Meet the team at Avalon Event Rentals, Kelowna & Vernon 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 is the focus of everything we do and how we treat you, our customer.
The people that do all the work
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 dedicated Customer Service reps, warehouse, cleaning personnel, delivery drivers and tent installers come from all walks of life. These business professionals, university students, and international students 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.
Leadership team
Shawn Stoesz - VP and General Manager
Truly a story of hard work, Shawn moved to BC from Saskatchewan 25 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, and 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.
Shelli Clipperton – Vernon Branch Manager/Inventory Manager
Shelli was co-owner of Nor-Val Event rentals which Avalon acquired back in 2016. We were truly fortunate to have Shelli stay on and lead the North Okanagan piece of our business. Shelli keeps us all on track and ensures that your rentals are correct and that we have the right inventory in the right place at the right time. She loves to camp and walk the dog, and you might catch her with glass of wine on those well-deserved weekends.
Dylan Dame – Warehouse Supervisor
We are blessed that Dylan joined our team about a year ago. A former resident of Ontario, he heard the cry, "go west young man" and we are lucky that he chose us. His self-admitted "OCD" is perfect in our warehouse as it has never looked and never run better. Once you get to know him, his dry sense of humor leaves you bent over and sometimes guessing.
Melissa McCracken – Senior Customer Service Rep
Again, we are blessed to have Melissa take charge of the difficult day-to-day management of our customer service in Kelowna. She too joined us about a year ago and made an immediate impact. Raised in Prince George, her love is dance and she moved to Montrel & New York to study. Melissa is a graduate of Concordia University with a BFA in Contemporary Dance. She continues to teach dance here in Kelowna. We are lucky to have this amazing young person with an artistic flare.
Josh Moen – Elliot Rothery – Tent Installation and Site Supervisors
These two great young men lead our tent installation crews and delivery drivers. They set up everything from smaller backyard jobs to major festivals and corporate events. Working crazy hours in the summer in sometime very difficult conditions with demanding timelines, they get it done on site. We could not do it without them. When it slows down in winter both love to board and on "blue bird" 10 cm of new powder day they can both be found "crusin" the runs at Big White.
Brad "Campy" Campeau – Manager Okanagan Portable Signs
Better known as "Campy" or "Uncle _____" to us at work, Brad hails from Trail BC. Brad has over 30 years’ experience in the rental business and has managed our sign business for 15 years with us. Brad’s true passion is hockey. He is a goalie (that explains a few things) who has played at the highest level. He hung up his pads a few years ago as he used to be battered and bruised from stopping (or trying to stop) pucks shot at him by former NHLers every Thursday night. He would also want you to know he was our 2022 Avalon Fantasy Football league champ....this after many years of finishing last.
Angela Buchanan – Owner and C.F.O.
Better known as Momma B, Ang is the first one to help at work or be that mom who’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 priorities are her three kids (young adults still at home) plus running a 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 Avalon and the Buchanan family in line but is also always there for anyone in need.
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 young adult 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.