Jon Friesen + Randy Shier

CEO + PRESIDENT, MISSION GROUP ENTERPRISES

Jon Friesen and Randy Shier met in 1984 through a Vancouver church group for young adults but didn't work together until 20 years later. Coincidentally, both switched from other professions to property development in 1987–Friesen, born and raised in Japan, started off as a Vancouver-based chemical trader for Mitsubishi Corp., while Vancouver native Shier was an architect. In 2004, Friesen suggested that Shier join him in expanding Mission Group, the development firm he had founded in Kelowna two years earlier.

The company, which has 59 full-time employees, builds condominiums to sell and rental apartments to hold and lease. Behind the scenes, Mission Group has donated construction, new appliances, time and resources to non-profits. Recently “we just thought, if we're going to make a social impact, maybe we should share some of what we do and maybe we can inspire others to do the same,” Shier explains. Unlike low-income families and seniors, single people are less likely to qualify for affordable housing. Mission Group's Build It Forward program will provide a number of suites for below-market rents to this so-called missing middle.

What do you do to unwind/relax?

Go for a bike with my husband, or hang out with my kids and sing together at the top of our lungs