Joel Young, Founder & Advisory Council Chair
Joel has been involved with entrepreneurship in Canada & U.S.A. for more than 24 years, originating both national and provincial entrepreneurship initiatives and associated with the Kauffman Entrepreneurship Foundation and Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education in the U.S. He has lectured at the university and community college level and produced two entrepreneurship television series along with nine years as an entrepreneurship columnist.
He is currently Vice-President, Investment & Ven Cap, Stoneset Equities, Calgary and is affiliated with the Harvest Group of Companies, Lethbridge & Calgary and the ComCap Financial Corporation of Vancouver.
Colin Parker, President & Chairman
Colin is the CEO of Red Giraffe, a sales and marketing consulting firm that is an innovator in positioning, messaging, and strategy, boasting clients across North America. His leadership skills help to guide the OVES Board to deliver value-added products and services to OVES members. His entrepreneurial eye and extensive experience make him the "go-to-guy" for many businesses when a unique perspective on marketing is needed.
Vice Chair Business Development (vacant)
Rae Stonehouse, Vice Chair Education
Rae is a Registered Nurse/Entrepreneur who has worked in the healthcare industry for over thirty years. His business, Live For Excellence Productions, provides meeting, seminar, workshop & event planning for the Okanagan Valley. Very active within the Toastmasters organization Rae has taken on increasingly challenging leadership roles in entrepreneurial educational and mentoring programs. His passion is helping others to succeed.
Vice Chair Finance , Lynn Pont
Lynn completed the Computer Information Systems program with distinction at Okanagan University College in 1994 in Kelowna BC. This course included 4 university accounting classes as well as many aspects of computer science.
From 1994 to 2004, Lynn owned and operated re-manufacturing plants in Quesnel BC. Lynn’s diverse skill set stems from both her education and working as an entrepreneur managing the day to day decisions and accounting aspects of her companies.
From September of 2000 until March of 2002, Lynn was BC Wood Specialty Group’s Northern BC Representative. In her role, she assisted value added companies with training and marketing, gathered marketing intelligence and contact information, researched suitability of tradeshows for value added firms, conducted plant tours throughout BC and attended international tradeshows on behalf of provincial BC Wood members.
Lynn marketed and promoted the “Denim PineTM” brand and created a market for the blue coloured Mountain Pine Beetle wood ion behalf of companies with resulting plummeting sales. She created the Denim PineTM Marketing Association and lobbied to government and municipalities, educating them and receiving their support. Creating lemonade from lemons, the media printed the good news story globally.
Lynn received Manufacture Innovator of the year award from the Quesnel & District Chamber of Commerce in 2002.
Lynn worked as an Implementation Specialist for Windward Software for over 3 years. She is proficient in hundreds of client’s unique business solutions. Lynn is very proficient with all accounting aspects of Windward Software as well as Simply Accounting and QuickBooks.
Lynn has been currently operating her own business, “West Kelowna Business Solutions”. She provides accounting/bookkeeping services as well as training for Windward Software, Simply Accounting and Quickbooks.
Owen Davies, Vice Chair Membership
While Owen is the youngest member of the Board by far, his enthusiasm and passion for entrepreneurial ideals is second to none. From his involvement as Secretary of the Jaycees to his professional life as a Financial Strategist helping middle class families to win the money game, Owen is a true entrepreneur. He ambitiously desires to bring people, businesses and opportunities together so that everyone can win.
Vice Chair Sponsorship (vacant)
