Geometrik

Month: April 2022

Geometrik

Written by Crew Marketing
While it may seem hard to believe, Geometrik, one of the largest wood ceiling manufacturers on North America’s West Coast, started out as a children’s furniture shop. The Kelowna-based company was operating in a 3,500 square foot workshop when Vladimir and Natasha Bolshakov purchased it in 2007.

The furniture production was soon phased out to focus on incoming orders for wooden acoustical panels, a craft Vladimir learned in his native country of Ukraine and honed while working in the U.S. for four years before settling in Kelowna.

The shift in business brought exponential growth to Geometrik—they’ve twice moved to larger manufacturing facilities to keep up with demand. The company’s fully customizable and ready-to-install products are now manufactured in an efficient 30,000 square foot factory.

As an active participant in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Geometrik is focused on reducing or eliminating the environmental impacts of its manufacturing process.

“Our mission is to be a sustainable business—not just by using raw/recyclable materials, but in a broader sense, by providing sustainable employment and sustainable relationships with our suppliers and community,” Bolshakov says. “This focus for the last 14 years has resulted in enduring relationships both internally, within our company, and externally with our customers.”

This commitment to sustainability, along with Vladimir and Natasha’s combined experience in industrial engineering and economics respectively, have been integral to Geometrik’s success. Add to that the combination of their talented, highly skilled workforce and leading-edge industry technology, and it’s no wonder they’ve been able to consistently add to their impressive portfolio of projects.

This portfolio includes close-to-home projects like the Okanagan College Center of Excellence and UBCO Teaching and Learning Centre, as well as international projects like the Law building at Stanford University and the Illumina Campus at Lincoln Centre. With their array of completed projects and a continued focus on growth, you just may be admiring Geometrik’s work firsthand the next time you’re in a building with beautifully designed acoustical panels.

“We fell in love with the Central Okanagan on our first visit in 2007. It was then and there we made the decision to build a company and commitment to the Okanagan Valley.”

Valens

Written by Crew Marketing
The Valens Company, which is one of Canada’s most successful cannabis companies, knew that keeping things simple would be the key to their success when cannabis became fully legal.

“Some people overcomplicate cannabis,” says Valens CEO, Tyler Robson. “We’re really a consumer-packaged goods (CPG) company that manufactures cannabis. It’s focusing on the fundamentals and getting out of your own way.”

How Valens got to this point is a testament to the company’s vision of positioning itself as a global consumer company connected to Kelowna, one of the most cannabis-centric places in the world.

The vertically integrated, publicly-traded company has grown to more than 370 employees with manufacturing facilities in Kelowna, Toronto, and Vancouver. Valens has a strong foothold in Canada and the United States, as well as 19 other countries—and counting.

“We’ve achieved success because we’ve gotten so far ahead of everyone else. It took a while for the market to catch up. We hit the ground running once it went legal federally,” Robson says.

While the company starts with the product in mind, it ends with the needs of its customers. Since cannabis customers don’t fit into one box, Valens transitioned from being a sole extraction company to developing consumer products in the medicinal, wellness, and recreational sectors.

“It’s a personal experience that everyone uses for different reasons,” Robson says. In a rapidly growing space like cannabis, thinking strategically is a major competitive advantage. Valens’ Chief Commercial Officer, Adam Shea, says that thinking five steps ahead is part of the company’s DNA.

“A lot of companies in the cannabis field are reactive… We go to where the puck is about to go, not where it is,” he adds.

“Being part of the Okanagan community has always been an asset to us. We are in the business of making products that can potentially enhance people’s lives – and we cannot think of a better place to do it.”

Basing Valens in Kelowna was also a strategic move. Both Robson and Shea tout the cannabis culture in the Okanagan Valley and the local officials and businesses who supported Valens’ operations as Canada moved towards legalization.

The company also benefits from local talent who are tuned in to the needs of the cannabis sector and understand the market.

“You can hire accountants and lawyers, but finding seasoned cannabis talent is very tough,” Robson says. “The depth of experience here is second to none.”

As they grow, Valens is looking forward to more countries opening up to cannabis and more consumers looking for safe, high-quality products that are effective for their individual needs. This forward-looking mentality combined with the fusing of deep knowledge of cannabis and consumer goods makes Valens a force to be reckoned with.

“Look out, we’re just getting started. The bar is quite high, but we have the team to achieve it.” Shea says.

WTFast

Written by Crew Marketing
Steady, sustained growth is a feature of many Central Okanagan companies and is certainly the case for WTFast, which launched in 2009 to create plug and play network optimization for gamers. Today, the company employs 40 people, has 11 patents to its name, and makes millions of gamers very happy.

The happiness of the end user is achieved through the company’s Gamers’ Private Network (GPN), which is similar in nature to a Virtual Private Network (VPN). WTFast’s patented technology finds the fastest connection from a gamer’s computer to the game server, minimizing the network latency, or ping as it is known in the world of online gaming, that gamers despise.

It is the “interesting and challenging/novel work” the company is doing, which includes developing technology to level the playing field through connection equalization, that CEO and Co-founder, Rob Bartlett, says allows the company to attract and retain top talent. That and the fact that “the Okanagan is one of the nicest places to live in Canada.”

“Like many Albertans, we spent some time vacationing in the Okanagan. We got tired of the cold Alberta winters and generally fell in the love with the great work/life balance in the Okanagan, so we decided to move here,” says Bartlett.

As a self-described “Internet Hermit,” Bartlett says it was encouragement from the team at Accelerate Okanagan that pushed him to get out of his shell and take advantage of face-to-face opportunities in the region. This face time was vital for the company’s growth, Bartlett adds, as it allowed him to secure millions in investment and close distribution deals with multi-billion-dollar corporations.

“The region is a great place to build tech and while we are doing a lot of remote working these days, it isn’t hard to convince people to move to the Okanagan for those face-to-face meetings.”

Staffbase

Written by Crew Marketing
When a business is included on three fastest-growing company lists in one year, you know they are going places. This was certainly the case for Kelowna-based Bananatag, who in 2020 was listed on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 North America List, The Globe and Mail’s list of Canada’s Top Growing Companies, and Rocket Builders annual Ready to Rocket list, which profiles BC tech companies who they predict will grow faster than their peers by delivering on technology sector trends.

The rise to the top started when Corey Wagner helped launch Bananatag in 2011. He and his co-founders, who all grew up in the Okanagan, set out to help companies, especially those with a distributed workforce, successfully deliver their internal communication.

“Our core belief is that internal communication moves people, and people move companies,” says Wagner. “Our solutions have been developed for enterprises who are looking to bring employee communication and employee experience to a new, modern level.”

Over 10 years, the Kelowna- based company grew to 150 employees and opened an office in Vancouver. In March 2021, Bananatag was propelled even further ahead when it merged with Germany’s Staffbase, a company with complementary software and strength in the European market, to form the world’s largest and fastest-growing internal communications company. While the Bananatag name has been retired, the ethos of the company remains.

Staffbase now employs more than 675 people across North America and Europe, providing service to 1,350+ businesses worldwide, including companies like Adidas, Audi, and Ikea.

While Wagner notes that the institutions and infrastructure in the Okanagan provided great support for the business, he believes it’s the world-class people in Kelowna that are the biggest draw.

“When new team members join, they always comment that everyone is so nice, people recognize that, and they want to be part of it.”

“Starting a business in the Central Okanagan is great because you and your employees get to enjoy a lot of the benefits of being near a major centre, without a lot of the downsides.”

Jealous
Fruits

Written by Crew Marketing

What began as a beloved local fruit stand in the early 1900s has evolved into Canada’s largest vertically integrated cherry company and one of the top cherry growers in the world, thanks to the vision of Jealous Fruits’ Owner and CEO, David Geen.

To compete as an international agricultural exporter and meet demand, Jealous Fruits has invested heavily in its infrastructure over the years. In 2020, the company opened a state-of-the-art 140,000 square foot facility in the Central Okanagan, complete with the latest technology including optical sorting equipment and the first UNITEC automatic palletizers in North America.

Today, the Jealous Fruits team continues to set it sights on efficiency and technological advancement, thanks in part to the knowledge and leadership of David Geen’s children, Eric and Alex. While David is still the driving force at Jealous Fruits, the company is entering a transition period, as he and his wife, Laura, look towards retirement. Eric and Alex, along with their sister Emily, are continuing to take on more responsibility, ready to carry on the family legacy.

“As new generations come along, new ideas come, modernization comes,” says President & Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Aardema. “Alex has led us through an enormous digitization process, and Eric and the entire team, on the orchard side, are really starting to embrace technology, so this is where we will see the biggest change.”

Between added acreage and some early acreage coming to maturity, Jealous Fruits expects to produce its largest cherry crop to date this year. Aardema notes that the increase in tonnage is among the reasons to “become more efficient and more effective” with how the company uses technology.

Climate mitigation and changing agriculture practices are also at the top of the team’s list when it comes to efficiency and sustainability. With the devasting environmental challenges farmers throughout the region have faced in recent years, Jealous Fruits is laser focused on the future and how they can change and adapt to deal with these challenges.

“Our five-year vision is really focused on new genetics for high quality, late-stage fruit, which fits really well with our existing model,” states Aardema. “The genetics we are actively pursuing are hardier and can sustain more of the environmental unknowns. Having these varieties up and running and commercialized will be key from a sustainability and longevity standpoint.”

“Ninety-nine percent of the cherries in Canada are produced in the Okanagan, so the region is perfect for what we want to do. It can be a little bit challenging but overall, so much of the Central Okanagan is based on agriculture and people have stepped up to find ways to make it more efficient and sustainable, so we can continue to grow in this region and use the climate we have in the area to grow world-class produce.” – Peter Aardema, President & Chief Commercial Officer

In today’s economic climate, Jealous Fruits’ ongoing commitment to diversification ensures it can adapt strategically for long-term success. Over the years, David’s involvement with the BC Cherry Association and various government agencies has played a key role in opening international markets, such as China and Korea, to Canadian cherry producers.

This year, diversification means the addition of an apple program, with 85 acres of land producing the company’s first commercial crop. Aardema notes that the team is “excited to build on the Jealous Fruits brand and support retailers domestically and internationally,” who have been asking for years about the possibility of adding apples—which Jealous Fruits did grow at one time—to the company’s offerings.

“We are continually looking for ways to streamline and diversify our operations, utilize those assets that we have, and retain talent,” adds Aardema. “We put a lot of effort into training our seasonal staff, so to be able to give back to the community as a place where people can come to work full time and become one of those key employers within the region is really a focus for the family.”

Farming Karma Fruit Co.

Written by Crew Marketing
As successful tree-fruit farmers, Karma and Kuku Gill worked and raised their kids on their Okanagan apple orchard—30 years later, the kids are all grown up and working alongside their parents to operate Farming Karma Fruit Co., the agritourism business the Gills launched in 2019. The transition from well-respected orchardists to successful producers of value-added fruit products and tourism experiences was supported by the community.

“Whether it was learning about manufacturing practices and equipment or retail sales and distribution, our community was able to assist us in different ways,” says Karma and Kuku’s son, Avi Gill, who is also the company’s president. It was a desire “to give back to the community,” he adds, as well as “the hope of sparking the interest of the next generation of agricultural pioneers,” that inspired Karma and Kuku to launch their family-owned and operated business.

Avi’s wife, Binny, and younger brother, Sumeet, are also involved in the business, using their unique combination of skills to make the company a success.

At the Gills’ Kelowna property, you’ll find Farming Karma’s production facility, where their line of fruit sodas, which are free of added concentrates, preservatives, and sugars, are made. 

Reflecting back on community partnerships, it was Peter Boyd of Independent Grocer who gave the Gills their first retail opportunity. After just three years in business, and thanks to some initial guidance from Boyd, Farming Karma Sodas can now be found in more than 3,000 stores across BC and Ontario, as well as select stores in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon.

Avi says being situated in the Okanagan and having the ability to build off the consumer desire for the region’s fruit has helped Farming Karma establish a solid reputation. The local community is also to thank.

“When you’re looking to collaborate [in the Okanagan], there is always someone who is willing to help make a positive impact on your business.” That’s good karma, indeed.

“The support from the community is immense and there is no other place you would want to start. It’s accessible and easy to create a buzz in this community—consumers here are progressive and always looking to support local businesses.”

CedarCreek Estate Winery

Written by Crew Marketing

On the eastern slopes of Okanagan Lake in the heart of the Okanagan sits CedarCreek Estate Winery, one of the original eight estate wineries in British Columbia. Rooted in a pioneering spirit and deep connection to the place it has called home for nearly four decades—the winery will celebrate 40 years of operation in 2026—CedarCreek is continually moving forward and pushing the boundaries of farming and hospitality, with a long-term vision of leaving the land better than they found it.

“At our core, we remain focused on sustainability, not just as a practice, but as a mindset that guides everything we do,” says Cedar Creek Brand Manager, Maddy Campbell.

Certified organic in its farming and winemaking since 2019, the team at CedarCreek is laser focused on deepening its commitment to sustainability and investing in practices that protect and regenerate its lands for future generations. Ensuring its vines can withstand ongoing climate changes and weather events affecting the region’s ecosystem is also top of mind.

“We’ve embraced methods that enrich our soils, encourage biodiversity, and reduce our overall impact, with an emphasis on letting the land speak through the wine,” notes Campbell.

The holistic philosophy of cultivating a natural ecosystem on its 50-plus acres of land means the winery’s team doesn’t use anything that wouldn’t be found outside the natural area, relying on animals and plants to naturally combat disease and pests.

It is through these farming and viticulture practices that CedarCreek crafts its cool-climate wines, which are consistently recognized on the national and international stage, affirming the strength of its team and quality of its wines.

In 2022, CedarCreek was crowned Winery of the Year for the third time at the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada, having previously held the title in 2002 and 2005; at this year’s event, they garnered 12 awards, including 1 Platinum. Other recent accolades include winning 9 medals (2 of them Gold) at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards and taking home 8 medals at the International Wine & Spirit Competition, where they had the only Canadian wine, other than Ice Wine, to win Gold.

“Over the past 5 years, we’ve grown our portfolio of small-lot, single-block wines that highlight the character of specific vineyard parcels,” says Campbell. “We continue to craft wines that explore the depth and nuance of terroir, while also introducing more immersive, seasonal experiences on site.”

These onsite experiences include dining at Home Block Restaurant, which takes a farm-first approach by “focusing on what’s local, in season, and at its absolute best.” Chef Neil Taylor sources ingredients from the winery’s own gardens, and from local farms, foragers, and ranchers, bringing it all together with a wine-first philosophy to create inspired seasonal menus. This connection with area farmers and producers is just one aspect of the collaborative spirit CedarCreek’s team embodies.

“We’re proud to collaborate with a range of like-minded partners to enhance the experience of our wine club members and reflect the essence of the Okanagan lifestyle,” states Campbell. “Beyond guest perks, we also engage with local farms, artisans, and educational institutions to support sustainable growth and invest in the next generation of food and wine leaders. For us, these partnerships are not just valuable; they are vital to who we are and how we show up in the community.”

With nearly 40 years of showing up in the community and no signs of slowing down, there are certainly many more partnerships to be made, award-winning wines to be crafted, and plenty of innovation to be implemented in CedarCreek’s sustainable future.

“The Central Okanagan offers a rare combination of accessibility and authenticity. With Kelowna International Airport just minutes away, we’re able to welcome guests and team members from across North America with ease. The region’s growing talent pool, vibrant food and wine culture, and strong sense of community make it a dynamic place to do business. Perhaps most importantly, the Okanagan lifestyle, centered around connection to land, nature, and one another, aligns seamlessly with our values and the experiences we offer.”

50th Parallel Estate

Written by Crew Marketing

WATCH

What started as a first conversation on a houseboat along the Shuswap became a fruitful marriage and business. The Krouzels founded 50th Parallel Estate Winery, one of the Okanagan’s largest wineries in one of the best viticultural regions in the world. They’re excited to connect people and place with each glass of Pinot.

After some lakeside contemplation, self-professed Glamour Farmers, Curtis Krouzel and Sheri-Lee Turner-Krouzel took the plunge to build their “slice of heaven,” 50th Parallel Estate Winery, on a 61-acre estate in Lake Country, north of Kelowna.

“The Central Okanagan provides one of the most diverse regions in the world in which to produce world-class wines and boasts uncompromised beauty and complementary tourism experiences that draw guests from around the world,” says Krouzel.

The couple hand planted the winery’s first 10 acres of vines in 2009. Krouzel used his engineering background to improve the process by designing a planting machine that was able to navigate difficult slopes on the property. From there, the team took on the challenge of growing notoriously difficult Pinot Noir grapes and went all-in with the varietal. In fact, it is the only red wine produced onsite, making up about 35% of the winery’s production.

In 2020, 50th Parallel launched its Glamour Farming canned wine, aligning with consumer trends and offering a more sustainable, fully recyclable option.

50th Parallel’s original winery was expanded by 15,000 square feet in 2018. The architecturally stunning space includes a tasting room, flexible indoor-outdoor space for banquets and events, and BLOCK ONE Restaurant, which made OpenTable’s list of Top 100 Restaurants in Canada for 2021.

“Let’s be honest, there is no lakefront city in the world like Kelowna. We are not an emerging international destination… we have arrived.”

In addition to helping source and secure meetings and conferences, Krouzel notes that Tourism Kelowna’s team “was very helpful in the early years, helping bring influencers and media to the winery to spread the word about our up-and-coming new business.”

“We have managed to achieve our goals of building a place where people want to come and visit and experience our wines, and most importantly we have built an incredible team that we are proud to
call our 50th family.”

Alpine Aerotech

Written by Crew Marketing
Starting with just four employees in 1990, Alpine Aerotech is a perfect example of the success that can be achieved in the Okanagan.

Today, the company is one of the largest helicopter customer support centres in the world, employing 150 people between their two BC facilities, including their main headquarters in West Kelowna.

“We chose the Central Okanagan because of the many established helicopter operators in the region; the Okanagan is also home to some of the longest-standing operators in Canada,” says President, Jeff Denomme. “The region has a variety of companies that work internationally but still call the Okanagan home, providing a significant contribution to our local economy.”

It was these established helicopter operators that contributed, in part, to the company’s success, adds Denomme.

“There was a need to provide heavy maintenance and overhaul services to help support the local industry, providing innovative solutions through our manufacturing capabilities and fostering relationships with our customers has made [Alpine] Aerotech what it is today.”

Thanks to its best-in-class reputation, Alpine Aerotech now provides services to some of the most successful companies in the world from its almost 100,000 square feet of combined manufacturing and office space. The company has been a recognized service centre for Italy’s Leonardo Helicopters since 2017 and is one of the largest and most reputable support facilities for Texas-based Bell Helicopters.

“The Okanagan is full of opportunity and continues to grow,” adds Denomme. “All you have to do is take a drive through the Valley to see the diverse industries and companies that have succeeded here.” 

Of course, you can always see it by helicopter, too.

“The Okanagan offers a great work/life balance. You don’t have to travel far to take in all the amenities the region has to offer. The local community is also very personable and very willing to work together.”

Natures Formulae

Written by Crew Marketing
Many entrepreneurial journeys start out of a founder’s home, often the garage or basement. For Barbra Johnston, the journey started at her kitchen sink, where she launched Natures Formulae Health Products Ltd. more than 30 years ago.

As a pioneer in Western Canada’s health and wellness industry, it was Barbra’s vision and dedication to developing all-natural products that laid the foundation for the company’s success.

“We are one of a few Western-based manufacturers in the cosmeceutical and nutraceutical industry,” says President, Alison Yesilcimen.

Today, Natures Formulae has moved on from Barbra’s kitchen sink, now occupying a 30,000 square foot facility in Kelowna. More than 80 team
members work at the facility, developing and manufacturing the company’s own line of branded products, as well as private label and custom all-natural products for national and international brands.

“We are honoured to have developed thousands of products in our in-house research and development lab,” says Yesilcimen. “Our formulators seek out products and ingredients that can drive new innovation.”

The search for unique and innovative natural ingredients is a global endeavour but starts in the company’s backyard. In fact, Kelowna’s official flower, the Arrowleaf Balsamroot, or Okanagan Sunflower as it’s known to residents, is just one of the local ingredients making its way into Natures Formulae’s products.

“We are all about health and wellness, which is why living in nature’s playground has been instrumental in shaping our organization,” Yesilcimen says. “Natural is our niche. Full stop.”

“Many organizations have supported our business throughout the last thirty years. More recently, we have worked with UBC [Okanagan] and Okanagan College to find graduates looking to start their careers. Many of our employees have graduated from these incredible institutions.”