Who or what is your inspiration in business?

This is very tough. I have so many role models from real life to fantasy. My late Papa Vern Sigler has been a solid role model of always following your dreams and I have strived to be like that. From the myth side, we are looking at Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid, Uncle Iroh from Avatar the Last Airbender, and Aragorn from Lord of the Rings. Always striving to do better and put good out into the world.

How do you stay motivated?

Currently I go to the gym 4-5 times a week with motivation by my brother Stan Yanevski (Viktor Krum, Harry Potter) and Traditional Okinawan Karate under my Sensei Reed Secunda. Gym and martial arts has brought a new fire to both personal and business life goals! I keep pushing forward in life no matter how many falls, and that makes all the difference with a perspective on staying resilient, determined, and passionate.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Currently I am building Portland's most immersive medieval fantasy castle tasting hall for my business Wyrd Leatherworks and Meadery, a place for fans across the world to join us for evenings of myth and magic, as we have done currently at our medieval tavern in Portland. If I win this opportunity, first I will donate $5,000 to a few charities. The remainder will be for business expansion buildout to give back more immersion to our community.