Meet Kristie! Kristie is originally from the Coast and has been living here in the beautiful Okanagan for six years now. She enjoys doing jazzercise, travelling, and spending some quality time with her family.

Photo Credit: Kristie Nyrose
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Kelowna?    
We moved to Kelowna in 2013 from the Coast and have not regretted our move for 1 second.

Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My favourite person to spend my time with is my 11-year-old daughter. She is becoming this awesome little human to hang out with and is at an age where spending my days with her is fun, rewarding and engaging. I also realize that she may not want to hang out with her super cool mom for long, so am doing all I can to spend my days with her while she still wants to.

What is your favourite local store in Kelowna and why?
The Zen Den – a great place for some self-care and to buy gifts as well as a great friend of mine (Mandy) owns it!

Describe yourself in one word.    
AMIABLE – having or showing pleasant, good-natured personal qualities; affable; friendly; sociable.

Photo Credit: Kristie Nyrose
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
I would love to do a family Europe vacation.

What is your favourite activity in Kelowna?    
I love doing some Jazzercise at Move & Flow Dance Fitness and Yoga. Sara and her team of teachers are wonderful. If you are looking for some fun dancing and exercising, you need to try a Jazzercise class.

Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
I am proud to give back my time to the new chapter of Dress for Success in Kelowna. I have been appointed as Chair and President of the Board and myself, along with the amazing team we have put together have been busy bringing awareness of the organization to Kelowna. The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. I am also beyond excited about the interest and support we have already received since launching this charity in March of 2019.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
Wow..so many things… 1st THE WEATHER, coming from the Coast it is very refreshing to have 4 actual seasons to enjoy. 2nd would be THE LAKE, driving alongside that is one of my favourite things about Kelowna and I never, ever get tired of seeing it and 3rd, THE PEOPLE we are surrounded by some of the best people in British Columbia – I have never seen so much generosity, sense of community and willingness to get involved as I have seen living in our amazing city. 

Photo Credit: Kristie Nyrose
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
I can tell you many things….I can’t use chopsticks but Sushi is my favourite food. I think I am one of the only people I know that doesn’t like peanut butter or Oreos…I know…something is wrong with me!

How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)    
Facebook: https://facebook.com/kanmanagementservices LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristienyrose/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanmanagementservices/

What is the name of your business/organization?
KAN Management Services https://www.kanmanagementservices.com/

Why did you get into/start this business?
I have been in operations management for 11 years then decided to go into recruiting in 2008 and that for sure has been my passion ever since. My passion has been in developing relationships with local Kelowna businesses and job seekers to act as a “business matchmaker”. 

Photo Credit: Kristie Nyrose
What is the goal of your business?
My goal is to invest time and effort in building long-term relationships with my clients and dedicating the time to truly learn their culture, systems and “fit” to ensure that the candidates I place are successful. I feel like my goal is to be a bit of a “BUSINESS MATCHMAKER”. Making quality connections with both my clients and my candidates is the key to ensuring a successful working relationship and at the end of the days brings me a lot of joy when I can match people together. 

What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?    
Saying NO, lol I am my best and worst enemy at taking on too much whether it be in my professional or personal life.

If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
I wouldn’t change a thing! I truly love my life at this time. I feel like I have finally found balance in my career and home life. Taking the risk to start my own business has given me the opportunity to really balance what I need to be the best businesswoman, wife, mother, and friend I can be. 

Photo Credit: Kristie Nyrose
Tell us your best piece of life advice.    
I have recently tried embracing “JOMO” The JOY of MISSING OUT” Definition: Feeling content with staying in and disconnecting as a form of Self-Care | Antonym: FOMO….I think this is so important these days as our society has really become just so BUSY and finding time to say NO or miss out on something to relax and spend time with yourself is hard for many people especially women for some reason. But I think if we can accept that it is ok to MISS out sometimes, and everyone around us accepts this, it can be a very gratifying feeling. 

Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
As a small business owner myself, I appreciate how hard local shop owners work and how rewarding it is when people believe and purchase the items or services you offer. It is a real sense of accomplishment and shopping locally really helps with the sense of community Kelowna is so well known for. 

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Taking the leap and starting my own business. I can’t begin to tell you how many sleepless nights, 3 am epiphanies and long conversations I had with my husband, family, and friends about starting this venture of KAN on my own. And I can honestly say I am humbled and shocked by the success. 

Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Jenn Rempel from Renew Wellness – she is a local RMT in the Upper Mission and is truly one of the best RMT’s and people I have ever met in healthcare. The success of helping her clients is so important to her and she goes well above.

Photo Credit: Kristie Nyrose
My choice for the KelownaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Jenn Rempel from Renew Wellness.

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE.

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition of the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great. Thank you, Kelowna!