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Helen Siwak: EIC & Publisher’s Message – Issue #08

Every new issue of Portfolio.YVR is a reminder of why I began this journey: to share the stories of entrepreneurs who reshape their industries, redefine possibilities, and inspire others along the way. This issue is no exception.

We begin with Peter Skaronis, whose path from Greece to Chicago, Westminster Palace, and now Vancouver led him to found Techimpossible Security Inc. and teach Governance, Risk, and Compliance at Vancouver Community College. His career reflects a global view of security and leadership.

From a completely different world, Karen Lam of Black Opiate Entertainment transformed her skills  as a tax and entertainment lawyer into  an award-winning career as a horror director, showing us what can happen when expertise and creativity collide.

Family and technology intersect in Engilla Loo’s story, as she channels the challenges of raising twins into building Envia Technologies, a start-up with heart and ambition.

Chad Quinn is focused on cultural preservation, reviving Indigenous languages with his AI-powered platform, Language Foundry.

In the food space, Drew Munro  has grown a catering company into UpMeals, a ready-to-eat production into UpMeals OS, an AI-driven operating system changing how food businesses operate.

Shifts in direction also shine throughout these pages. Jersey Li, known now as The Apartment Guy®, pivoted from luxury publishing and PPE sales into real estate, carving out his niche in Vancouver’s competitive housing market.

Victor Kazakov, who arrived from Bulgaria to study at SFU, is now part of Catio, a team creating an AI-driven copilot for tech stack architecture while embracing the West Coast lifestyle.

Jeremy Kasdorf, founder of Chewie Media Inc., proves how  creative technology can empower  small businesses to remain competitive and thrive.

This issue also launches Quick Take,  a new section for those at the start of their entrepreneurial journey. In this issue, we spotlight Pine & Co.’s Khaled Abbas, whose vision for The Nomad Box soared past its Kickstarter goal, and Marko Sarunac  of IncudoLABS Inc., who is redefining  QR codes with QRBolt.com, a platform offering dynamic updates and built-in security.

Each story is a reminder that entrepreneurship is not one-size-fits-all,  it is a spectrum of risk, creativity, resilience, and reinvention. If you are an entrepreneur or business on the West Coast ready to reach the next level, Portfolio.YVR offers the stage and the audience to help you get there.

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, Collaborator: This story is created in collaboration between Helen Siwak and the featured subject. As the founder and publisher of Portfolio.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine, Helen works closely with entrepreneurs to share their paths of innovation, resilience, and growth. Each story in this series is co-developed through interviews and first-person insights, blending authentic voices with Helen’s editorial expertise to highlight the remarkable individuals shaping British Columbia’s business landscape.