I Love Real Estate

Alex VandeLaar, Owner/Director at Alex VandeLaar Consulting, is a serial entrepreneur and strategy consultant who is obsessed with marketing. Alex loves to think outside of the box and find unique ways to drive sales. Originally hailing from Ontario, Alex moved to Kelowna 4 years ago and never looked back. He has run his own consulting company for the past 8 years and recently started “The Marketing Accelerator”, a program that helps small business owners with the foundations of branding and marketing.  ----------------------------------------------------------POST A REVIEWGUEST BOOKINGS CLICK HEREFollow me on Social MediaNew Town Big Dreams podcast on FacebookInstagramLinkedinLuke Menkes Kelowna RealtorMy Personal Facebook PageSupport the showNOMINATE YOURSELF, ANOTHER PERSON OR A BUSINESS TO APPEAR ON THE I LOVE KELOWNA PODCAST

Kelowna born and raised artist, musician, social entrepreneur, business consultant and writer, Lynda Norman, has always known that creativity is a natural part of being. Her vision is to create opportunities for each and every person to experience the benefits of creativity in ways that are meaningful, fulfilling, healing, positive and essential to a thriving community.As owner and publisher of a small local magazine for 4 years, Lynda monitored trends, focused on community awareness and developed many lasting relationships. For several years she followed her passion for inspiring others by assisting people with their employment and career goals. As Client Services Coordinator for Women's Enterprise Centre she provided entrepreneurs with resources and business start-up advice, facilitated presentations, wrote and edited business articles and built a province wide, online resource directory. Her weekly Business Start-Up telephone sessions allowed her to connect with and provide the tools for hundreds of p

Nathan Peacock is a film maker in the Okanagan (British Columbia, Canada) under the brand Solid Rock Video and also on the side as a wedding videographer alias Half 9 Media. Among other outdoor things, hiking and snowboarding have become favorite activities since moving to the Okanagan 9 years ago from the Middle East where Nathan grew up.Meaningful connections are always the goal as Nathan's story telling ranges from mildly amusing, to deeply compelling. Books, podcasts, informative videos, and nerdy tech conversations never get old... Nathan will ask  you questions just to keep you talking as soon as he realizes you know something he wants to learn!----------------------------------------------------------POST A REVIEWGUEST BOOKINGS CLICK HEREFollow me on Social MediaNew Town Big Dreams on FacebookInstagramLinkedinLuke Menkes Kelowna RealtorMy Personal Facebook PageSupport the showNOMINATE YOURSELF, ANOTHER PERSON OR A BUSINESS TO APPEAR ON THE I LOVE KELOWNA PODCAST

Nathan Hutton is Youth Speaker and Teen/Young Adult Life Coach located in the Central Okanagan region. He has over 16 years of professional experience working with children, teens, and young adults. He has worked with clients living with addiction, mental health, criminal histories, housing and educational barriers. He uses his own personal story to present a message of perseverance and resilience and currently speaks to schools and community groups throughout BC as well as the rest of Canada. He is a member of the Voices For Equity speaker’s bureau and he facilitates the online support group Coffee Talk With Nate. Last year, he also ran a bi-weekly video series, Hurt Heal Repeat - Road to Spartan which documented his journey healing from injury and preparing for the 2018 Spartan Race Series. He is happily married to an amazing wife and father of two incredible children; musician and voice behind the studio project, Soul Forgotten; and an ordained Dudeist priest. Here is Nathan's great website HHR Clothi

Romina Muhametaj is the founder of Six 7 Radius and the host of Coffee with Romina. She also holds the President Chair for FSCJ-SHRM Student Chapter and recently Romina launched NE FL Negotiation Club.Romina moved to America at just 17 years old by herself intending to pursue her American Dream and her accomplishments talk about her stubbornness on her goals continuously. Often, she talks about how her American Journey has been a rollercoaster but Romina has a power to keep a positive attitude over every situation and analyze everything with the “how can I make this better and what can I learn from this” mindset.Six 7 Radius LLC., is a consulting firm that helps companies grow by building one of a kind marketing strategies & sales techniques. With the right guidance, the company can succeed no matter the external environmental factors. Romina helps her clients by overseeing their PR presence making sure the company’s culture is well represented, teaching negotiation skills to increase sales and revenue, a

Kris Rostecki is the owner and primary stylist of Inspirado Designs. She was born a small town BC girl, but raised in Ontario until 18. She then moved and spent 11 years in northern Alberta before coming back and spending the last 8 years, in BC.  Kris started her business a little later in life, after experiencing a few other careers that, though educational and growth inducing, didn’t bring her joy. She started out life thinking she wanted to be a veterinarian. So she worked in animal hospitals for 4 years. Next up was the restaurant industry, while in Alberta and going to post-secondary. She moved up the ladder in that profession, until the glamour wore off and she decided to get a stable data entry position to save money to go back to school again. That job saw her quickly promoted  into a material coordinator, which she then worked until, yes, you guessed it, she was bored once again.  Then it was off to get some safety training and into the oil field where she wore a hard hat, steel toe boots and grew a

Daniil Khodosko believes there is a new frontier in medicine for psychedelic substances and am eager to spread the new research. The resurgence of psychedelics is fueled by modern studies which show how these substances can help treat anxiety, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), depression, and addiction.Daniil was born in Kiev, Ukraine and immigrated to Calgary, Canada when he was 2 years old. He then lived between Calgary and Irvine, California. He graduated high school in Calgary and is now in his third year of a computer science major at the University of British Columbia. Daniil has an interest in physical health and mental health and is self-proclaimed as a citizen scientist. ----------------------------------------------------------POST A REVIEWGUEST BOOKINGS CLICK HEREFollow me on Social MediaNew Town Big Dreams podcast on FacebookInstagramLinkedinLuke Menkes Kelowna RealtorMy Personal Facebook PageSupport the showNOMINATE YOURSELF, ANOTHER PERSON OR A BUSINESS TO APPEAR ON THE I LOVE KELOWNA PODCA

Jaide Hatfield and Joel Murga are the co-owners and lead bakers of a local vegan and gluten free bakery, Jaide & Joel’s Baking Co. (Also check out their Facebook Page). Jaide and Joel first met when they were fifteen years old and have been together ever since. Jaide was raised a Vegetarian, and later decided to make the full switch to Vegan. She’s a huge supporter of animals, and baking is one of her biggest passions. Joel was diagnosed with Celiac Disease when he was 10 years old, he now uses his passion and determination to make amazing products that he can share with other people who are like him.In April of 2018, they decided to start a new exciting chapter in their lives, opening a fully vegan and gluten free bakery. They started out doing local Farmers Markets and special orders. A few months in, and they got there first wholesale deal with a local coffee shop. Since then, they have partnered with several stores in the Okanagan and deliver their donuts as far out as Vernon, Penticton, and Osoyoos.

Rob Westbury grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, with nary a grapevine in sight. After a stint as the drummer in a punk band and a few years at graduate school in the States (where he met his wife), he headed into a busy career in HR. Throughout all of this, he maintained a keen interest in food & wine, and harboured a lifelong desire to work with his hands. A long-term work placement in San Francisco reignited Rob’s passion for wine, and pointed him in the right direction: towards the incredible Okanagan Valley.In 2010, Rob started Nagging Doubt Wines (commuting in from Vancouver on weekends), and he and his family moved to Kelowna in 2012. In 2013, they bought a beautiful, west-facing hillside property in South  East Kelowna, planted 5½ acres of grapes, and converted their horse barn into a small-but-awesome boutique winery. Punk drummer to corporate manager to farmer/winemaker—Rob is now, finally, right where he was always meant to be.----------------------------------------------------------POST A REVIEWGUE

From hitting the rock bottom of drugs, divorce, bankruptcy and even the death of an 18 month old daughter. To running the planning & marketing of some of corporate America’s finest companies. To running his own marketing company, helping small business owners be SEEN and now his podcast focused on Driven Dark Horse Entrepreneurs. Tracy Brinkmann, is also a business & success coach that realizes life isn’t fair and participation awards do not feed your family, or your drive to succeed.This Driven Dark Horse Entrepreneur is looking to share all that he has learned and is still learning about starting, restarting, kick starting and stepping up your entrepreneurial game, all while not ignoring that amazing tool between your ears!Here's a free offer from Tracy for our listeners, The 6 Cs of Entrepreneurship:http://darkhorseschooling.com/6-cs-of-entrepreneurship/Check out Tracy's website for an hour of FREE COACHING with Tracy----------------------------------------------------------POST A REVIEWG

Sarah De La Coeur has been on the entrepreneurial journey since 2012 when she launched a Shopping Tour company with her mother, Annie Pool. In 2015, Sarah won a business award for Best In Fashion. Sarah sold her Shopping Tour company in 2016, and started two businesses in the construction/kitchen cabinet/importing industry and then sold these companies in 2018. Sarah is a now digital marketer who works with businesses in the home improvement industry. She can help you get the right message to the right people through the right digital marketing methods effectively, efficiently, and profitably. Marketing is an avenue to being able to serve more people, make use of our talents and have an impact on the world. When Sarah isn’t working she is a brand ambassador for a women’s app called Locelle - connecting women within the community of Kelowna. Sarah is unstoppable. When she sees the destination, she does whatever it takes to get there. ----------------------------------------------------------POST A REVIEWGUEST

Olga Poreda is originally from Poland, where she completed her Masters Degree in art and graphic design. Work and destiny brought her to Kelowna in 2013 which was a very interesting transition and an opening of a new creative chapter in her life. The extraordinary beauty of the Okanagan inspired her to follow her calling as a artist.Here, she found many likeminded people. The big adventure began with renting out an art studio at the former heArt school space on Bernard where, while working on slightly crazy looking paintings, she started meeting wonderful artists, musicians, poets...The last few years for Olga  have been all about coming “out of the shell” and getting back to singing, which she had abandoned many years ago. Thanks to the support and encouragement from beautiful people involved with Kelowna Art’s Council, and their great creative initiatives like Songwriters “Stewdio”, or Our CoffeeHouse which connects artists with engaged, listening audience, she finally began to thrive and fully embrace her

I sat down with Brett Alton from Tops Agency and Noah Dorsey of Ark Films who Brett works with exclusively. We talked a lot about commercial and independent film. These guys have since morphed into other things, as this interview was two years ago. But we talked about content production for commercial establishments using Noah as a local filmmaker and producer. Brett is sitting member of OSIF (Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking) and he's looking to bring an economic boom to the film industry here in Kelowna, working closely with the city and other government establishments to bring grants and workshops to the area. Brett's focus for his films tend to be for people who are either eco-conscious (Green Vanity, Mismack Cosmetics, Farm Bound & Farm Bound Zero Waste) or socially conscious (Child Advocacy Centre, their short film on mental health).Check out the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking to see what's new in this exciting new industry for our great city! -------------------

Jenny Newell grew up moving around a lot! Born in Edmonton, moved to Germany, then back to Alberta, followed by Ontario before settling for awhile in BC. For high school she lived in Abbotsford,  then Vancouver, then France, then Victoria, then Pender Island. As a British citizen,  the EU opened doors for Jenny and she went back to France for University, before coming back to Canada and going to the University of Victoria. As a student at UVic Jenny had a job downtown Victoria at Swan's Hotel and Brewpub in the Wine Shoppe. She went to all the educational tastings she possibly could and became passionate about BC wine; a burgeoning category at that time. She pursued a job as a wine, spirits and beer sales representative and began selling to retailers, restaurants and the BCLDB. Jenny's husband Rainer was a competing sales representative and they enjoyed working up and down Vancouver Island together.They stayed in Victoria for a few years before deciding it would be fun to move to Vancouver and work

Pat Moffett has a heartwarming and fascinating story to tell about early-onset Alzheimers disease and how in some cases, it can result in a shocking level of violence. Pat's wife was struck by this ailment and the formerly peaceful, gentle lady became sporadically but persistently violent and aggressive, to the shock and dismay of Pat, their children and all of their friends and family. In order to raise awareness of Alzheimers for the benefit of family members and primary caregivers, Pat wrote the book Ice Cream in the Cupboard, which later became a film. It's an excellent film well worth watching and can be seen on Amazon Prime. In a wide ranging conversation, Pat and I discuss: • Alzheimers caregiving• Independent Film Production• Caring for the Caregiver• Early-Onset Alzheimers• Writing Ice Cream In the Cupboard - Book and MoviePat is going to be speaking at the World Creativity and Innovation Week event. He will be speaking with the conference director at 4PM EST on Friday, April 16, 2021. Here

Steven Kupidy grew up in Edmonton Alberta where he attended the University of Alberta and obtained his BScOT in 1999. Steve has been working with CBI since 2013 and relocated to Kelowna in May of  2014 to open up the 1st CBI Health clinic in the Okanagan and is currently the clinic manager.Steven has always had a passion for helping people navigate through the complexities of recovery and always makes time to answer questions. In his spare time he has currently decided to go back to school and is currently enrolled at Dalhousie University completing his post professional Masters in OT. He has been happily married to his best friend Jordin for 18 years and has a busy, active household with two teenage daughters keeping everyone moving!----------------------------------------------------------POST A REVIEWGUEST BOOKINGS CLICK HEREFollow me on Social MediaNew Town Big Dreams podcast on FacebookInstagramLinkedinLuke Menkes Kelowna RealtorMy Personal Facebook Page#worksafeBC, #mentalhealth, #chronicpain, #occupati

Two years ago we interviewed a fascinating young florist and photographer named Diane Herron aka Sweet Dee. She moved to Kelowna in September 2017 to start a mobile flower truck business. She bought a mini Japanese truck and with a little love it became a pink flower truck. Diane pops up at markets and businesses where she sells fresh flowers from the truck.Diane came from Saskatoon where she ran a boudoir photography business and worked part-time in a flower shop. She knew that eventually she would want to pursue a business with flowers but at the time she was loving my boudoir photography business. When she turned 27 she was ready to take on the flower industry, but she knew a flower truck would not work in Saskatoon, so she decided on Kelowna. Kelowna grew to be home quite quickly and Diane found the entrepreneurial community here quite welcoming. She has made many friendships through Sweet Dee's Flowers.Support the showNOMINATE YOURSELF, ANOTHER PERSON OR A BUSINESS TO APPEAR ON THE I LOVE KELOWNA PO

Efi Perel was born in Israel to a Canadian father (from Ottawa) in 1970. He lived for 14 years in Taiwan from 2001 to 2014 and since 2015 he has lived here in Kelowna. He is married with two kids.Efi worked in the cellars of Summerhill and Nagging Doubt wineries in Kelowna, British Columbia, where he spent his time making sparkling and table wines. He also served as the wine maker of First R.O.W Estate Winery in Vancouver.In 2018, Efi opened my his winery with a partner, called Tender Hope Winery, in West Kelowna. Tender Hope is located at 350-1405 Stevens Road, West Kelowna, BC I got to sit inside the winery in 2018 before it was open to the public, to do this interview and sample some amazing wine. Efi had a fascinating story to tell about his time in vineyards in Bikat Arad, Israel, and in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, growing Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir grapes.Efi also worked as sales manager of various companies in Asia for eleven years.To learn more go to

Jan Petrasek is originally from Slovakia and moved to Calgary, Canada  in 2003 with his wife Silvia. They have three daughters age 15, 14 and 10.Jan's first job in Calgary was at Boston Pizza. In August 2007 he opened his own bakery in northwest Calgary. 7 years later he opened his second store in Cochrane, Alberta and moved all of his  production there.Eventually, Jan was supplying 20 stores with his products in Calgary including health stores, organic stores and European stores. In 2016 he decided move to Slovakia with his family and sold his business and house. But his friend in Calgary told him that before he moves to Slovakia, he had to visit the warmest place in Canada. He told Jan to go to Osoyoos, British Columbia. Jan was planing to get there with his family but on the way there they encountered a big storm, so they had to stop in Penticton. Jan was on his motorcycle and his wife and kids were in the truck. So they stayed in Penticton for four days instead of going to Osoyoos. They loved Pentict

Shaun Sanders of Renegade Kitchen knew he wanted to be a chef since the tender age of 4. Through his high school years in punk rock bands he’s always been a bit rebellious (just ask his parents). Growing up on a farm he was always drawn to cooking and the gritty rock and roll lifestyles of famous chefs only made it seem cooler and more appealing to him as a teenager. Shaun attended the Culinary Institute of Vancouver Island for his formal training. He’s been in the business for over 10 years and in that time has worked at a wide range of establishments, notably Kingfisher Restaurant at Halcyon Hot Springs, Notch8 at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and the Terrace at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery.In early 2018 Shaun decided it was time to throw aside convention and embrace his inner renegade. To abandon the life as a fine dining chef and bring kick ass food to the people on the street. To reject the idea that meat and dairy are even apart of the food pyramid, to forget what he’s learned about conventional di