Top 40 Over/Under 40

Ian Lindsay

South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation

As the CEO of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation, Ian Lindsay brings a wealth of experience, education, and past successes to a role that has a direct impact on our health and the quality of care we receive at public healthcare facilities throughout the region. While the commitment to raising $10 million for Penticton Regional Hospital’s Oncology Department had been made just prior to joining the team last November, Ian’s impact to the Medical Foundation and our community can already be felt.

Growing up in North Bay, Ontario, Ian was an avid soccer player and coach. After turning 18, he moved to Nova Scotia and earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Cape Breton University, followed by... Read more...

Naomi Antler

KISU Swim Club

Beginning as a volunteer with the Similkameen Steelheads Swim Club in Keremeos, Naomi Antler is now an assistant coach with Penticton’s KISU Swim Club, where she coaches pre-competitive swimmers, and is also the head coach and direct supervisor for the ‘mini squad’, more formally known as KISU’s ‘Learn to Swim’ program. Naomi’s work with KISU’s para swimmers has seen her completely adapt her teaching style to fit the needs of her students, and has resulted in their record-breaking success at the national level.

When Naomi was still in Keremeos, she co-founded the Keremeos Young Leaders program, which offers free leadership education and experiences for youth aged 11 to 14. Through this initiative... Read more...

Amanda Locke

Wordplay Therapy Services Inc.

Amanda began her professional journey by graduating first in her class at Western University with dual honors in Linguistics and Psychology followed by a master’s in speech language pathology from the University of Toronto. From there, she accepted an international placement in Trinidad and Tobago and gained valuable insight into cultural sensitivity, client-centred care, and the world of private practice.

In 2019, Amanda accepted a job in Penticton but ended up sustaining a significant concussion less than a year later. It was during her year-long recovery that she began to identify the South Okanagan’s need for a client-first approach combined with her own gradual return to work. Read more...

Maddison Violet

Ve Oh Lay Acres Honey Farm & Winery

Starting in a local winery’s tasting room, Maddison’s aim has always been to demystify wine and make it a relatable and enriching experience for everyone. Today, she has 8 years of experience in winemaking, and has received such accolades as Wine & Spirits Education Trust’s (WSET) Future 50 Under 40 Wine Award, was the only Canadian winner in an international competition, and most recently, was named a Top 40 Under 40 by the Business Elite Awards that recognizes leaders from across the country and world. Furthermore, her first wines produced at Ve Oh Lay won bronze and gold in the National Wine Align Awards in Penticton and double gold at the International Platinum Awards.

As a leader, Maddison empowers her team through trust and autonomy. Read more...

Kristen Gudmundson

YMCA of Southern Interior B.C.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree majoring in sociology from UBCO, Kristen started her career with the Y as a Facilitator working in a program with youth aged 13-18 years old on the Autism Spectrum and led workshops practicing healthy living and building strong relationships with peers. From there, and over the past 4-and-a-half years, she has worked in her current role as an Employment Facilitator and has so far supported over 100 youth with barriers to employment in finding and maintaining meaningful work, and another 19 who have chosen to pursue further education.

In Kristen’s work, it is essential that she finds ways to adapt to the needs of her clients. Read more... 

Brannigan Mosses

Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre

As the General Manager of one of Penticton’s largest employers, Brannigan Mosses manages up to 300 employees at the Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre and has successfully navigated the Resort through challenges such as COVID-19 restrictions, wildfires, highway landslides, and economic uncertainty. Despite these challenges, Brannigan’s leadership ensures an outstanding experience for guests and a great working environment for team members.

Her experience in hospitality started in Edmonton where she gained skills in project and revenue management, operations, marketing, sales, and guest services. After graduating from the... Read more...

Josephin Schmitz-Burchartz

SB Denture Clinic

When she was just 12 years old, Josi remembers her father returning from a leadership seminar and sharing a quote by Henry Ford. 

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” 



Those words became a guiding principle for Josi, and after graduating high school at 16, she attended UBC to study biology. Josi recalls her first class where the professor informed the students that before the end of the semester, more than half of the class would drop out. He was right, but Josi not only finished his class, she... Read more...

Madeline Terbasket

Artist, Storyteller, SOS Pride

Madeline’s creative journey is as diverse as it is impactful. Their first mural, “Chief Skemxist,” stands proudly in downtown Keremeos, B.C., symbolizing Madeline’s deep connection to the Similkameen Valley. In 2017, Madeline embraced the art of burlesque, performing as Mother Girth, “the two-spirit tease,” and earned the title of ‘Most Innovative’ at the Edmonton Burlesque Festival. Burlesque has been a transformative tool for Madeline, leading to body positivity and nurturing self-love and respect.

Madeline’s foray into drag performance began unexpectedly. After dressing up as “Rez Dude” for Halloween and thoroughly enjoying the experience, they decided to bring the character to the stage as "Rez Daddy." Read more...

Chelsea Terry

Penticton Art Gallery

Chelsea is a life-long resident of Penticton, and has been involved in numerous local projects and organizations including being the lead designer for the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation’s $10 Million Campaign for the Oncology Ward upgrade, has served as on the

Board of Directors for the Penticton and District Arts Council as well as Penticton Women in Business, and wrote and produced a short film for the Snakebite Film Festival's 5 day Film Challenge in 2024 which won Best Production Design and Best Cinematography.

One of Chelsea’s biggest marketing accomplishments at the Art Gallery... Read more...

Ankit Sachdeva

VEXXHOST

Since joining VEXXHOST, a tech company offering cloud-based solutions for businesses, Ankit has been instrumental in promoting network expansion and driving significant revenue growth over the past seven years. With a dedicated focus on technology sales for the last three years, Ankit has positioned himself as a solutions provider, helping clients navigate new functionalities and products that enhance their workflows and lives.

Before that, he earned his first Masters degree in International Business from HULT Business School in San Francisco, and then a second in Project Management from Harrisburg University, Pennsylvania. His professional experience has spanned roles from sales and e-commerce to insurance. Read more...

Tristan Joseph Boisvert

Penticton and District Community Arts Council

Travel played a key role in Tristan’s development, starting with solo trips to Borneo, Malaysia. After pursuing a culinary degree from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver and later an art program in Montreal, Tristan spent a total of 15 years in almost 40 different countries, working as a freelance writer and art director in cities like Berlin and London, and for high-profile clients like Disney and Virgin Media. 

In 2021, Tristan returned to the Okanagan and joined the Penticton and Districts Community Arts Council two years later as the managing director. The Council’s mandate has always been to support, foster, and create a vibrant arts community, but Tristan and the team went a step further and... Read more...

Nicole MacMillan

Tim Hortons Restaurants of the Southern Interior

Nicole moved to Penticton back in 1992 when her parents purchased their very first Tim Hortons. After graduating with a degree in culinary arts and hospitality from Le Cordon Bleu in Las Vegas, Nicole worked as a team member in the family business, learning each and every role in Tim Hortons before becoming an approved Franchisee alongside her parents, Paul and Beryl Stawarz, in 2022. 

Now, as the owner and operator of every Tim Hortons from Summerland down to Osoyoos, Nicole spends each day aiming to make a positive impact on someone’s life while inspiring her team of over 300 members believe in themselves and pursue their goals. Read more...

Joel Patan

Patan Heating and Air Ltd.

Growing up, Joel was inspired by his grandfather’s and father’s dedication to the trade. The company he owns and operates today is a continuation of his father’s legacy and proudly named after his father’s old company. Patan 

Heating and Air’s logo is a tribute to his grandfather’s spirit animal, bestowed by the Inuit during his work in the Northwest Territories. Starting his career as a sheet metal worker, Joel earned his Red Seal certification, followed by becoming one of Alberta's first Red Seal certified gas fitters. He expanded his expertise by gaining certification in sustainable construction, and completed the Certified Energy Advising program as well as becoming a level 1 building inspector with the Building Officials Association of B.C.

Read more...

Jamie Lloyd-Smith

City of Penticton

Jamie Lloyd-Smith has harboured a deep curiosity about global injustices for as long as she can remember, however, it was a visit to New York City at the age of 17 where she witnessed first-hand terrible poverty and homelessness intertwined with social exclusion in one of the world’s largest and wealthiest cities. The experience ignited in her a fervor for justice that would lead to her spending many years in the non-profit sector before joining the City of Penticton as its Social Development Specialist.

Since its formation in 2020, Jamie’s department has seen a significant number of achievements including bringing in 200 new childcare spaces, investing in... Read more...

Kassity Van Alphen

Femme Form Coaching

As a happily married indigenous mother of 2 boys and 1 step son, Kassity Van Alphen started her own fitness company, Femme Form Coaching, after years of professional mentorship. In two short years, she has already helped over 150 women change their lives, not just physically, but in mind, body, and soul.

Kassity has dedicated herself to finding a way to help other women be less overwhelmed and thrive in everyday life, whether that be as a mother, spouse, worker, or all three. More often than not, women come to her wanting to lose weight, but Kassity looks at the other aspects of their lives that are out of alignment and begins working on the root causes. Read more...

Sarah Tucker

Graphically Hip

With over 13 years of experience in the print and marketing industry, Sarah Tucker’s determination and talent has taken her company, Graphically Hip, from its humble home-based beginnings to an award-winning marketing agency working out of a 3,100 square foot office.

Born in Kenora, Ontario, and raised on the Saskatchewan side of Lloydminster, Sarah remembers walking with her mom through the mall as a child and being completely captivated by the signs on the front of the stores. Like many childhood fascinations, it would be forgotten until Sarah enrolled in graphic design shortly after having her second child. With her passion for graphic arts reignited, Sarah would... Read more...

Carl Meadows

Snakebite Film Festival

As the visionary producer behind Penticton’s Snakebite Film Festival, Carl Meadows was determined create a venue in Penticton that would bridge the community and inspire dialogue on important issues. Now in its sixth year, over 1,200 people attended The Snakebite Film Festival.

Raised in Port Coquitlam, Carl was a competitive figure skater, tap dancer, and loved to perform. Sadly, he was bullied so intensely that he left high school before completing grade 12 and it wasn’t until later, and only with the encouragement of his grandmother, that he went back to complete his government equivalent diploma (GED). From there, he... Read more...

Janine Cumberland

Enchanted Florist and Paradox Tents & Events

As a self-declared serial entrepreneur, Janine Cumberland has opened and operated many successful businesses around the province, and after moving to Penticton in 2019, she quickly made her mark by opening Enchanted Florist.

Shortly after opening Enchanted Florist, Janine decided to expand one of her existing businesses still operating in Dawson Creek and opened the second location of Paradox Tents & Events in Penticton. Combining her certification  and  experience  as  a  wedding  planner  along  with a wedding and event rental business and flower shop has been so successful that Janine relocated Paradox to a bigger and brighter Penticton location and strategically located beside Enchanted Florist. Read more...

Karen Davy

Meet in Penticton Convention Bureau

With over a decade of experience in sales and marketing, Karen Davy has taken her professional knowledge combined with her familiarity of our region’s offerings and assets to lead the Meet in Penticton Convention Bureau, where she has been busy inspiring planners from across the country to host their event, trade show, or conference in Penticton. After recording an estimated 44,000 delegate days last year between the Trade and Convention Centre and the Penticton Lakeside Resort’s meeting and banquet facilities, the impact on our hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, and the local economy have been outstanding, especially in the offseason.

Karen’s role at Meet in Penticton encompasses everything from... Read more...

Brandi Beckett

Penticton and Area Access Society

With a unique background in Kung Fu and Tai Chi along with five years of immersion in a Daoist temple in China, it may be surprising to learn that Brandi Beckett transitioned from the serenity of martial arts into the dynamic challenges of non-profit administration. Not only was the change seamless, but Brandi worked her way up to become The Penticton & Area Access Centre’s Executive Director.

Guided by the principles of Daoism, Brandi leads with resilience, adaptability, and fosters an environment where collaboration thrives. Together, Brandi and her team embody the ethos that success is not an individual feat, but the culmination of collective effort and shared vision. Read more...

Marina Billinghurst

Art of Marina Inc.

At just 21 years old, Marina Billinghurst won Vancouver Fashion Week’s New and Upcoming Designer of the Year in 2003. This pivotal moment launched her career and led her to become the founder of Art of Marina Inc.

In 2012, Marina graduated with a Fine Arts degree from Parsons School of Design in New York City and began working with notable brands like Joe Fresh, first as an entry-level designer and eventually a team lead, followed by the Caufield Apparel Group as a creative director in 2017. Everything seemed to indicate that Marina would continue building a career in the corporate world of fashion until a life-altering car accident in 2018 became a turning point in Marina’s life where she decided to leave that world and open her own business, Art of Marina Inc. Read more...

Marlene Trenholm

Partner Co. Health and Wellness, Penticton Women in Business

Marlene  loves  helping  others  set  meaningful  goals to further their business, career, or personal aspirations by peeling back the layers and working through any limiting beliefs. By setting targets, developing accountability partnerships, creating action plans, and performing follow-ups, she not only drives others towards success, but also herself. 

She is also a lifelong learner, having first received an education degree and then completing numerous continuing education courses along with workshops and seminars. With all of this knowledge on a wide-range of subject matter, she leads her Partner Co. Health and Wellness team by... Read more...

Ashlie Atkinson

Balance School of the Arts

Born and raised in Penticton, Ashlie was a keen student of the arts starting at the age of 8 in voice, dance and acting. As an adult, she became a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts with a career that has been marked by notable performances with various theatre companies, including The Arts Club, Theatre Under the Stars and Gateway Theatre Co. She also captivated audiences as a main stage singer for Norwegian Cruise Lines and was one of the final contestants on CBC's reality TV search "Maria."

When Ashlie and her husband moved back to Penticton in 2010, she starred in lead roles for Soundstage Productions’ “Chess” and “Evita”, and earned choreography credits for "Footloose" and "Grease". Read more...

Victoria Jaenig

ULLUS Collective

Victora was born and raised on the unceded traditional territory of the syilx peoples, deeply rooted in a family of knowledge keepers fluent in nsyilxcen and trained in storytelling and performance using syilx worldviews. She has since become an apprentice of the nsyilxcen language, songs, dances, ceremony, protocols, and through her work with En'owkin Centre's Nak'ulamen Performance Collective along with six other performers, she has assisted in revitalizing Syilx performance back into the community.

As the volunteer Arts Administrator for Ullus Collective, Victoria led a series of events called “OURts”, which focused on “Our Arts” and consisted of panels, artist mixers, and... Read more...