Name?
Kevaughn Smith
Location?
Edmonton, AB.
Business?
LO-CAL Networking Inc.
Entrepreneurial Story
I never set out to become an entrepreneur—I started out as a competitor. In high school, I was a Division One soccer player, a top scorer, and a provincial champion, all while completing a dual‑credit power engineering program. That early exposure to high‑performance environments carried into my career in the energy sector, where I quickly became one of the youngest certified control room operators. In my final year, I was entrusted with a previously failed project, rebuilt its structure, trained new crews, and delivered its first fully sustained run—earning recognition from executives who had only heard about it before.
But as I advanced, I realized that working for someone else no longer felt fulfilling. I wanted ownership over your growth, the freedom to build something meaningful, and a community of ambitious, like‑minded people. Yet finding those people was difficult. Discoverability felt broken, and Edmonton’s potential was hidden behind fragmented platforms and algorithms.
In early 2025, I started building LO‑CAL to solve this. After hosting two successful events bringing over 100 people together, I validated the need and left my career. By 2026, I built the digital layer—a platform for discovery, connection, and opportunity. My journey has always been about understanding systems early and rebuilding them better. Now, I’m applying that mindset to reshape connectivity in Canadian cities.
Lessons Learned
Hard work matters, but smart, strategic work is what truly creates leverage.
When people trust your work ethic and your word, access and opportunity follow.
Who has been an inspiration or mentor?
Dean Forbes has been a major inspiration in my entrepreneurial journey. His story of reinvention and how he deliberately positioned himself within the executive and C-suite space showed me the power of owning your narrative. He didn’t just grow into leadership; he strategically rebranded, elevated his presence, and built credibility at the highest levels. That level of intentionality and self-belief is something I deeply respect.
