Smart start

PHOTOS BY KRISTY REIMER | ILLUSTRATONS BY LIA GOLEMBA

STORY BY TARA LEVICK ILLUSTRATIONS BY LIA GOLEMBA

WATCH VIDEO GREETINGS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ENTREPRENUERS AT AIRDRIELIFE.COM

Airdrie’s award-winning SMARTstart program has been pairing entrepreneurs with business mentors since 2014.

More than 100 people have completed the program. Entrepreneurs have opened businesses, grown their businesses and improved their business practices. Some participants also determine that their idea is not viable or that they don’t have what it takes to be an entrepreneur. SMARTstart also considers this a success. SMARTstart is all about helping entrepreneurs realize their potential. Meet six of the program’s current entrepreneurs and their mentors.

SMARTstart also has three mentors at large. They are not paired with an entrepreneur this year; instead they work with any and all as needed!

2020 8.0

MENTORS AT LARGE

WHAT IS THE NO. 1 QUALITY AN ENTREPRENEUR NEEDS TO HAVE IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

Andrew Bennett (The I.T. Company): Persistence/ tenaciousness about achieving their objectives.

Joan Traub (retired, former owner of Airdrie Yoga Studio): Passion. They need to believe in their product or service and their ability to outshine their competition.

Jo-Anne Yau (Masuch Law): An entrepreneur must be able to read the market – know where consumer demand is, where it’s going, and how to fit into the market.

NAME: LILIAN JOURIEH

BUSINESS: Smashdoor Marketing is a full-service marketing and media agency based in Airdrie. We build and manage digital and traditional media campaigns, consult with clients on their marketing programs and more. My goal for the next five years is to have the same partners that have been with us since day one, forge new partnerships along the way, add new associates and cultivate the next class of marketers, all the while staying true to our core principle of ‘customer focused, results driven’. BUSINESS ROLE MODEL (PERSON OR BUSINESS): It’s hard for me to choose one specific role model, as everyone I admire and respect has different qualities that I strive to adopt into the way I am in work and life. With that said, one group that would be my ‘role model’ would be any woman who broke through the glass ceilings of businesses and corporations based on their hard work and merit. BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Succeeding in a competitive industry. I WANT TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR BECAUSE: It forces me to become a better me, and the satisfaction that comes from creating something from nothing.

NAME: SHARON BORSON

BUSINESS: I am the owner of Royal Appliance Repair which offers affordable appliance repair. My goal is to keep fixable appliances out of the landfill and to provide people with an option rather than to just replace. In five years, I hope to have a self-sufficient team of employees who wear the Royal Appliance Repair logo with pride and that we are known for excellent service at a reasonable price. BUSINESS ROLE MODEL (PERSON OR BUSINESS): My business role model would be my ex-sister-in-law who now runs a successful tire shop in Williams Lake, B.C. with her husband. (This was) after overcoming a drug addiction and a lot of challenges that were thrown at her. She never let that get in her way. BIGGEST CHALLENGE: I feel my bookkeeping skills are a main challenge. I WANT TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR BECAUSE: After working for other people all my life it is my turn to shine.

NAME: KIRSTEN HARRISON

BUSINESS: After years of working for large firms, I saw an opportunity to step out on my own with Backyards & More. My business involves landscape planning and design mainly for residential and light-commercial properties. I always ensure my customers are left with a wellthought-out landscape plan that exceeds their expectations. BUSINESS ROLE MODEL (PERSON OR BUSINESS): My favourite architect is Frank Gehry, mainly because he is so out there with his designs. When we could travel, I purposely went to his creative design landmarks such as the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago’s Millennium Park, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and my favourite, the Experience Music Project (EMP) in Seattle. In design we are often expected to fit within certain parameters and budgets, but it takes exceptional talent such as his ability to break the mould and make landmarks to inspire people. BIGGEST CHALLENGE: The perceived seasonality of my business and getting potential customers to understand that design work can happen at any time of year, not just spring or summer. I hope SMARTstart will help diversify and plan for off-peak months, by helping me to connect with those in the design/ build industry, (and) expand my offerings like graphic design and photoshop. I WANT TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR BECAUSE: I love the ability to set my own schedule and work on my terms. As a sole proprietor, my work speaks for itself and I avoid some of the inefficiencies and costs that come with corporate design. I have a true passion for landscape design. I enjoy working with homeowners and contractors, being on site, connecting with people and creating something customized for their unique space. I pride myself in being available for my clients, assessing their wants and needs as well as addressing their concerns. Now, more than ever, our backyard spaces have become a refuge.

NAME: SCOTT DOERKSEN

BUSINESS: Our business, Sustainable Hydroponics Farm, is family grown. My wife and I want to create an environmentally sound hydroponics farm for Airdrie locals and vendors. My hope for our business is that we can create a legacy for our family while serving the fine people of Airdrie quality products at an affordable rate. BUSINESS ROLE MODEL (PERSON OR BUSINESS): Meagan’s parents, because they have been such amazing examples of not only people that have a successful business but know how to successfully have a thriving marriage and business partnership. Also being the greatest examples of servants to their community. BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Making the decisions to take this from an idea and transform it into something that can be an example of the change I want to see in the world. I WANT TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR BECAUSE: I want to be an example to our children. I want them to see it is OK to try new things; to try and accomplish what you want in life. Even if you fail at something, you succeed. Success is failure evaluated and repeated!

NAME: MEAGAN DOERKSEN

BUSINESS: What started out as an industry I didn’t know much about has turned into a plan for my family’s future. Building a hydroponics sustainable farm is the dream and the goal is to have our brand known while establishing relationships with local farmers markets and restaurants. We really do believe that there is a market in Airdrie for what we want to offer and to do it in an economical and scalable way. BUSINESS ROLE MODEL (PERSON OR BUSINESS): My parents because they have been such incredible examples of servanthood in their business and truly have a vision greater than themselves. BIGGEST CHALLENGE: I think it will be getting all of our logistics in order; we have a big vision and are very motivated. It will be the execution and timeline that will be our biggest challenge. I WANT TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR BECAUSE: Scott, my husband, and I have always seen the value that you can create and the impact you can have being an entrepreneur.