REACH MAGAZINE SUMMER 2009

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Follow us.

We are Kontent Creative Group Inc., an innovative full-service branding company based in Gastown, Vancouver. We offer a full array of high-quality internal creative services through strong concept development and award-winning art direction. We work in all media, with particular focus on interactive and online spaces. We also provide computer programming and a customizable content management tool that drives business for our clients.

It is our ability to effectively combine the conceptual with the technical that sets us apart.

Suite 203 - 55 Water St. Vancouver, BC V6B 1A1 tel: 604.568.4244

www.kontentcreative.com www.5questions.ca twitter.com/kontentcreative

contentsCOVER STORYEntrepreneurship: Why Giving Up is Sometimes the AnswerFind out why giving up is a considerable

WORDS BY

DESIGNER FOCUSBlood Line: The 5th ElementMalcolm Norman gives us an inside look into

WORDS BY Amanda Eland

PHOTOGRAPHS BY Mike Chatwin

INTELLIGENT DESIGNJon Pezzente: The Modest MogulJon takes us into his world, showing us how he

WORDS BY Melissa Welsh

PHOTOGRAPHS BY Mike Chatwin

PRODUCED BY Dex Texier

Ron Sombilon: The Artistic Benefactor

WORDS BY Melissa Welsh

PHOTOGRAPHS BY Mike Chatwin

PRODUCED BY Dex Texier

Jenn Galo: Dancing with Dreams

WORDS BY Melissa Welsh

PHOTOGRAPHS BY Joy Uneagbu

PRODUCED BY Dex Texier

Leon Ng: Producer ExtraordinaireLeon gives his insight on creativity,

WORDS BY Melissa Welsh

PHOTOGRAPHS BY Mike Chatwin

PRODUCED BY Dex Texier

SOCIAL ISSUESPeru: Lessons from a Trade Mission to Lima

to investigate entrepreneurship, the economy

WORDS BY

Media Trends: An Ideal History or a Present Commodity?A captivating article that explores how media

WORDS BY Roxy Dumitrescu

PHOTOGRAPHS BY Melissa Welsh

THE RED CARPETFinding FridayRock band Finding Friday educates Dex about

WORDS BY Dex Texier

PHOTOGRAPHS BY Mike Chatwin

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Editors Note

edition was released about a month ago online, the next one will be

the opportunity to share your thought-

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

INTELLIGENT DESIGN & SOCIAL ISSUES

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Dex Texier

MANAGING EDITOR

EDITORS Glyniss Hawe

Melissa Welsh

CORRESPONDENTS Roxanna Dumitrescu

Melissa Welsh

PHOTOGRAPHERS Mike Chatwin

THE BUZZ Melissa Welsh

FASHION & RED CARPET

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mike Chatwin

PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOGRAPHER ASSISTANT

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Amanda Eland

STYLIST

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Dex Texier

CORRESPONDENTS Amanda Eland

Dex Texier

CORRESPONDENT Melissa Welsh

MODELS Lexington Models

HAIR STYLIST Carolynne Collyer

MAKEUP ARTISTS

PRODUCTION

DESIGNER Jelyssa Madrid

WEB EDITOR

PUBLISHER

HOW TO CONTACT US

MORE INFORMATION LEARN MORE ABOUT US www.reachmag.ca

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

CREATIVE/ART DIRECTOR Jelyssa Madrid

SENIOR STYLE EDITOR Amanda Eland

CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Mike Chatwin

DESIGN EDITOR

EDITORIAL INTERN Melissa Welsh

As an entrepreneur, your business is so closely tied to your life that it feels like a part of you. When it succeeds, you succeed, and when it fails, you fail. This is why so many entrepreneurs like Richard Branson are so inspiring to others in their passion and seemingly endless pursuit of success. Sometimes that passion can provide you with an irreplaceable joy, it can give you a life worth living. But sometimes it can blind you from pursuing the correct path.

In my experience, that passion led me to near bankruptcy and homelessness. Giving up my business was the only way for me to live the life I wanted. Habidoo.com is no longer what keeps me going, but

case, giving up was the best answer.

Habidoo.com started with a hope and a dream. A love for real estate and home improvement paired with knowledge in Internet marketing, sparked an idea that promised to be the next best thing since HGTV. My partner and I planned on running our business from the beaches of a small Caribbean island while sipping Margaritas and watching the money roll in.

necessary to build the life that we dreamed of. We had spent 14 months bootstrapping and spending as little as humanly possible in order to put all of our resources into the business. We gave up basic personal necessities such as conditioner and new socks for the promise of building a better future for ourselves. However, That future we had envisioned never arrived.

Despite working 12 hour days, seven days a week, our progress was

we were struggling, we trucked on trying harder each day to make our dream a reality, until the day we received a life changing phone call.

We had no money in the bank and none was on the way. We had to

to close the door on Habidoo.com.

My partner and I had nurtured Habidoo into this living and breathing website ready to take on the world and now we were forced to decide on its fate. It was the hardest decision I had ever faced in my life.

Although we were in debt up to our eyeballs, we rejected the idea of giving up because it seemed like the end of our dreams. But, the truth was that the resources we needed were out of our reach. It was time to look at the reality of our of situation and accept the hole we had dug ourselves into.

Before giving up, we looked into the options available for funding our

option. It would have taken us at least three months to re-write the business plan and secure a suitable investor, a process that would have

Furthermore, the amount of money needed to compete in the industry would have put us in an unfavorable equity position that we were not willing to take. Putting our feelings aside and ignoring the shame of failing,

At the beginning the job search was discouraging and made me wonder why I had left my business behind. With the economy on a downward

Then, as quickly as my business had disappeared, a new opportunity

was looking for someone to lead their sales and marketing team and take their business to the next level.

the phone, I knew I had found my next venture. BlackWave Creative impressed me with their young, energetic, and creative staff while producing amazing work worth bragging about. Their entrepreneurial attitude and unique company structure was extremely attractive for a

grasped the opportunity, knowing that it would be an adventure.

day I meet new clients with exciting projects that I can help create. Taking

grow into its true potential as an integral part of their transition.

Because of my secure position with BlackWave, my partner is able to is able to pursue a new marketing and promotions venture with some

Glam City Girls at a salon or spa near you!

we not lost our funding I would have never hooked up with BlackWave Creative and would likely be grilling away at Habidoo with little or no reward. Instead, both my partner and I are onto new adventures, learning new skills and working with amazing people. For us giving up was the best answer.

edgy and distinctive hoodies, T-shirts, and unisex zip-ups, that

this entrepreneur set her sights on opening a boutique-style

three years ago, her agency now lays claim to the most ethnically

entrepreneurs come aplenty with the program’s quarterly

The Network Hub establishes new companies as quickly and

Na’im Merchant

Melissa Joaquin

WORDS BY PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Chatwin05 06

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home studio Malcolm remains down to earth and very

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STYLIST/CREATIVE DIRECTOR/WORDS BY PHOTOGRAPHS BY Mike Chatwin

HAIR STYLIST Carolynne Collyer

MAKEUP ARTIST MODELS Lexington Models

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RMhow did you make those connections and how have you nurtured

MN

photo shoot sets when they are working or invite them over to my

RM MN

love more than hate and look into what is happening with the rivers,

RM MN

why the hell you do this and you will know you do it because it is

RMMN

www.bloodlinedesign.com

RM

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sold my car, and then apprenticed with a master goldsmith

RM Tell me a bit about the inspiration behind your

MN

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Specialists in high-end renovations and customer service. Quality Construction.

North West Integrity Ltd. is a Vancouver based firm that believes in a personal approach to your unique project, for the success of a long lasting client relationship. We adapt to the owner's needs and dreams to achieve a great end result. From your home to your office or showroom, we can help you create that special space. We utilize exclusive products with specialized custom trades to deliver a one of a kind renovation.

We offer design and architectural services to develop a well planned project, or we can work with you to build a scope of work within your budget, to match your plans and ideas. NWI is a one stop contracting firm that takes care of all of your construction needs, from planning and design, to hanging your favorite piece of artwork on your finished project!

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www.nwicontracting.com

A MODEST MOGULinterview. His voice is slightly masked by an unexpected cold, but still remains spirited and passionate when talking about his experience working within the real estate industry.

Only 27 years old, Pezzente has already been working within the industry for the last six years in the North Vancouver area. Brother Mario Pezzente, 25, joined his brother a year and a half ago. It seems the duo, described as “Friendly and high-spirited” by many of their clients, is focussed on delivering service with a smile. Working in and amidst 6,000 other realtors listed under the Real estate board of Greater

innovative technologies and old traditional family values.

In many ways, real estate is a family business for the Pezzente men, with

Alfonso open a 100-unit town home complex by working as a project marketer for the new development in West Vancouver. Gaining valuable skills in home construction and sales, and seeing the success of over 50 new town homes being sold, Pezzente was inspired.

“That really helped me get a good idea on what was to come ahead,” Pezzente said.

Since then, the Pezzente brothers have been working with their team at Sutton Group - West Coast Realty to constantly offer the best service

who happen to be down-sizing. Their mentality resembles that of their Italian family, their values centering around respect, hard work and authenticity with relationships be it family, friends, or the clients they work with on a daily basis.

challenge entering the real estate industry, his young age of 21 years.

“I was young getting into, and it was kind of threatening for clients to work with a young guy,” Pezzente said.

comments on working with the recent instability within the real estate industry. The crisis peaked in April/May of 2008, and consequently

resulted in a steady decline in business up until just two months ago.

seeing a down market, so I had to adjust and work with what market was out there,” Pezzente said.

are not exempt from obstacles but are feeling more comfortable within the real estate industry and have had good reviews from clients.

“The Pezzente brothers were amazing,” said Ashley Mofrad, one of the

made themselves available for whatever I needed them for. I had a great

Yaletown district of Vancouver.

Using a variety of methods, the Pezzente brothers strive to optimize

marketing platform.

“On average, about 80 per cent of people looking for homes use the

from the rest.”

“I believe in staying on top of what technology has to offer, our clients

But even with customer acclaim, the job itself can take a toll on any given agent within the real estate industry. And with the market looking

out like the little creatures of spring will only spur on more competition between real estate agencies. Pezzente tells me of how even a week off

phone call, then that next guy is going to come in there.”

For now Pezzente is only concerned with his clients and is excited to welcome new business: “With interest rates the lowest they have been

market,” Pezzente said.

we love to see people happy,” Pezzente said.

WORDS BY Melissa Welsh PHOTOGRAPH BY Mike Chatwin 14

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in the very architecturally unique venue, the

decided to collaborate with the Canvas

aiming to be the leader in contemporary

achieve this daunting and ambitious intention

the new emerging technologies being seen

“Art is all about growing and trying new

things, working with other artists, and

an art piece that connects with someone,

boasts an intricate detailed creation process,

his pieces incorporate traditional painting,

modern hand painting such as programs like

a small detail that he hopes will enable

viewers to relate continually to his artwork

industry under such production houses as

and Radical Entertainment - companies who

produce many known television shows and

stated that being surrounded by talented

coworkers, he was able to take what he

and decided to branch out into the tumultuous

independent art world to create what is

“They are art pieces dedicated to the people

and accomplishments each passion chaser

went through in order to become what

worked with NFL’s most outstanding

player and ambassador to the Adoptive

Chaser Foundation within the next two or

and collaborating with other local artists,

showing the world that we have as much

talent, as much passionate people as

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FINGERWAVES S he sits cross-legged on the curb outside

dancing career has been tumultuous, surviving the

committed to me, and seeing them progress, seeing

you could really reach someone, that’s what made me

And with that drive, Galo has managed to travel all

to Norway last January to teach at a reputable and

backgrounds, something that might be an obstacle

“We have some people that come to us that are very

money, and how do you turn those people away and

said about her and Urbano’s decision to sponsor many

has also showed its continual benevolence by working

dance used to resemble other dance genres such

as popping, locking or hip-hop, but has now become

And while Galo loves her studio and her students,

it’s apparent that this woman hasn’t hit her quota

backwards, stating that having a dance studio usually

GALO

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condo and hops into his car, sunglasses

Ng arrives at work located within the

ambitious innovative businessman

Queen’s University, Ng switched over

connections, which in turn, Ng says,

the Real Estate Channel, airing online

and engineers to turn their design

image rendering, the Real Estate

Channel serves as an advertising

A tricky business given that Ng and his

company are essentially conducting

sales pitches to established sales

people - a process that Ng says

as a testament to his team’s hard

Asked whether the recession

that it has coincidentally created

Real Estate industry right now, realty

creative ways to sell their products, and

“Especially in a down market, there

He added that young

entrepreneurs currently

entering various

industries should

recession, but should

capitalize on some of its

unlikely enterprises.

things were not always so assured

Ng had was echoed loudly by his

by my parents to succeed and this

individual, who has taken a niche and

young individual who continues

to show that drive and ambition

sitting at our same little table inside

the window Ng sitting at a stoplight in

2019

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WORDS BY Roxana Dumitrescu PHOTOGRAPH BY Melissa Welsh

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its answer has always varied according to history

And although women have traveled miles to socially

market is doing everything it can to promote products

creating a society that values appearance and image

culture have had a hand in controlling what the current

within the same sentence would be disconcerting or

advertising was a growing phenomenon and corsets

were a hot consumer item, allowing larger women

a large impact on what the media portrayed as the

with large breasts and a rounded bottom were a

popular culture, this new-age look was aided and

shown in numerous music videos and movies in the

appearance, as convoluted as that may sound, was

Not only did the average model’s weight decrease to

misleading as these articles are, it is not uncommon to

beauty still be a commodity, or would it be a natural,

WORDS BY Dex Texier PHOTOGRAPHS BY Mike Chatwin

Asked with how the band came up with their own niche, Andrew stated,

“Dex, its simple, its about searching and creating a happy balance between

Austin added that, “The response has been very good, it shows that there is

Andrew went on to say, “The Calgary tour was well received and we received a

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