Presenting our 2024 RISE Award Finalists

Kelowna Women in Business is excited to announce our Finalists for the 2024 RISE Awards.

Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of these amazing members of our community! The RISE Awards Gala takes place on May 15th at the Coast Capri Hotel.

Our Coordinator of Ceremonies, Sami Brar, is the producer of OKGN MELA. This year’s inspiring Keynote Speaker is Jaclyn Robertson, CEO of Okanagan Lifestyle Apparal.

All are invited to share in this special event.

Woman of the Year Award - proudly presented by BDC

Karen Erickson

Karen is the co-lead of her IG Private Wealth Management practice. The high-net-worth client experience, investment planning and charitable giving are her number one priority. Karen’s career with IG started in 1997 as a marketing assistant. She moved into an advisory role around 10 years later. By 2006 Karen decided to lead her own team and obtain her Certified Financial Planner® designation. She excelled at expanding her practice and earned four pillars for her first four years of achievement. Karen was recognized by IG as a strong leader and took both a Division Director position and then a Regional Vice President position. In March 2019, Karen decided to step down from management and partner with her daughter already in the industry, Kayla. In the same year she won Kelowna’s Top 40 over 40. Karen is a dedicated active philanthropist and has served a full term of eight years on the board for United Way; she also helps with the organization of our local Alzheimer’s Walk. In 2021 was the recipient of the coveted “Herbert H. Carnegie” award. This award can only be earned once in someone’s career, they must have outstanding client service, and demonstrated a strong commitment to their community.

Website:www.karenandkayla.ca

Dr. Kyleen Myrah

Dr. Myrah is a Professor of Business at Okanagan College teaching in the areas of management and social entrepreneurship for over 24 years. She is also President of KyCo Management, a corporate training company specializing in leadership development, strategic planning, and social enterprise. An active member of her community, Kyleen has held volunteer positions with numerous organizations, and in 2017 she co-led the City of Kelowna’s Journey Home Task Force and was the founding Board Chair of the Society tasked with implementing the community’s plan to end homelessness. Currently she is the Interior BC Chair of the Loran Scholars Foundation, and Faculty Advisor for the award-winning student

Website:www.okanagan.bc.ca/myrah-kyleen

Dhorea Ramanula

Dhorea is a woman of color, and she embraces all her many cultures. She has been in the social services industry for 15 years, both in the Downtown Eastside and then in Surrey, with women’s violence and gangs. Dhorea came to beautiful Kelowna, and was manager of Brown Road Shelter and then executive director for a social enterprise during the pandemic, where she vetted, trained, retained 31 staff, and started six projects in the Okanagan from her bedroom. Dhorea then lost seven folks and pivoted to Community Futures with her idea of Hemi’s Holistic Healing Centre Society. She is now the Community Engagement Facilitator who, off the side of her desk, does philanthropic work trying to open the house and be the absolute best community member she can be while shining a bright light for her Black and Metis sisters, allowing space for them to shine and say, “if I can do it you can as well…. won’t you join me!”.

Website:www.hemisholistic.com

Maddi Violet

As a visionary leader in the wine industry, Maddi has dedicated the last eight years to redefining winemaking and enhancing wine culture from the ground up. Beginning her career in a local winery’s tasting room and ascending to founder and head winemaker at Ve Oh Lay Acres, Maddi’s path has been fueled by a blend of innovation, resilience, and a profound dedication to her craft. Her efforts have revitalized the ancient art of mead-making, making it relevant and enjoyable for today’s audience, and earned her prestigious accolades, including the Future 50 Under 40 and Top 40 Under 40 awards. Beyond the accolades, Maddi has prioritized sustainability, opened her farm for community engagement, and mentored women in the industry, underscoring her belief in the power of community, inclusivity, and supporting one another in times of need. Maddi’s mission goes beyond producing award-winning wines; it’s about fostering a wine culture that’s accessible, sustainable, and community-oriented, aiming to inspire positive change and growth in the industry.

Website:www.veohlayacres.com

Change Maker Award - proudly presented by Crowe MacKay

Allisha Heidt

Allisha Heidt is a social impact entrepreneur. Her passion for the environment has contributed to all of her life choices, including the founding of two social impact businesses. Allisha wants to save this planet by changing consumption patterns through the zero waste culture in her local and global community. She has over a decade of experience working in the sustainability industry, helping to ignite operational change with small and medium sized businesses in British Columbia.

Website:www.chickpeaceplanet.com

Naomi Mison

Naomi is a public relations expert with over 14 years of experience working in communications and marketing. She is the Communications Manager for First Nations Finance Authority where she develops and executes strategic campaigns to increase awareness of advisory, financing and investment services available to First Nations governments across Canada. When not taking the boardroom by storm, Naomi is a dedicated volunteer, public speaker and advocate for people living with dementia and their caregivers. She has worked extensively with the Alzheimer Society of BC and Canada as well spoken on numerous platforms including CBC’s Daybreak South and Out in the Open, AM 1150’s Engaging in Aging, and on Fresh Outlook Foundation’s HEADS UP podcast. Naomi sits on the board of directors for BrainTrust Canada and has volunteered with Cycling without Age Kelowna, Embrace Aging Month and the Senior Resource and Outreach Centre.

Website:Discussdementia.com

Carmen Rempel

Carmen has been in the non-profit sector her entire career and currently serves in the role of Executive Director at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission. She is the adoptive mother of 3 teenaged girls, a continuous student currently acquiring her MBA, and a proud member of the marathon maniacs club. Carmen has a passion for public policy and volunteers in her community as a director at the Chamber of Commerce, the Uptown Rutland Business Association and serves on the Mayor’s Task Force For Crime Reduction. In her leisure time Carmen enjoys riding her motorcycle around the Kootneys or solo-back country camping.

Website:www.kelownagospelmission.ca

Dr. Hilary Pada

A 2000 graduate of UBC Dental School, Dr. Hilary Pada’s interest in Hospital, Emergency, and Complex Medical-Dental care motivated her to pursue the UBC-VGH General Dental Residency. Exposure to Oral Oncology piqued her interest and brought her home to work at BCCancer in Kelowna. Since 2001, Hilary has served patients in private practice dentistry and BCCancer. Hilary furthered her commitment to learning and teaching by attaining Kois Mentor status in 2013. In 2018, she embarked on a new journey in Myofunctional Care and Integrative Oral Medicine. She saw how airway restrictions and cranial imbalance interconnected many health conditions. She sees how a Myofunctional Care approach can redirect the trajectory of wellness and natural genetic potential. Hilary has assembled a team of dedicated health professionals. Their combined passion for reaching the potential of optimal health, symmetry, and function became the catalyst for CO₂llaborative Care + Research.

Website:www.co2llab.care

Spirit Award - proudly presented by Pushor Mitchell Lawyers

Tanesha Blake

Tanesha Blake moved to Kelowna BC from Jamaica in the Summer of 2015. Her daughters joined her here one year later, and she got to see things through their eyes, their struggles of being the only black student in their class and embracing a new culture. Tanesha vowed to herself that she was going to go out and be involved in the community, however fear crippled her. Even though she was an adult, she had the same insecurities as her two girls. In order to conquer her fear and to lead by example for my children, Tanesha showed up as her best self in every room she entered. She used her love of public speaking to encourage ladies in the Jamaican business community, and started showing up in spaces and that she never thought was possible. Tanesha now understands that this journey is not about her, or receiving alcoates for her achievements. It is to show an immigrant black or white that have immersed in new culture that they have the power within them to impact positive chance within the community they serve. As a professional, she has been in the banking industry for over 10 years – currently employed at CIBC as a Financial Advisor, and has been operating Aristocrat Creations – Luxury Home Decor for two years. Tanesha prides herself on seeing the beauty in every situation and encouraging every individual that she comes in contact with to live up to their true potential.

Website:https://aristocratcreations.com/

Jenny Money

Jennifer Money, of Syilx and Nlaka’pamux descent, resides on her ancestral land in the Okanagan Valley. She’s a dedicated “serial-entrepreneur,” currently leading the Okanagan Indigenous Music and Arts Society, honored as “Best Arts and Entertainment” in 2020. Passionate about elevating Indigenous culture, she was named 2021’s “Face of Music and Art” in West Kelowna and received the City of Kelowna’s “Honour in the Arts” award in 2022. Jennifer serves on various boards and committees, including the Greater Westside Board of Trade, Tourism Kelowna, and as Chair of the Economic Development Commission for Westbank First Nation. With a recent graduate degree in Indigenous Public Health from UBC’s Faculty of Medicine, she’s also an Indigenous Cultural Safety Facilitator and faculty advisor. Currently pursuing an Executive MBA in Indigenous Business Leadership, she’s known for her passionate advocacy for Indigenous communities across personal and professional domains.

Website:www.okanaganfestival.org

Dhorea Ramanula

Website:www.hemisholistic.com

Denise Young

Denise is a collaborator, connector and activator. She is founder and president of Tiger’s Eye Advisory Group which offers workshops, keynotes and facilitation services with a focus on creating inclusion through communication practices. She is passionate about making a difference in every organization, community and with every person she connects with. An empowering facilitator and business strategist, Denise is always looking for continuous improvement which provides cost-savings to organizations by focusing on your biggest asset your people. With over 20 years in project and change management, event management, facilitation, training/instructing, program development and communications, Denise’s multifaceted experience fuels her success as an internal and external multi-disciplinary consultant. She is driven to create change, impact culture and move teams to sustainable success. Denise has a Masters of Arts in Communication and Technology and a Bachelor of Management. Personally, Denise enjoys traveling and adventure sports including completing multiple Ironmans!

Website:www.tigerseye.ca

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