Meet the COEDC – Jeremy Dawn

Meet the COEDC September 26, 2022

Editors Intro:

For those who may not know, the COEDC Advisory Council is a conduit of information between business, community leaders and government. The council meets monthly to share information and work together towards sustainable economic growth. It is made up of 45 influential members consisting of industry leaders, community shapers and elected officials. One of these such members being Jeremy Dawn!

The aim of the Meet the COEDC campaign is to share with our community who the Economic Development Commission is and showcase the COEDC Advisory Council members who play a critical role guiding the regional economic development service.

Along with being a valuable member of our Advisory Council, Jeremy is the Vice President of Real Estate at Mission Group, one of the Okanagan’s leading real estate and building development companies based in Kelowna, BC. Mission Group’s ‘Build it forward’ philosophy is focused on building value in the communities they serve, contributing to community prosperity into the future. Part of his role as Vice President of Real Estate is leading Mission Group’s Acquisition and Commercial Leasing Teams, along with forming and fostering partner relations. Previously, Jeremy held the role of Vice President of Financial Advisory, Real Estate at Deloitte where he provided real estate valuation, brokerage and financial services for a wide range of special purpose and investment grade commercial real estate property clients across the globe.

Continue reading to learn more about Jeremy’s outlook on industry specific trends and forecasts for the Central Okanagan. Check in each Monday to meet a new member of the Advisory Council, and to learn why they love to live and work in the Central Okanagan!

What organization are you from and what is your role?

I have the privilege of working for Mission Group in the role of Vice President, Real Estate. This role involves leading our Acquisition and Commercial Leasing teams, along with focusing on partner relations, community initiatives, business development other things of that nature. Mission Group is a longstanding Kelowna based company and has been contributing to the evolution of Kelowna’s urban landscape, with our ‘Build It Forward’ philosophy.

What excites you about the future of your respective sector?

Real estate development is a critical and dynamic cornerstone of economic development in any region, as it provides a very tangible service: shelter. People need to be housed and workplaces need to be built. Customers are increasing, businesses are growing, technology is improving rapidly, and real estate development is ever evolving to not only keep up with demand, but to also lead innovation.

With that said, real estate development is more than just the buildings, it is about the spaces between those buildings, and how that impacts communities. Each type of real estate brings a unique benefit to the community – retail units, office space, housing, manufacturing plants or anything in between. Real estate development means creating experiences and spaces for people to flourish for years to come, not just building homes.

Why is participating in the Advisory Council important to you?

The future of our region is undoubtedly bright, but as expected, we are not insulated from our own set of challenges. Many of those challenges are being felt right now with rising interest rates, climbing inflation, and lack of skilled trades/workforce, all combined with soaring construction and land/housing costs. Even though most of the members of the Advisory Council are from diverse industries, we do face many of the same challenges.

The Advisory Council allows me, and others from the business community, to connect and collaborate on these issues faced within our region, along with encouraging healthy and sustainable economic growth. I am a firm believer that the best innovation happens when you bring a diverse group together, such as this Advisory Council. The COEDC has built an incredible platform, gathered (and made sense of) critical data and created best-in-class initiatives, so I take a lot of pride when I say that I participate in the Advisory Council.

Why do you love living and working in the Okanagan?

I feel like this should be a rhetorical question by now…what is not to love?! But seriously, the Okanagan lifestyle is almost indescribable. Lakes, wineries/breweries, golf courses, ski hills, a strong business community, diverse culture, an international airport, delicious locally grown produce, the list goes on. There are not many regions in the entire world that offer up what the Okanagan can, while still providing that balance between lifestyle and career. I truly am fortunate, as we all are, to call the Okanagan home.