Influencers in Golden

Here are a few of Golden’s business-linked people who are improving outlooks for local businesses

by Marie Milner — August 31, 2018

Magi Scallion of Magi Scallion Professional Services in Golden, B.C.

Magi Scallion of Magi Scallion Professional Services helps small businesses achieve their goals and map their futures. — Photo courtesy Magi Scallion

Often the people who are very good at a particular activity are those to whom it comes naturally. That said, though, getting the most out of our natural skills and talents is hard work, and it’s risky. Those who do the work and take those risks—whether financial, physical or emotional—to wring all they can from their gifts, deserve our recognition and appreciation.

In Golden, B.C., the business community has the support of a number of these naturally skilled, hardworking people, and we present a glimpse of a few of them here.

Magi Scallion

Magi Scallion is a huge fan of Golden, and she does everything she can to bring people to Golden and to support local businesses to succeed. She is passionate about sustainability for businesses and not-for-profits, and supports social enterprise. She helps small businesses and not-for-profits find ways to generate and manage their own revenues, rather than being solely dependent on uncertain sponsorships and grants.

Magi Scallion Professional Services offers marketing, event management and business development. In a climate that does not provide much funding support for startup businesses, Scallion helps small businesses to achieve their goals and map their futures.

Larry Sparks

Through his company, Larry Sparks Business Development & Project Management, Larry Sparks and his nine-person team provide a C-suite (CEO, COO, CFO and CIO) of business expertise at a time and cost that work for the business concerned. Sparks calls it “corporate punching power.”

At the point when the business is poised to grow, but the owner can no longer be the chief of all aspects, Sparks and his associates answer the “now what?” The team offers expertise in administration, finance, operations, marketing and IT, among other fields, freeing the business owner to focus on production, customer service and sales.

Karen Cathcart

Karen Cathcart, the manager of Golden’s College of the Rockies campus, initially taught business courses in the Adventure Tourism Program. She took on her administrative role in 2006.

To further her desire to make a difference in the community by supporting its progress and development, she has been the director for Area A of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District since 2014.

“My role as the Area A director,” she said, “has been focused on community engagement, with respect to what local government is about and what it is not about, and providing the connection between local government and the residents.”