In Focus | Wade Thomas of Wolverine Industries

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?
Wade Thomas

What do you always find yourself saying?
Excuse me. You haven't got an iPhone 5 charger I could borrow for a few minutes do you?

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
Travis Pastrana – Red Bull athlete extraordinaire – because it would be the most adrenaline packed day of my life, if I didn’t end up in the hospital, which is extremely likely.

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Top 40 under 40. My goal this year is to work closely with Habitat for Humanity and the BCSPCA, and ultimately be nominated for this community involvement award.

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
Thomas Edison. How can one man can come up with so many new inventions, filing over 1,000 patents? His intelligence and entrepreneurship brought us music through the phonograph, the first video camera, and of course, the light bulb. All this started out as a teenager printing and selling newspapers in the baggage car of a train, selling copies to passengers.

Who inspires you?
My family, mainly for teaching me the value of hard work, respect, and morals. As well, my wife, Kimberly for keeping me motivated and goal oriented, always wanting to achieve more together to get ahead in life, while still finding that healthy balance of work and play.

What are three things on your bucket list?
Skydiving (sorry mom)
Whitewater kayaking (again, sorry mom)
Backpack around the world (mom, can I borrow some money?)

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
“Aboat Time”

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
June 12th, 2025, celebrating my 45th birthday. I will be aboard “Aboat Time” (the future yacht) with my two kids (future kids) and wife running operations remotely from a tropical location (let's say the Caribbean). Oh, and I'll have a bucket of 6 Corona's on ice beside me and a fresh lobster tail fondue on the other, while I sit at my laptop working from afar.

What are you passionate about?
Enjoying life to the fullest each day, you never know when it may be your last.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
The day I married my wife Kimberly, a day filled with our favourite friends and family, on the lake. It was the ultimate celebration! There was also lots of tequila to be enjoyed.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Moving to Kelowna, and stepping outside of my comfort zone from an 8-5 profession to start my own business. I’ve never looked back or regretted it, and I wish I had done it sooner.

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
Krafty Kitchen + Bar downtown, on Lawrence Ave. It is one of my favourite builds, and I love the atmosphere, food, drinks and staff. If you haven't been there.... you're missing out.

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
Hopscotch Festival, need I explain? As for favourite event, I would say the BCSPCA Charity Golf Event. There are always cute puppies there, and it's an extremely fun time, with great people who are all out to help animals in need at the SPCA.

What is the name of your business/organization?
Wolverine Industries

What does your business/organization do?
We are a general contracting company that specializes in commercial and residential construction and renovations. Not only do we build and renovate, but we also have a property maintenance division, in which we take care of many well known businesses, franchises, and strata complexes around the Kelowna area.

Where can people find you or your business online?
Usually in the Tim Horton's drive-through first thing in the morning, but be careful, if it's too early, I may not be all with it if I haven't had my double/ double yet. Or, you can find us online at www.wolverineindustries.ca

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
Wolverine Industries

What is your Twitter account?
@wolverineindust

How do people connect with you on Linkedin?
Personal
Company profile

What is your mission?
To take our clients' vision, and turn it into reality.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
Give back more to the community through programs like Habitat for Humanity (one of our goals for 2016). I want to apply my skills in the construction field to help the society provide homes for families in need.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
To become Kelowna’s top recommended and trusted local general contractor.

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
Ty Pennington – “Extreme Home Makeover.” I've pulled off a few “extreme makeovers” in as little as 7 days, and they were very rewarding, but required a whole lot of organization and hard work on everyone's part. I would love to be able to do one makeover a month, in which the client leaves town, and lets my crew absolutely transform their home or business. It's such an amazing experience to see everything pull together and to watch the level of energy and excitement as the trades work together to pull off what most people have only seen on television.

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Innovation
Quality Workmanship
Trust

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
You guys (and girls) rock it! Thanks for your hard work and commitment to our company!

How does your business/organization impact the community?
Wolverine Industries currently gives donations to campaigns such as “Go Fund Me” when we see someone in need of a little help or support. We also support our local SPCA, as well as Kelowna's Cancer society organization, which houses cancer patients as they go through treatments at the KGH. This year, we have plans to work with special needs children through the CRIS Adaptive Adventures program.

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?
Top real estate investors. I would tell them my ten year goal, which is to own at least 15 properties around the Kelowna area. I would love some advice on how to achieve this goal.

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
I can't say I would change a thing! We have ski hills, hiking and biking trails, wineries, a beautiful lake, great restaurants, and amazing people! I do wish my puppy could come with me to more beaches, but that's understandable for non-dog owners.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
It has to be Kelowna's ease of accessibility to our numerous beaches, our amazing waterfront walkways, and our downtown core, which continues to get even more impressive each year. Not only do we have one of the most desirable weather climates in all of Canada, but we have everything we need to be a “big city,” while still maintaining that “small town feel.” I love going downtown in the summertime, and seeing all the tourists that come to Kelowna to enjoy everything we have to offer as one of Canada's fastest growing cities.

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Eric and Lara Vivian of Neu Movement Pilates + Physiotherapy

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!