From the trenches

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.