World Hockey League Fumbles

It truly is a fine business story with solid roots in the Okanagan. A young man grows up here, goes to school, and helps dad in his business in the summer. Then on to university and a success story that never quits. The young man is Ryan Kalt. His family owns the Eyecraft store in Westbank.

He went to Queens University in Kingston. While at school he started a total of four companies while earning his commerce degree. His first huge success was NuMedia Internet Inc.. The young man operated the company while working on his degree. He always had the cell phone close by between classes and in his dorm room. That was 1998. He received his degree in 2001. The launch of the company came with a $3,000 loan from the Business Development Bank.

Clients from around the world found their way to the NuMedia door step. It was a global company, with 90% of its business from the international marketplace. The Kingston based company designs, builds and operates Internet sites that aggregate online information—such as databases for business in: technology, general business and finance. It also provides e-learning products, newsletters, and market information for these clients. Despite the dot.com slow down, Kalt always insisted there was more business opportunities than ever before, particularly in energy, business services, health care and home services.

The awards started to come in great numbers in 2001. He ranked 16th on Profit Magazine’s 2001 list of Canadian companies in the Hottest Startup category. He was also chosen by the BDB as the winner of the year’s Export Achievement Award.

In addition to his current role as chairman at NuMedia, he is presently the CEO of Kalt Industries Ltd. — a Calgary based oil & gas / energy investment company. Further more he will be back in school to earn a law degree from the University of Western Ontario in London this fall.
The twenty five year old entrepreneur had this advice for young entrepreneurs. Connect quickly and often with senior businesspeople, and invest in top-tier accountants and lawyers who can properly structure a business and provide connections

To valuable business networks, he said start out with a realistic agenda, but make sure you have passion and faith in your industry and concept. “While your idea may not always be valid, failure to treat negativity with some salt will worsen your attitude and this will translate into how you operate your company,” said Kalt.

“It is all about optimism. Today is the most exciting thing. We’re going to exploit opportunities and pursue new growth. We live in the future, not in the past.”

Great story. This young man years ago cleaned our driveway of snow for five dollars. He did our leaves in the fall. I should have known. He was making it work then…

Walt Disney said it best, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” The World Hockey League were quick to announce they was ready to go while the hockey crowd was just finished with the exciting Stanley Cup series. Bobby Hull, the commissioner, is the spokesperson. Bobby always gets sucked into this kind of stuff. It’s his anything for a buck attitude.

The league has already lost two of the six franchises it was expected to start with. Both were in Florida: Jacksonville and Orlando. That left Halifax, Quebec City, Toronto, and Hamilton. A Toronto franchise was said to be waiting on a deal to play in the SkyDome? Won’t that be lonely.

The two Florida franchises were supposed to be headed by a Calgary businessman, who has seemed to disappear. What a farce…

This is quite a company, and it is local: Aromask - an odor elimination system. Their chemists have come up with a line of products that really and truly eliminate odors, all kinds of odors. These products really work. Pet, skunks, smoking, you name it. Their products can convert a smoking room into a non-smoking room in twenty four hours. Auto dealers are using one of the products to clean up cars. Rental property owners use it to refresh the environment. Use it in storage rooms, musty basements, or anywhere that there is a persistent odor problem. There are about twelve products manufactured by Aromask and they are easy to use.

It’s a trade secret but Darrel Bensmiller, the president and Mike Worth the vice president have quite a product here. It is a scientifically formulated blend of natural organics. Essential oils, natural aldehydes, and esters creates these odor suppressing properties. They even have a special unit for those smelly sports bags. This stuff could be the problem solver you have been looking for. Give them a call about where you can buy this Aromask—765-5866…