30 Under 30: Jordan Kipnes

Jordan Kipnes is studying and practising business.

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Age: 23

High School: Matthew McNair

When Jordan Kipnes is studying about business at Simon Fraser University, applying what he’s learning isn’t months or years away.

For the past five years, he’s been running his own franchise for Student Works Painting, and lessons he learns in the classroom have relevance virtually every day.

That’s not something many of his classmates can say.

Following in the footsteps of his father, Elliott, who runs Hot Wax deejaying service, Kipnes also caught the entrepreneurial bug early on.

His work at Student Works Painting includes being responsible for advertising, putting up lawn signs, scheduling neighbourhood marketing, making purchases and taking payments, among other things.

Somehow, he finds time to hit the books in between classes and those daunting work responsibilities.

A month ago, Kipnes’ parents went on vacation, and it was the first time he was completely responsible for bookings of music gigs, an experience he enjoyed.

Inspiration? “My inspiration comes from my father, Elliott Kipnes. He started his DJ business, Hot Wax, in 1985 and has been able to grow it from a single operation, to one of the largest and most professional DJ companies in the city, employing over 10 staff and doing several hundred events annually.”

Most proud of? “I am most proud of the student painting business that I have been able to create and manage over the past five years. I love being able to employ students and help them, as well as myself, get through school with as little debt as possible.”

Advice? “Aim high. If you would have asked me what my summer job would have been prior to university I would have told you I’d still be working at a summer camp. Instead, I was fortunate enough to start this business, provide work for my friends, and do a great service to the community."

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? "In 10 years, I hope to be running my parents family business, Hot Wax, and to have taken it across Canada. I hope to share the excitement and entertainment that we create at events in Vancouver with the rest of the major cities in Canada."