The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce has released its Top 20 Over 40 list for 2020, and Castanet will be featuring all of the honourees.
Ian Hawes is a practising lawyer of 25 years, father of two daughters and an active member of the community.
Along with practising law, he also advises his clients on entrepreneurship and risk-taking, which is fairly uncommon for a lawyer.
"Law is a business as well as a practice, and I have been a managing partner for both firms of which I've been a partner," says Hawes. "I am currently co-managing partner of Davidson Lawyers LLP, and I was one of the partners that spearheaded the merger with Allan Francis Pringle LLP."
While that merger was happening, Hawes was also in the process of organizing the provincial ringette championships as the president of the Greater Vernon Ringette Association. It is still the largest provincial tournament, which brought a lot of business and attention to Vernon.
"I have coached both of my daughters' teams, and I am now a referee," Hawes says. "Our association was later recognized as the Association of the Year at the annual Ringette British Columbia AGM."
The Chamber's Top 20 Over 40 is sponsored by KPMG, the Regional District of North Okanagan and Castanet.