The Goodwill Project

RUNWITHIT Synthetics moves into the downtown #yeg office

On January 11, 2022 Tim Carwell, President of The CommAlert Group and Cheryll Watson, panelist for The Goodwill Project, welcomed Myrna and Dean Bittner of RUNWITHIT Synthetics to their new Jasper avenue office space. RUNWITHIT Synthetics won the office space in CommAlert’s Goodwill Project.

The CommAlert Group and The Goodwill Project team would like to congratulate RUNWITHIT Synthetics! We look forward to seeing how this local, passionate, and driven tech startup will grow and make an impact on the world.

About The Goodwill Project

The CommAlert Group decided to give away our vacant downtown Edmonton office space. The initiative was called The Goodwill Project, and the prize was the fully furnished Jasper avenue office, with the internet and lease paid for two years. We asked to hear from passionate and diverse businesses and wanted to know how they plan to impact the world and their community.

The response was incredible. We received over 70 applicants and narrowed them down to the final five. These five organizations made their pitch to The Goodwill Project panel on January 4, 2022. After listening to five exceptional presentations, The Goodwill Project Panel named RUNWITHIT Synthetics the winner.

“Every single one of the five finalists was incredibly inspiring. Each did an amazing job with their pitch and is doing remarkable things for the community in different ways. This has been a crazy journey, and I couldn’t be more thankful to the panelists and everyone who worked hard to make this happen,” said Carwell.

Carwell and The CommAlert Group team would like to thank The Goodwill Project Panel for their hard work since launching the initiative in November 2021. It would not have been possible without their dedication, expertise, donation of time and positive energy. You can learn more about the panel below.

Meet RUNWITHIT Synthetics 

RUNWITHIT Synthetics is a local tech Startup business in Edmonton. They create live, at-scale synthetic modelling to help decision-makers tackle complex, critical issues. For example, their synthetic modelling can create response systems for natural disasters or improve buildings and transportation infrastructure designs.

   

Their business is a women-led, Certified Aboriginal Business that is passionate about designing better futures for everyone. They’re committed to diversity, positive global impact and have a “certain type of humble grit and perseverance” to make their hometown proud.

“Winning this office space is the most amazing gift and an uplifting way to start the new year and the challenges in front of us. Edmonton is the most amazing place and community to start a business. I can’t think of a better way to represent Edmonton to the world than by discussing this, what happened here,” said Myrna Bittner, CEO of RUNWITHIT Synthetics.

Learn more about RUNWITHIT!

Shout out to the other finalists

Every one of The Goodwill Project’s final five is deserving of winning this downtown office space. Unfortunately, we only have one office to give away. We would like to recognize the effort and astounding accomplishments made by the other four finalists. You’re all doing incredible things and making a true impact on our community. We applaud you for the difference you’re making and look forward to seeing what the future has in store for your businesses and organizations.

HRing

HRing is a professional and interactive social platform that allows people to apply for jobs with a pitch video and pre-record interviews. Businesses and job seekers can save time and find more qualified and culturally aligned employment. Learn more about HRing!

hiregood

hiregood, an initiative of Boyle Street Ventures, proudly employs people who face barriers to the formal job market, including homelessness or poverty. They provide on-site training, mentorship and pay a living wage to our employees to help break the cycle of poverty. Learn more about hiregood!

Tamaca Therapy Services Inc.

Tamaca Therapy Services Inc. is a comprehensive team of Allied Health specialists, including Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Psychologists, and more, who travel to First Nations communities to address early development and rehabilitation in children and youth. Learn more about Tamaca Therapy Services!

ASPECC

ASPECC is a non-profit organization that educates the public on 2SLGBTQIA++ inclusion, sexual health, consent, and healthy relationships. They provide support to queer youth, parents, families and adults as they navigate gender concerns, sexual health concerns and support for their relationships. Learn more about ASPECC.

Meet the Panel

Lazina McKenzie is a community builder. She leads the University of Alberta’s ThresholdImpact Venture Mentoring Services, a mentorship program for Edmonton entrepreneurs. Prior to this, she built a brand and boutique consulting business called L2 Style. Her professional background is in management consulting, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and organizational design. Lazina is also a volunteer co-leader with November Project Canada, a free fitness community that has been in Edmonton since 2013.	Debbie Gust is President and Owner of WOW! Factor Desserts. WOW! is a locally operated but nation-leading, upscale frozen dessert supplier that has been in business for 39 years. Debbie comes from a family of entrepreneurs, is a Women’s Presidents Organization member, supports local community initiatives, mentors youth, and believes in providing meaningful employment to those with disabilities. WOW! has had a relationship with the Robin Hood Association for the last 30 years.
Kristina Milke is one of the Managing partners in Sprout.vc. which is launching a second fund focused on B2B SaaS early stage companies in Western Canadian. Kristina is an A100 member and sits on various boards. She also spends time supporting the entrepreneurial eco-system in Edmonton by both mentoring and participating on the Board of Advisors with Venture Mentoring Services (VMS) a world-renowned mentoring program with a local branch operating at the University of Alberta. Recently, she joined Edmonton Women in Finance as a mentor.	Cheryll Watson has over 20 years of experience as a business executive in Edmonton and is currently the Co-Chair of the Startup Genome Global Senior Policymaker Forum, a group of innovation ecosystem experts from around the world. She has led growth in the economic ecosystem of Edmonton through the Edmonton Economic Development Corp. and founding Innovate Edmonton. She is also a mentor in the ThresholdImpact Venture Mentor Program and is a strong supporter of mental health, education, and environmental causes.
Tanis Carwell is a Senior Financial Advisor with ATB Wealth. She has been managing wealth and financial matters for clients for over 25 years. She works with a niche market of business owners that have allowed her to understand the intricacies, business life cycles, and challenges that business owners face. Her past endeavours include working with a small business to expand its offerings and owning a retail business herself.	Lynsae Moon is a settler on Treaty 6 who is passionate about using the power of personal connection to make a positive difference through many job ventures, activism projects, and volunteer roles. Lynsae owns The Nook Café, employs a diverse team, serves a broad demographic, and is committed to socially responsible business practices. She has received the 2018 Daughter Day Award from Canadians for a Civil Society, is a member of the Tatawaw community and was named a Top 40 Under 40 in 2021 in Edify Magazine.