Labrador Retrievers for hunting, service, law

enforcement, and bomb and drug detection, as well as family pets. My dogs have been

sold throughout North America, as well as China, Argentina, Sweden and other locations

worldwide



a. Over the past 20 years, I have successfully developed a reputation as a trusted breeder

and trainer of dogs for all purposes. Our facility in Kamloops provides boarding and

training for all breeds of dogs. My pure breed Labrador Retrievers are sought after

worldwide by avid hunters, law enforcement agencies for drug and bomb detection, as

well as service dogs for people with disabilities. We are also one of the leading breeders

of family pets. Recently we have sold dogs to local celebrities (eg. Sarah Mclachlan and

Steve Darling). Also, we recently sold a dog to Transit Police in Vancouver, who was the

subject of the “Name that Dog” promotion on BCTV, where the winning name was from

a Kamloops elementary student with the winning name KONA.

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a. As an active community member, my personal goal is to improve the quality of life

around me. As a business owner in the unincorporated area of Cherry Creek, I have

endeavoured to hire people locally with accessible work close to home hiring some 15

to 20 people during this time. I work with my staff members to expand their possibilities

by paying for the cost of expanded education in their chosen field of interest. Fernando

Silva, the “Brazilian Dog Guru” is a product of my nurturing and training, he has now

established his own training facility in Kamloops and has been nominated for an

Excellence Award for Small Business. I also support rescue societies by providing free

training for dogs that are in shelters in an effort to have them placed in family homes.

Last November, I did a free training day at Sahali Mall where participants gave a

donation to “Adopt a Family” at Christmas.

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Nominee 23: Natalie Fournier | Sweet Spot Cupcakes


1. When Natalie took over this business and she recognized a desire from the community and

made it a reality. She values her customers and all her products are made from scratch and she

has many products that accommodate different dietary preferences.

Nominee Submission:



a. I am a self taught cake decorator and baker that always dreamed of one day opening my

own bakery. When the opportunity came to purchase the business all items fell into

place and my dream had finally came true. I have the opportunity to work alongside my

mother everyday and have now been able to employ two other staff members who

each bring a special part to the Sweet Spot Cupcake family. We have the pleasure of

making cupcakes and custom cakes for the community. Being a part of the communities

every day celebrations brings us joy and fulfillment. We have indirectly been a part of

Kamloops families celebrating births, anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, graduations

and many more special occasions. My goal as a new business owner in such a friendly

city, was to ensure that everyone felt welcome and comfortable when entering our

store. We offer an environment where our customers can come in and are greeted with

a friendly hello by staff that makes them comfortable enough to share whatever they

feel like sharing with us that day. We have a few table for friends to enjoy a nice dessert

and beverage, which often leads to hours of conversations. We have also recently

introduced soft serve ice cream which has been a big hit on these warm summer days. I,

personally have enjoyed every challenge and accomplishment this business has

provided me and getting to know the community has been a bonus. I am known as "the

cupcake lady" to many and that makes me smile and feel appreciated. I go to work

every day knowing we are bringing smiles to our customers, it's a great feeling.



a. I have always dreamed of opening my own bakery, and in 2014, the opportunity to

purchase Sweet Spot Cupcakes came along. Through many small and large hurdles, the

business was purchased and finally I was able to make my dream come thru. I did

purchase an existing business, however I wanted to make it my own. I never imagined

the struggles I would have purchasing an existing business with loyal customers.

Kamloops has a loyal community and I had to convince them that they would be taken

care of by me and my staff as they had been in the past. We had to work on making

them feel comfortable and trusting towards us and our product. An accomplishment I

feel we have achieved, with a now loyal customer and referral base business. The

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wedding bookings have double this year, and our sales have increased by 37%. Growing

my business is definitely an achievement I am very proud of, but being trusted to be a

part of someone’s special celebration is a much greater accomplishment. My customers

come to me with a vision of what they would like the cakes/desserts to look like for

their special day and trust in me to create it and make their visions come true. To be

able to say we can make what they want and have them overjoyed by the results is such

a proud moment. As a self-taught decorator, I enjoy exploring new challenging

techniques. It’s allowed me to think outside of the box with the custom cakes. I have

many everyday achievements in my business but being an indirect part of the

community and their family celebrations is my biggest accomplishment ever. I love

being out in the community and have my customers call me the "Cupcake Lady".



a. These last few years have allowed me to be a part of a foundation called Icing Smiles,

which is an international foundation that has local "Sugar Angels" provide special

customized cakes to sick kids and their siblings in the community. Being a Sugar Angels

has allowed me to provide smiles to families and kids that have struggled with

challenges that most of us could not even relate to. I have donated and worked with

many charities and special events in the community to show my support and to help

give back to the community that supports us on a daily basis. Without them we

wouldn’t be, giving back helps us say thank you. I have also done fundraisers in store

that have helped communities, such as the Fort McMurray Fires and the Sawyer family,

who needed help as their child was ill. By employing two students in a very

independent, yet team environment, I feel I have provided them with an opportunity to

learn both leadership skills and team building skills. I value my team members as both

being parts of my business puzzle. Without the environment we have in the store as

coworkers our business wouldn't be as dynamic as I believe it is. I am so proud to be

able to help two young community members indirectly with their studies, and financial

wellbeing. I look forward to the continued growth of the business, which in turn will be

able to help me help others.

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Nominee 24: Mario Piva | Tenisci Piva


1. Mario Piva has consistently shown incredible leadership and care for his team at Tenisci Piva.

When Mario builds a team, he treats them as family, and supports them getting to where they

desire to be, both professionally and personally.

Nominee Submission:



a. I am the Managing Partner of Tenisci Piva, Chartered Professional Accountants. Tenisci

Piva was formed in 1994, by Ron Tenisci and myself. Our specialty is working with small

business owners. Our Vision, Mission, and Core Values Statements are key to our

growth and keep us focused on what’s important. They are: Vision Our vision is to be

the professional services firm of choice. Mission Tenisci Piva builds a caring and trusting

relationship with our clients, provides high-quality business advisory services and makes

a positive impact on their financial and personal lives, while creating an awesome client

experience. Our workplace environment is positive, productive, energetic, team-

oriented and fun. Our team members feel balanced, valued and respected, are

accountable, and are given the opportunity to grow and shine. Together, we act to make

our community a great place to live. Values Integrity Respect Reputable Caring

Accountable



a. • Tenisci Piva has grown from five employees and two partners in 1994 to 22 employees

and five partners today • Am proud to be able to inspire and motivate a great team of

employees. It’s the team at Tenisci Piva that is my biggest accomplishment and they are

the ones that make our firm special. They look after all the details, and always go above

and beyond for all of our clients. • Have groomed and mentored many accounting

students into CA’s, CPA’s, and even managers at our firm • Firmly believe in a positive

company culture, and enjoy hearing each team member deliver a positive quote weekly

in our team meetings. • Recently became managing partner at Tenisci Piva, which

means really focusing on the big picture as well as ensuring every team member is

engaged and able to have a say in their own career development • Now more than

ever believe in meeting regularly with all team members to ask how can we be better,

and will you help us do this • I believe in the value of a healthy and balanced team; we

offer a weekly private yoga class for our team members, we provide funds to pay for our

team members’ personal fitness programs, we bring in a Registered Massage Therapist

during tax season to provide relaxation during this busy time of year. • I believe in

making a positive impact on the lives of our team; we regularly watch inspiring and

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motivating Ted Talks together as a team, sent many team members to the Chamber’s

Leadercast, and am sending our whole team to the upcoming Jack Canfield seminar in

Kamloops. • I believe in team building, and regularly arrange events for all to have fun

together and bond.



a. I am very proud that Tenisci Piva and my team support many local non-profits because

we believe in supporting the community. Here are some of the community non-profits

society and events we all support: • Pro bono or discounted fees for: o Kamloops Food

Bank Society o Kamloops Minor Hockey Association o Kamloops Collegiate Baseball

Society o Chris Rose Therapy Centre for Autism Foundation and Society o Habitat for

Humanity o Operation Red Nose, since its inception o PacificSport Regional Sport Centre

- Interior BC o Kamloops Campus Radio Society o Kamloops Curling Club • Extensive

team presence and donated hours working at Kamloops Food Bank events (Basics for

Babies, Food Drives, Easter and Thanksgiving hampers) • Huge presence in the Italian

community – with most partners belonging to the Italian society (men’s Colombo Lodge

and women’s CanItal Ladies) and donating time throughout the year • Annual

attendance at Big Brothers Bowl for Kids’ Sake – with many Tenisci Piva team members

and their families participating • Annual support of the Chris Rose Foundation dinner

and sponsorship of their annual golf tournament • Annual attendance and support at

the Elizabeth Fry Society annual fundraising dinner and several other fundraising dinners

for other organizations throughout the year. • Long term sponsors of the TRU Sports

Foundation • Three-year supporter of the Heart & Stroke Big Bike • Have been past

treasurer of the Colombo Hall, and past VP and Secretary/Treasurer of Business

Networking International • Many team members and partners of Tenisci Piva hold

board positions in local Kamloops non-profits, including TRU’s Enactus, Crimestopper’s,

Rotary (Kamloops West Treasurer and Aurora), TRU Alumni Board, and TRU Student

council.

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Nominee 25: Marcia Wilson | The Yoga Loft (Whole Family Yoga

Inc.)


1. The business of creating an amazing space to practice yoga is not an easy one and yet Marcia us

excelled at giving her clients opportunities thy would otherwise not be available in Kamloops. I

have not heard a negative comment from anyone and I've been happily going there for 2 years.

THAT is a feat!

Nominee Submission:



a. My name is Marcia Wilson- I am the owner of the Yoga Loft. I am an Occupational

Therapist by profession. My career has evolved in a very creative way secondary to my

involvement in volunteer and non-profit endeavors. The Yoga Loft is my first foray into

for-profit business. The Yoga Loft is a community-oriented studio located downtown.

We offer a mix of drop-in classes, as well as other services including Family Yoga,

Therapeutic Yoga, Continuing Education and Workshops, and Specialized programs. I

opened the studio in 2012, in part to provide a home for the family yoga programs I

offer; as of this fall we are home to yoga for children aged two to teens, as well as a

popular pre and post-natal yoga program. Services at the Yoga Loft have always evolved

organically and have included partnerships with the Interior Health/City of Kamloops

Strategic Health Alliance and Community Mental Health. Our Therapeutic Classes are a

critical place of healing for people post brain-injury/accident/illness. Programs for

people with anxiety and those in recovery are also part of our programming. The studio

is known for its positive working environment. All past and present Yoga Loft employees

are still connected to the studio as current employees or on contract on special projects.

Our team has grown from employed staff of two to four, and our contingency of

contractors (teachers and back-end contract staff) has grown from 6 to over 20. We

have always had a waitlist of teacher’s who would like to join our team. Many of our

teachers hold professional degrees in the health and social sciences. Our client base is

stable- we have a 76% retention rate. This creates a strong sense of connection and

community which is why many love the studio so much- it is home!



a. Although I have owned the Yoga Loft since 2012, it is only within the last 6 months that I

have fully embraced my role as business owner. Prior to 2012 my career was public

service oriented- I worked as an occupational therapist, and later took on leadership

roles for a number of non-profit organizations. Although they were not-for-profit

ventures, these opportunities influenced creation of the Loft. My role with the MS

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Society of Canada was particularly powerful in my development. Over a ten-year period

I worked with local volunteers to create an award-winning chapter that funded over

$250,000 annually in services and research. During my tenure I also worked with all

levels of government and private industry in a quest to create a Kamloops-based MS

Clinic. A shift saw me begin teaching yoga in 2010, and in 2012 I opened Kamloops’ first

non-hot yoga-only studio. I invested in business structure and equipment, and a team of

5 joined me. Today, my success as owner of the Yoga Loft is seen in its high client

retention rate (75% with over 1650 active clients in the past year), a waitlist of teachers,

retention of all staff, hosting major trainings and a world-renowned teacher, and

expansion of programs and partnerships. Most importantly I see success reflected in our

incredible team and steady growth in spite of my own challenges including a marital

separation in 2014 and injury which has forced me to stop teaching. My shift to the

business world has been a successful due to the incredible learning that came from my

non-profit ventures. As the Yoga Loft continues to thrive, my role as owner allows me to

unfold new opportunities or to hold where we are, making skillful choices informed by

years of learning.



a. In 2012 I opened Kamloops’ first non-hot yoga-only studio. I invested in business

structure and equipment, and a team of 5 joined me. Today, my success as owner of the

Yoga Loft is seen in its high client retention rate (75% with over 1650 active clients in the

past year), a waitlist of teachers, retention of all staff, hosting major trainings and a

world-renowned teacher, and expansion of programs and partnerships. I am a

community builder- I create things, I connect people, and I build relationships. Each of

my ventures has been a creation of community. My positive social impact and

leadership role centers on my involvement in health and fitness based projects, in part

through my engagement in health based non-profits but also through my volunteer

activities. I engage in a cycle of filling a need and leaving a legacy- that now includes the

Kamloops Triathlon Club, the Kids of Steel Triathlon, the Kamloops Chapter of the MS

Society, the Thompson Region Division of Family Practice and now my first for-profit

venture- the Yoga Loft. Over the past 4 years the Yoga Loft has sponsored a variety of

groups, in particular those with an arts based focus including Western Canada Theatre,

the Kamloops Symphony, and the Kamloops Arts Council. We are also an annual sponsor

of Bike to Work Week and the Kamloops Triathlon Club. We provide gift cards for every

event that requests support. And through fundraising for our own Mats4Kids program

we support the offering of yoga to local kids in the community by buying mats for

schools and community organizations. The Yoga Loft reflects my value in investing in

start-up and developing partnerships with business experts. The studio continues to

grow with sales of over $300,000 this year and an average growth of 18% year over year

since we opened. I continually re-invest in the studio to ensure its sustainability. Finally,

having grown from a team of seven teachers and staff, we now financially bolster the

income of more than 20 families.

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Nominee 26: Denis Lessard | TLC For Pets


1. Tammy and her team goes above and beyond to take good care of our furry family members.

Thank you you TLC :-)

Nominee Submission:



a. TLC for Pets is a pet boarding facility which cares for your animals anywhere from 8

hours up to 6 months. We look after all small animals so that pet owners do not have to

drop different animals off at different facilities. The real purpose of our pet resort is to

provide owners with peace of mind that their loved ones are safe and happy while the

owners are out of town. Our business has grown to where it is today by successfully

exceeding our customers’ expectations on a regular basis



a. TLC for Pets has been in business for 9 years. During that time I have won top home

based business of the year and was recognized as one of the top 10 young business

people in Kamloops. TLC for Pets has also been nominated for 15 Chamber of

Commerce awards in 9 years and finished in the top 3 3 times including the year we won

the top home based business award. My business has averaged a growth of 14% gross

revenue every year since its creation. In the last 2 years we expanded our facility by 40%

to meet the growing needs of our customer base



a. We have provided up to 7 young people with a work experience that has allowed them

to build a resume that included exceptional customer service as well as provided them

with funds that allowed them to go to school. 4000 different customers have used our

services to provide them with peace of mind allowing them to go out of town for

vacations or for business.

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Nominee 27: Trish Morelli | Trish Morelli Marketing Solutions


1. In the past year, Trish Morelli has brought together Kamloops' founding wineries to form a

marketing association to promote this burgeoning region as well as their individual wineries. As

executive director of the Jamloops Winery Association, she also led the branding and marketing

for the new Kamloops Wine Trail. This project inspired the installation of new highway signage,

prompting tourists and locals to visit and support these wineries. I feel we In Kamloops are so

fortunate to have Trish's vast expertise in this sector and her leadership in launching Kamloops

on the BC Wine map. This project has been excellent for the entire community and she deserves

to be recognized, either as business person of the year, or for the project of the year "The

Kamloops Wine Trail". P.S. I typed this on an iPhone so please excuse any typos or crazy

autocorrects!

Nominee Submission:



a. Born and raised in Kamloops, I moved to Vancouver to complete my university degree at

UBC and start my business career. Circumstances led me to the BC wine industry where I

enjoyed 25 successful years gaining experience in every aspect of the industry from

viticulture to sales to marketing. I was part of the successful growth of the BC wine

industry and was awarded a number of marketing and sales awards over the course of

my career. A passion for business, combined with a passion for wine, agritourism and

the joy of seeing others succeed led to the development of my own consulting business

– “Trish Morelli Marketing Solutions”. I am the sole proprietor of this business. The

nature of my business is providing marketing solutions for others. My success is

predicated on the success of others. Whether building a new brand, refreshing an old

brand, or simply trying to generate increased awareness or sales, my philosophy with all

my clients is to treat their business like my own. I work alongside my clients to ensure

that their goals and objectives are clearly defined and a path for success is charted out.

Currently the bulk of my efforts have been focused on the Kamloops Wineries

Association. As the sole business consultant on this project I am responsible for the

development and execution of a strategic plan that has helped put Kamloops on the BC

wine map and has significantly enhanced the awareness for the region and the wineries

within as an exciting new destination for wine touring.



a. As a marketing specialist, I was responsible for the development of many key BC wine

brands some of which include, Sandhill, Burrowing Owl, Coppermoon and Mission Hill.

As the Director of Marketing with Mission Hill Family Estate, I was responsible for

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overseeing the growth of the Mission Hill brand from a local producer of 20,000 cases to

a top ranked winery on the international stage selling over 100,000 cases per year. In

2006, I started my own consulting business. While I continued to specialize in wine

marketing, I was also involved in a number of successful contracts outside the wine

industry. After moving back to Kamloops in 2008, I continued my private consulting

business working with clients in Kamloops and around the province. The opening of

Harper’s Trail winery in 2012 caught my attention and eventually led to what I would

call a local highlight in terms of my more recent achievements. Capitalizing on my

25year involvement in marketing BC wine, I was able to apply my knowledge and

experience to the local Kamloops market resulting in the development and launch of the

Kamloops Wineries Association, and what has become a very successful and sustainable

venture for this community. Under the Kamloops Wine Trail umbrella, we have seen

tremendous growth in awareness and sales for our local Kamloops wineries and the

agritourism sector in Kamloops.



a. Executing a collaborative strategy in the development of the Kamloops Wineries

Association has had a significant impact not only for the wineries, but also for our entire

community. I have brought together our community in support of a new industry in

Kamloops. I have worked with individual businesses, government and non-profit groups

to develop strategic partnerships that have resulted in new relationships and an

economic benefit to respective organizations. A new wine sector in Kamloops has had a

positive economic impact on our tourism, agriculture, hotel and restaurant industries.

The BC wine industry generates $476 million in tourism related business. If we capture

just 1 % of this for Kamloops, that would result in $4.7 million or 9000 new visitors to

our city per year. In year one we have made a significant headway towards this goal.

Our wineries have reported significant increases in visitors since the launch of the

Kamloops Wine Trail. Successfully winning the battle for BC wine in grocery will provide

a tremendous economic and social value not only for our wineries, but for our entire

community. Council’s reversed decision will go a long way towards creating new jobs,

increasing awareness and sales for our local wineries. In addition to the economic

benefit, a healthy wine industry also brings a social and cultural benefit to our

community. I work hard to foster relationships with the arts, culinary and hospitality

communities so that our residents and tourists to the city can enjoy an enhanced

experience. What makes me a community leader is my passion to see Kamloops be the

best it can be. Whether it’s from tourism, economic or cultural perspective, I am

determined to see Kamloops grow and prosper and take the required steps to achieve

that success.

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Nominee 28: Tyler Meade | Tyler Meade Photography


1. Tyler is always doing things for kamloops

Nominee Submission:



a. Tyler Meade, owner/operator of Tyler Meade Photography. Born & raised in beautiful

Kamloops BC. In his home town is where he runs his head office/studio & pushes the art

& technology of professional photography. In 1995 is when this journey of excellence

begins. Over the 20 years Tyler has become clearly know as "The Photographer Guy"

From local independent business to International Corporations, Tyler has proven to

them all that he can always do the job! Constantly expanding, educating and treating

clients like family makes Tyler always the perfect choice. To top it off Tyler is a huge

supporter to many great causes in Kamloops, the Pink Ribbon Foundation, RIH, TRU,

Boogie The Bridge, SD73 and many others. Always giving back!



a. Recently Tyler has built up his team and has taken on School Photo Day for SD73 and

private schools, TRU Grads and convocations, Sports leagues photo day and the list

continues to grow. This expansion is endless while he trains staff and adds more clients

monthly. Tyler has many awards for his amazing work. Nominated BC Photographer of

the year, Best in Press BC, Best wedding album BC, Best Figure study BC, Most Creative

BC, Kodak Awarded BC, Best Pictorial BC, Images selected for galleries for BC, Canada

and Internationally, Finalist Young Entrepreneur of Year Kamloops Chamber X2.



a. Tyler has changed photography in Kamloops, allowing clients to have the best options

and have it local. Saving time and money for Kamloops businesses. He has also

showcased Kamloops in a way that Tourism Kamloops, ad agencies, hotels, well

everyone can show off how visually amazing this place is. In return bringing many

people to the region for holidays, play, sports or business to name a few. Tyler Meade

Photography Social Media is Huge, he continually promotes Kamloops and the world is

watching. A win for everyone! A small local business is making a large impact.

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Nominee 29: Terry Lowe | Volkswagen of Kamloops


1. Continues displays of humility and work ethic as a leader and his strive to be successful while

keeping his ego in check. Sponsored and coaching run club, turtle racing, and all the funds he

gives back to Kamloops.

I have known Terry for 25 years. He always has given me first class service anytime I went to his

store. I have admired how he has conducted himself through the Volkswagen upheaval. He has

remained very much the great businessman that he is. I know he is embarrassed by the poor

publicity but he has held himself above it.

The Turtle Race, the Childrens' Water Park and his contributions to the hospital are just a few of

this things Terry does for the Kamloops community. You are most fortunate to have a man of

Terry's calibre and integrity living and working in your city.

Nominee Submission:



a. I own and operate the Volkswagen dealership in Kamloops. We are the designated sales,

service, parts, and warranty facility for Kamloops and the surrounding area. Although I

have only had the VW store for 6 and a half years I have been in the automotive

business in Kamloops for just over 30 years. The bulk of that time was as the owner of

the Saturn franchise for almost 20 years. I was forced to change brands when General

Motors terminated the Saturn brand in North America during their 2008 bankruptcy

reorganization. As the owner of the store I know the stores culture comes primarily

comes from me. From the very early days of being in business I have always had a

simply philosophy, just treat people the way I would want to be treated. This isn’t just

for customers; in fact it is probably more important to operate this way when it comes

to our team members (staff). I have been in the automotive industry my entire adult life

and although our industry may not have the best reputation for how they treat people I

am proud to say that from a personal level I have always done my small part to try and

change that image.



a. A few years ago I would have trouble admitting success when the Saturn brand I owned

and operated for 19 plus years failed. I knew the termination of the Saturn brand was

nothing to do with the how we operated locally, it was still hard to accept the failure

and those were some very difficult times. One of the greatest successes was managing

to land the Volkswagen brand in Kamloops shortly after closing the doors on Saturn, at

that time VW had been absent from Kamloops for 12 years. I was able to keep everyone

employed and I am proud to say that not one team member quit while we were making

50 | P a g e

the transition. Out of every Saturn store in British Columbia we are the only store that

re-opened with another brand and the hard work has paid off for all of us. We have

been recognized for being a top dealer in Canada multiple times. Prior to the closing of

Saturn we won the newly recognized and prestigious Saturn Summit Award 3 years

running for being a top dealer in sales, service, and customer satisfaction. In the short

time we have been a Volkswagen dealer we have also been recognized with the

Wolfsburg Crest Award for the same achievements in sales, service, and customer

satisfaction. In 2015 we were also one of the largest growth performers in all of Canada

for the Volkswagen brand. All of these awards would not be possible without the skill,

dedication, and effort from our entire team past and present. Like I mentioned at the

beginning success is like a moving target, as much as I enjoy my career, I also enjoy my

work/life balance which is something I can enjoy more today. Some new successes

today are watching team members I have mentored grow in their roles and taking their

empowerment to help continue in leading the store.



a. I suppose by operating a business for over 30 years and keeping my team members

employed for all those years is a fairly significant positive economic benefit. As far as a

social impact I guess what we do would apply both socially and economically based on

the volunteer work that I have spearheaded for almost 20 years. Back in 1997 we

started projects that would help the youth in our community, at the same times as

bringing smiles to their faces. In 1997 we partnered with the City of Kamloops and

helped build a playground in Riverside Park, in the following two years we donated

funds for the McDonald Park playground project as well as contributed funds for an

outdoor basketball court at St. Ann’s Academy. It was then I realized our funds could not

go very far to help these types of projects so I created the Turtle River Race. We are now

in our 15th year holding the fundraising event and with the proceeds from this year’s

race we will have raised over $300,000 for local charities including the BC Wildlife Park,

the Royal Inland Hospital Pediatric Playroom, the Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops, and

most recently we have partnered with Western Canada Theatre to help raise funds for

their Stage One Theatre School. I don’t think of myself as a community leader. I just try

to operate my business the best way I know how, leave some time for myself and my

family, and try to give something back to our community. I was raised to lead by

example and those words from my dad are always we me. I am sure there are many

deserving people who are leaders in our community; I am honoured to be one of the

nominees.

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Nominee 30: Robin Clark | WestJet Airlines


1. WestJet is an amazing company with staff/owners that equal what the company stands for.

Robin Clark, Kamloops Base Manager has a consistent work ethic, while still providing the 'fun'

that WestJet is famous for.

Nominee Submission:



a. WestJet Encore Station Manager - Kamloops. WestJet Airlines has serviced Canadians

for the past 20years and WestJet Encore for the past 3 years - providing Canadians with

a fun, friendly and caring experience. I have worked with WestJet for almost 17years in

various roles (leadership role for the past 14yrs) and in a Station Manager role for the

past 7 years - in Yellowknife, Saskatoon, Penticton and Kamloops.



a. Stated as a customer service agent, moved to Team Leader the Shift Lead. I was then

accepted into the Airports Mentorship Program (1 of 6 people selected within the

company) to become a Station Manager where I have been for the past 7yrs. I also

managed the Kamloops and Penticton bases as a dual-station manager for 2yrs. I was

nominated for a Heart and Soul Award (internal WestJet recognition program) by the

Kamloops Customer Service Agents, however Managers are not permitted to win so I

could not be a finalist but it was nice to be recognized!



a. I have lead and supported the customer service agents in Kamloops for almost 4yrs now.

I was also leading 10 customer service agents in Penticton at the same time. Although it

was tough to be in 2 places at once, I encouraged both teams to use their best judgment

and their empowerment to help create a remarkable experience for our guests. I work

hard to create positive relationships within the community whether it be with various

organizations and/or 3rd party contractors. I approve Gift of Flight donations to charities

within the Kamloops community to show our support and meet/attend the events

whenever possible to represent WestJet and build relationships.

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