Scott Stanfield
Record staff
Jenny Deters and Matt Beckett of the Comox Valley were among the winners at the Top 20 Under 40 Business and Community Awards Saturday in Nanaimo. More than 150 nominations were received for the fourth annual event, which celebrates young business and community leaders on Vancouver Island.
Deters and Beckett had both been finalists on two previous occasions.
“It’s very humbling to be categorized with many of those people,” said Deters, who owns Rattan Plus Home & Patio in downtown Courtenay with her husband, Todd. “We live in a community full of pretty spectacular people. To be recognized to that capacity is pretty cool.”
Deters is vice-president of the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association, of which she will be president in May. She has a passion for volunteering with organizations such as the Today N’ Tomorrow Learning Society. She has also sat on a number of boards.
“The reason I’m always exhausted is because I’m constantly volunteering for things. It feels like there is so much to be done in this community and not enough time to do it all…The reason I’m here today is because other people put back into me. I started out as a single mother at 16 years old. I didn’t get to where I am today by not getting a leg up from many, many people. We live in a pretty rich community with a lot of amazing people who give a lot of time.”
Beckett is a private wealth adviser at Coastal Community Private Wealth group. A past-president and co-founder of Young Professionals Comox Valley, he is also president of a Coastal Community young leaders network.
“We’re launching a B.C. Credit Union young leaders group as well,” Beckett said.
He also helped initiate an awareness event for autism through the Leadership Vancouver Island program.
“That was my first opportunity to give back in the community. That event still lives on today,” said Beckett, who is married with two young daughters. “Giving back to our community builds a healthier community.”