The 91大黄鸭 Chamber鈥檚 Top 40 Program has returned for 2024. The program recognizes and honours individuals in the community who take leadership, philanthropy, and business to the next level.

Honouree: Jared Franczak

Jared Franczak & Associates

鈥淕reat things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.鈥� 鈥� Kobe Bryant

Jared Franczak is a real estate agent with Jared Franczak & Associates and holds a Real Estate Trading Services Licence from UBC Sauder School of Business.

He was a carpenter by trade and spent nearly 10 years helping build homes in the Okanagan before he transitioned into real estate.

Jared is a coach and leads by example, taking pride in helping people and sharing the knowledge he has gained from being a part of over 350 real estate transactions in his illustrious career. Constantly learning and striving for improvement on a personal and professional level, Jared works to ensure that everyone around him succeeds.

Jared鈥檚 most memorable achievement in real estate was receiving the Royal LePage Red Diamond Award of Excellence and National Top 2% Award, recognizing performance and outstanding professional accomplishments. Jared and his team support BC Children鈥檚 Hospital, Canadian Cancer Society, Central Okanagan Food Bank, and CNIB among many others. He is serving his second term as president of the Glenrosa Resident Association, which is actively lobbying for an alternate exit out of the community, additional sidewalks, and lighting for safety.

Honouree: Vanessa Thompson

STRIVE Support Services

鈥淪TRIVE to be of value not a success!鈥� 鈥� Vanessa Thompson

Vanessa Thompson is executive director with Strive Support Services, offering support for adults with diverse disabilities the opportunity to have gainful employment throughout 91大黄鸭 and surrounding areas.

She has a background in early childhood education and is a MANDT trainer, holistic training with a focus on emotional, psychological, and physical safety.

Vanessa leads her team in a motivational, supportive, accountable, respectful, and compassionate approach. Her team speaks highly of her passion to understand the needs of her team and individuals that they support. Vanessa has a high standard of care and integrity for what STRIVE does and is driven to provide the best care and support for the individual, and their families.

Under Vanessa鈥檚 leadership, STRIVE has grown in the past ten years and established a solid reputation in the community for the high level of support they provide.

Vanessa鈥檚 most memorable achievement is not a single one; it鈥檚 a compounded effect of the work and dedication in advocating for the individuals and team. Locally, she helps with fundraising, volunteering, advocating, and supporting organizations like Joanna鈥檚 House, Christmas hampers for local families, minor hockey, and local swim teams.