Meet Heather! Heather is originally from Penticton. She enjoys spending time at the beach, travelling and spending time with her Husband.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
Raised in Penticton, lived in Vancouver and moved back to the Okanagan 3 years ago.
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
I love spending time with my husband, John - He is best my friend, is so smart, keeps me laughing and supports me everyday to be my best self.
What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
Funktional - I love supporting local and the creativity of our local artists is amazing.
Describe yourself in one word.
Passionate
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
I would love to escape to Bora Bora to one of those huts over the water to relax and read a good book.
What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Anything near the beach and the lake - that's my happy place!
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
I'm horrible with remembering names and once went a whole night calling someone the incorrect name. They were so kind and never corrected me.
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
In my role as an Event Professional, I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of amazing and inspirational people. However, I have never been more inspired than watching the grace and dignity with which my mother fought round after round of cancer treatments. She was a fighter for every extra moment she could spend with her family.
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
I love the memory of my family camping at Vaseux Lake when I was a child. We would setup house there for sometimes 2 or 3 weeks at a time in our tent trailer. We had all the gear and floaties and games. Our days would be spent playing in the lake and the evenings singing and playing the guitar around the campfire or challenging each other at endless games of crib. It was a simple time when worries were few and the days seemed to have a certain glow.
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
I love supporting the Event Industry and the next generation of Event Professionals. I volunteer with Meeting Professionals International and other associations to be an advocate and speaker all around the world. I also support and mentor young event planners who are getting started in their careers.
Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
I would find a quiet place on the beach facing the water. Maybe somewhere they bring treats to your chair?
Where would you like to see positive change in Kelowna and why?
We have to be the change we want to see in the world and I believe that starts with communication - what we say, how we express ourselves and what information we expose ourselves to effects how we see the world. We need more focus on all that is beautiful and right.
Media needs to focus more on the good news stories and less on the crises. Do we need to hear about car crashes and house fires? Unless it is helpful to divert traffic, spotlighting a person's tragedy for content is not helpful.
If there is tragedy that we need to take action on, media needs to research how people can help. Don't bring us the problems...bring us solutions. Focus on the positive and it will spread and amplify.
What do you think makes Kelowna great?
Our friendliness and hospitality.
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1. Travel more (Bora Bora and Australia/New Zealand are at the top of my list)
2. See fireflies
3. Learn sign language
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
I am a ham radio operator - VA7 TAO
How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
Facebook @SherpaGroupEvents or @TheEventCoach and on LinkedIn @hssharpe
What is the name of your business/organization?
Sherpa Group Events Inc.
Why did you get into/start this business?
I trained in both theatre and financial management. Event Planning was a natural evolution of combining those skills
What is the goal of your business?
Make the world a better place, one event at a time!
What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
As a self-employed person, I have struggled with having to do everything to grow the business myself - sales, accounting, marketing, all while doing the event work.
If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
I have learned so much from my time spent working for other people before I launched my own company. I have no regrets for the journey that brought me here.
What do you always find yourself saying?
Life is too short....
Tell us your best piece of life advice.
Don't try to have work/life balance - integrate the two together so that you can seamlessly take care of it all
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
I know it seems pretty cliche, but I would love to spend a day with Oprah Winfrey. She has succeeded in business despite many hurdles and has always embraced a positive and kind perspective on life. She is an advocate for "living your best life" in a peaceful and uplifting way...I find her a role model for my business.
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
If you don't support the local, you lose the local and there are so many unique and personal businesses that are way better than the giants.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
While I have won many business awards over the years, a couple of years ago my sons gave me the "Coolest Mom Award" and I couldn't have been happier
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Al Hildebrandt at the Child Advocacy Centre is devoting his life to make the lives of children in need better
My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Methal Abougoush
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