2017 40 under 40 rising stars of business

Our second annual 40 under 40 list is a salute to some of the leading entrepreneurs in the Kootenays. The younger business people listed here were nominated by our readership—many thanks to the nominators for their kind and revealing comments. And congratulations to all those on the 2017 40 under 40 list. We wish you much future success.

Did we miss somebody? Submit your 40-under-40 candidate here.

40 under 40
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, 40 Under 40

The latest 40 under 40 list is here

Kootenay Business magazine presents the second annual 40 under 40 list of rising young entrepreneurs in the Kootenays

by Kerry Shellborn
Jen Comer has business savvy that has served Creston well.
East Kootenay, Creston

Jen Comer is fostering community spirit

Jen Comer has taken her business knowledge and used it to make the Creston Valley Farmers’ Market thrive.

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Craig Swendson, owner/operator of Torchlight Brewing Co. in Nelson, BC
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Craig Swendson: Brewing in the Kootenays

Craig Swendson is the proud owner and operator of Torchlight Brewing Co., one of Nelson’s most flourishing businesses.

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Allissa Keane, R.Ac, owner of Fruition Wellness.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Kimberley, Health & Wellness, 40 Under 40

Allissa Keane: Bringing wellness to the Kootenays

Allissa Keane followed her passion, and found her calling, when she started Fruition Wellness, with clinics in Cranbrook and Kimberley.

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Leanne Tegart
East Kootenay, Invermere, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Leanne Tegart: Beer provider

Invermere’s Arrowhead Brewing Company is riding the wave of Leanne Tegart’s savvy business sense

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Aidan McLaren-Caux, Proprietor of AMC Naturals in Nakusp
West Kootenay, Nakusp, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Aidan McLaren-Caux: Getting back to nature

Aidan McLaren-Caux was inspired to build a multi-faceted business after the birth of his beautiful twin daughters.

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A family business: Jessica, Briley Hailey and Chad Woshall of Kootenay Crates in Creston BC.
East Kootenay, Creston, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Chad Wobshall: Creston’s great crate company

Chad Wobshall turned a yard-sale find into a thriving business building colourful crates for major Canadian suppliers

by Kerry Shellborn
Rob Little, General Manager Adventure hotel, Emperor Coffee, Louis Steakhouse in Nelson, BC.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Rob Little: Adventures in hospitality

Rob Little’s head for numbers and people serve him well as he manages the historic Adventure Hotel in Nelson, B.C.

by Kerry Shellborn
Mackenzie Hope, manager of Hall Printing in Nelson.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Trail, 40 Under 40

Mackenzie Hope: A mind for marketing

Mackenzie Hope manages Hall Printing in Nelson, using his considerable education, talents and experiences to enhance his success.

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Alicia Gray, owner of Bombshack in Rossland, B.C.
West Kootenay, Rossland, Retail, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Alicia Gray: Finding the perfect balance

Alicia Gray decided to follow her heart—and so Bombshack in Rossland, B.C., was born.

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(L to R) Scott, Cam and Shawn Robertson
West Kootenay, Nelson, Retail, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Scott, Shawn and Cam Robertson: Taghum team brother

Taghum Shell in Nelson has built up a fan-following, thanks to its trio of brothers that run the store

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Clint Eaton, owner/operator of Cranbrook Flooring Ltd. with his parents, Harold and Peggy Eaton.
Marie Milner photo
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, 40 Under 40

Clint Eaton: Keeping it in the family

Raised with the spirit of entrepreneurship, Clint Eaton has lived up to his parents’ legacy by taking the family business to new levels.

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Denai Bell
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Retail, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Denai Bell: Innovator

Denai Bell’s creative efforts have landed Arrow and Axe into the centre of Kimberley’s Platzl

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Rob Porter, of Just Liquid Sports in Cranbrook
Marie Milner photo
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Invermere, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Rob Porter is bringing outdoor recreationists together

The Kootenay waterways have inspired a booming business, owned by an avid outdoor recreation lover, Rob Porter.

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Cayle Pasiechnyk has created a legacy with his Sparwood business.
East Kootenay, Sparwood, 40 Under 40

Cayle Pasiechnyk: Building a business from the ground up

Cayle Pasiechnyk started his landscaping work when he was young, and used his impressive skill set to build Elk Valley Greenhouse & Landscaping in Sparwood.

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(L to R) Lisa Christopher and Amber Biberdorf
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Real Estate, 40 Under 40

Lisa Christopher and Amber Biberdorf: Property gals

The East Kootenay branch of PropertyGuys.com is headed by Lisa Christopher and Amber Biberdorf

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Chris Fuhs of Ace's Pit Stop in Grand Forks, B.C., brings positivity and enthusiasm to the tire business.
West Kootenay, Grand Forks, Retail, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Chris Fuhs, Grand Forks community builder

Chris Fuhs of Grand Forks, is a generous, hard-working, community-spirited family man.

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Adam Pomeroy's shared passion for bikes and biking led him and Rob Gretchen to open Cycology Bikes in Castlegar, B.C.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Retail, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Adam Pomeroy, Castlegar Cycologist

Adam Pomeroy’s bicycle business allows him to have fun, stay fit and enjoy his environment, and to help others do the same.

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Jordan Strobel is a full-time student, a certified drone pilot and an experienced entrepreneur.
West Kootenay, Rossland, Trail, Small Business, Technology, 40 Under 40

Jordan Strobel, born to be in business

Demonstrating wisdom beyond his years, Jordan Strobel embraces the struggle that accompanies achievement.

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Steven Thomson enjoys the challenges and diversity of his career, even sitting in the office, as he is here
West Kootenay, Nelson, Developments, Energy, Environment, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Steven Thomson: Meet this maverick engineer

9dot Engineering Inc., based in Nelson, B.C., has talented innovators such as CEO Steven Thomson

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A young, brown haired woman.
East Kootenay, Invermere, Health & Wellness, Retail, 40 Under 40

Kari Asselin found her niche in the “green” beauty world

OM Organics Boutique Apothecary is a successful Invermere-based business that is run by nature lover Kari Asselin.

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Kari Loftsgard.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Health & Wellness, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Kari Loftsgard: physiotherapist

Kari Loftsgard relieves pain and affliction from the active Kimberley community at Creekside Physiotherapy

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Justin Storm became general manager of J.H. Huscroft Ltd. in 2013, at the age of 30.
East Kootenay, Creston, Forestry, 40 Under 40

Justin Storm, Creston’s dedicated lumberman

Justin Storm appreciates the collaboration among Creston’s businesses and community agencies, supporting the local economy.

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Tyler Beckley owns and operates the Three BVars Guest & Cattle Ranch near Cranbrook, B.C.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business, Tourism, 40 Under 40

Tyler Beckley, cowboy businessman

The owner of Three Bars Guest & Cattle Ranch thrives on guiding his guests through exciting new experiences.

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A young man and woman on snowmobiles in the mountains.
East Kootenay, Fernie, Tourism, 40 Under 40

Enjoying the ride

Like any outdoor sport, there’s a lot to learn about snowmobiling in the backcountry—and that’s where Andy and Shantelle Weir come in.

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Diane Bull with her husband Steve.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Retail, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Diane Bull: The stylish trendsetter

Diane Bull has taken Revelstoke, B.C.’s Style Trend Clothiers to exciting new heights thanks to her creative thinking and marketing

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Kris Koop of Blue Barn Pet & Hobby Farm supports the health and welfare of animals.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Animal Care, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Kris Koop, Castlegar’s critter champion

Lifelong animal lover Kris Koop, owner of Blue Barn Pet & Hobby Farm, provides care for pets through his products and services.

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A young couple in the outdoors.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Cranbrook’s Corduroy Life

Aaron and Sharon Shuttleworth are the owners of Corduroy Life, an independant sales agency that celebrates the outdoor lifestyle.

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Jocelyn Brunner stands in front of her Invermere store, Summit Footwear & Fashion.
East Kootenay, Invermere, Retail, 40 Under 40

Jocelyn Brunner: A creative and strategic shop owner

Jocelyn Brunner offers something for everyone—without sacrificing quality, comfort and design—at her store, Summit Footwear & Fashion.

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Autumn Grossutti has brought together a collection of gifts and personal items for all ages at Betty’z Edje Boutique.
West Kootenay, Nakusp, 40 Under 40

Autumn Grossutti: Bold is best

The owner of Betty’z Edje in Nakusp showcases gift items made in the Kootenays and beyond

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Sarina Beran, owner of Remedy's Rx in Sparwood, B.C., balances her work with her enjoyment of outdoor activity
East Kootenay, Sparwood, Health & Wellness, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Sarina Beran’s remedy works

Sarina Beran of Sparwood, B.C., loves the independence that comes with entrepreneurship.

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A young man sitting on a trials motorcycle.
West Kootenay, Golden, Entertainment and Hospitality, 40 Under 40

The business of backflipping a motorcycle

Professional motorcycle trials rider Sam King is the owner of Ride The Vibe in Golden, a unique business based on the lifestyle of action sports athletes.

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Grady Pasiechnyk owns and operates two Wine Works shops in Kimberley and Cranbrook.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Kimberley, 40 Under 40

Grady Pasiechnyk: Back to his Kootenay roots

At two Wine Works locations, owner Grady Pasiechnyk takes great pleasure in helping customers create their own delicious wines

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A head shot of Fraser Blyth.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Fraser Blyth: Designing memorable places

Fraser Blyth of Selkirk Planning & Design helps mountain communities maintain and enhance their sense of place

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Charlotte Ferreux
West Kootenay, Castlegar, 40 Under 40

Charlotte Ferreux: Coach and founder

Charlotte Ferreux is a Certified High Performance Coach and founder of Thrive Consulting

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Jennifer Mitchell is in the business of brightening up your home or office.
East Kootenay, Fernie, 40 Under 40

Jennifer Mitchell will brighten your day

Jennifer Mitchell is a young entrepreneur with her own painting company and an involvement in the sub-trades in Fernie, B.C.

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Marloes van Lent
West Kootenay, Golden, Financial, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Marloes van Lent: Golden’s Dutch bookkeeper

Settling into Golden is as straightforward as balancing the books—just ask Dutch transplant Marloes van Lent

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Tim Wiley, owner/operator of Rustic Crust Pizza, loves to provide delectable fare for the people in and around Trail, B.
West Kootenay, Trail, Cuisine, Small Business, 40 Under 40

Tim Wiley, Trail’s favourite pizza man

“All the environments I encounter are positive because, well . . . pizza!” said Tim Wiley, owner of Rustic Crust Pizza in Trail, B.C.

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Greg Hoffart, owner of Tree Construction.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Developments, 40 Under 40

Leading Revelstoke’s green building revolution

Greg Hoffart is the owner of Tree Construction and his focus is on building homes that are healthy, efficient and environmentally sustainable.

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