Member Features
Member Feature: Alim Somji
May: Asian Heritage Month Member Feature: Alim Somji May is Asian Heritage Month, and we’re promoting some of our Asian Business Owners! This feature spotlights Alim Somji, Executive Vice President, Jaffer Group of Companies. What inspired you to start your own business? My father started our businesses as his second career in 2005 and, once…
Read MoreMember Feature: Vijayan Swaminathan
May: Asian Heritage Month Member Feature: Vijayan Swaminathan May is Asian Heritage Month, and we’re promoting some of our Asian Business Owners! This feature spotlights Vijayan Swaminathan, Founder and CEO of Xaddwell. What inspired you to start your own business? I had lived in 14 cities and worked for several big brands, realizing that there…
Read MoreBIE June Feature: Confetti Sweets
BIE Feature: June Confetti Sweets Confetti Sweets Submitted by Kathy Leskow, Chief Cookie Eating Officer What’s your story? I was a stay-at-home mom with a sweet tooth and big ambitions! I left my corporate job working in the hospitality industry to stay home with my kids when they were little. As awesome as that was,…
Read MoreBIE April Feature: Beauty Diamond Medispa and Aesthetics
BIE Feature: April Beauty Diamond Medispa and Aesthetics Beauty Diamond Medispa and Aesthetics Submitted by Lola Olorunfemi, Owner/CEO What’s your story? During the pandemic, I was a Nurse educator at the University teaching Nursing. I saw and felt the direct impact of Covid on frontline staff, patients, families, caregivers, teachers, and the entire population. As…
Read MoreBIE March Feature: Indigenous Box Inc.
BIE Feature: March Indigenous Box Inc. Indigenous Box Inc. Submitted by Mallory Yawnghwe, Co-founder and CEO What’s your story? My partner and I founded Indigenous Box from our Southside Edmonton basement in March 2021 after winning $5000 from a pitch contest put on by New Relationship Trust. I’ve always loved discovering new Indigenous businesses to…
Read MoreBIE February Feature: BKY Technologies Corp.
BIE Feature: February BKY Technologies Corp. BKY Technologies Corp. Submitted by Mike Letto, Business Development Manager What’s your story? My wife and I moved to Edmonton 20 years ago from back east with a dream to make a life for ourselves here and we now call Edmonton our home with our 3 kids and our…
Read MoreBIE January Feature: Refresh Botanicals
BIE Feature: January Refresh Botanicals Refresh Botanicals Submitted by Dr. Jagvir Singh, CEO and President What’s your story? Refresh Botanicals™ is organically sourced, but we take it to the next level where our research in powerful bioactives allows us to zero in and take a look at specific botanical molecules that address very specific skincare…
Read MoreBIE December Feature: Bakenary Ltd
BIE Feature: December Bakenary Ltd Bakenary Ltd Submitted by Darya Naidenkova, Co-founder — Bakenary Ltd What’s your story? I was always a creative and adventurous person. All thanks to my grandmother, who used to sign me up for all possible handmade and arts crafts activities in my childhood. After I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, I…
Read MoreBIE November Feature: Quickfire Mortgage Solutions
BIE Feature: November Quickfire Mortgage Solutions Quickfire Mortgage Solutions Submitted by Jeremy Hamelin, Mortgage Broker — Quickfire Mortgage Solutions What’s your story? YEG is homebase. I was born and raised here, educated here, and launched my career here! After pursing my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, I began working in the field specializing in running campaigns.…
Read MoreBIE October Feature: Hyklen Services and CenterTech Auto
BIE Feature: October Hyklen Services and CenterTech Auto & Small Business Expansion Hyklen Services and CenterTech Auto & Small Business Expansion Submitted by May Beauvais, Owner What’s your story? People start businesses for a lot of reasons; some do it for money and others for fame, but for my family and I, we wanted…
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