Client Feature: Carmen Roberts-Kowalchuk

Carmen Roberts-Kowalchuk began her career in human services working with children, high-risk and vulnerable youth and persons with disabilities. As a mother to six children, she found that to thrive in the fast-paced world of social work, she would need to find a way to prioritize family time.

A simple way to recharge was to go camping with her family. After spending a season at Willey West Campground just outside of Drayton Valley, the opportunity came up for Carmen and her husband to operate the campground. As of January 1, 2020, they took over the campground and created Elevated Experience Camping Inc.

Through this new venture, Carmen is able to utilize her leadership strengths and channel them into a new career path. To supplement her business knowledge, Carmen has taken several workshops through Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) and has also received financing from AWE.

“I wanted to start aligning with the right type of organizations, like AWE, to help us be successful.“ Carmen’s goal was to create a business that would help people fall in love with the outdoors without sacrificing amenities. 

Elevated Experience Camping lives up to its name by taking the camping experience to the next level. You’ll find surprises such as a retro arcade, goat yoga, glamping sites, mini-golf, large yard games including ping pong, late-night fresh pizza, and an online delivery service at Willey West Campground. 

“Whether you're a beginner camper or long-time camper, or whether you want to be left alone or catered to — I can offer that whole spectrum,” says Carmen. 

The first year of business for any organization can be challenging to navigate, but this is especially true considering the challenges brought on this year. Despite that, Carmen says their first year was a success, with over 60 percent of customers new to the campsite. 

With this year’s new rules around sanitation and cleanliness, Carmen decided to bring on more staff to meet the demands. Though she could have chosen to shut down some amenities (which many campgrounds did), she believes increasing her staff was the right choice, especially based on feedback they've received and positive Google reviews from their campers. 

Carmen and her husband have set up a society alongside the business that allows them the opportunity to give back to the community and to receive grants to support innovative projects at Willey West Campground. They now have access to employment grants to aid in hiring individuals with disabilities. They’ve recently purchased a food trailer and will be running a program for at-risk youth in which they will learn to manage the food trailer to gain important skills. 

Though Carmen admits that working with her husband can be challenging, she says their differences make them a good team. “We're a good combo because we have the ying and the yang. We come to the table with different views… it’s about learning and listening to each other and figuring out how we can mesh those together really well.”

The pair have made it a priority to support other small businesses around Drayton Valley. 

“It's really important to find out what businesses align with your vision and mission and work together. It's not always about taking a percentage; it’s about working together and collaborating to make each other stronger.”

Carmen says the future plan for her company is to expand the brand and to take on more campgrounds to become a front runner for Alberta glamping. “It’s really about building the brand and the elevated experience. We feel that that is something people really are interested in.”

Entrepreneur Feature: Banyk Chia

AWE Awards nominees are recognized for their resilience, innovation, and leadership in their communities. Though we’ve had to postpone our 2020 AWE Awards celebration, we’ve taken this opportunity to talk to nominees, exploring their journeys and the challenges they’ve overcome to build successful businesses in Alberta.

Banyk Chia is the CEO of Alternative Legal Service Firm Inc. (ALSF), a bilingual firm with a team of paralegals, but she prefers the term “legal agents.” ALSF provides assistance in self-representation before the Alberta Provincial Court and organizations like the Alberta Human Rights Commission. Her firm also assists clients with legal drafting, family mediation, commissioning of oaths and immigration consulting services. 

Banyk, whose first language is French, came to Canada in 2014 from Cameroon with a background as a lawyer. “When I arrived, I was full of ambition of becoming a lawyer [in Canada]. I wasn't aware of all the challenges I would have to face. I didn't know where to start.”

After doing some research, she discovered she would have to take seven exams to practice law in Canada. The Federation of Law Societies of Canada gave her five years to complete her accreditation. In that time, she knew she needed two things: to learn English, and to find a job.

While getting settled in her new home, she saw an ad on TV for a legal assistant program with CDI college. She soon enrolled in the one-year program, and was confident she could find work with a law firm and start her path to becoming a lawyer once again. 

“Things didn't happen the way I wanted and that is life!” After graduating as a legal assistant, Banyk was unable to find a job. “It was a challenge. No one wanted to hire me. That's when I started to get depressed.”

She applied to countless law firms. She didn’t have any connections and she knew nothing about networking. Banyk kept applying online and getting nowhere. She did that for three years. 

By the end of 2017, her husband was growing concerned, and asked her what she wanted to do. “I refused to give up on my dream.” She knew she needed legal experience, even if it was unpaid. She began volunteering within the Alberta court system. 

“That's how I found it was possible to be a legal agent and run your own business as a paralegal. I thought, ‘If I create my own organization of legal agents, I will have the experience of the legal system and I will have money to prepare my career as a lawyer.’ ”

That’s exactly what she did.

In 2018, Banyk incorporated her organization. “I'm so happy! It was the best choice in my life! But I still had challenges; I had to run an organization. As an immigrant, I didn't know how to make it happen. I had no connections.” She didn’t let that stop her. Banyk attended business classes for many months in order to learn how to set up her own firm.

Her journey to owning her own business wasn’t an easy one. Banyk’s inspiring resilience kept her on track: “I wanted to give up. You have to fight harder — triple time — just to reach your dream.” With limited English, no connections, and no knowledge of the Alberta court system, Banyk has done her fair share of fighting for her dream, and she hopes other immigrant entrepreneurs, especially women, are inspired by her journey. 

“The biggest challenge as an immigrant was credibility. Being an entrepreneur is a challenge; being an immigrant entrepreneur is more challenging because you have no connections. You need to build that credibility. You need to believe in yourself.”

Banyk is now continuing her studies to practice as a lawyer and hopes to start her own law firm. She has been nominated for the AWE Awards (2020) and the Afro-Canadian Best Entrepreneur (2019). She’s received this year’s award for Best Immigrant Entrepreneur from the Economic Development Council in Alberta.

Entrepreneur Feature: Janessa Marshall

AWE Awards nominees are recognized for their resilience, innovation, and leadership in their communities. Though we’ve had to postpone our 2020 AWE Awards celebration, we’ve taken this opportunity to talk to nominees and highlight how they’ve adapted their businesses to weather the pandemic. This month, we interviewed Janessa Marshall, entrepreneur and owner of Red Deer’s The Forum.

The Forum can be considered a physical fitness centre, but owner Janessa Marshall explains that it is so much more than that. Established in 2016, The Forum is dedicated to helping people find their best versions of themselves while prioritizing movement. Its mission revolves around community and lifelong education, with people coming together to share knowledge, passion, and play. 

Janessa’s passion began as she started looking for ways to find more joy in life and pursue what is interesting, valuable, and exciting. 

“I kept coming back to movement. The concept was: what if there was more possible with our bodies than we give ourselves credit for? The more I took training, the more I started to see that maybe there could be something else.”

Throughout this venture, Janessa sought to reach out to her community and ask, ‘What do you have to share?’ Creating synergies between vocational certifications and lived experience, The Forum allows for a collective of shared passions and social connection. When the pandemic hit, it became clear that this community could grow into something beyond in-person experiences.

“We asked ourselves, ‘What is the core of what we do and why do we do it?’ That's not confined to a space. When we converted online, we were committed to continue providing the foundational skills, the development, the routine, and the structure that people are seeking. We're just doing it online now. People meet with us one-on-one through video conferencing and other mediums. We chat about how people are doing, where we need help, where we need more support, and how we can show up more for each other. We also offer online group classes in an extensive schedule.”

That isn’t to say that the transition was easy. Converting to online distribution involved building a completely new website that could accommodate members logging in and accessing content that was normally provided in a live setting. Since then, the process has involved listening to community members and asking questions like: What’s working well? What could be better? What are you struggling with? Then, they can continue to tweak the system in order to accommodate those needs.

As for maintaining her own wellbeing, Janessa emphasizes the importance of connecting with other people and the simple necessity of being outside. 

“Getting outside, being outdoors, is a must-do for me everyday. Usually when we go to work, we go grab coffee, we go do this or that, and we're outside for a cumulative two hours or more. In this situation, when you have to intentionally do it, it's hard! But we need it. And then, connection with people. Intentionally reaching out to people to connect and having that vital human interaction.”

The foundation of The Forum comes from supporting people in movement, which is why they’ve expanded their offerings to include free access to live classes online for everyone, everywhere. Additionally, they have free offerings for frontline healthcare professionals, including unlimited access to live classes and recordings of those classes.

“Frontline healthcare workers are showing up so much right now for us, that we wanted to be able to give back and say ‘We see you. We want to show up for you, too’. We wanted to make sure that when they wanted or needed that workout, when they needed that time for themselves, that it was available at whatever time of day.”

And finally, as our province begins its phased reopening, Janessa underlines that her current aim is concentrating on the now and how they can serve their community today. Further building out this online platform, The Forum can expand beyond a physical space while continuing to offer clients the flexibility they’ve been enjoying with an at-home offering.

At the end of the day, her ultimate goal is to remind people that they are worthy. When schedules are busy, when life brings so much uncertainty, and when others need our support, it is absolutely necessary to prioritize our own wellbeing. 

“We are worth spending the time on ourselves. It's in times like these that we downgrade our own worth and say, ‘I'm just going to show up, I have so many people I have to support, I have to show up for them. I don't have time. I don't have energy.’ And those are the moments that we really need to show up for ourselves, so that we have the ability to be there for everyone else. Especially as women, we show up for our family, we show up for our friends, we show up for our business, for all of these things we show up, but we always put ourselves last. And if we can't get up, who's going to show up for everyone else?”

To learn more about what other AWE Awards nominees are doing to adapt to the new business environment click here. 

Entrepreneur Feature: Phoebe Fung

AWE was graced with the opportunity to speak with Phoebe Fung, owner of Calgary’s Vin Room - a wine and tapas bar with three locations, including one in the Calgary International Airport - and long standing client of Alberta Women Entrepreneurs.

Amidst all of this uncertainty, she is committed to remaining positive despite the challenges presented to the hospitality industry by the pandemic. 

“We have a lot going for us compared to many parts of the world. But I think the most important thing is that we've learned how to be flexible. Learned how to adapt. Who would've thought that in 48 hours, I would have turned my dine-in restaurant into a take-out delivery service, turned my managers into delivery drivers, and created a brand new menu and brand new website? It's just the new normal. The good that has come out of it is that we've really gotten closer and created deeper relationships and collaborations with our local providers.”

The adaptations she has implemented in her business include offering takeout and delivery from a “Date Night In” menu, alongside several grocery packages available, all delivered within an hour of ordering. At the click of a button, customers can order delicious meals that can be reheated and served for an elevated, gourmet dinner at their very own home, best accompanied by a bottle of wine from Vin Room.

“There's no doubt that you can never replace the customers, the revenue, that you had before. The new normal is, ‘How do we provide things that people want, at a price point people need?’ We’re creating little packages for people who are stuck at home that we can offer and deliver to them within an hour's time. We’re really becoming your local grocer and takeaway all in one.”

For Phoebe, like many entrepreneurs, there are silver linings in the face of this crisis.

“I'm really proud of our partnerships. Now I talk to our local suppliers more than I ever did, and we're coming up with things together that could be win-win that will help them support their businesses too. I do believe that we, as a community, will have to survive this as a community. It's not competition, but collaboration.”

However, she is realistic about the challenges that come with enduring this unprecedented event. With obstacles around every corner, managing the human aspect of the situation is key. Phoebe is trying to keep staff or those who are temporarily laid off, up to date on programs that are available to them, as well as checking in on them and their well-being. Additionally, she acknowledges the stress that comes with trying to manage cash flow in one’s business, while trying to adapt in what is a daily changing environment.

Nonetheless, Phoebe offers some words of encouragement to her fellow entrepreneurs to return to the same courage that led them to business ownership initially. Her four pieces of advice?

Remember why you got into it in the first place. - “I think that it's easy to be disheartened and to give up, and at the end of the day we've all gone through ups and downs, but you've got to remember why you started. Get back to your own passion on why you pursued entrepreneurship. Sooner or later, this all will pass, like the flood did, just like the recession did. Don't lose hope.”

Access your network. - “You'd be surprised how deep your network is, and how new relationships can happen when you are free to think outside of your comfort zone.” 

Don't be afraid to ask for help. - “Whether it be from your bank, your lenders, from the government, from your fellow peers, don't be afraid to ask for help.”

Finally, don't strive for perfection. - “It's okay to have ‘good enough’ in today's environment.”

As a business owner, she is taking particular efforts to support her staff and the Calgary community at large. Firstly, by keeping her managers employed while frequently updating them on the situation at hand. Secondly, at the onset of the pandemic, they began a promotional campaign where a dollar of each entree sold is donated to PALS Pet Therapy. Lastly, Vin Room has deliberately priced their offerings to be affordable with a quick response time, so that people can get what they need without waiting days for it. 

She challenges individuals to do what they can to support local businesses in their communities.

“Find local businesses to support. Find ten friends that you can recommend a local business to. Recommend that local business (one you've used in the past), and ask your ten friends to consider trying it. If they like it, challenge them to recommend it to ten of their friends. I think this is the best way to support fellow local entrepreneurs and really pay it forward.”

Not sure where to start? Check out our list of 2020 AWE Nominees that have adapted to new COVID-19 restrictions and are still open for business. We applaud all business owners, Phoebe included, who are taking significant steps to overcome the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

Entrepreneur Feature: Mary Coghlan-Tibbetts

Last week, AWE asked the 2020 AWE Awards nominees to share how the pandemic is changing the way they do business. We sat down (virtually) with Mary, owner of Funky Petals North Edmonton, to discuss how her business has adapted to continue operating in a world where “business as usual” is no longer an option.

Mary Coghlan-Tibbetts was at her local grocery store a few weeks ago when she saw something that didn’t sit well with her.

“There was a customer who was acting very rude to one of the ladies working behind the counter. I was like, ‘Seriously?’ These workers don’t get to just go home like everybody else.”

After going home and thinking about it, she quickly moved into action, sending flower arrangements to all the workers at the store.

“We did up 20 arrangements, as well as some single flowers. And then we went and gave them to everyone who works at the Sobeys by my house, just to say thank you for being awesome.”

Around the same time, Mary was making the difficult decision to close her business to the public. She had been contemplating it for about a week before deciding that closing was the best thing to do for her customers’ safety, as well as her own.

As of March 17th, Funky Petals has moved to contactless free delivery and curbside pickup. Getting the logistics in place was relatively easy given that they were already set up for delivery and online orders. The harder part? Making sure people know that although they are not physically open, they are still open for business.

“The first step was social media—lots of social media to get the word out and to let people know. I do videos on Facebook and Instagram. We have signs up all over the shop.”

The move to no-contact service also requires some extra communication.

“The process is very different. We always call people when we deliver to make sure they’re going to be home. Now we have to walk them through what we’re going to be doing. The driver will show up: he’ll ring your doorbell, put your order on your step, step six feet away to make sure you get the flowers, and once you receive the flowers, he’s going to leave.”

She also recommends finding ways to interact with your customers, even if it has to be virtually. For instance, two weeks ago, she offered a virtual class on how to make a personal terrarium.

“I don’t sleep a lot. I came up with this idea at midnight. I put the packages together with everything they would need, and we delivered it all out to the participants for free.”

Mary plans to do more of these virtual classes for people to learn about plants and flower arrangements.

“It’s just about interaction again. You’ve got to make sure that you’re interacting with people even if you can’t touch them, or hug them, or go out with them. As long as you still get to talk to people and see people, I just think it helps a little bit more.”

She also isn’t the only one in her industry looking to reach out to the community. When Funky Petals Fort Saskatchewan reached out to her to suggest donating flowers, she said yes immediately.

“We joined forces with Superior Floral and Funky Petals Fort Saskatchewan to donate flowers to the ladies staying at WIN House and Compassion House. They are already going through so much that the added stress of our new reality is overwhelming.”

Throughout it all, Mary is focused on staying positive and bringing joy to others. In a time of social distancing, flower delivery still has the ability to feel personal.  

“Here’s the thing – flowers aren’t necessarily an essential service. They’re not. But they do spread joy, and love, and cheer.”

To learn more about what other AWE Awards nominees are doing to adapt to the new restrictions click here.

Client Feature: Diana Frost

Diana Frost’s story is far from conventional. As a child, Diana was raised in two very different worlds: Scotland, and Gabon in Western Africa. It was not until Diana moved back to Canada for university that she began to learn more about her mother’s Indigenous heritage. After working in a variety of engineering roles, Diana decided to pursue her love of literature.

“While I was looking into publishing an e-book, I got into the adult colouring book craze. I had a dream to create one using Indigenous art to help people reconnect with their heritage, and to connect the average Canadian to Indigenous culture.”

In 2016, she founded Colouring It Forward, a social enterprise that has both not-for-profit and for-profit components.

“I decided I wanted to form a social enterprise, to not only support artists and elders but to also make donations to Indigenous community projects, give people a way to support reconciliation, and be involved with a grassroots project.”

Colouring It Forward now has books in major museums across the country and in 51 Staples stores across Western Canada.

Recently, Diana was given a Blackfoot name, natoyinhsin, meaning ‘Holy Song’. For Diana, the name reflects her identity, rebirth, and the work she does to help the community. When asked what she is proud of, Diana says supporting the growth of artists has been very rewarding.

“I have seen some of the artists in my book go from selling their artwork on the street to making large murals for schools, developing close relationships with mayors, and being called on by CBC for comments.”

In her journey, Diana has reached out to entrepreneur service providers for support.

“I recently completed the NextStep to Success program with AWE. In the program, I was able to develop ties with other Indigenous women entrepreneurs and learn about business plans. Both AWE and Business Link have helped me quite a bit.”

When asked what advice she would give to someone who wants to start their own business, Diana’s answer is that you simply need to get started.

“When I was going to publish my first book, I wrote down a list of five actions to get started—and then I just started. My advice would be don’t spend so much time thinking. Just start doing and before you know it, you’ll have your business.”

Client Feature: Adrienne Paul

Adrienne Paul has been involved in the oil and gas industry her entire life. In 2017, a new relationship brought her to Grande Prairie, and with a Ford half-tonne truck and a savings account she co-founded Mackenzie Petroleum Technologies.

Dave Brosha Photography

When asked about the most rewarding components of entrepreneurship, Adrienne says that creating jobs and treating employees right are major aspects she enjoys.

“In just over two years, we have employed 33 people full time. As an employer, I am grateful for how people are treated, and I ensure my staff are taken care of. It’s important to get the team behind you that you need, not just the ones that are looking for a job.”

Staying true to herself while expanding her horizons is something Adrienne is passionate about.

“Being born and raised in a very small town, I had to drive to see what the world had to offer, and I had to explore. While I was exploring, I got to see how Aboriginal families in other provinces live. Some of the stories I heard and situations I saw made me want to be a leader for Aboriginal people, especially Aboriginal women. I wanted to show that no matter where we come from we can do whatever we want if we work hard and follow what makes us happy.”

While being in business has its rewards, it also has its challenges—especially when it comes to being a woman in a male-dominated industry.

“There have been times when I go into meetings and people assume that my husband is the owner and I’m his back-up. I’ve made it my mission to continue to prove them wrong.”

In entrepreneurship, it is important to surround yourself with the right people. In 2018, Adrienne enrolled in AWE’s PeerSpark program to build her network and get hands-on support to grow her business.

“I really enjoyed the PeerSpark program. The networking and the group I was part of have been so helpful. Even now that our session has officially ended, my peer group and I still turn to each other for support and advice. We email each other all the time.”

Adrienne’s entrepreneurial spirit shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. When asked what is next, she says starting another business is definitely in her future.

For now, Adrienne is continuing to grow Mackenzie Petroleum Technologies and continuing to fuel growth in Alberta’s economy.

Client Feature: Marlyse Kouembi

Marlyse Kouembi always knew she wanted to have her own business in the fashion industry. It wasn’t until she made the move from Italy to Calgary four years ago that her dream became a reality.

“I always had the desire to be an owner, but in Italy, it wasn’t easy. I planned my move to Canada because I saw the opportunity to start and grow the business. I applied for permanent residency, and in 2015 my family was accepted. That’s when I started to set up Kem’s Fashion.”

Kem’s Fashion is based in Calgary, Alberta and provides professional, contracted custom sewing services for businesses across Canada. Marlyse’s long-term goals include expanding into new markets, with Kem’s Fashion supplying their ethically and sustainably manufactured garments to international customers.

“When I first moved to Canada, I talked to many organizations to learn about successfully starting and operating my own business. One of the biggest challenges was finding the right people to hire. When I first began, I interviewed so many people and felt that none were qualified to work in the business.”

When Marlyse enrolled in English classes she connected with Syrian refugees in her classes who were looking for employment. That is how she met the husband of a fellow student who was a perfect fit for Kem’s Fashion. Today, Marlyse employs seven people and is showing no signs of slowing down.

With growth comes the imminent need to scale efficiently. “When I wanted to buy new equipment to increase my production, I reached out to many financiers, and that is how I was introduced to AWE. With the loan from AWE, I was able to purchase equipment and can now make more clothing in less time. My AWE advisor walked me through the entire process. Today, I have more customers because of this loan. I am so grateful.”

When asked what advice she would give to someone looking to start a business, Marlyse emphasized the importance of reaching out for help when you need it.

“When I was first given the contact for AWE, I was hesitant to reach out for help because I didn’t know what would happen or what was possible. After meeting with my advisor, her guidance helped me feel confident to move forward through the loan process.”

To learn more about Marlyse and Kem’s Fashion, visit kemsfashion.com.

Client Feature: Oh My Dog Spa

Myrna Saramago and Perla Pereira were both born and raised in Brazil. However, it was not until 2013, in Edmonton, that the two met for the first time.

Perla was living in the city temporarily, while Myrna had permanently relocated to Edmonton with her family. Myrna, a business graduate, and Perla, an engineer, had no idea that five years later they would be opening the dog grooming salon, Oh My Dog Spa. Their second year in business has proven that their model was an excellent fit for the Edmonton market.

“In the last year, we have doubled our business goal. In 2018, we set out to groom 10 dogs a day and now we are grooming over 30. In our biggest month, we had 80 new clients visit us.”

When asked to reflect on their successful year, both Myrna and Perla say that having a strong referral network significantly benefited their business.

With more furry clients entering their shop each day, Myrna and Perla know that having a strong team around them is essential to meeting the demands of their growing business—but they admit that this has not always been easy.

“We have learned that when hiring, it can’t just be on skill alone. Personality and culture fit are so important. As we grow, we step back and re-evaluate the business constantly.”

While being in business for yourself can come with challenges, it also presents significant opportunities.

“We love that we are doing things the way we think is right. From how we treat the animals we groom to how we spend time with our customers. All of our energy is put into our own business. We love working for ourselves and seeing our effort and education pay off.”

Myrna and Perla rely on each other as partners, but they also have support from family and organizations, including AWE.

“It’s not always easy to balance work and family life. Our families have been so supportive. So has AWE with the loan and business advising they have provided us. They have been very supportive.”

When asked what advice the partners would share with anyone looking to open their own business, both agreed: "Do what you like and what you're passionate about. If you're doing something just for the money, the chances of it lasting long-term are slim."

To learn more about Oh My Dog Spa visit https://www.ohmydogspa.ca/

Addendum: Since publishing this client feature, Oh My Dog Spa is being solely run by Perla Pereira.

Client Feature: Wendy Kerkhoff

We sat down with Wendy Kerkhoff, President and CEO of Intellidig to learn more about her business, her methodology and her experience with AWE and the PeerSpark™ program.

Q: Wendy, tell us, how did you end up becoming an entrepreneur?

There’s a part of me that just always knew that I would start my own business. While I was working the recruiting industry, I honestly felt there was a lot of dissatisfaction about how the service was being traditionally provided. I knew there had to be a better way, so I went out and started working to fine-tune my efforts.

I knew that eventually, companies would reach a point where they would recognize that all of their prospective talent came from the same data and talent pool. It was becoming a race to see who could get to that person and people became tired of it. 

That’s where research came into play. I knew that we had to find the people who weren’t looking and that the internet was an amazing place to find everything about people. This targeted approach about identifying candidates is what makes us different and is also why we have been in business for 15 years.

Q: Wow, 15 years! That is incredible. How many people do you have working with you now at Intellidig? 

It ranges depending on the size and scope of project we are working on. On some projects, I’ve had as many as 20 contractors. My core team is made up of five to seven people.

Q: What are you most proud of in your business?

There’s a lot of things that I look back on and am proud of, but I have to say surviving in business is something to be very proud of in itself. Many businesses don’t make it past the five year mark, it’s a milestone.

I’m really proud of what I have developed in the business and the high-profile organizations we have served. I’ve built a company that’s both functional and operational while surviving the odds.

Q: Would you recommend entrepreneurship to a friend?

It’s definitely not for everyone, but for me it’s the right thing. It’s something I was always trying to work towards and identify the right time to do it. Eventually, I just took the leap of faith and decided I was going to do my own work.

I would recommend it to people who feel they can think outside the box and wear many hats. I love the freedom and flexibility it provides.There’s really no constraints of job or position. It really is what you make of it!

Q: What would you say you have learned from other entrepreneurs?

Definitely how lonely it can be. You don’t have the same support that you get internally in a corporate job when you’re an entrepreneur. Being involved in entrepreneur organizations, like AWE, really surrounds you with other like-minded people. There is so much value in that. You begin to recognize that everyone has challenges and that regardless of industry, my challenges are not much different than other entrepreneurs.

Q: How did you find out about AWE?

I’ve known about AWE for many years, but became more involved a few years ago. When I found out about the programs for established businesses, like PeerSpark™, I joined right away.

Q: What do you want Intellidig to be know for?

I want us to be known as a trailblazer. We really started with the concept of providing something different, a different model to a traditional industry. The most consistent challenge has been trying to break the mold and let people know that there are alternatives to recruitment. It’s been a challenge, but I’ve stuck with it and paved the way!

To learn more about Intellidig and the work they are providing, visit their new website at www.intellidig.com or visit them on Facebook.

If you have questions regarding AWE or our PeerSpark™ program, visit our PeerSpark™ page to learn more.