The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce is once again launching its ‘Top 40 Over 40 presented by BDO’, to celebrate individuals in the community over the age of 40.
These are people who showcase as mentors, champions and role models and who encourage and foster the future leaders of the community.
The Kelowna Chamber is highlighting new honourees between February and July 2021. Each year the program alternates between Over 40 and Under 40 Honourees. This is the sixth year of the program as 2021 marks an “Over 40” year.
Trent was born and raised in Kelowna, in 1979, and attended KSS (1997). He played baseball for Team Canada and was drafted by MLB (1997); was NCAA student athlete (2001). MBA graduate Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario in 2007. Founder of Saxx Underwear (2007), sold business ultimately in 2016, financial terms not disclosed as private business. Co-Founder of Doja Cannabis Company, (CSE:HIKU) sold to Canopy Growth (TSX:WEED) in 2018 for approximately $630m CAN.
Co-founder of Kitsch Wines in 2015 and working with wife Ria to build the brand.
Co-founder of Stately Capital Corporation, amalgamated with Gold Flora in 2021. Father, Husband, Optimist and believes anything is possible.
Trent has been a leader and member of teams and has benefited from those experiences. He believes one doesn’t need experience in any given field to start a business in that field. He believes a leader is someone who makes 3-5 good decisions a year and sets the vision for the future. A person who has strong values and those values show in the brand. He doesn’t believe there is a substitute for hard work and dedicated focus. Leadership is part hard work and exampling that focus, and part being different than typical. He has found that setting the sail and the direction of the company is something to know before you set off on the adventure of starting a business.
In terms of volunteerism, Trent asks for abundance to help others; he says, some things we do publicly and some things we do privately. Some examples are giving to Mamas for Mamas both personally and through Kitsch Wines as well as the Kelowna Women’s Shelter. Locally he also coaches in KHMA and Kelowna Minor Baseball. More widely he is a part of Baseball Canada as a member of their advisory board.
He often donates his time to help aspiring entrepreneurs and also dedicates his speaking time and donates his fee, for example Restore international speech where he donated $5,000 as well as speaking for free; over $50,000 was raised here locally. Trent is a co-founder of “founders hike” a weekly hike where entrepreneurs and founders connect to help each other. Lastly he’s a proud Kelowna person and part time historian who advocates for the future of the Okanagan.
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