Kettle Valley Memorial and the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce are very pleased to recognize Nicole MacMillan, the owner and operator of the Tim Hortons restaurants throughout the Southern Interior, as a Top 40 recipient.
Nicole moved to Penticton back in 1992 when her parents purchased their very first Tim Hortons. After graduating with a degree in culinary arts and hospitality from Le Cordon Bleu in Las Vegas, Nicole worked as a team member in the family business, learning each and every role in Tim Hortons before becoming an approved Franchisee alongside her parents, Paul and Beryl Stawarz, in 2022.
Now, as the owner and operator of every Tim Hortons from Summerland down to Osoyoos, Nicole spends each day aiming to make a positive impact on someone’s life while inspiring her team of over 300 members believe in themselves and pursue their goals.
She will be the first to say that it all begins with a smile, and has taken the time to learn about each and every employee, not just their name, but their story along with their challenges and what she can do to help them overcome any obstacles. Nicole has made deliberate and thoughtful efforts in creating a healthy and inclusive work environment, and celebrates diversity in all its forms while showing recognition and gratitude for each individual’s and restaurant’s accomplishments.
Inspired by her parents who are driven by a fervent belief in the power of giving back, Nicole is actively engaged in community initiatives and fundraising campaigns. She is incredibly passionate about the annual Smile cookie campaign which saw the South Okanagan Tim Hortons collectively raise $58,000 for the OSNS legacy foundation and another $35,000 for the South Okanagan Women in Need Society and Tim Hortons Foundation Camps this year alone.
Nicole has also placed a strong focus on working closely with provincial programs that create customized employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, and was honoured to be recognized as a top employer for persons with disabilities by Service B.C.
Whether they are members of the management team, full-or part-time employees, uplifting others has been a benchmark of Nicole’s business philosophy. Further to that, her commitment to creating a brighter future for vulnerable members of the community through fundraising and other efforts is not only needed, but allows Nicole to show her two young daughters and others the significance of community giving.
