In Focus | Ria Hayden of Stage Right etc

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Ria Hayden

What do you always find yourself saying?
Fiddle fuss. It cracks the ladies up!

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
My grandchildren! They change so fast. One day with them and I learn so much about myself and about them.

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Probably a singing award, if any. I know it sounds hokey, but awards don’t hold a lot of weight with me. Our clients' praise is all I desire and all I need! They are number one to me!

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
Jesus! In my books the greatest historical figure!

Who inspires you?
My friends Francine and Larry Carruthers who left the comforts of Kelowna to move to the desert of Kitali, Kenya to ‘help’ with a mission. They now head up the mission and have a medical clinic. In the clinic Francine encounters the most gruesome injuries and tends to them with the greatest grace. They have been there 6 years now. I have been to Kitali and I don’t think I would last 6 months. They truly inspire me!

What are three things on your bucket list?
To go to Ireland …doing that this summer
To climb the Haʻikū Stairs, Oahu, Hawaii
To cycle through Holland and Parts of Belgium…we’ll be doing some of that this summer

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
Exit Stage Right

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
To see my only granddaughter's wedding! Oh what a day that will be!!!

What are you passionate about?
My grandchildren! I have seven and it’s hard to keep up, but I do my best to be at a soccer game or two a month and connect with them in special ways.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
When my eldest son turned nine years old. You see, I wasn’t supposed to even live that long, so having him turn the age my doctors said I would not surpass was a day I won’t forget. Now I have grandchildren that have passed that age! Who’s a blessed woman?

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Several things really. Raising four great adult children tops the list. The fact that we have been in business for 11 years and have grown every single year has to come second. I love mentoring young people generally, but more than that, in the wedding industry in particular. In this field or mentoring them. That has been big for me. We put on an event several years back called ‘Something Old, Something New’ which was a great success and is still talked about.

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
Poppadoms. It has a quiet atmosphere, fabulous food, and friendly servers

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
Garage sales. I love bargain hunting!

What is the name of your business/organization?
Stage Right etc

What does your business/organization do?
We design and execute fabulous weddings and events.

Where can people find you or your business online?
www.stagerightetc.com

How do people connect with you on Linkedin?
stagerightetc

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
Stage Right etc

What is your Twitter account?
@stagerightetc

What is your mission?
To go above and beyond and make every couple's dream even better than they could imagine.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
To help make Kelowna and The Okanagan Valley a world renowned wedding destination. It’s well on it’s way!

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
It’s hard to imagine, as each year we have surpassed the goals I have set. I only wish for Stage Right etc to continue to be the respected company it has always been and keep growing in excellence.

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
I’ve always really done my own thing. There isn’t one I could single out as being ‘the’ forerunner.

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Integral, practical and passionate.

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
You're the best! I am so blessed to have you all by my side! Stage Right etc wouldn’t be what it is without you.

How does your business/organization impact the community?
Two ways: When we began some 11 years ago I had a vision to attract clientele to this beautiful city of Kelowna. We succeeded right out of the gate. 99.9 per cent of our clients are from out of town and from out of the country. We have had clients come from as far away as Australia, New Jersey, New York, Boston, etc. With each couple comes guests from all over the world that may have never otherwise come to Kelowna. The amount of tourism the wedding industry brings to our fair city would shock most. I think that giving back to our community is important. To that end, we regularly do gratis work for worthy charities in our community. We have a charity program by which we encourage our clients to forgo the traditional wedding favours and instead make a donation to a charity on behalf of their guests. In turn, Stage Right etc. custom designs a beautiful card for each guest informing them of the donation. World Impact: We take great joy in sponsoring a World Vision child as well as sending funds to a mission in Kitali, Kenya on a regular basis.

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
I would want them to be experts in how to effectively take a small business to a giant corporation. What would I say? What is the most important piece of advice you can give me as a business owner and entrepreneur?

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
I would love to see a venue built that would cater to 150 - 300 people with a view of the lake or vineyards and all of the necessary amenities for catering a large event. This city is a worldwide destination city for weddings!

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
The people, the views, the lake and our proximity to anything and everything one would imagine to do.

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Jessica and Andy Schlamp

Some general comments I would like to share are:
I love this great city and this valley. I am so incredibly grateful to be able to live and work here. I consider myself very blessed!

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!