Vanessa DeDominicis was recently profiled on KelownaNow.com’s In Focus which recognizes people, businesses and organizations that make our city great.
What is your name? Vanessa DeDominicis
What do you always find yourself saying? Hey mate or Brill …I am originally from England (if you hadn’t guessed!)
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
My mum! I have lived in Canada for 12 years, but all my family are all still in the UK. I don’t get to go back and see them as often as I’d like. I miss them every day. I have no dreams of grandeur, or meeting famous people …I’d much rather spend the day with someone who I already know is awesome.
If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Something related to kindness. To me, kindness is the most important thing in the world. The world would be a better place if we were all just kind to one another. Basic I know, but it’s the truth. Kindness is the most important thing we can teach our kids. Kindness is not only important, it’s rewarding. Do a kind act – you will feel GREAT!
If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
Princess Diana. Taken too soon, did so many great things in her life. I would love to have met her.
Who inspires you?
This is a really tough one. So many people. My family – because I am what I am because of them; my friends – because I look up to what they do and the way they face their own challenges in life, and many many public figures who show amazing strength and generosity. I really can’t name names on this one, suffice it say that inspiration really does come from every single person we meet.
What are 3 things on your bucket list? learn a language well; travel to every country in the World; run a full marathon.
If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it? La Vita e Bella
If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select? I cannot think of anything worse than being able to see a date in the future! No thank you very much.
What are you passionate about? People. My family. My career.
What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
Two favourite days if I may … marrying my wonderful husband and having my beautiful children.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Professionally, it was the day I qualified as a lawyer, and more recently, the day I was asked to join the Partnership at Pushor Mitchell – sort of the final “graduation” so to speak.
Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it? Blue Tail Sushi. AMAZING sushi!
What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
Kelowna has so many great events. We always go to the Father’s Day Car Show, the Children’s Festivals and as many art festivals as possible.
What is the name of your business/organization? Pushor Mitchell LLP
What does your business/organization do? Lawyers and Trade-mark Agents
Where can people find you or your business online? pushormitchell.com
How do people connect with you on LinkedIn? Vanessa DeDominicis
What is your Twitter account? Pushor Mitchell
What is your mission?
To make sure that every adult in Kelowna has done adequate Estate Planning. A simple Will is often not sufficient, for example, what is the planning that has gone into the Will? How are the assets structured? Further, it is so important to make people aware that Estate Planning is not just planning for your death, it is planning for your potential incapacity (by accident or by dementia, for example) with a Power of Attorney for legal and financial matters and a Representation Agreement for health care matters.
If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be? To be a Q.C.
Where do you want your business/organization to be in 5 years?
To continue to be successful and to continue to provide high quality legal services to our valued clients. Also, to continue to give back to the amazing Community we live in. Pushor Mitchell does a significant amount for local charities, too much to talk about here, so I will direct you to read about this on our website. Just this month, Pushor Mitchell closed the entire office (120 people!) and everyone went out into the Community for a “Day of Caring” at various charities within the Community.
What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
1. Dedication – to our clients, to our staff, to the Community
2. Experience – our depth and breadth of knowledge in all areas of the law is vast, we have a lawyer practicing in every area from Intellectual Property to Estate Planning, from Brain Injury to Real Estate.
3. Listening and Understanding our clients – I suppose this quality would be “client service”, but it is more than that. We strive to listen to our clients. Not listen with the intent to reply, but listen with the intent to understand and resolve their legal issues.
What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers? Thank you for all you do. You are a huge part of our success and we appreciate you all SO much.
If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
I would want them to be mechanics so they could get me outta there!
If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
There is so little to change about Kelowna. It is such a fun place to live, work and play. The people are great, the activities are awesome, and the city is filled with opportunity. Perhaps the cloudy winters in the valley would be the only change I might make, but that is easily fixed by heading up to Big White and having a ski/hot chocolate in the sunshine!! We are so lucky to live here!!
What do you think makes Kelowna great? The people, the opportunity and the wineries!
My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Julie Russell and Lee-Anne Wright of NovaRae Interiors. http://www.novarae.ca/
They are amazing interior designers!
Some general comments I would like to share are:
Be kind, be a positive influence in people’s lives, always treat others how you would like to be treated yourself. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.