Sandra Albers writer profile

Photo of Sandra Albers

Sandra Albers is a staff writer at Kootenay Business magazine. Since 2007, she has enjoyed hearing about new businesses, expanding businesses and unique businesses, as well as learning more about the long-time successes in the business community of the Kootenays. She writes, as well as copy edits and proofreads, for both magazine and website, and welcomes input from our readers.

Email Sandra if you have a story idea for any of the following:

At Work, a Q & A column that focuses on the people behind some of the area's long-running, successful companies;

Business Beat, a page of short, business-related announcements (new businesses, new owners, new locations, major expansions, business awards);

Around the Region, a page in Kootenay Business magazine that highlights some of the more unique businesses and entrepreneurial initiatives in the East and West Kootenay, as well as Columbia Valley and Boundary regions.

Sandra believes that success inspires success, and looks forward to hearing what makes your business special.

Most recent articles by Sandra Albers

A black-and-white headshot of Chelsea Boyd Gibson
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business, Influential Women in Business Chelsea Boyd Gibson is an entrepreneur twice over

Kimberley’s Chelsea Boyd Gibson came back home to run two businesses, Meadowsweet Photography and Meadowsweet Yoga & Wellness.

Group of young business people in casual meeting.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Small Business Celebrating business dreamers

The Business Development Bank of Canada sponsors Small Business Week in late October, shining the spotlight on the changing face of entrepreneurship

WIth a big smile, Karey Pion is mixing a tub of ingredients.
East Kootenay, Fernie The best soaps, the best life

With a thriving family and a thriving business, Karey Pion provides Soco Soaps to more than 40 markets in Canada, including hometown Fernie

Lynn Hiscoe offers connection, compassion and community in the Creston Valley through her new business, emPoweredlives.
East Kootenay, Creston, Health & Wellness, Small Business Social entrepreneur starts a new business in the Creston Valley

Lynn Hiscoe seeks to empower lives through her new business based in the Creston Valley

Katherine Spring is standing next to an examination table where she serves her clients.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Health & Wellness, Small Business, Influential Women in Business Katherine Spring truly cares

Katherine Spring started her company, Arch Allure Microblading, from scratch and has been warmly welcomed by the Cranbrook community

Tanya DuBois is standing in front of a piano, stretching one leg behind her and raising one arm in the air.
East Kootenay, Invermere, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business, Influential Women in Business This musical career came naturally for Tanya DuBois

Tanya DuBois offers group and private piano lessons in Invermere, where she emphasizes having fun with her students.

WIth a big smile, Karey Pion is mixing a tub of ingredients.
East Kootenay, Fernie, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business The best soaps, the best life

With a thriving family and a thriving business, Karey Pion provides Soco Soaps to more than 40 markets in Canada, including hometown Fernie

A headshot of Paul Bowolin
West Kootenay, Nelson, Financial, Small Business 25 years of helping people plan their future

Nelson Family Financial Services is celebrating 25 years of close relationships

Eleanor Stacey.
West Kootenay, Nelson Civic Theatre upgrades will fulfill a mission

Nelson Civic Theatre Society executive director Eleanor Stacey is excited about major renovations at the much-loved facility

Yuki Kianna Conne creating pottery.
West Kootenay, Nelson The art of the personal

Nelson’s Yuki Kianna Conne is an artist and entrepreneur who produces pieces that are both beautiful and functional from her North Shore ceramics studio

Samantha Gernhart
East Kootenay, Invermere, Small Business, Technology Bringing clarity to work and life

Samantha Gernhart is an influential woman in business in her community of Invermere, where she works at Copper Point Resort and runs a home-based business

Jan Skiber, posing in front of distant mountains.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Agriculture Keep those pesky weeds at bay

Chem-Free Weed Control in Cranbrook aims to provide a safe, organic way to control unwanted vegetation

50 companies 2018 Top 50 Kootenay Companies

It’s time once again to present Kootenay Business magazine’s Top 50 Kootenay Companies by revenue.

TTheory of a Deadman, a Canadian rock band from Delta, B.C., had Key City Theatre energized during a July 2015 concert.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Entertainment and Hospitality Bringing joy to the community

Key City Theatre celebrates 25 years and looks forward to a sparkling future

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

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

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.

Carla Nelson of Cranbrook's Maritime Travel recently travelled to India, and hopes to return to that country soon.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook Pack light and keep on travelling

Carla Nelson at Maritime Travel in Cranbrook has some tips for potential travellers.

Lori Tedrick serves as a Kootenay connection to Travel Best Bets.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Tourism Explore to your heart’s content

Lori Tedrick with Travel Best Bets shares her own dream vacation ideas as well as some practical travel advice

Shelagh Redecopp specializes in insurance coverage for snowbirds and other B.C. and Alberta travellers through her company, Safe Travels.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Tourism It’s the details that count with snowbird insurance

Safe Travels travel insurance broker Shelagh Redecopp offers some sound advice for snowbirds wanting to be sure they have proper coverage

Nichola Lytle won a 2016 Best of Business Award from Kootenay Business magazine in the Graphic Designer category. She works out of her Nelson office.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business Standing out from the crowd

On her web page, professional graphic designer and digital illustrator Nichola Lytle describes herself as someone with lots of ideas

2016 Top 50 Kootenay Companies
50 companies 2016 Top 50 Kootenay Companies

It’s time once again to present Kootenay Business magazine’s Top 50 Kootenay Companies by revenue.

Terry Van Horn takes great satisfaction in her job as economic development officer for the Lower Columbia Initiatives Corporation.
West Kootenay, Trail Living and working in paradise

Economic development is a sometimes slow but always gratifying process for the Lower Columbia Initiatives Corporation

A comfortable conversation bench is featured on the grounds of the Mir Centre for Peace, located on the Castlegar campus of Selkirk College.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Trail, Education Selkirk College at 50 years

For five decades, this college has served the West Kootenay well

Joy Guyot (L) and Michelle Nagy-Deak are co-owners of the French Connection Cheese Club in Golden.
West Kootenay, Golden, Cuisine, Small Business Cheese and so much more

The French Connection Cheese Club in Golden has been such a success that it’s moved to a bigger location and added a licensed bistro to boot.

Liz Cohoe holds a fur hat creation on the busy work floor at Lillie & Cohoe in Nelson.
Nelson, Small Business The function of fashion

Nelson­-based company Lillie & Cohoe is in the business of helping North American customers express their personal style

B.C. Premier Christy Clark was introduced to chamber of commerce luncheon guests in Cranbrook on June 23 by MLA Bill Bennett.
Cranbrook, Education B.C. premier announced funding for nursing and the trades

B.C. Premier Christy Clark spoke to a record crowd at the June 23 chamber of commerce luncheon in Cranbrook, B.C.

Ktunaxa Nation Council chair Kathryn Teneese.
Cranbrook, Education, First Nations A central part of the community

Kathryn Teneese desires people to see the Ktunaxa Nation as part and parcel of the wider community.

Business Person of the Year, Tristen Chernove, CEO of Elevate Airports, which manages Canadian Rockies International Airport.
Cranbrook Cranbrook chamber honours business excellence

Business excellence comes in many categories at this gala awards event

As manager of Evolution Health & Fitness in Fernie, B.C., Deanne Milley has found a role that fits her interests and lifestyle
Fernie, Health & Wellness Keeping fit in life and on the job

As manager of Evolution Health & Fitness in Fernie, B.C., Deanne Milley has found a role that fits her interests and lifestyle.

Leslie Molnar keeps busy with three roles at Cranbrook's College of the Rockies.
Cranbrook, Education Math is beautiful

Leslie Molnar loves to spread the word about the importance of numerical literacy, and she does a whole lot more at Cranbrook's College of the Rockies.

TOP OF THE WORLD, MA: Well, top of Fisher Peak, anyway. Jeff Cooper, manager of International Education at College of the Rockies in Cranbrook, says overseas students are amazed at the vast terrain of the East Kootenay.
Cranbrook, Education Putting out the welcome mat

Cranbrook's College of the Rockies welcomes overseas students from a variety of countries

The Cranbrook and District Community Foundation balances business and philanthropy  as it supports local non-profits
Cranbrook The business of charity is evolving

The Cranbrook and District Community Foundation balances business and philanthropy as it supports local non-profits.

Invermere writer Elinor Florence embarks on a book tour sponsored by the Kootenay Library Federation in mid-November (see sidebar below); she also appears at Lotus Books in Cranbrook Saturday, December 5 during a Kootenay Authors event from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Invermere First the writing, then the marketing

Elinor Florence offers an author's-eye-view into the world of getting a historical novel published in Canada.

Joy Guyot (L) and Michelle Nagy-Deak are co-owners of The French Connection Cheese Club in Golden, B.C. The shop can be found in an unusual location—the city's municipal campground.
Photo credit:
Photo courtesy The French Connection Cheese Club
Golden, Cuisine, Small Business Cheese, please!

Gourmet cheese shops, including The French Connection Cheese Club in Golden, are the latest thing in the Kootenay region.

A sepia head photo of Audrey Bisset.
Creston, Trail, Education Developing a love for music

Audrey Bisset travels from town to town helping people learn how to sing.

A sepia head and shoulders photo of Audrey Bissett.
Creston, Trail, Education Developing a love for music

Audrey Bisset travels from town to town helping people learn how to sing.

Ting Yuen and Paul Morel run the artist-owned-and-operated Art Rush Gallery in Golden. She's the painter, he's the photographer and they both craft a line of jewelry.
Golden Together in art and life

These nomadic artists may just have put down roots in Golden, B.C., where they operate Art Rush Gallery.

Cutline:
Rachel Ross (L), vice-president of Mandala Homes in Nelson, was a winner in the 2015 Influential Women in Business Awards, West Kootenay division, sponsored by Kootenay Business magazine. The magazine's sales rep, Kyla MacNeil, was happy to present the award.
Building the dream

Rachel Ross, vice-president with Mandala Homes in Nelson, B.C., is a caring as well as influential woman in business

Lea Scherck is an influential businesswoman in the West Kootenay who believes in the value of mentorship
Mentorship is vital

Lea Scherck is an influential businesswoman in the West Kootenay who believes in the value of mentorship.

AZcreative's Andrew Zwicker is an entrepreneur who loves nothing more than getting the word out about other creative types in the Kootenays
Rossland, Education, Small Business Being open to serendipity

AZcreative's Andrew Zwicker is an entrepreneur who loves nothing more than getting the word out about other creative types in the Kootenays

Photo courtesy Tracey Mozel
Technology Achieving work-life balance

A background in engineering gave Tracey Mozel a leg up when she made a career switch to technical writing.

Photo courtesy Columbia Power Corp.
Trail Opera goes underground

Trail singer's performance hits YouTube

Jennifer Chocolates in Nakusp is one of Pamela Clausen's clients.
Nelson, Small Business Helping others find work they love

At Community Futures Central Kootenay, it's all about helping workers see their potential.

Federal Minister of Industry James Moore speaks to Cranbrook chamber

There are positives in the Canadian economy but inter-provincial trade barriers need to come down, industry minister says.

Minister of Industry James Moore speaking at Cranbrook Chamber luncheon.  Robert Hawkins photo
The arts are also big business

Federal Minister of Industry James Moore believes supporting arts and culture results in financial gains

Brother and sister Rob and Krystal Porter of Just Liquid Sports
Cranbrook, Small Business Just Liquid Sports is feeling just fine

Just Liquid Sports owner Rob Porter accepted three awards at the 2015 Business Excellence Awards.

Faith Saunders offers customers at Save-On-Foods in Cranbrook a taste test of some of her jams and jellies.
Invermere, Cuisine The truth is in the tasting

Saunders Family Farm in Windermere produces a delicious, preservative-free product line of jams and jellies, and there are u-pick options too.

Our Kootenay Business writer takes a look at one of the sculpures in Castlegar's highly successful Sculpturewalk program.
Castlegar The world comes to Castlegar

After just five years, Castlegar's Sculpturewalk program has achieved a global reach.

Jim Pownall's first job was building his own home.
New Denver A connection with the forest

Jim Pownall & Co. is a small-town home construction company that produces some mighty impressive results.