From the trenches

Talon Signs offers a wide array of services providing clients with a single accountable source for signage that saves time, provides manufacturing continuity, and guarantees premium quality. The breadth and variety of Talon Signs’ fabrication and installation capabilities encompass the full spectrum of visual communication from corporate identity signage to comprehensive way-finding packages ​including interior and exterior components, illuminated signs, LED message boards and digitally imaged graphics to custom designed vehicle wraps and special event banners.A plethora of media and material options are available including an almost limitless colour palette to make almost any concept a reality. Their practical field experience, site analysis skills, layout and shop drawing capabilities, fabrication expertise, and extensive on-site installation experienceenable Talon Signs to accomplish client objectives, providing a quality product economically and on time.For more information, please visit: talonsigns.comRenee's Final :Best advice: "Work together as a team, and have a positive attitude."Favourite restaurants: Sushi Langford.Podcast Publisher: Business Examiner News GroupFor more local news impacting business in British Columbia, visit businessexaminer.ca.

Futurpreneur has been fueling the entrepreneurial passions of Canada’s young enterprise for over two decades. We are the only national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39. Our internationally recognized mentoring program hand matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 2,600 volunteer mentors.For more information, please visit: www.futurpreneur.ca. Andrea can be reached on LinkedIn here.Andrea's Final 4:Books: The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz.Best advice: "Don't do it alone, ask for help."Apps: Google Maps & LinkedIn.Favourite restaurants: Working Culture Bread | Varsha Indian Kitchen | The Coriander Indian RestaurantPodcast Publisher: Business Examiner News GroupFor more local news impacting business in British Columbia, visit businessexaminer.ca.

John Cooper is a seasoned real estate professional who launched his career just before the global economic recession hit. Despite this challenging time, John worked hard and quickly rose to the top of his local RE/MAX office's list of top agents. He has been helping families buy and sell homes on Vancouver Island since 2007 when he and his young family moved to Nanaimo from Vancouver. With a background in digital marketing, John saw an opportunity to innovate in the local real estate market and has been a leader in the industry's digital evolution ever since.John's real estate business, the John Cooper Group, is centred around technological innovation and client education. His core purpose is to celebrate and share the unique, affordable, and community-minded lifestyle that can be found on Vancouver Island, surrounded by stunning natural beauty. By focusing on a boutique agency model with the cutting-edge brokerage model, EXP Realty, John has built a small but mighty team that is highly effective at providing experienced guidance, effective marketing, and personalized service to their clients.He has also been recognized for his hard work and dedication to the industry. Including: the EXP Icon Award (which he has won four times), the Top 20 Under 40 Award, the 2020 VIREB Service Award, the Realtors Care Award, and the RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award, Hall of Fame Award, Diamond Club Team Award, Chairmans's Award, and Platinum Club Award. He is also a former President of the DNBIA. John is grateful for these accolades and is dedicated to continuing to provide top-notch service to his clients.For more information, please visit: www.coopergroup.ca.John's Final 4:Books: Traction - Gino Wickman | This Is Marketing - Seth Godin.Best advice: "You want to be where the action is."Apps: Oura Ring.Favourite restaurants: Horang.Podcast Publisher: Business Examiner News GroupFor more local news impacting business in British Columbia, visit businessexaminer.ca.

The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce is a professional, membership-based, business organization. The Chamber collaborates with its' members to foster growth, community, and best business practices. The Chamber works on behalf of its' members to provide opportunity for Chamber members and employees.The Comox Valley Chamber's mission is to:​​Advocate for local business: Represent the unified voice of local business to all levels of government- your #BizChamp; Strive to ensure future prosperity via a pro-business climate - Powering the people who power Comox Valley;Promote the business community and not-for-profit organizations who are Chamber members; Connect with other organizations to establish rapport and well-functioning networks within the community;Work from a 2018 strategic plan; andBuild a solid resource for members.For more information, please visit: www.comoxvalleychamber.comParis' Final 4:Book: Finding the Space to Lead - Janice Marturano.Best advice: "The biggest challenge is changing old ideas."Apps: Garmin Connect.Favourite restaurants: Atlas Cafe | Gabriel's Cafe | Tacofino | Boom + Batten Restaurant & CafePodcast Publisher: Business Examiner News GroupFor more local news impacting business in British Columbia, visit businessexaminer.ca.

The Electrical Contractors Association of BC (ECABC) was founded in 1952, when electrical contractors decided that a strong central voice was needed to speak on their behalf. Electrical and line contractors help build our province by installing and maintaining generated electricity to communities, and ensuring the safe transmission of high-voltage electricity from power plants to end-use markets. Then as now, ECABC is the Association in British Columbia dedicated to the interests of electrical contractors, line contractors, associate members and suppliers.Their membership consists of IBEW and Open Shop Contractor members, manufacturers and distributors. They have 3 Chapters: Interior BC, (Prince George), Vancouver and Vancouver Island.ECABC is a member of the Canadian Electrical Contractors Association (CECA) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) giving them a national voice and helping ECABC and their members stay updated on the latest industry news. As a member, you have an opportunity to express your opinions and concerns on any issue affecting the electrical industry.Learn more at: eca.bc.caMatt's Final 4:Books: Good to Great - by Jim Collins.Best advice: "You play defense with your feet, your head, and your heart."Apps: The Athletic | Twitter.Favourite restaurant: Savio Volpe.Podcast Publisher: Business Examiner News GroupFor more local news impacting business in British Columbia, visit businessexaminer.ca.

The largest financial institution based on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Island was recently re-certified as a Great Place to Work® for the fourth year in a row. The Great Place to Work® certification is based on a thorough independent analysis conducted by Great Place to Work Institute® Canada. It’s based on direct feedback from employees, provided as a part of an extensive and anonymous survey about their workplace experience. About Coastal Community Credit Union: As the largest Vancouver Island-based financial services organization, helping you improve your financial health and protect what’s important is what they're here to do. They provide expert advice plus a full range of products, solutions & digital innovations to over 120,000 islanders. To help build stronger communities for us all, each year they give back over half a million dollars to support local initiatives and causes. Learn more at cccu.ca. About Great Place to Work®: Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, Great Place to Work recognizes Canada’s Best Workplaces in a series of national lists including those published by The Globe & Mail (Canada) and Fortune magazine (USA). Great Place to Work provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. Visit them at www.greatplacetowork.ca or find them on Twitter at @GPTW_Canada.Bruno's Final 4:Books: The SPEED of Trust - Stephen M.R. Covey AND Life of Pi - Yann Martel.Best advice: "Be kind, treat people the way you want to be treated."App: Flipp.Favourite restaurants. II Terrazzo AND Woodfire Restaurant & Catering.Podcast PublisherFor more local news impacting business, visit businessexaminer.ca.

Acera Insurance is a fiercely independent, employee-controlled company with strong roots in Alberta, BC, Ontario and the Yukon. Created through the merger of CapriCMW and Rogers Insurance, the company brings decades of specialized expertise and experience within the insurance industry. With 1,000 employees in over 50 offices across Canada, $1 billion in gross written premium and over 350 employee shareholders, Acera Insurance provides custom insurance and risk-management solutions for personal and commercial clients nationwide including comprehensive employee benefits capabilities.To learn more about Acera Insurance, please visit: https://capricmw.ca/landing/acera.Andrew's Final 4:Book: Who Moved My Cheese? - by Spencer Johnson.Best advice: "Take a chance, and invest in your own business."App: PayByPhone.Favourite restaurant: Rooftop Deck at the Eldorado Hotel.Podcast PublisherFor more local news impacting business

Patrick MacKenzie is the CEO of the Immigrant Employment Council of BC. He has made a career of public service from coast to coast, working in policy and program areas aimed at supporting many of Canada’s most vulnerable communities through economic and social development as well as international relations. Previously, Patrick spent 11 years working for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at its national headquarters in Ottawa and its regional offices in Vancouver. Throughout his career, Patrick has worked with partners on matters affecting aboriginal and immigrant populations, including immigrant economic integration, provincial nominee programs, credential recognition and labour mobility.To learn more about the Immigrant Employment Council of BC, please visit: iecbc.ca.Patrick's Final 4:Author: In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson.Best advice: "Don't assume things are about you."App: Waze AND TeamSnap.Favourite restaurant: JOEY Restaurants.Podcast PublisherFor more local news impacting business, visit: www.businessexaminer.ca

The Pacific Prosperity Foundation (DBA Pacific Prosperity Network) believes that empowering individuals, grassroots organizations and civic leaders at the local level is the best way to enact positive change in the day-to-day lives of British Columbians. They are dedicated to providing proponents of economically strong and vibrant local communities with the education, training and tools needed to achieve electoral success in their communities.To learn more about their organization, please visit: pacificprosperity.ca.Micah's Final 4:Author: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.Best advice: "Good thoughts become good things."App: PPN Software.Favourite food: Steak.Podcast PublisherFor more local news impacting business, visit: www.businessexaminer.ca