Photo: Contributed
Okanagan Edge and the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce are partnering to showcase some of the region’s most exciting entrepreneurs through the “Top 40 Under 40” program.
Sponsored by BDO, the “Top 40 Under 40” recognizes high-achieving professionals in our community and showcases their accomplishments. This marks the sixth year the chamber has conducted a “Top 40” showcase. Honourees will be featured throughout the year on Okanagan Edge.
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Garrett has been fortunate enough to grow up in Kelowna and when he left in 2004, he knew he would come back. In late 2016 Garrett took that opportunity to come back and work with Valley-First as the Regional Manager of Commercial Insurance. In late 2019 Garrett was offered a position with the Valley First Commercial Banking team has a Sr. Commercial Account Manager; this has given him an exciting opportunity to learn a new side of the business.
Garrett has been a member of influence on the OYP for almost two years and officially joined the COEDC Connector program in 2019. The OYP inspired him to create a similar group within Valley First, (VF Community Collective) last year they hosted/co-hosted 6 events, the goal, networking with a twist! They teamed up with local businesses and partners (Ex: OYP, Impulse Escape Room) to introduce Mystery Networking events that incorporated an experience with the hope to deepen connections and relationships. Garrett is also the Regional Leader for BC Young Leaders; his group consists of 40 plus members from various credit unions across the Okanagan. The goal is to help enrich, engage, and inspire young leaders with skills and development that will grow and strengthen the BC Credit Union system.
In Alberta, Garrett was a Lions Club Member (VP of his chapter) but was looking for a new NPO/Charity to get involved with when he came across the Bridge Youth and Family Services. The work they are doing and their goal of bringing a youth recovery center to the Central Okanagan inspired Garrett and ever since he has been an advocate and strong supporter of trying to bring this goal to reality.
In 2019 Ryan Donn teamed up with Garret and the Valley First team to create the Valley First for the Tribute for Teens fundraising concert for the youth recovery center, this amazing show raised over $20,000. Valley First is a strong supporter of the Central Okanagan Foodbank, and last year Garrett helped co-lead a group that did Kaizen (A Lean Methodology) for them. The goal was to provide create efficiencies and provide advice allowing them to maximize efforts for their clients. The team spent three full days in the foodbank, breaking down, reviewing and revamping their process of bringing food from the warehouses to their market, allowing them to serve more clients. Most of the Valley First Community Events that have been hosted were also fundraisers for the Foodbank, which saw them raise almost $1,500.
Garrett is currently attending UBCO at the Faculty of Management working towards his Masters. In 2018, he received the Top 10 under 40 Award from Canadian Underwriter Magazine. He was an Emerging Business Award Finalist, Airdrie Business Awards. In 2016 he received the Community Hero Award Regional Winner from Allstate and in 2012 the Community Spirit Award from RBC.
Q&A with Garrett Jones
How are you currently approaching the current situation?
I am staying informed and optimistic and doing my part to limit contact, but stay connected. I want to thank all the essential and frontline service providers – from health care, financial services, grocery store, and truck drivers, to all the other amazing individuals doing their part. This is an important time to remember that we are all in this together and although it may seem like we are becoming less-connected, we actually have a terrific opportunity— through technology— to build partnerships and connections unlike any other time in history. Look no further than the recent Kelowna Stay at Home Gala presented by Valley First to the upcoming National Stay at Home Gala on May 2nd. Innovative and creative events like this are rallying and connecting communities like never before.
Where are you now? Are you still working, at home or at work? How is the business you own/work for currently?
I am fortunate to be working from home in my role as Sr. Commercial Banking Advisor at Valley First. We know the COVID-19 situation has presented many financial challenges and unexpected hardships. I’ve been working with our team at Valley First to provide financial relief and solutions for members (both retail and business members) who find themselves unable to meet the terms of their loans or mortgages. In the last 4 weeks, we’ve been able to help over 2,000 members with financial relief. Local businesses play such a key role in our local economies, so it’s so important that we continue to find ways to support them through this storm.
What is your favourite quote?
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
— Maya Angelou
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