Meet Kelowna's Top 40 Over 40: Suzanne Degner

The Top 40 Over 40 honourees are aged 40-plus and are entrepreneurs and leaders who are well-established in their careers in Kelowna.

From the over 100 nominations, the Top 40 were chosen by a panel of judges as ideal examples of the program's criteria.

Suzanne Degner is a dentist and the proud owner of Love It Dental in beautiful downtown Kelowna.

What does being named to the Top 40 Over 40 list mean to you personally and professionally?

Being named Top 40 over 40 is a huge honour and I am so grateful to the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and judges for selecting me as one of the Top 40 over 40 for 2025.

This award means a great deal to me both personally and professionally. It is a beautiful recognition and acknowledgement of a lot of hard work as it relates to my life.

As a dentist, former nurse and mother of four, I have strived to be the best I can in every aspect of my life. Starting a new business in a new city and province in my late forties felt like a crazy thing to do, but one that was necessary for my personal and professional growth. At times the journey to this point has been extremely challenging, exhausting and sometimes lonely. Being named Top 40 over 40 inspires and encourages me to continue growing and challenging myself, and to continue pursuing my dreams. The Kelowna community has been welcoming and supportive and I feel extremely blessed to live and work in this beautiful place. Being honoured with this title along with the other distinguished community and business leaders named in this year’s group is truly humbling. I am profoundly grateful and absolutely thrilled.

In what ways do you feel you've made a lasting impact on our community or industry?

I hope to make a lasting impact on both the dental industry in Kelowna, as well as in the community.

In the local dental community I feel that I have made an impact by creating a beautiful and modern boutique dental practice with a warm and nurturing vibe, and by returning to a more personalized and compassionate approach to dentistry. The dental profession today is largely male dominated and corporately owned so I am hoping to make an impact by being independently female owned and operated. By adding more love, compassion, trust and respect into my approach to dental care I am making an impact by changing the dental experience for patients, and helping people not to dread their dental visits but Love It.

I hope to make an impact in the community by continuing to get out there and be actively involved, and by continuing to help others. I had the privilege of being a celebrity dancer in this years’s Swinging With the Stars in support of the Central Okanagan Hospice Association (COHA ). This was is a powerful experience and one that has drawn me closer to the community. People here are compassionate and generous, and I am inspired to be involved in this community and passionate about helping those in need. I hope to further my impact in Kelowna by continued involvement in local organizations, networks and study groups.

What advice do you give to those just starting out who hope to make a difference one day? or What’s one piece of wisdom you wish you could share with your younger self?

For those starting out who hope to make a difference one day I would say pursue your dreams, follow your heart, and be true to your values and character. Have a vision of what you want to achieve and a passion for what you do, surround yourself with loving and supportive people, and put in the time and hard work. Anything is possible.

A piece of wisdom I would share with my younger self would be to calm down and enjoy the journey. There is time for everything. I would tell my younger self to be more patient and enjoy everything as it happens along the way. Life is supposed to challenge us personally and professionally, and that is where the opportunity for learning and growth happen.

Who mentored or inspired you earlier in your career, and what lasting impact did they have on you?

I cannot name a particular individual but rather a collective group of individuals who have inspired and encouraged me over many years. My parents have been very important in my journey and have provided me with the love and support to accomplish many things, as well as the opportunity to pursue my dreams. Both my mother and father were excellent role models and instilled in me a desire to care for others and help those in need. In my nursing career I was influenced and inspired by many wonderful professionals who were dedicated to exceptional patient care and to the profession. In my dental career there have been many dental professionals who have mentored me and given me the opportunity to gain confidence, knowledge and further the skills required to be successful in this profession.

How have you navigated change and innovation in your field, especially over the past decade?

Dentistry has seen many changes in the last decade, particularly during Covid. The closure of dental practices during Covid was detrimental to the profession and changed the dental industry in many ways. Businesses lost revenue, patients and workforce during this time. The work culture in many dental practices became challenging and sometimes toxic.

It has taken time and significant effort to regain patient confidence that it is safe to return for routine dental work. More dental practice have become corporately owned and operated in the last decade and that has changed the landscape for independently owned practices trying to compete in the market. There have been numerous technological advancements and innovation in the dental industry over the last decade as well. I have responded to these changes and innovations in the field by designing my own dental practice focused on individualized patient care, and equipping Love It Dental with the newest and modern technologies to ensure dental visits are the most comfortable, efficient and safest for my patients.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind through your work or community involvement? or What’s next for you? Any exciting projects, goals, or new chapters on the horizon?

I hope to leave a legacy of Love. In my work and in my community involvement I hope to spread love to others in everything I do. I hope to inspire other people to be passionate and pursue their dreams, and do hard things, and put themselves out there for other people. I hope to continue growing my business and attract more new patients to Love It Dental, while focusing on continued excellence for existing patients. I hope to grow the Love It Dental team and add more exceptional like minded people to our practice in the coming years.