What program did you take at CNC?
I was in the two-year Business Management Diploma Program. I always knew I was interested in pursuing
business, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. In 2018, my family was evacuated because of the Shovel Lake forest fires. That experience motivated me to go back to school so I could create programs for forest fire prevention and support the
efforts in small and rural communities in Northern BC. That fall, I signed up for courses at CNC!
How did CNC prepare you for your career?
Honestly, I found my passion for business here. I had so much support from instructors and was able to truly connect with them. I worked with the student union to increase athletics on campus, competed in the Western Canadian Business Competition, and
even served two terms as a student representative on CNC’s Board of Governors.
Through my courses, my extracurriculars, and my instructors, I was able to build that business acumen and figure out what I wanted to do.
Once you graduated, how did you transition from the idea of a forest fire prevention business to starting a mobile bartending business?
It's funny actually – there was actually another business in between! Before I even started Worth a Shot, I started a business with my then fiancée, now husband. He wanted to start his own millwright company, but he didn’t
know the business side of things. I loved helping him with his business, but it wasn’t fully mine. At that point, I started thinking about what I could bring to the community and where there were service gaps.
I was engaged at the time, so I’d started looking for wedding venues and vendors. I wanted to get married in my hometown, but I realized there weren’t a lot of vendors that would go out to Fraser Lake. So I thought, “if there isn’t
a bartending company that can come to me, I may as well make one!”
So you found the gap in the market – and clearly people have responded to it! In just a year and a half, Worth A Shot has gotten quite a bit of recognition.
It’s kind of crazy, actually. The business and I have been nominated for numerous awards, and it’s been humbling. I didn’t expect Worth A Shot to get the attention it has locally, let alone provincially. It all started with
BC’s Small Business Awards. I was nominated for Best Youth Entrepreneur across BC and the business was nominated for the Premier’s People’s Choice Award.
Since then, there’s been more recognition – most notably winning last year’s Business Excellence Award for Micro-Business of the Year. I was also named a Top Figure Under 40 from the Prince George Chamber of Commerce.
It’s been surreal, but it feels really good. I love that I can share that success with my team.
What has been the biggest challenge since Worth A Shot began?
Worth A Shot grew really fast in a short amount of time. Navigating that growth so rapidly was huge. I don’t think any of us expected it to take off that quickly. It’s definitely been a challenge trying to develop things while growing,
but it’s been more of an opportunity than anything. We’ve proven our ability to persevere, be creative, and put our best foot forward, and we’re so thankful for the support that’s come our way.
What piece of advice would you offer other young entrepreneurs or business students?
I think there’s two important pieces.
Firstly, especially as a woman in business, it would be to find your support system. Find those people who will rally for you, fight for you, and be there to offer feedback and advice when you need it. Use your teachers or reach out to someone in the
local business community to be a mentor. Even though it feels like it sometime, you’re not alone in your journey. My instructors at CNC became part of my support system. I actually had one of my former teachers look over my business plan for
Worth A Shot before it started!
Secondly, you need to find something you’re passionate about. That way, it doesn’t end up becoming just a job. I went from trying to develop a water tender company for forest fires to starting a millwrighting company, to starting a mobile
bartending company.
Give yourself room for the ebbs and flows and enjoy the adventure!
Start here to see what your future at CNC could look like.