Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

nspired by my grandfather Mike Montagano, an Italian immigrant who rose from coal mines to become a head crane builder in Vancouver, helping construct early towers and bringing his family to Canada. His work ethic and sacrifice laid the foundation for everything that followed. Professionally, I draw inspiration from leaders like Chris Lefebvre in Victoria and Daniel Cowx of Grow Financial—entrepreneurs whose discipline, strategic thinking, and leadership continue to influence how I build

How do you stay motivated?

My greatest motivation is my family. My wife Tacey and our daughters Emerald and Perras are the reason I push to build something meaningful and lasting. They keep me grounded and remind me why the work matters.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If awarded a $25,000 grant, I would use it to help fund the import of a container of performance wheels along with crates of AlloyGators, for which we hold exclusive distribution rights. This would strengthen inventory for Tire X Canada while supporting retail through Big O Tires Victoria and The Downtown Garage. Bringing product in at container volume lowers landed costs, improves availability, and allows us to supply both retail customers and dealer partners across Western Canada more efficien