Our Team

Meet the team at Avalon Event Rentals, Kelowna, BC - all of whom are 100% dedicated to making your event vision come true. Our employees are the source of our strength and our success. We act and operate around a simple premise, “Treat others as we would like to be treated”. We strive to ensure that this characteristic influences and focuses everything we do and how we treat you, our customer. 

During the month of June, to help us celebrate our 25th anniversary by giving back to our community who have supported us in so many ways over the years, our wonderful employees took it upon themselves to donate $100 per day, from the Employee of the Day, to JDRF. This is the kind of wonderful people we are privileged to have working on our team and who are all dedicated to making your event everything you wished for.

Meet the Team

 

Brad Campeau, Operations Manager, Okanagan Portable Signs

Better known as “Campy” or “Uncle _____” to us at work, Brad hails from Trail BC. Brad has over 25 years experience in the rental business and has managed the sign business for 10 years with us. But Brad’s true passion is hockey. He is a goalie (that explains a few things) who has played at the highest level. He shows up every Friday morning battered and bruised from stopping (or trying to stop) pucks shot at him by former NHLers every Thursday night.

 

Karly Curtis, Customer Service Rep

Karly has been with Avalon for almost two years now, having previously worked at the Cove Resort. Since joining Avalon, the sweet, innocent Karly has come out of her shell and is the most amazing customer service person. She is truly awesome! Karly does not have a mean bone in her body and everyone loves her and her kind heart. On weekends, Karly turns into a crazed Patriot (really Tom Brady) and fantasy football fanatic, balancing that with a need to knit and take “deer selfies” with her best friend Kayla Knight. (Kayla is an awesome former employee who just wanted her name mentioned somewhere!)

 

Kim Dunn, Operations Manager - North Okanagan, Vernon office

The newly married Kim Dunn, formerly Kim Oliver, has a smile and heart as big as the outdoors she loves. Kim joined our team when Avalon acquired Nor-Val about a year ago. When Kim isn’t helping customers here at Avalon her true passion is to be outdoors with the ‘new guy’, on her quadbike, hunting and fishing.    

 

 

Loretta Knorr, Smallwares Supervisor

We are so truly blessed to have Loretta, because there are so few of her kind in this world. She is just one of those caring, dependable people with an old school work ethic. If we could find a way to “clone” her we would be rich… but she could never be cloned, because she is one of kind! 

 

Gary Sweetman, Warehouse Supervisor

A veteran of the rental business, Gary and his wife Pam sold their rental business to Avalon about five years ago. A proud grandfather to Gigi, and fan of Man U, this English gentleman (at least this is what he tells us he is) keeps everyone in the warehouse entertained (and working). If you find yourself in a conversation with Gary he might provide you with an opinion on everything, but in doing so he will always make you laugh. Always up for a pint.

 

Amanda Topham, Customer Service Rep, Vernon office

A new mom, Amanda finds a couple a days a week to help us out in the Vernon office. On her days off Amanda is a professional bridesmaid and has collected almost 10 bridesmaid dresses in the past year or so!

 

Our “silly season staff”, Tent Installers & Delivery Personnel

This amazing group of young people keep us going in the crazy summer season (also known as wedding season here in the Okanagan). This group of 20+ high school, university students, and Aussies from Big White work ridiculous hours - sometimes 12 to 16 hours per day in 30+ degree heat - delivering your tables and chairs and setting up our tenting all over the valley. Without these hard working guys and gals we would not be in business, they make it happen. Thank you!

 

Shawn Stoesz, Operations Manager

Truly a story of hard work, Shawn moved to BC from Saskatchewan 17 years ago and started with Avalon in the warehouse. He now directs 30+ people in our organization. Better known as the “BIG SHOW” this grad of Okanagan College School of Business is a proud father, coach, chairman of the Avalon Fantasy Football league (and former champ), who loves to snowboard on those blue sky powder days. If you’re at the office and can’t find Shawn just follow the trail of spilt coffee or empty coffee cups.

Angela Buchanan, Owner/Vice President Finance

Better known as Momma B, Ang is the first one to help out at work or be that mom that’s always there for her children or her children’s friends. A graduate of Okanagan College, Ang is our head bean counter, often working nights and weekends to balance her work duties and being Momma B. Her first priority is her three teenage kids (she runs a taxi service and laundry service ‘business’ out of her home), while balancing the business demands and her “big picture” husband when it comes to spending. She is the glue that keeps the Buchanan family in line, but is also always there for anyone in need.

 

The Buchanan Family

The Buchanan Family is very active with The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. After their youngest child, Amy, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 10 months old, Brad and Angela began volunteering in many capacities including Gala Chair, National Chair for The Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes and acting as mentors in JDRF’s Outreach Programs, providing support to other families affected with Juvenile Diabetes. 

 

Brad Buchanan, Owner/President

Brad and his wife Angela run Avalon on a single premise: “treat others the way you would like to be treated”. A veteran of the food business, Brad has an MBA and, prior to owning Avalon, was the VP of Sales and Marketing at SunRype for over 17 years.  He is blessed with an amazing wife and three teenage children, and has been fortunate to be surrounded by equally amazing people in his business. Brad believes in hiring great people, giving them the tools they need and then letting them do their job.