Success Story Archives - Community Futures North Okanagan

Where Are They Now? From 3rd Place to Career Growth with North Okanagan Consulting

January 23, 2026/in News, Success Story

Shelley pitches North Okanagan Consulting at the Enterprize Challenge Finale Event on May 7th, 2025 at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre.

At Community Futures North Okanagan, we’ve seen firsthand that the true value of the Enterprize Challenge isn’t just in the businesses created—it’s in the incredible professionals who emerge from the process. Today, we’re catching up with Shelley Lavigne, a standout participant from our 2025 cohort, whose journey perfectly illustrates how the challenge serves as a springboard for personal and professional growth.

A Foundation Built on Innovation

When Shelley entered the 2025 Enterprize Challenge, she hit the ground running with the launch of North Okanagan Consulting. Her vision was clear: create a streamlined system to support local contractors and homeowners navigating the complexities of the permit process.

While the business had a quieter start than initially anticipated, the experience was anything but a setback. Through the challenge, Shelley gained a masterclass in the local market and the unfiltered realities of solo entrepreneurship. These insights allowed her to sharpen her business acumen and gain the clarity needed to shape her long-term career direction.

Shelley participated in many community events to promote her new business in 2025, including the Vernon Spring Home Show at Kal Tire Place.

The Power of Placing Third

Shelley’s hard work and dedication didn’t go unnoticed. She secured 3rd place in the 2025 Enterprize Challenge, walking away with a massive prize package designed to fuel growth.

This prize package included:

Significant cash investment to help with business expenses
Marketing & advertising credits to amplify the North Okanagan Consulting brand
Legal services to ensure a solid professional foundation
Local Chamber of Commerce memberships to deepen her community roots

A New Chapter

The beauty of the Enterprize Challenge is that the confidence and connections built during the program often lead to unexpected, exciting doors opening.

This past fall, Shelley transitioned into a new role as Accounts Manager for a local marketing company and it has proven to be a perfect fit. Today, she uses the very same business skills, systems-thinking, and community connections she cultivated during the challenge to thrive in her day-to-day work.

North Okanagan Consulting continues to hum along as a side-hustle for Shelley, creating opportunities to help clients with their permitting projects on a smaller scale. Shelley’s story is a powerful reminder that “success” in the challenge can mean many things—including landing a dream role where your entrepreneurial spirit is a prized asset.

Final Call: Your Turn to Change the Narrative

Shelley’s story is a testament to the fact that the Enterprize Challenge is about more than just a business plan; it’s about changing your circumstances and growing your personal brand.

Registration for the 2026 Enterprize Challenge is now in its FINAL WEEK.

Are you ready to find the clarity, confidence, and community support that Shelley did? Whether you launch the next big local startup or use the experience to catapult your career to the next level, the 2026 Enterprize Challenge is your platform to make it happen.

Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. The deadline is fast approaching—register today and start your own success story.

Where Are They Now? From Pitch to Progress with Vicky’s Play Place

January 16, 2026/in News, Success Story

Kylee Howard presents her final pitch for “Vicky’s Play Place” at the Enterprize Challenge Finale on May 7th, 2025 held at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre.

When the 2025 Enterprize Challenge wrapped up last May, Kylee Howard stood on stage as the second-place & People’s Choice winner, fueled by a vision to create a much-needed community space: Vicky’s Play Place.

But as any seasoned entrepreneur will tell you, the final pitch is just the starting line. Seven months later, Kylee is sharing a look behind the curtain at what it really takes to bring a business to life—and how the foundation laid during the Enterprize Challenge is helping her navigate the “marathon” of business ownership.

Shortly after the competition, Kylee moved to secure a facility. However, the transition from a business plan to a physical storefront brought a series of high-stakes lessons in zoning, permits, and commercial logistics.

“Ultimately, we had to walk away from our first potential deal due to parking limitations,” Kylee shares. “It was a tough but necessary decision. That process taught us exactly what a commercial space needs to truly work for our vision.”

For Kylee, the summer of 2025 was about more than just business; it was about life. While regrouping from facility setbacks, she was also navigating life with three children and welcoming a new baby girl to the family.

Kylee (back right) and her family.

While the pace changed, the momentum didn’t stop. By the Fall, the “rhythm” returned. Kylee used that time to:

Strengthen the business plan and financial projections.
Finalize an investor prospectus to prepare for the next level of funding.
Leverage Enterprize Challenge media credits to share her story, leading to vital connections with local business owners who believe in the mission.

One of the most significant shifts for Vicky’s Play Place has been a deep dive into the financing landscape. Kylee has been working closely with accountants, legal advisors, and the City of Vernon to understand exactly what makes a business “lender-ready.”

“It’s been a steep learning curve,” says Kylee. “But it has given us so much more clarity and confidence. We’re structuring this business responsibly from day one.”

The community demand for Vicky’s Play Place is undeniable. With nearly 600 families on the waitlist and consistent engagement on social media, the North Okanagan is ready for what Kylee is building.

While the original goal was a 2025 opening, the journey has led to a stronger, more grounded business model. With a third facility opportunity currently in the works, 2026 is looking like the year the doors finally swing open.

Are you ready to start your business journey? Registration for the 2026 Enterprize Challenge is NOW OPEN!

Kylee’s story is a testament to the fact that the Enterprize Challenge provides more than just a prize—it provides the tools, the network, and the resilience needed to turn a “business idea” into a “business reality.”

Whether you are in the middle of a pivot, just starting your plan, or looking for the mentorship to take you to the next level, we want to see you there.

Why Join the 2026 Enterprize Challenge?

Expert Mentorship: Get one-on-one guidance from local business leaders.
Refine Your Vision: Turn your idea into a robust, “lender-ready” business plan.
Win Big: Compete for thousands of dollars in prizes and essential business services.

Click Here to Register for the 2026 Enterprize Challenge!

Don’t wait—the next North Okanagan success story could be yours!

Where Are They Now? From Enterprize Challenge Winner to Green Building Powerhouse

January 9, 2026/in News, Success Story

When applying for Enterprize Challenge in late 2024, Dora Anderson of ECOTECTURE was looking for a way to take her new business to the next level.

Dora accepts a large oversized cheque from a man.

Dora (left) accepts the cheque for $6,500 and 1st Place award from Title Sponsor Agile BK at the Enterprize Challenge Finale event on May 7th, 2025.

Through the months of educational workshops, peer networking and professional mentoring, Dora and ECOTECTURE were positioned for accelerated growth – and a 1st place win was hers at the 2025 Enterprize Challenge Finale event on May 7th, 2025.

But winning the 2025 Enterprize Challenge, and the wide array of prizes that came with this win, was more than just an award for ECOTECTURE; it was the spark that ignited a movement. Looking back at a whirlwind year, it’s clear that the competition, hosted by Community Futures North Okanagan, served as the ultimate catalyst for bringing sustainable architecture into the local spotlight.

Led by Dora Anderson, the ECOTECTURE team hasn’t just been building houses; they’ve been building a greener future for the Okanagan. Since their win, the business has become a familiar name in the community, featured in Okanagan Lake Living Magazine, Castanet, and the Morning Star.

“The Enterprize Challenge was the catalyst for our business to gain exposure.” — Dora Anderson, ECOTECTURE

As Dora and her team reflect on the calendar year of 2025, they are filled with gratitude. They’ve partnered with forward-thinking clients who were ready to challenge the status quo, choosing to build better, build green, and aim for ‘Net Zero.

Perhaps the most meaningful milestone of the year was the opportunity for the team to give back to the community that supported them. ECOTECTURE worked alongside the Upper Room Mission (URM) to design their new 24-bed shelter.

This URM facility will provide 10,000 safe nights of sleep each year. For those acing the uncertainty of life on the streets, this shelter is more than just a building—it’s a foundation for transformation, recovery, and new beginnings.

As ECOTECTURE moves into 2026, the momentum from their Enterprize Challenge win shows no signs of slowing down. They continue to prove that in the North Okanagan, building for the future isn’t just a dream—it’s already happening.

Registration for Enterprize Challenge 2026 is now open, closing on January 31st, 2026. The Final Pitch event will take place on May 7, 2026, at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre. futuresbc.com/enterprize-challenge.

Enterprize Challenge Success Stories

December 12, 2025/in News, Success Story

With the kickoff of registration for the 2026 Enterprize Challenge, we wanted to share two ‘bite-sized’ Success Stories with you from former Enterprize Challenge finalists!

Your Friendly Dev – Finalist, 2025 Enteprize Challenge

Amber and her Enterprize Challenge mentor Danielle Guetter at her 1st Pitch in April 2025.

Amber was about half-way through the Self-Employment program with WorkBC Vernon in late 2024 when a fellow participant shared that he was entering the Enterprize Challenge. It’s a competition that sees emerging entrepreneurs develop a viable business plan and presentation, then pitch to judges like Dragon’s Den to compete for prizes.

Amber’s friend suggested she do it with him. “That was way out of my comfort zone, but I thought, OK, I am going to do this.”

Amber and “Your Friendly Dev” on-stage at the Finale Event for Enterprize Challenge in May 2025.

As a software developer, Amber was great supporting clients one-to-one. Talking up her business in front of dozens of strangers, though?

“ I went from not even being able to read my pitch in front of my kids to being up on stage in front of all those people,” she says.

Along with some incredible support from her Enterprize Challenge mentor, Amber made it through the first round. On the big night, her three kids were in the audience wearing Your Friendly Dev t-shirts and cheering her on.

Amber was not one of the top three winners, but she was thrilled with all the other results.

“I got so much out of it. The day after, my inbox was full of queries and my discovery chats were booked solid for a month. It was such great exposure.”

Lauren at the 1st Pitch in April 2023.

Chef Lauren Vincent – 3rd Place, 2023 Enterprize Challenge

In the spring of 2023, Lauren Vincent took third place in the Enterprize Challenge hosted by Community Futures North Okanagan. Her business preparing hearty, healthy fresh meals families could simply warm and serve was just getting off the ground, and Enterprize changed everything.

Lauren and her husband, who served with the military, and her young son had recently moved to Vernon from Victoria. Four years earlier, back on Vancouver Island, Lauren was on maternity leave with her son, the pandemic changed everything for young families, and a friend with two young children whose husband was away serving called Lauren and said, “I’m drowning. I need help with meals.”

“That’s how it all started,” says Lauren. “I feel like so much has happened between then and now.”

Not long after moving to the North Okanagan, Lauren saw a social post for Enterprize Challenge, which offers thousands of dollars in prizes to three winners after a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to judges.

Lauren holding her 3rd place trophy in May 2023.

“I thought, best case, I would place and maybe win prizes to help me accelerate the growth and opening. Worst case scenario, I would meet a network of people in the community.” So, she signed up.

Over the next several weeks, she took the workshops, she met with her mentor, and practiced her pitch. She made it through the first round and would go on to the final pitch at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.

“I was very excited and motivated to polish my presentation, take on the judge’s feedback and really nail it down,” she says.

Those words, “And third place of the 2023 Enterprize Challenge goes to…” still ring in her mind. It took a minute, she says, for everything to sink in.

“I was really proud and just happy to have had the opportunity to do my pitch in front of 200 people and talk about what I’m doing one-to-one during the vendor expo in the lobby. That exposure was amazing.”

Before the end of the night, Lauren had a handful of clients. And after those clients tried and loved her meals, they told their friends and neighbours, who told their friends and neighbours. Chef Lauren Vincent was on its way. Soon she had more than 20 client families receiving between two and four meals every week.

Feeling inspired?

Are you inspired by the success stories of these past Enterprize Challenge participants? Their achievements underscore the tangible benefits and proven framework this program provides.

If you have a business idea burning within you, or a startup ready to accelerate, now is the time to act.

Enterprize Challenge is more than a competition; it is a comprehensive, hands-on program designed to transform ambitious concepts into viable, sustainable businesses. We provide you with the structure, mentorship, and resources necessary to navigate the complexities of the early startup phase.

Don’t just dream of success—build it.

Register today by clicking here.

From Competition to Commercial Kitchen: Chef Lauren’s Recipe for Success

November 12, 2025/in Success Story

It’s Wednesday, and that means ‘Chef Lauren’ is loading boxes of fresh-cooked meals and lunches and breakfast goodies into her truck. Throughout the day, she will stop at the homes of more than 20 families, and hand over that week’s dinners: roasted lemon and herb chicken with Greek-style potatoes and green beans, for example, or barbacoa beef tacos and homemade guacamole.

Her business took off after Enterprize Challenge. Before the end of the night, after taking third place, she already had a handful of clients. And after those clients tried and loved her meals, they told their friends and neighbours, who told their friends and neighbours. Chef Lauren Vincent was on its way. Soon she had more than 20 client families receiving between two and four meals every week.

There was just one hitch: the capital to get everything off the ground. Start-up expenses such as foam coolers, meal containers, ice packs, utensils and ingredients began stacking up. Fortunately, thanks to her experience with Community Futures North Okanagan, Lauren knew where to turn for a business loan.

“I was hoping for a lending solution with a lower interest rate so that I could afford to pay off debt faster,” says Lauren. “Scot took me through the process as well as different options I could take. He was friendly and helpful and responsive. If I had questions, he was on top of it right away.”

With the loan amount and lending option she pursued, Lauren was able to secure the funding faster.

“I’m at a really exciting point in my business where I’m beginning to scale, bring on team members, and even considering a larger commercial space so that I can serve more people in our community. Securing the loan meant all those things were possible and closer on the horizon than anticipated.”

That said, staying small has come with some tremendous and unexpected bright spots.

“One of the things I really value about where I’m at is that I know all of my clients well and I get to chat with them on delivery day,” she says, recalling two teens in a client family who do a dance on ‘Chef Lauren Day.’ “I know all about their kids’ activities and I get these updates. I get to be a part of some special moments in families’ lives.”

In her travels delivering meals, conversations sometimes turn to business opportunities, and that’s where Lauren is quick to suggest CF North Okanagan.

“I’m always referring other small business owners that I meet to Community Futures because of the range of subject matter experts that are available to consult with. For new business owners especially, having another resource besides the big banks could mean the difference between continuing to grow and thrive, and not.”

Do you have a business idea? We believe in you! Learn about all the ways Community Futures North Okanagan supports entrepreneurs at every stage of business. Click here to make an appointment with one of our Business Advisors.

Sweetpea Farms: ‘I have so much potential’

July 31, 2025/in News, Success Story

The moments that Kaitlyne Peden lives for are these: watching her chicks teeter in the morning sunlight, handing a frozen whole chicken filled with goodness to a delighted family, witnessing her farrow pig give birth and then nurse its joyful, attentive piglets.

Sweetpea Farms is a small, family-owned farm near Vernon, offering high-quality, ethically raised meat and meat products.

“I’ve always loved animals,” says Kaitlyne Peden, one of six children who grew up on a farm and is now realizing her own dream of raising happy animals to help the community enjoy the very best meats.

Last summer, though, she was looking for a job and wasn’t having any luck finding a role that might tap into what she knows and loves. After visiting WorkBC Vernon and meeting a career advisor, the facilitator of the StartUP entrepreneurial skills training program happened to pass by and explained its path to self-employment.

“It just clicked,” says Kaitlyne, who was already living on land her parents own and share and had long been thinking they should make use of it to raise pigs and hens, and sell top-quality meat. “I knew that was something I really wanted to do.”

So began the journey to building Sweetpea Farms, home to happy pigs, pasture-raised poultry and gentle, lard-filled skincare inspired by nature.

During the 20-week StartUP program, Kaitlyne discovered that while she knew animals, she had a lot to learn about running a successful business. The business model canvas exercise gave her a roadmap; guest speakers helped her see how to use social media and cashflow spreadsheets to make sure she was making a profit on her goods and her time. After all, rearing and selling animals involves a lot of steps, feed and other vendors along the way.

“There are a lot of different costs, and you need a good way to keep track of it all—and also to know how much you need to mark up to make your profit.”

All of that hard work on her operations and financials helped Kaitlyne to see she would need capital to buy chicks and pigs as well as materials for new pens and feed—and with spring already underway, she’d need that funding sooner than later.

That’s when Kaitlyne turned to the loans team at Community Futures North Okanagan.

Kaitlyne and her Sweetpea Farms table at the Enterprize Challenge event held at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre on May 8th, 2025.

“I was slow and steady, but I got it done,” she says, of the application materials that gave her an even more in-depth picture of exactly what it would take to make Sweetpea Farms successful. “When I got the call that the loan had been approved, it was such a relief.”

Now she would have the funds to buy that feed, build that pen, and pay for chicks and pigs already scheduled to arrive within weeks.

Now, she could devote just a little more energy on the other big business project in her life, the Enterprize Challenge hosted by Community Futures North Okanagan. Learning how to give a strong pitch, market her farm and make connections with participants and mentors, she says, was invaluable.

In this Dragon’s Den-style competition, Sweetpea Farms was one of five businesses to advance to the finale.

“It was pretty surreal. I was in the midst of cleaning out pens and going on feed runs, and my animals had all just arrived—and then I was working on my pitch, but Enterprize was such a great tool to build on what we’d done in StartUP.”

Kaitlyne went into the rest of spring and then summer working hard and on that ‘I can do it’ high. Here she is, now, selling whole chickens directly and at some markets, and getting ready for fall’s butchering season.

“I know my business has a lot of potential and I have opportunities to keep growing,” she says, of the moisture creams and lip balms she’s making from her animals’ by-products, and the hobby farming coaching she hopes to offer someday.

Looking back, Kaitlyne is thankful for the people at Community Futures North Okanagan and WorkBC Vernon who cheered her on.

“I don’t think I could have done the StartUP program without Chelan. Her teaching style, she just makes you feel heard and gives you one-on-one time if you need it. Scot and Hal were fantastic too. Any time I hear someone say they’re struggling to find a job, I say, go to Community Futures. My career advisor still checks in with me and asks if there’s anything else I need. They’re just always there.”

Beyond Bank Walls: How Community Futures North Okanagan helped fuel Somm Zero’s success

June 30, 2025/in Success Story

Uniting three Okanagan-based sommeliers who are driven to bring better alcohol-free beverages to the table, Somm Zero offers a carefully curated selection of wines, spirits and beers from around the world.

Inspired by the sober journeys of friends and family, yet dismayed at the lack of quality choices, Bobby Faurot, John Glenn & Alex Viol began a fruitful tasting mission to seek and showcase the best non-alcohol options in the market.

Three men smile at the camera wearing black shirts. Behind them are wooden wine barrels.

Somm Zero founders (L-R) Alex Viol, Bobby Faurot & John Glenn.

“There’s a huge part of the community that was being left out and overlooked,” says Alex, “As sommeliers, we strive to offer inclusive hospitality and real choices for everybody, regardless of alcohol preference.”

Initially, Somm Zero approached three major financial institutions for financial assistance with starting this business.

Unfortunately, at that stage of their business journey, larger financial institutions were unable to provide support. However, friends suggested reaching out to Community Futures North Okanagan as a potential lender for local startups.

“They really saw the potential in us and what we’re trying to do—and we’re so appreciative,” says Bobby.

The rest, as the saying goes, is history: Somm Zero are currently on track to at double, possibly triple their revenue year-over-year from 2024 to 2025.

Today, Somm Zero’s online store offers a collection of the highest quality wine, beer and spirits, none of which include alcohol, yet all of which deliver on taste and experience.

“We are on track to possibly even reach $1 million in revenue by year-end,” said Viol of Somm Zero’s expanding business and customer base.

As their business continues to expand across the country, Somm Zero now supplies non-alcoholic products to businesses in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. The company also continues to ship directly to consumers in many more locations nationwide.

Given Somm Zero’s experience, it might not surprise you that our goal at Community Futures North Okanagan (CFNO) is to be community minded lenders and offer flexible lending options and business advisory services.

And we’re proud that our business loans cover most business-related expenses, such as start-up capital, seasonal requirements or expansion, to help new businesses get the solid start they need for success.

Interested in learning more about business loans through Community Futures North Okanagan? Book an appointment with one of our Business Advisors here and learn more on our website here.

A Perfect Pairing: How Community Futures North Okanagan Helped Two Sparrows Pizza Fire Up Success

June 26, 2025/in News, Success Story

VERNON – Trained pastry chef Rye Harwood and award-winning barista/bartender Sarah Helgason knew they would make a great mobile catering team. When they came across a wood-fired pizza truck for sale, the duo knew it was meant to be. Now they just had to secure the capital.

With business plan advising and lending at Community Futures North Okanagan that ensured they could make their dream happen without draining their savings, soon Two Sparrows Pizza was serving up—and selling out of—its delicious, one-of-a-kind pies.

“People just love our crusts. We’re really proud of our crusts and our flavours,” says Sarah. Dough is made from scratch with incredible care by Rye, who then hand-stretches each crust before placing it into an oven fired by the aroma of apple or cherry wood. Two Sparrows also features delightful yet simple blends of seasonal and local ingredients.

Catch Two Sparrows if you can on Fridays at the Polson Artisan Market during the summer and other pop-up locations—or hire them for your next event or wedding, where handcrafted pizzas are always a hit.

Interested in learning more about business plan development and the loans program at Community Futures North Okanagan? Make a “First Initial Consultation” appointment with one of our Business Advisors online today here.

Hats, happenstance and hard work: The story of Sarah Smith Media

December 30, 2024/in News, Success Story, Uncategorized

As the one-person producer behind Shaw TV’s Vernon coverage, Sarah Smith was used to juggling everything from setting up the TV guide and the station’s social media posts to shooting, scripting and editing stories about the community.

“It was everything,” says Smith, who also worked in this role for Shaw in Merritt and Whistler. “I wore a lot of hats.”

Little did she know, all that industriousness soon would come in handy as an entrepreneur. In 2023, just as Smith was preparing to return to work after a maternity leave, she learned that the station was being bought out and her role was coming to an end. At the same time, her eldest child had a friend whose dad was in the Community Futures North Okanagan Self-employment (SE) Program.

“All of that happened within weeks, so I thought, that seems like the path I should take.”

So, in September 2023, Smith began the SE program with ideas of bringing her video storytelling skills to the business community. Instead of simply sharing text on the About page of a business website, Smith envisioned a video version that “brings it all together and lets people see the real you.”

While Smith’s years of producing for Shaw gave her incredible resourcefulness and a strong work ethic, she quickly learned how much there was to learn about running a business.

“I was blown away by how much goes into creating a business—and by how much support they offer at Community Futures for new entrepreneurs.”

For her, the weeks spent focusing on financials—and determining what to charge for a service that been offered for free to businesses in her previous role—was especially helpful. “Until we did that work, I had no idea. I needed help with that.”

She found the SE program offered the perfect balance of challenge and support: “You had to put in to it what you wanted to get out of it. I think I’m the number one fan of that program. I’m always telling people about it.”

By November, Smith had a business plan and a vision for Sarah Smith Media. She was ready to launch. She admits that while she was busy creating content for her website and her own social channels and participating in networking opportunities, she had to continue to practice diligence and flexibility.

While she had hoped most of her time would be spent on corporate videos, she’s found greater demand for social media videos and related services. She’s also offering legacy videos that capture the cherished family stories of a senior.

“My strength is really in interviewing and finding that genuine story in a three to five-minute video that really encompasses the business values, passion and personality as well as services and why they exist…but I’ve just adapted to what’s needed and I’m staying open. I enjoy all of it.”

When a client reaches out with positive feedback after sharing a video, those are the moments that remind her she is in the right place.

“It can be a rollercoaster with your emotions and confidence and success, but after I hear back from a client, I just feel right and I know there’s value in what I’m doing and I’m making people happy.”

Are you interested in exploring self-employment? Discover how Community Futures North Okanagan can help! https://www.futuresbc.com/self-employment/

How are the Enterprize Challenge 2024 winners doing now?

December 17, 2024/in News, Success Story

: Santa and Gaby Flores, third-place Enterprize Challenge 2024 winner and owner of Baking Time.

Last May, over and over, Enterprize Challenge 2024 winners used the word ‘dream’ as they reflected on the experience of taking their business vision to the stage and then to the community. Now, seven months later, what’s the word that best describes how they’re doing? ‘Busy!’

“I’m overwhelmed—but in the best way possible,” says Jenna Smith, owner of Sage Dental Hygiene. Her business—providing in-room dental care at senior’s homes, mostly for those with mobility challenges and dementia—took first place in the annual entrepreneurship competition hosted by Community Futures North Okanagan.

Since last May, Sage Dental Hygiene has earned contracts at several long-term care homes, including a handful run by Interior Health in Vernon, Salmon Arm and Kamloops. Day in and day out, as she holds clients’ hands and helps them enjoy some of their last pleasures—touch, smiling and eating—Smith knows how important and special her work is. “It is really heart-warming. It’s so nice to have had something I absolutely believed in come to fruition.”

Third place winner Gaby Flores, owner of Baking Time, also knows the joy of seeing others delight in food. The Costa Rica native and executive pastry chef bakes gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan cookies, cakes and pastries. Since the competition, Flores secured rental use of a commercial kitchen and stepped into her business full-time, selling treats at local markets and cafés, and filling personalized orders.

The pink Baking Time tablecloths and her intricately decorated holiday desserts have become a recognizable favourite among those with a sweet-tooth and special dietary needs.

“People say, ‘Oh my gosh, we love you. We can’t find baking like this.’” As in, both gluten-free and dairy-free. “The support at the markets has been great, especially Armstrong. There were so many Christmas markets in November. I didn’t get a lot of sleep but I’m enjoying being a part of the community.”

How are the second-place winners Precious Gatpandan and RJ San Jose doing now?

“We named our business Errands and Beyond, but the it’s the ‘beyond’ of the business that’s really booming,” says Gatpandan, who takes care of the administrative and marketing needs of the business while San Jose does the hands-on work, often renovations and handyman support in basements, bathrooms and kitchens. Since Enterprize Challenge, their client base has grown significantly and now ranges from homeowners and rental property owners to property managers and businesses. They also recently earned the maintenance contract for Murphy’s Landing, the CF North Okanagan-led housing project for medical students.

“The clients just keep coming and we are happy. RJ has such a sense of pride in his projects. We feel very grateful when we hear kind words from our clients that they are thankful we could help them out.”

To other aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs considering entering the competition that offers business workshops, mentorship and a Dragon’s Den-style pitch with the chance to win thousands in prizes, Smith says:

“You have to go for it. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.”

Registration for Enterprize Challenge 2025 opens on Jan. 2, 2025, and the final pitch event takes place on May 8, 2025, at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre. futuresbc.com/enterprize-challenge.