Going green resulted in plenty of green for a budding Vernon entrepreneur.
Dora Anderson and her company Ecotecture walked away with the first prize of more than $28,000 in business and advertising services in the 10th annual Enterprize Challenge, hosted by Community Futures North Okanagan and sponsored by Agile BK, held Thursday, May 8, in front of a large crowd at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.
Anderson beat out four other entrepreneurs – all women – to earn the top prize of a package that includes start-up capital, legal, bookkeeping, marketing/web, radio advertising, and video marketing packages, business and website consulting services, mentoring, Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce membership, and print marketing and tuition credits.
"It's a little surreal at this point in time," said Anderson in the lobby after the final portion of the competition, where she hugged her son, and kissed her husband. "To be honest, this has been a really humbling, supportive and empowering process with all the ladies that were up there with me today."
Anderson's Ecotecture venture aims to expand sustainable building development in Vernon. Wanting to shift away from wasteful building practices, Anderson's company will develop new specifications based on green building standards to create an eco-friendly future.
Anderson comes from more than 20 years in the architecture and design industry but was never focused on green design.
"We want to lead the green building and the green processes," she said. "And, really, given all of the emission targets coming down from the provinces, we have to start making this shift and making this change, or we won't meet these targets."
Vicky's Play Place, with owner Kylee Howard who looks to fill a community need with a play and family connection hub, finished second, collecting an $18,000 business/advertising package. Howard – visibly pregnant with her and husband's fourth child – also won the People's Choice Award.
Finishing third was North Okanagan Consulting, operated by Shelley Lavigne, who won a package worth $14,000. Lavigne's aim is to help guide contractors and homeowners through the complexities of construction permits.
Armstrong's Kaitlyne Peden of Sweetpea Farms, which provides high-quality, ethically raised meat products to the North Okanagan community, and Amber Wetherill's Your Friendly Dev, which offers people-first tech consulting and software development for small businesses and non-profits, also reached the final five Thursday.
The last portion of the challenge was for the five finalists to make one last pitch with their service or product to the four judges – Jenelle Brewer, Jenelle Brewer Consulting; Connie Vizslai, Sproing Solutions; Mitchal Derksen, Agile BK; and Ryan Sheepwash, Transition Marketing Services.
The finalists had eight minutes for their pitch and for questions from the judges. At the eight-minute mark, emcee Brian Martin of Beach Radio – resplendent in a pink suit and pants with purple socks – would put a polite, hilarious stop to their time.
Anderson, 46, says she re-invented herself with the creation of Ecotecture, and she hopes her Enterprize Challenge win will inspire other budding women entrepreneurs. She also recommends entering the challenge.
"The team at the Enterprize Challenge was incredibly supportive," she said. "It's a great process just to go through and re-evaluate yourself, check-in and say, 'OK, am I still on track with my authentic self, my passion, and where I want to be taking this business?'"
Anderson will bolster her four other finalists in their business endeavours.
"I look forward to supporting these ladies and their adventures," she said. "We're all just like any family, we all come to it with different skill sets, and to be able to be there to support one another and whatever we need."
The Peoples Choice Award was voted on by those in attendance. They could have chosen one of the five finalists or any of the vendors set up at pre-Challenge Expo in the Performing Arts Centre lobby beforehand and at intermission.
The award carries with it a nearly $1,200 advertising package for Howard's Vicky's Play Place.
A total of 13 would-be entrepreneurs entered the 2025 Enterprize Challenge.
