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In Focus | Liam McCormack

Meet Liam! He brews that fantastic beer you've tasted at BNA Brewing.

<who> Photo Credit: Liam McCormick

Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?
I'm originally from Vancouver but I've been living in Kelowna for about 5 years now.

Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
I don't think I could pick just one person - there are so many great people in my life and I enjoy spending time with all of them!

What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
Skinny Dukes! The food & cocktails there are unmatched and the service is incredible.

Describe yourself in one word.
Dedicated.

If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
I've always wanted to travel to South America - there are so many different cultures and experiences down there and I'd love to see them all!

What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?
Spending time at the beach in the summer heat and enjoying the lake has to be right up at the top of the list.

<who> Photo Credit: Liam McCormick

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
There's probably been to many to count, but I was instructed by my representation to show up to my job interview for BNA in a full suit while my future boss showed up in torn up jeans, flip flops and a ripped white t-shirt comes to mind. I was waiting in a hotel lobby and he must have done three laps searching for me, each time making eye contact with me and never once thinking I was the guy he was looking for. He drank a protein shake while laughing at how ridiculously overdressed I was for what turned out to be the most casual and laid back job interview I've ever had. Five years later I still get to hear the story half a dozen times a year.

What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
I'm inspired daily by the people that I work with - there's so many hardworking, talented and passionate individuals at my company and I'm blessed to know and work with them every day.

Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
Learning how to swim in Hawaii. My dad suited me up with water wings and shot me back and forth in a hot tub until I got the hang of it myself. Also I was promised copious amounts of candy which may have been more important at the time.

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
Inequality.

Where would you sneak away to in Kelowna to spend some time alone?
I honestly don't crave a lot of alone time, I prefer to be immersed in social activities. If I had to I'd hike up Knox Mountain or around Paul's Tomb and find somewhere with a great view to reset.

<who> Photo Credit: Liam McCormick


Where would you like to see a positive change in Kelowna and why?
I'd like to see the homeless situation on Leon dealt with. In my opinion it's something that's a black eye on the city and creates so many problems for the people who live or visit here. I know there is no easy solution, but hopefully we are going to see some steps taken in the right direction to start tearing down the concrete jungle.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
It has everything you want without the clutter of a larger, metropolitan city. The people are easy to get a long with, it's growing every year and has an extremely bright future!

What are 3 things on your bucket list?
If I had to choose, then stainless steel, aluminum and plastic would all be buckets on my list.

Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
I played Kurt Von Trapp in a showing of the Sound of Music at the Vogue Theater in Vancouver when I was 12. Turns out I was not the songbird of my generation. Or any generation.

How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
Instagram is definitely my go to - I think it provides the best medium for expression without the fluff that comes with other social media.

What is the name of your business/organization?
BNA Brewing Co.

Why did you get into this business?
Making beer was a perfect intersect between having an artisinal creative outlet and my science background. I get to create a product that makes people happy, it's tough to put a price on the intrinsic value I take from that.

What is the goal of your business?
The Nixon Hospitality group is all about providing the absolute highest quality experience for all of our customers, from the food to the beer to the hospitality we provide. We are constantly looking to improve and welcome positive and critical feedback to help us be better at our job.

What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
I think being my own biggest critic can definitely be a hindrance to maintaining a positive attitude and outlook on my job performance. However, it's also a quality that I wouldn't change as it makes me continually want to improve my craft and do the absolute best job I can, both for myself and the people who support what I do.

If you could start all over again, would you do things the same or would things be different?
Hindsight is always 20/20 and it would be easy to say how one would do something differently when they have a change to reflect, but I think that sells short how individual experiences shape the people we are. I think I would take the same experiences and allow them to effect me in more constructive ways, and look more towards how those times - good or bad - can shape my tomorrow rather than my today.

What do you always find yourself saying?
"Holy canoli". Also if I've ever met you, you're probably getting called "buddy" for the rest of your life.

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Gary Vaynerchuk. I think that guy would really blow the doors off how I approach my career, and once I stopped crying, there would be some amazing insight into making myself be the most successful person I can be!

Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
Local is supporting the underdog, the entrepreneurs, the people who really want to go out there and do something for themselves that they are passionate about. They have put themselves on the line to create something truly unique that they stand behind, and the quality that comes with that can't be matched.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
The day I had my first beer bottled, put in a 4-pack and shipped into stores across Kelowna was hugely overwhelming for me. It was nearly a decade of work to get to that point and validated the years of long, stressful hours to get there!

Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Kyle & Carolyn Nixon! They are the braintrust behind the Nixon Hospitality group and are the epitome of entrepreneurs that support local. By far the best people I've had the pleasure of working with and I can't say enough good things about them!

My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Brandon Boot


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.

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition of the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. Thank you, Kelowna!



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