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2024 Mentors

2024 KWIB Mentors

Amrita Dhami

Anessa Collins

Chantal Kowalski
Christine Kropp

Christine Kropp

Ester Pike
Kirsten Siggins

Kirsten Siggins

Laurence Rich

Linsey Reimer

Lynette Keyowski

Mike Porter

Sharon Bond

Sue Ross

Viviana Aguirre
Natasha Chilcott

Natasha Chilcott
Shannon Clark

Shannon Clark
Grace Pontes

Grace Pontes
Shauna Nyrose

Shauna Nyrose
Crystal Alseth

Crystal Alseth
Jo King

Jo King
Sara McIntyre

Sara MacIntyre
Anne Marie Meehan

Anne Marie Meehan

Amrita Dhami

Amrita Dhami moved to Vernon in 2023 and started her role with Accelerate Okanagan where she supports entrepreneurs building their tech startups. She loves learning about people’s stories and their creative ideas. It is her passion in life to inspire those that cross her path and support whoever is willing to fulfill their dreams. With a background in engineering and business, Amrita has a unique and all-round perspective. Her ability to connect people and put them on the right track brings her joy. Growing up in an Irish town full of colour and life, she loves music, adventures and good humour. The lakes and mountains have her heart, and you will often find her out enjoying time with others.

Anessa Collins

Anessa Collins is a Certified Emotional Intelligence Career Coach dedicated to helping women dial-in their assertiveness at work. Prior to this career she was a communications consultant and wellness coach. Anessa has a BS in Public Relations and is Trauma-Informed.

Chantal Kowalski

Chantal Kowalski is a mom of two and has been a Real Estate Managing Broker in the real estate management and operations space for 17 years. She is a lover of life, family, business and making the most out of our time on earth.

Christine Kropp

From crafting delectable treats to exploring the world, Christine Kropp is a multi-faceted entrepreneur. Her journey now includes a lifestyle blog, stunning event planning and invaluable business coaching. Drawing from rich experiences, Christine is a wealth of knowledge – every conversation leaves you eagerly awaiting the next!

Ester Pike

Ester Pike is the CEO-Founder of Fledge Solutions Inc. and the Director of Organizational Psychology and Psychometric Assessments at Action Edge Executive Development. Through her work, Ester has observed firsthand the critical importance of understanding and cultivating the “people” part of a business. Human Factors are what create the unique fingerprint of every organization, and it is her passion to provide you with the tools and skills necessary to have your business functioning at its peak through your greatest resource of all: your people.

Kirsten Siggins

So many of us are trained to run away from discomfort and avoid disagreement. But there is always essential information in conflict that helps you deepen relationships and take your business further. Delving into the conflict is what Kirsten Siggens helps you do effectively. Her Curious Conversation Skills framework empowers you to feel calmer and more confident having difficult discussions. With her mom, Kirsten founded the Institute Of Curiosity and has a best-selling book, ‘The Power Of Curiosity.’ She is the mom of two teens, a curiosity nerd, a wannabe chef and an adventurer who loves a full table and all things design.

Laurence Rich

Laurence Rich is the owner and Head of Design of FleuRich Creations, a floral and lifestyle boutique based in Kelowna. She started her career in the floral industry as a home based seasonal wedding florist and, by building a community and brand, opened her storefront and bloomed into Kelowna’s Best Florist shop.

Linsey Reimer

Linsey Reimer is the owner of Bright Creative. She helps coaches, service providers and small businesses create strategic and beautiful brand identities and websites so they can attract their perfect people and build their bottom line. Linsey is also the co-founder of Taste Advisor, an app and marketing platform for wine regions, and the co-founder of Taste Escape, an online travel brand dedicated to providing discount travel to the wine industry.

Lynette Keyowski

Lynette Keyowski is a visionary senior executive with over 17 years of dynamic leadership experience, known for her innovative and inclusive approach. A trailblazer at heart, she has transformed organizations and industries, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to collaboration and creativity. As a client-centric leader, Lynette has honed her skills in building high-value relationships and driving meaningful change. Passionate about mentorship, women’s entrepreneurship, and the power of mind-body connection, Lynette is not just a leader; she is a catalyst for positive change.

Mike Porter

Mike Porter is the Assistant Manager of Local Business for Prospera Credit Union in the Okanagan and Fraser Valley. He brings nearly two decades of service and passion, helping entrepreneurs succeed. Having worked for BDC and mentoring with WeBC, Mike knows exactly how to navigate (all) the sometimes-overwhelming aspects of becoming a successful business owner. He is very proud to work with many women business owners and further the efforts of Prospera CU to support these entrepreneurs as much as possible.

Sharon Bond

Sharon Bond is a proud member of the Nooaitch First Nation and native to Merritt, BC. She is the visionary CEO of Kekuli Café Properties Inc. and, alongside her husband Darren Hogg, spearheaded the establishment of the first Indigenous fast-food franchise in Canada – Kekuli Café. Beyond her business success, Sharon is deeply engaged in community initiatives, mentorships with Futurepreneur Canada and in tourism business, and is an entrepreneur in residence with PURPPL. She was honoured to receive the 2020 National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Businesswoman of the Year and the 2022 KWIB Rise Spirit Award.

Sue Ross

With over 15 years of customer service leadership experience and a storied career in the tech sector, Sue Ross is an executive coach, management consultant and facilitator known for her transformative impact on organizations and leaders. Having worked with companies such as Disney Online Studio and Starbucks, Sue has successfully led social enterprise initiatives, launched two consultancies, and co-founded a tech startup. She has been instrumental in guiding thousands of budding entrepreneurs, aiding organizational leaders in realizing their visions, and assisting for-profit and non-profit entities carve pathways toward scalability and sustainability.

Viviana Aguirre

Viviana Aguirre is a seasoned Program Manager with a proven track record of leading high-performance teams to deliver world-class critical projects, innovative solutions, and technology capabilities that drive transformation and process automation. With over 17 years of experience spanning HP Inc and independent consulting, she has honed her expertise in project management, data analysis and strategic planning, while also excelling in roles such as a trusted advisor to senior executives and a career coach for technology professionals.

Natasha Chilcott

Natasha Chilcott has been in sales and marketing for over 10 years. With two businesses and one exit under her belt, she has extensive experience in business building, finances, marketing, planning and business sale.

Shannon Clark

Shannon Clark is a ‘Jill-of-all-trades”. With 17 years experience in sales and finance, she is also a practicing visual artist and co-owner of a small concrete company! Shannon loves teaching, is BIG into self development and has also spent many years caring for a loved one with severe depression. Staying sane in this crazy world seems to be her natural forte!

Grace Pontes

Grace Pontes is a seriel entrepreneur and CPA, CMA. She has started a handful of successful businesses and was a business consultant for five years with a focus on operational efficiency. Grace is a numbers girl and believes that it is important to understand the numbers and use them to drive the business strategically.

Shauna Nyrose

Shauna Nyrose’s career trajectory has taken many turns over the years, until finally settling into her current ‘happy place’ working in marketing and strategic communications for an incredible not-for-profit organization over eight years ago. She is a passionate believer that you CAN achieve great things, as long as you are clear about what you want and why. Her side hustle as a yoga teacher for the past 12 years has opened up space for the myriad possibilities that heart-centered leadership can bring. She also believes that we are not solely defined by our professional roles. Being the proud mom of two teens and two fur babies, and the wife of an entrepreneur brings so much perspective and colour to her life.

Crystal Alseth

Crystal Alseth became a member of Emil Anderson in 2007 when she joined as an AP Clerk. After seven years, her connections within the organization and dedication to upholding company values led her to transition into the role of HR. Continuing her upward trajectory, Crystal spent another seven years thriving in the HR department, ultimately achieving the position of Director of Employee Engagement. This exciting advancement empowers Crystal to concentrate solely on cultivating an exceptional people-centric culture at EAG. In addition to her position, she holds the role as the Chair of the Women of EAG where she demonstrates immense pride in promoting a secure, diverse and inclusive atmosphere. Working alongside a remarkable community of resilient and knowledgeable female leaders, she eagerly anticipates the profound and positive impact that this initiative will bring forth. Crystal is committed to fostering an environment where every voice is heard, every perspective is valued and every individual can flourish.

Jo King

Jo King has held various leadership roles in sales and non-profits across Canada having led teams large and small. Her education, experiences and love for interior design brought her passion and professional expertise together when she started HUB INC. in 2018.   She believes that in any industry, relationships and people are what matter most. Working with her team, gaining the trust of clients and suppliers and fostering community relationships are where she thrives.

Sara MacIntyre

Sara MacIntyre’s career has primarily focused on government relations, communications and strategic planning. She has worked in the federal and provincial governments as a communications director. She has also worked on many change management projects, crisis management and advocacy work for various associations. Currently, Sara serves as the Vice-President, Western Canada for the Convenience Industry Council of Canada

Anne Marie Meehan

Anne Marie Meehan a seasoned wealth management professional with more than 30 years experience in all aspects of financial services. Her roles have been varied as she is comfortable being a senior leader or relationship manager building a book of business from scratch. Anne Marie is an active participant in her community through her volunteer work with groups like the Okanagan College Foundation. For fun, she loves to take advantage of the Okanagan’s bounty of outdoor activities – especially golf!

Interested in Becoming a Mentor?

Fill in our Mentor Registration form or
Email our Mentorship Director Jessica Samuels @ [email protected]

Created to honour and celebrate the achievements of inspirational members of the Kelowna business community, the Rise Awards culminates with an awards ceremony and banquet – after a rigorous nomination process.

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