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Enterprize Challenge 2017 Finalists Announced: Part 2

March 30, 2017/in News

Community Futures North Okanagan lists the next five of 10 finalists competing for $35,000 in Enterprize prizes!

There’s a shop where you can buy hand-baked spuds and a storefront that sells local artisans’ wares. There’s a place to rent RV’s, have your skin health analyzed and your audio-visual needs fulfilled. It seems the third annual Enterprize Challenge finalists have nearly thought of everything.

“The quality of the Enterprize presentations is always high and this year has been no exception,” says Leigha Horsfield, executive director, Community Futures North Okanagan. “I don’t envy the job of the judges.”

Community Futures North Okanagan, which hosts the annual Enterprize Challenge, has just announced the next five of 10 finalists competing to share nearly $35,000 in prizes so participants can take their business ideas to the next level. Twenty-three contestants—the most ever—entered this year’s challenge, an impressive number, says Horsfield.

“I think that tells us entrepreneurship is alive and well in this region. The spirit and intention of entrepreneurship is healthy here. That’s what that tells us.”

After weeks of preparation and pitching, the judges announced their first five of 10 finalists March 22. Here are the names and business descriptions of the next five:

1. Jeff McSweeney, Happy Little Camper Rentals

What better way to enjoy the outdoors and quality family time than on a camping trip sans tent?! Get off the ground and get out there with Happy Little Camper Rentals’ range of self-tow RV’s and camper vans.

2. Martin Paris, Jolly Good Spudz

Forget French fries! Jolly Good Spudz cooks up baked potatoes topped with an exciting array of healthy fillings to give you a new and nourishing handmade snack alternative.

3. Mathieu Jubinville, HBAV Production Group

When you’ve got great sound and a great picture, everything’s better. HBAV Production Group provides professional audio-visual services to create custom, long-term solutions that meet clients’ needs.

4. Juanita Miller, Balanced Botanical

As a certified nutritionist and health educator, Juanita is passionate about helping women improve their health and feel beautiful. Working out of downtown Vernon’s Mustard Seed Clinic, Juanita offers a range of popular services, including nutrition coaching, skin analysis, wellness education and retreats, and even grocery store tours.

5. Pam Taylor, The Pink Spotted Goat

The Pink Spotted Goat is a storefront that gives people the chance to buy home and gift items handcrafted by local artisans and makers. With a select line of sustainability-inspired products, PSG helps families reduce waste and contribute to local charities.

Now all 10 candidates await the announcement of the top three winners at the 2017 Enterprize Challenge Tradeshow and Awards event being held at Okanagan College April 13. The public is encouraged to attend this free event! Tradeshow begins at 4 pm and the awards will begin at 5 pm. To learn more, visit EnterprizeChallenge.ca. The Enterprize Challenge is presented by VantageOne Credit Union.

 

https://www.futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Jeff-scaled.jpg 1920 2560 Kazia Mullin https://futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Community-Futures-North-Okanagan-Logo.png Kazia Mullin2017-03-30 10:24:202017-03-30 10:24:20Enterprize Challenge 2017 Finalists Announced: Part 2

Enterprize Challenge 2017 Finalists Announced

March 22, 2017/in News

FROM A BARBERSHOP that sells suspenders and a lake-floating convenience store to a life celebrant for baby-naming ceremonies, this year’s Enterprize Challenge finalists have some unique and inspiring business ideas set to enhance the Okanagan’s already impressive entrepreneurial landscape.

Community Futures North Okanagan, which hosts the annual Enterprize Challenge, has just announced the first five of 10 finalists competing to share nearly $35,000 in prizes.

“This year’s participants have brought forward some really unique and innovative business ideas as well as some traditional business ideas with a new spin,” says Leigha Horsfield, executive director, Community Futures North Okanagan. “The judges have definitely had their work cut out for them.”

The 2017 Enterprize Challenge, now in its third year, brought forth 23 contestants—the most ever. Judges have now released their list of 10 finalists, and here are the names and business descriptions of the first five:

  1. Susan Cairnie, Earth to Sky Celebrant Ceremonies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a certified Life-Cycle Celebrant and ordained inter-faith minister, Susan Cairnie creates and officiates custom ceremonies for weddings, sacred unions, blessing ways, vow renewals, baby-naming ceremonies and more. Earth to Sky Celebrant Ceremonies caters to a growing demand for an alternative to standard religious and civil ceremonies.

  1. Leanne Mollica, The Rumpus Raft

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What if you could order a roll of toilet paper or a tall iced tea while you’re boating on Kalamalka or Okanagan Lake? The Rumpus Raft brings boaters all the hot day necessities of a convenience store right on the water.

  1. Elle Bourcet, Ritual Barbershop

This Main Street Vernon shop will offer complete unisex barber services as well as high end men’s retail items such as pocket squares, suspenders, neck ties and bow ties.

  1. Rob Raybould, Sellable

Which properties have a higher probability of listing for sale within the year? Sellable is a predictive real estate search engine that uses analytics and industry trends to help real estate agents focus marketing on and grow their inventory of houses likely to sell soon.

  1. Rebecca Hackman, BITES Creative Catering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whether you need appetizers for a party or an intimate dinner for just a few, this catering service brings gourmet organic and local dishes right to your door. BITES Creative Catering can take care of everything, from menu planning and shopping to decorating and cleaning up.

The next five finalists will be named next week, and the top three winners will be announced at the 2017 Enterprize Challenge Tradeshow and Awards event being held at Okanagan College April 13. Tradeshow begins at 4 pm and the awards will begin at 5 pm. To learn more, visit EnterprizeChallenge.ca. The Community Futures Enterprize Challenge is presented by VantageOne Credit Union.

https://www.futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/BITES2-scaled.jpg 1920 2560 Kazia Mullin https://futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Community-Futures-North-Okanagan-Logo.png Kazia Mullin2017-03-22 09:59:422017-03-22 09:59:42Enterprize Challenge 2017 Finalists Announced

Zach Is in the Kitchen!

March 15, 2017/in Success Story

Zachary Murison wanted a job. Not just any job. A job that offered work he would be proud of, that would appreciate what he would bring. That would give him a chance to grow and shine, in his own quiet way.

Last year, at seventeen, he was looking for work when his foster parents noticed an ad for Employ! at Community Futures North Okanagan. It’s a program designed to give young adults employability skills to secure jobs that harness participants’ talents and interests.

Murison was busy with his high school courses at the Alternative Learning Program, but he knew the extra workload would be worth it, that the Employ! program could also lead him somewhere. So, he asked his parents and his teachers if he could do the program during the day, and his schoolwork at night and on weekends.

They agreed.

Within days, Murison, knew the hard work and long days would pay off.

“We learned so many things,” says Murison, “Job interview exercises and practicing questions, and even facial expressions and handshaking. Resume skills. How to look for job.”

But one of the most impactful discoveries was that “they helped me see what kind of job I wanted, and how to focus on that.”

That kind of job was cooking in a restaurant kitchen where he would make and plate delicious, beautiful meals for people.

“My favourite part is the presentation,” says Murison. “I like making it look really nice. There’s a sense of self-accomplishment when it looks perfect. And when you’re feeding so many people, you see how much work you did.”

He’s been feeding so many people because within days of completing the Employ! program, Murison was sitting across from a manager at Red Robin, in a job interview.

“Near the end of the program, I had a lot more confidence about being able to meet someone new and be able to sell myself and explain why I want to be a part of that team and why they would want me to be a part of their team.”

“I was a little nervous but she was really nice. She asked me a few different questions that kind of threw me off but at the end she said I did well and I felt really good.”

The unexpected question: What kind of superpower would you want to have?

Fortunately, says Murison, Employ! had taught him how to think quickly and give thoughtful answers.

“Near the end of the program, I had a lot more confidence about being able to meet someone new and be able to sell myself and explain why I want to be a part of that team and why they would want me to be a part of their team.”

A few days after the interview, the Red Robin manager called back. Murison got the job.

Community Futures North Okanagan Employ! graduate Zach Murison went on to earn a job he loves–cooking at Red Robin.

In the last year, he’s learned how to do the hot, the cold and the sauteé stations. He’s become a closing shift leader. He was named Employee of the Month just three months after starting.

“I was quite surprised. I was not expecting her to call my name,” says Murison, whose manager commended his devotion to his tasks and his strong sense of teamwork.

Looking back over the last 12 months, Murison says “I feel good about how hard I’ve worked get there, and I’ve been able to get to know the people who work there, and they’re friends.”

As guests and orders come and go, Murison most looks forward to making the Royal Burger, “because if you can make the perfect egg, it looks really nice on top,” and the fajita, the way its searing pan sizzles and steams on its way out onto the floor “smelling really, really good.”

Murison, who was working in the kitchen full-time at one point, has scaled his hours back a little so he can continue with his education. He has big dreams.

Some day, Zach Murison wants to open his own restaurant in Vernon.

“I want to become a business owner. I want to own a restaurant here someday.”

To other young people struggling to find the right fit in the workplace, Murison says “anyone who has had a job or hasn’t had a job can learn a lot from the program—communication skills, pinpointing the best job for you, people skills, building your resume….I’ve had lots of jobs and it definitely taught me more than I would have thought.

“The instructors were absolutely amazing. Even though we were in a class, they really took as much time to do one-on-one as they could.

Are you between the ages of 16 to 30 and looking for an opportunity to grow your job search and employability skills so you can find a great job? Learn more about our Employ! Program.

https://www.futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/zach-h-room-copy-scaled.jpg 2560 1861 Kazia Mullin https://futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Community-Futures-North-Okanagan-Logo.png Kazia Mullin2017-03-15 08:46:042017-03-15 08:46:04Zach Is in the Kitchen!

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About Community Futures

From our office in downtown Vernon, Community Futures North Okanagan offers employment, business and economic development services to help residents build their future and the community. We service Armstrong, Coldstream, Enderby, Grindrod, Lavington, Lumby, Mara, Okanagan Indian Band,  Spallumcheen, Splatsin and Vernon.

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