Kelowna's Top 40 over 40 June roundup

Presented by Kelowna's Chamber of Commerce and BDO, the "Top 40 Over 40" was created to showcase role models and champions within our community, and to encourage our future leaders. Here are your inspiring nominees from June!

Wade Webb

Wade is co-founder-broker at Royal LePage Kelowna, and is proud of the culture that they have fostered within their organization, with a motto to help first and give-to-get. Wade and his father started the Fill the Van for Sally Ann charity effort years ago, and it has now become a Royal LePage corporate event. Royal LePage Kelowna realtors also donate a portion of all of their commissions to the Kelowna Women's Shelter.

How long have you lived in Kelowna?

I lived and grew up in Penticton most of my life. I moved to Kelowna with my family in September 2000. Best decision we ever made personally and professionally.

What is your favourite thing about this community?

Our family loves the lifestyle that Kelowna provides us. We have the best climate, geography, culture, activities, amenities, schools, and opportunity for doing business living in Kelowna.

If you could change one thing about Kelowna, what would it be?

I wouldn’t change a thing about Kelowna.

Who is your hero?

My hero is Bono from the rock group U2. I admire the way he uses his fame, talent and gifts to make a difference in the world.

What are three things on your bucket list?

5 Minutes one on one with Bono from the band U2.

African Safari with my family.

Diving the Red Sea and seeing the Pyramids in Egypt with my family.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Raising three incredible children. Making a difference in people’s lives where I live and work. Staying married to my wife for almost 20 years now.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Some days I wish I had the ability to have the superpower speed of the superhero flash. Would be so helpful to do and see more with lightning speed!

What is your favourite place to go out for dinner in Kelowna?

Bouchons restaurant is my favorite place to dine in Kelowna, especially those amazing pomme frites. They are so addicting!

If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

I would love to go to Tahiti in the French Polynesia. Looks absolutely amazing.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I am a classically trained pianist and jazz tenor saxophone player. I went to school to become a high school band teacher.

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Doug Manning

Doug has worked in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors in his lifetime. He was a teacher, counsellor, and district coordinator of Career Programs in SD23 for 20 years. He was co-founder, President, and CEO of the publicly-traded Bridges.com, one of Kelowna's pioneer tech companies. Doug now contributes in the non-profit sector as a volunteer in the local rugby community and as a member of various not-for-profit Boards.

How long have you lived in Kelowna?

I moved here in 1975. There have been a lot of changes to the City since then.

What is your favourite thing about this community?

There are many things about Kelowna that are impressive. The scope of recreational programs and services is amazing. The development and improvement of downtown has been intelligent and offers locals an opportunity to develop a café culture. The influx of young people over the past 10 years has been exciting, accelerated by the emerging tech community, and the expansion of post-secondary opportunities at Okanagan College and UBC Okanagan. These all represent my favorite thing about the Central Okanagan – it is a vibrant and growing community with an urgency to be more for its visitors and its citizens.

If you could change one thing about Kelowna, what would it be?

I'm concerned that too many locals are disengaged, they don't belong to anything of substance. Time spent sitting alone looking at a screen is increasing for almost everyone. If I could change one thing about Kelowna, I'd find a way to get more locals to step away from the technology and go out for a walk, engage in a meaningful conversation, take on a new challenge, volunteer for something that matters, and/or join something. Opportunities to belong and contribute are under-utlized in our community.

Who is your hero?

I am inspired by a bunch of people, many that I've had the good fortune to work with. They all share two characteristics – they proactively pursue opportunities to make a difference and they don't take themselves too seriously.

What are three things on your bucket list?

I hope to be part of a team that establishes a home for rugby in the Central Okanagan.

I hope to work with others to promote 'physical literacy' and multi-sport for U13 youth in the Central Okanagan.

I hope to travel to all 10 places mentioned in the song Kokomo.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I'm proudest of my 41-year marriage to Kath.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

I'd have the ability to energize people and de-energize things.

What is your favourite place to go out for dinner in Kelowna?

My Mom and my sister and I go out for lunch every week, so I hope it's okay to answer this question for the mid-day meal. We go to many different places but we have returned often to Brandt's Creek, the Train Station, and Dakoda's. It is amazing how many local restaurants provide excellent meals and outstanding service. There are a lot of talented people working in the local service industry.

If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

I'd go to Hong Kong when the Rugby Sevens is playing.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I collect motivational and thought-provoking movie quotes and have posted over 5000 of them online over the past 10 years.

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Mike Jacobs

Mike is the president of Emil Anderson Construction, a company that has been family-run since his great-grandfather founded it over 80 years ago. Mike began working for the family business after graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from UBC and a Master Degree in Construction Management from Stanford University. Emil Anderson Construction has now built hundreds of homes in the Kelowna area. Mike was also a founding member of the Kelowna Chapter of the Urban Development Institute, and a former chair of the Kelowna Catholic School Council as well as B.C. Roadbuilders.

How long have you lived in Kelowna?

I have lived in Kelowna for almost 30 years, arriving permanently in March 1988

What is your favourite thing about this community?

My favorite things are the semi-arid weather with four seasons and a right sized city that has almost everything that we need without the congestion of a major metropolis.

If you could change one thing about Kelowna, what would it be?

I would like to see a multi pronged approach by all three levels of government, local organizations, developers and the broader community to address the homeless issues downtown and elsewhere in Kelowna.

Who is your hero?

My father was a definite hero of mine. His integrity, honesty and reputation were unquestionable and he always took the classy position even in times of great challenge or distress. Two others would be my swim coach and basketball coach growing up in Hope.

What are three things on your bucket list?

I definitely want to travel the broader world more. I had the pleasure of helping build a suspension bridge for a village in Guatemala last summer with my son and I definitely want to do similar projects in the future.

Playing Pebble Beach and St. Andrews golf courses are on the list along with visiting the 7 Wonders of the World.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the accomplishment of my wife and I in raising two talented and personable young adults who both left Kelowna for Toronto after graduating in a class of 50 students at Immaculata High School. They have both prospered on the downtown campus of the University of Toronto with single lecture classes of 1500 students at times during their studies.

Brandon has graduated with a Civil Engineering degree and is prospering in a career in water management along with having volunteered to build three suspension bridges for villages in Bolivia and Guatemala.

Our daughter Erin is studying neuroscience and plans to become a doctor and hopefully solve or mitigate Alzheimers/ Dementia disease. She is currently doing summer research at Sick Children’s Hospital in Toronto on immune regulation on endothelial cells to understand and treat kidney disease.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

I would love to have the superpower to read minds. Not for personal gain but to reduce misunderstandings between people.

What is your favourite place to go out for dinner in Kelowna?

There are so many great spots but I would have to say the deck at Summerhill Winery or the Quail’s Gate Winery are right at the top of the list.

If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

I would go to a crystal clear ocean with a sandy beach and a coral reef teaming with tropical fish. Maui or some Caribbean Island would be perfect

What is something most people don’t know about you?

During my Master’s Degree in 1988 I worked on an Organizational Behavior study of a start-up company in Palo Alto, CA called Intuit now known for software products Quicken, Turbo Tax, and Quick Books. At that time they had 4 employees including the two founders, worked out of a cramped two office basement and took turns answering the 24 hour 1-800 line. They were hiring but I didn’t think a Civil Engineer would like to work for an accounting software firm. Today the company has $4 Billion in annual revenue and a $20 Billion Market Capitalization. I kind of missed out on that investment opportunity.