Top 10 business people

Our 12th annual top 10 business people of the year.

This year’s Kootenay Business Top 10 business people have diverse careers, businesses and backgrounds. But they all have one thing in common: passion—for the reasons behind their business; for their communities; for the region and the Kootenay way of life; and most of all, for the people they serve.

  • Oralie Girard

    Cranbrook » Oralie Girard

    Oralie Girard brings an enthusiasm and honesty to her business that, after 13 years, continues to resonate with her growing clientele.

  • Nicole Leclair-Dodd

    Kimberley » Nicole Leclair-Dodd

    Nicole Leclair-Dodd planted roots in Kimberley and is now seeing Sprout Grocery begin to grow to its full potential.

  • Jon Meyer

    Nelson » Jon Meyer

    Jon Meyer operates on a philosophy of being passionate about everything he does in life—including his work—making Oso Negro Coffee an exceptional roastery.

  • Oralie Girard

    Creston » Al and Marleen Hoag

    Marleen and Al Hoag are toasting their success with their own award-winning vintages from Skimmerhorn Winery.

  • Stuart Ady

    Castlegar » Stuart Ady

    A strong sense of community—and responsibility toward it—has given Stuart Ady and his wife, Mary Ann, a deeper connection to their customers.

  • Oralie Girard

    Kaslo » Patty Axenroth

    Patty Axenroth’s philosophy of seeing great potential in everyone she meets has helped her build the award-winning West Kootenay Pennywise over the last 30 years.

  • Miro Mycovsky

    Golden » Miro Micovsky

    Miro Micovsky was raised in the mountains of Slovakia, and his love of the mountain lifestyle is evident in the new concept for marketing Golden to the world.

  • Jane Grey and Stephanie Cameron

    Rossland » Jane Grey and Stephanie Cameron

    Two family physicians with similar ideas about health and beauty have created two of the Kootenay region’s busiest medical spas.

  • Bill Bennett

    East Kootenay » Bill Bennett

    From small tourism business operator to the B.C. minister of tourism, culture and the arts, Bill Bennett’s career arc has deepened his love of the outdoor way of life.

  • Steve Kuijt

    Fernie » Steve Kuijt

    Coming to work every day is easy when you love your job as much as Steve Kuijt loves his.

The top ten of 2009