Sufey Chen
Title: Digital Marketing Coordinator / Yoga Entrepreneur Company: Tourism Prince George / Various Partner Agencies Age: 19 Sufey Chen is by far the youngest inductee into the Top 40 Under 40, a position to which she is accustomed. Prince George’s 2010 Youth of the Year has been winning respect beyond her years in all sectors of society and all over the world. If it isn’t tourism marketing, it’s yoga, debate, music, figure skating…and the Sufey list goes on. Her financial bread and butter at the present time is measured between Tourism Prince George and her flowering yoga enterprise. “Since launching my yoga business around April this year, I have received 50-plus independent contracts to teach within PG and internationally,” she said. “Though I am only half a year into this business, I make a profit parallel to my day job at Tourism PG, with new requests to teach daily.” Her entrepreneurial fires were sparked at about 14 when she taught piano for money and also dreamed up and executed the first PG’s Got Talent contest showcasing local performing artists. That event carries on today.
At 15 she entered university, majoring in biomedical studies. While at UNBC she formed the university’s first debate club, a discipline in which she was a qualified instructor. The club raised $20,000 with no track record and dispatched many members to competitions near and far, plus held a high school tournament. At 17 she was enticed to move to Asia to teach debate to master students and instructors. While based in Thailand “I found angst, uncertainty, and yoga.” Yoga she dove into, attaining instructor’s level certifications in Hawaii and New Mexico within a year. She moved back to PG due to her family ties and was hired by Tourism PG for her international experiences and track record of project management. On the side, “my yoga business boomed, I bought a house and car and life was (is) pretty good.” This is only a sketch of Sufey Chen, but it is conceivable that she might appear again on this list any number of times between now and 2034.
Jacki Collyer
Title: Owner / Master Stylist Company: Shine Salon Age: 33 “My company has grown from a tiny home based business to a leading salon in Prince George in just 1.5 years,” said Jacki. It emigrated from her basement to an elegantly designed storefront operation with four employees. It is now four years old. The swift growth was based not only on business ambition but a spirit of community stewardship. Special discounts for elders is a Collier priority because it “seems that respecting and helping our elders is a dying part of the customer service industry,” and she also insists on treating her employees like partners. “I guide and encourage my employees to perfect their skills in the beauty industry. Our salon has educators come from all over BC to teach the staff new trends and skills. I find satisfaction and happiness in watching my staff grow skillfully and personally. Since working at Shine, I can see that each of the girls in the salon has strengthened and improved their skills immensely through
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education and by just being in a positive and supportive work place. I can see that they love what they do and that they truly care about each client that walks in our door. I love working with them.” She also provides staff with a strong benefits package and encouragement to give back to the community. Environmental awareness in business is one of the ways she lives her philosophies. She focuses on eco-sensitive products, she has a shampoo and conditioner refill program for customers, and recycling everything including hair foils is done throughout the operation. Jacki also targets key causes to put the salon’s name behind. They include the Elizabeth Fry Society, the Festival of Trees, the Black and White Soiree, Hospice House, and especially cancerrelated initiatives.
Prince George Chamber of Commerce