| Our Sponsors |
| Portland Development Commission
TriMet
US Bank
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Precision Castparts
Portland State University
Visit Our Sponsors |
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Client Spotlight:
Gina Nash & Experienced Materials LLC
Gina Nash, owner of Experienced Materials LLC with PSU students Erin Rasmussen and Kenysha Alexander. |
Gina Nash approached the BOP in 2009 with a strong desire to grow her small business, Experienced Materials LLC. After 10 years of selling her recycled and reclaimed steal garden art, accessories, and sculptures at the Portland Saturday Market, Gina was ready to expand her business and explore new markets.
With the assistance of the BOP and BOP partners like, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP and Oregon Microneterprise Network (OMEN), Gina has been able to lay the ground work and begin to transition Experienced Materials LLC from an artesian retail perspective into a wholesale distributor with a focus on the same quality products. Experienced Materials LLC now gears its product offerings, including its new lighting line, toward landscapers, architects, and homeowners with a fine eye for quality.
In working with the BOP Gina and Experienced Materials LLC have received numerous hours of support to help them move forward with growth plans. Services have included: one-on-one business advising, accounting support from our internship program and the comprehensive assistance of a PSU student consulting team.
Congratulations Gina on your most recent successes! We look forward to seeing your business thrive as we coninue to work with Experienced Materials LLC over the next couple of years.
Visit the Experienced Materials website.
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| Program Updates
We've Moved!
Portland State Business Accelerator (PSBA) Building |
The BOP is happy to announce that we've moved! While we are just settling in and are still unpacking, we are now operating from the Portland State Business Accelerator Building on SW Corbett Ave. We are still close to the PSU campus and are pleased to have space to accommodate our growing program.
A big thanks to Portland State Business Accelerator and PSU's School of Business Administration for donating this shared office space. We look forward to growing in this collaborative School of Business entrepreneurial space.
We're Growing
Please join us in welcoming our two newest BOP staff members, Cody Gray and Stephanie Austin.
Cody Gray, Business Advisor |
Cody Gray is the newest BOP Business Advisor. He will be responsible for providing assistance on our next TriMet project by assisting small businesses in their relocation process for the next light rail line to Milwaukie. Cody enjoys helping others with business strategy and continuously improving an entire organization to function at higher levels and improve profits. Cody is an Oregon Native and combat veteran of Desert Storm, serving just over 6 years on an M1A1 tank in the Army and living/traveling Europe in the late 1980's while stationed in Germany. Cody attended Chemeketa Community College after leaving military service and graduated with a BA in General Management and an International Business Studies Certificate in 1998 from Portland State University. Cody recently earned his MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Portland State University in June 2009. Cody coaches his son's Little League baseball team, loves to fish, boat, garden, and brew homemade beer in his spare time. Cody also provides "Service Above Self" through the Albina Rotary club, serving the N/NE inner city neighborhoods of Portland since 2000. After a three year leave from the BOP, we are happy to welcome Cody back.
Stephanie Austin, Program Assistant |
Stephanie Austin, a recent UC San Diego honors graduate, joined the Business Outreach Program in August as our Program Assistant. She is part of the Americorps VISTA program (President Kennedy's Peace Corps for America Project), which places qualified applicants in support roles for organizations that aim to help the community. Stephanie is thrilled to be working with the BOP. As BOP's first VISTA, she plans to make a positive impact on Portland by increasing BOP's networking and outreach capabilities while also focusing on strengthening and streamlining some of the BOP's internal systems. When not striving to save the world, Stephanie enjoys exploring Portland, indulging in photography and trying new adventures that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. |
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Welcome New Advisory Board Members
The BOP relies on our esteemed Advisory Board to support the overall vision and strategy of our program. We'd like to say a BIG thank you to all of our Advisory Board members and welcome our newest board additions.
Brian Setzler has over 20 years of business experience in public accounting, consulting, teaching and private industry. He is a co-founder and partner at Trilibrium CPAs & Business Advisors, a sustainable, Certified Public Accounting firm in Portland.
Donald Parker is a 19-year veteran of Intel Corporation, currently serving as the Director of New Technology Enablement in Intel's Data Center Group.
Michael Montgomery has over forty years of comprehensive experience and leadership in the fields of banking, economic development; urban planning and international development. He currently serves as Vice President and Oregon Manger for Community Affairs with U.S. Bank.
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Upcoming Events
Business Development Workshop Series
Starts Wednesday, September 22nd | 6:30-8pm
Do you know of an entrepreneur who could use assistance in further developing their business or business idea? The BOP Business Development Workshop series is a forum to develop current or potential business ideas. Our next series starts on Wednesday, September 22nd at our new office space in SW Portland.
The five week series is designed to provide participants with a better understanding of general business concepts and participate in an assessment of the feasibility of the business idea. The workshop format allows for an exchange of ideas and individual participation.
Contact us at bop@sba.pdx.edu to register.
Small Business Forum: Website Design & Development
Monday, October 11th | 6:300in
Join the BOP and special guests for an evening of discussion around small business website design and development. Each of the three special guests focus in an aspect of website design and/or development. They will be sharing ideas and expertise for you, the small business owner, as you move towards designing or re-designing you website and are working with web developers.
Please let us know if you would like to attend by emailing us at bop@sba.pdx.edu |
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Donate to Our Mission
The PSU Business Outreach Program's mission is to help small businesses, including emerging, minority and women-owned businesses, achieve their potential while providing students with opportunities for community-based learning.
The PSU Business Outreach Program's is a self-funded program that relies on support through various governmental agencies, public and private grants, and private organizations and individuals.
If you, your organization or a friend would like to show your support of the Business Outreach Program please donate here.
Please note: to see that your gift reaches the BOP, please designate "School of Business Administration" and indicate "Business Outreach Program." |
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Thank you for your participation and support of the Business Outreach Program.
Sincerely, |
Lara Damon, Director
Business Outreach Program
School of Business Administration
Portland State University
503-725-9820 office
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