Meet Windsor’s influencers: Markie, Kyle, and Hailey

WOMEN DON'T BELONG IN THE KITCHEN... BUT YOU’RE GONNA WANT HER IN YOURS

Local kitchen designer recognized internationally

By Kamryn Cusuman Photograph by Lively Creative Co.

38 Kitchens are living, breathing spaces. They hold more conversational secrets than any other room in the house. It’s where we invite family, friends, and even strangers to connect with us.

And one of the most innovative and sought-after minds in kitchen design lives right here in Windsor.

Markie Tuckett, 27, has never been a fan of following a traditional route. Her unorthodox approach bucks the trend of kitchen design in such a way that it’s earned her international recognition. As one of the most influential designers in North America, Markie uses social media to share her message with young people that the path to success looks different for everyone.

“Social media outlets are a great way to showcase the possibilities to future designers,” says Markie. “That’s where the crowd is. Also it shows them that it’s okay to not go the traditional route of running a business.”

Markie’s trailblazing way of dealing with problems and creating solutions has led to her entrepreneurial success. Markie created her own job at Timber and Plumb after being unable to find a job in her field. She leveraged her own brand of intuitiveness and creativity to build her own company after she was frozen out of the industry.

“I looked around for jobs here and no one was looking to hire a designer,” she says. “So, I said nobody wants to hire, that’s fine, I’ll do my own thing.” No showroom? No problem! Markie’s clients prefer that she come to them.

Markie studied Interior Design at Georgian College. During a co-op placement she realized her niche for custom kitchen and cabinetry. For several years she worked her way up, starting out as an assistant designer and eventually managing an entire design team.

In January 2018, when Markie quit her job in the Toronto area and moved to Windsor, her entrepreneurial dream was realized. Six months later, she launched Timber and Plumb—a custom kitchen and cabinetry design company. Instagram was a main focus of her networking. The photography-centric social sharing platform helped her establish a customer base in the city, connect with her audience, make friendships, and help reach a younger demographic of future designers. “Social media is so incredibly powerful,” says Markie. “It’s one thing to post a beautiful kitchen; it’s another to put yourself out there as a business owner in ways that other people don’t get to see.”

She soon became recognized by some of the biggest names in kitchen design. In January 2020, Markie was named one of the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s Top Thirty Under Thirty, as well as Design Hounds Kitchen Designer Influencer of the Year.

“I have big plans to speak to the younger generation,” says Markie, “and I hope to spark an interest in them to consider my line of work as an exciting opportunity for them.”

Markie is setting a table for young designers and entrepreneurs to feast on a banquet of her ingenuity and recipe for originality. Pull up a chair. Instagram: @timberplumb

HE DOES IT FOR THE VIEWS

How a local man turned his GoPro prowess into an online outdoor adventure account

By Kamryn Cusuman Photograph by Kyle Wicks

Kyle Wicks, 27, loves a good adventure, but he could never have predicted thousands would be tagging along for the ride.

Growing up in Chatham, Kyle sought any activity that would take him outdoors. As a young golfer he would find himself captivated by the sunrise over the course, and his summers were spent camping, hunting, and fishing. Kyle developed an appreciation for the natural world around him. It seemed like wherever Kyle went, an adventure was never too far away.

Like many outdoor enthusiasts, Kyle invested in a GoPro camera. He took to Instagram and showcased his photography. Whether trekking mountains, chasing waterfalls, or exploring some of the most beautiful national parks in North America, Kyle’s GoPro was capturing it all.

Through tags and hashtags, the GoPro company—one that specializes in versatile action cameras—discovered Kyle’s Instagram page and began featuring his images on their account, as well as sending him free cameras. “I just started doing it for fun,” he says.

THEDRIVEMAGAZINE.COM “GoPro noticing me was big confidence-wise— the last two years have been pretty crazy.”

Motivated by their support, Kyle began pushing the limits of his creativity and today estimates he has been featured on the GoPro Instagram account approximately 20 times over the last three years. Exposure to GoPro’s 16.8 million followers has led to a boost of over 14,000 followers on his account.

“It’s been amazing to have their support— even them sending me their cameras makes my job a little easier. I’ve been able to connect with so many like-minded people. It’s given me a new passion for life.”

In June 2019, the company selected him and a few other creators to be flown out to the GoPro Mountain games in Colorado. During the five-day event he had a chance to meet the GoPro team and network with other creators. Later that year he submitted a video to GoPro’s One Million Dollar Challenge—a chance to be featured in “the most epic highlight reel ever.” Kyle was one of the 56 creators chosen out of 25,000 videos submissions, and the winners shared equally a cash prize of $1 million. “The support GoPro has given me has literally changed my life in every aspect,” he says. “Being able to have those connections and meet those people who are a part of that brand has been amazing and it’s something I’m forever grateful for.”

Kyle’s images have been featured twice in Canadian Geographic and shared on the Weather Network’s social media. Sponsorships from hiking brands such as Keen and tourism companies such as the Travel Alberta Tourism Board and Tourism Banff have supported his continued passion for adventure.

For Kyle, enjoying the outdoors was never about going so far away from home.

“There’s beauty near and far, which is what I am realizing,” said Kyle. “You can go just 30 minutes away or even right here. You just have to appreciate the beauty that’s around you.”

Kyle believes life is short and hopes his Instagram will inspire people to get outdoors. “I feel like if everyone just took a 15-minute walk in the woods every week we’d probably all be better humans.” Instagram: @k_wicksy

WATCH AND LEARN A local woman is breaking new ground with her YouTube channel about books

By Kamryn Cusuman Photograph by Hailey LeBlanc

Hailey LeBlanc remembers vividly the first story she had ever written. She was in the fourth grade and the assignment was to write a Halloween story. Hailey took things further than anyone expected. You could image the shock on the teacher’s face when Hailey handed in a 60-page novel.

“I knew from that moment writing was something that I loved and something I was good at,” says Hailey, 24.

It was evident at that young age Hailey had a special talent for storytelling. Today, she’s the host and creator of Hailey in Bookland, a YouTube channel where Hailey shares her enthusiasm for reading and viewers catch a glimpse of her impressively large book collection.

Hailey’s audience has reached an astounding quarter of a million subscribers. Her most popular video, called “Top Ten Books to Read in your Lifetime,” has reached almost one million views.

Each week Hailey creates and uploads new book-related content and her viewers especially love tuning in to hear her book recommendations. Today Hailey’s channel has over 800 videos.

But before Hailey entered Bookland, it might surprise her viewers to know she was not always so interested about books.

“I was never a reader as a kid,” she says. “I didn’t really like it that much, shockingly.” Her love of reading developed as a teen when she picked up The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

“I think it was one of the most amazing books I have ever read,” said Hailey. “It tore my heart out. I am not generally a crier but every time I read that book I sob at the end.” Hailey has now collected more books than she can count and loves getting lost in a read, especially contemporary or historical fiction Hailey launched her popular YouTube channel in 2015, while working towards her English degree at the University of Windsor. Originally it was a project meant to keep her busy while on summer break. She remembers being impressed when her channel reached 100,000 subscribers; today, with almost a quarter of a million subscribers, Hailey is now being recognized internationally.

She gets approached regularly by viewers but was most surprised when she was recognized while backpacking in Barcelona, Spain.

“There’s this look people give when they recognize you,” said Hailey. “It’s weird every time. I never know what to do. It never gets old. It’s really awesome.”

Because of her YouTube notoriety, Hailey has had some pretty unique experiences, including meeting Margaret Atwood and being invited to be an extra on a movie set in Atlanta. Hailey is especially looking forward to the day when viewers tune in and the book she recommends is her own.

@haileyinbookland

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