Opportunity Knocks: Newsletters

Newsletters

Spring 2007
Volume 7, Issue 2

News from CEO, Jim Schell

OK's "Management Training Workshop" - Expanding the horizons of your key employees.

Over the past eleven years of OK's existence, I've noticed a huge increase in the inventory of Training and Educational opportunities available here in Central Oregon. The Chamber of Commerce offers a number of programs, as does the SBDC, EDCO, the Bend Venture Conference, and of course, OK's Best Practices Seminar series. If you, the small business owner, can't find a Training and/or Educational topic designed to help you improve your business skills, you haven't looked very hard.

However, while there are ample Training and Education opportunities for employers, the options for key employees are few and far in between. COCC offers classes on several specific topics (marketing, technology, etc.), and there are several state and local agencies offering workforce training for those seeking development of various technical skills. But for those budding employees who represent the key to your, and your business's, future, there simply isn't much to choose from.

Enter OK. We wouldn't be the entrepreneurial organization we are if we weren't quick to recognize, and enter, a niche that needs filling. So, please say hello to Central Oregon's latest Training and Educational program, OK's "Management Training Workshop" for key employees.

OK's Management Training Workshop is designed for those key employees who want to enhance their business understanding and improve their management skills. Or, viewed through the eyes of the business owner, our Management Training Workshop is a Training and Educational program designed to strengthen the business's team and create a foundation for its long-term success.

The Management Training Workshop will be a nine-month program (September, 2007 through May, 2008) with the first meeting scheduled for a yet-to-be-determined date in September, 2007. Workshop attendees will meet once a month for three hours, from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. The Workshop's instructional curriculum will include seven criteria: 1) Leadership, 2) Strategic Planning, 3) Customer and Market Focus, 4) Measurement, Analysis and Knowledge Management, 5) Workforce Focus, 6) Process Management and 7) Results.

Yours truly will be the Workshop facilitator. Over my own thirty-five year career of owning businesses, I've long since learned the lesson that we small business owners are only as good as the quality of our team, particularly those team members who fill key management positions. I've also learned that, no matter what industry you're in, your employees are going to make or break you, which means that the business owner's number one job is to "create an environment for your employees to succeed." While there are many facets involved in creating such an environment, certainly a key component is Training and Education.

Hence our new Management Training Workshop. It's about time your employees have the same training opportunities as you do.

OK's 2007 Management Training Workshop team will consist of 21 key employees, no more than one from any business. In order to be a Workshop participant, employees 1) must play a key role in the current, and future, direction of the business and 2) must have supervisory responsibility.

Yes, there will be homework. And yes, there will be reading assignments. And yes, each workshop participant will be required to make a presentation in front of the group on one assigned topic. This program is not for employees who aren't motivated to learn and improve.

The Workshop programs will also include guest speakers, consisting of local experts on each of the seven Criteria. (I will be the speaker on one of those Criteria.) The Workshop will culminate with a Graduation Exercise in May, 2008, to which you, the employer, will be invited to attend along with your employee.

And finally, there will be concluding feedback. I will provide you, the employer, with a "Participation Report" following the conclusion of the Workshop series, outlining a number of factors relative to the participation of your employee in the team. There won't be a "grade" per se, but there will be plenty of feedback on how your employee performs within a group of his/her peers.

The cost is $995 per employee. We are limiting this first Workshop class to 21 key employees from 21 businesses, with OK businesses getting the first shot at filling the team roster. First come, first serve will be the order of the day, so if you wish to register one of your employees, I suggest you do so now. Call Susie or Cathy, 318-4650.

As for me, your humble workshop facilitator, I won't promise that your key employee is going to graduate from our Workshop ready to run through walls. I will promise however, that I'll run through walls in doing my best to help your employee get to that point.

Hillary Saraceno, Executive Director
OK 4 Team

Describe your business - The Commission on Children & Families (or the "Commission"):
The mission of the Deschutes County Commission on Children & Families is to maximize local volunteer and professional efforts and resources to ensure the positive growth, development, and safety of local children and their families. The Commission achieves its mission by emphasizing prevention, by investing in outcome based strategies, and by targeting three priority areas: child abuse prevention, early childhood care and educationand drug free youth and the prevention of juvenile crime

To explain the Commission from a private business perspective, the Commission is similar to a Chamber of Commerce for agencies and non-profits in the community that serve children and families.

The role of the Commission is to help protect resources by abiding one of its founding principles of effective resource management by: ensuring tax dollars are invested in cost-effective programs, obtaining measurable results and outcomes and assuring local decision-making and control.

How long have you been a member of OK?
Since Fall of 2005

What have you enjoyed most about OK?
The people, especially the OK 4 leaders Jim and Marilyn. The additional educational activities (e.g. Branding workshop.) That it's not all about business, it's also about successful living. Learning a new language and way of thinking (e.g. "key indicators", "exit strategies" and "mailbox income"). I have learned so much from the leaders and members of my OK group and sometimes it's just nice to know I'm not the only one who is struggling. I have appreciated the support, the comradely and the honesty.

What is the top value you and your business have received from OK?
Learning from those working in business and the private sector. Having worked in public health and for a social service government agency for over twenty years it's been fascinating to learn how private business owners think about their business and how they approach their work. It's also been interesting to learn that while we are different on many levels, we struggle with many of the same challenges (e.g. finding and keeping good employees, etc.).

Receiving input and perspective from the business community regarding their perceptions about the county and social services in general and about my agency in particular and how we present ourselves and how we are perceived by the public. Learning from others about how they problem-solve around both professional and personal issues.

Being challenged to apply what I learn - I know that if I'm given a "homework assignment", I'm going to be asked "what did you learn?" and/or "how could it apply to your work?" that I better be prepared with an answer.

Being inspired by group members when they share their goals for the future, not just for their business but for themselves and their families. Some members of the OK 4 group are doing some "way cool" stuff that I would never have thought of doing.

Scott Ratcliff
Volcano Vineyards - OK 21 Team

Describe Your Business:
Volcano Vineyards is our family-run, Bend-based, Oregon licensed winery. We produce small-lot, artisan wines from single, designated vineyards as well as our proprietary blended wines, and we specialize in Rhone varietals. We operate our Volcano Vineyards Tasting Room in downtown Bend, OR. We serve our wines as well as other artisan producers that aren't widely available, many only at their tasting room or our tasting room (such as Medici, Dusky Goose, Mystic, Anthony Dell and Trium). Our Volcano Vineyards Syrah 2004 was just awarded a gold medal from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest domestic wine competition in the US. There were well over 100 wines in our category, and only six golds were awarded.

How long have you been a member of OK?
I think nearly 2 years now, but it seems longer since everything has been so useful and practical.

What have you enjoyed most about OK?
The people and support has been tremendous. It's nice to be able to blow off steam and get ideas to solve problems rather than just have the same conversations with my business partner (wife Liz). It has been invaluable to have someone besides my wife to whom I am accountable! The backgrounds and experiences of everyone in our group give us new perspectives and ideas. And it's nice to be able to share my start-up experiences with others who are at the beginning of building their businesses.

What is the top value you and your business have received from OK?
Using our financial reports as a tool to adjust and guide our business decisions, creating realistic projections and forecasts, innovative marketing ideas, and most importantly, moral support!

Opportunity Knocks Featured Facilitator

Nancy Obymako
OK 11 Team

What is your business and what services do you provide?
I am a human resource generalist with Jan Baker Facilitates, a full-service human resource consulting firm. We provide hr tools, skills and strategic guidance, making life and work a bit easier for business owners and managers by developing practical solutions to HR issues.

How long have you been an OK Facilitator?
Nearly 4 years; I have been a co-facilitator since OK 11 began in Sisters in May of 2001, first with Bob Grooney, now with Bill Spezza.

What have you enjoyed most about being a Facilitator?
I have always been fascinated by the challenges and workings of small business and I enjoy teaching & learning. My OK role gives me the opportunity to do all that - to be part of all my members businesses on some level, expand my own knowledge base and see them grow and learn from each other.

What is the best advice you would give to an OK Member?
As with all things in life, you get in proportion to what you give. If you fully participate in OK and follow the OK cornerstones, of confidentiality, commitment and accountability, you and your business will prosper.

Central Oregon OK News
Susie Stevens, President

Recently Jim and I have started making our annual visits to the OK teams. This is always an enjoyable time to see many of OK's members and to meet some of you for the first time in person. It is also incredibly gratifying to be reminded about how OK's members help each other and to see what the facilitators do for each of your teams. Without our volunteer facilitators as well as the members, OK would not work. We encourage you to thank your facilitators and your fellow team members for their continued involvement, interest and commitment.

During our visits to the team meetings, Jim and I are handing out "Wanted" flyers as a way to obtain referrals for possible new OK members. We are looking for people who are like our existing members: Who want to grow their company, can accept constructive criticism, is willing to share, believes all things are possible and is intrigued by business. We have learned that our existing members are OK's strongest voice in spreading the word about what OK does. We continue to be grateful for all of you for sharing OK's message. As in past years, we continue to track all referrals made by fellow OK members for prospective members. At the OK Annual Meeting we then draw one of the member's names that have made a referral in the past year and award a beautiful gift basket packed full of gifts from a variety of OK members. Please keep your eyes open for a potential new member that's just like you, we would love to hear from you.

Please mark you calendar for this year's OK Annual Meeting scheduled for October 2nd. This year's event will once again include a sit down dinner. Due to a great response in attendance last year, we needed to find a new location and have secured the Inn of the Seventh Mountain for this year's event. We have a great guest speaker lined up and a program that will provide for more mingling with each other prior to dinner. To help keep prices affordable, we have again secured a main Meeting Sponsor and this year our thanks go to Summit 1031 Exchange for their support. In addition we will be selling twenty five Table Sponsors this year. As one of the sponsors, recognition would be prominently provided on the table sponsored and also displayed on the program for the event. Table Sponsors would be encouraged to display and/or provide any promotional giveaways at their sponsored tables. If you are interested in participating as a Table Sponsor, please let us know.

It's been a great year so far with OK's Best Practices. Please see the lineup below and make note of any that are of interest. The presenters have been awesome and the future seminars promise to be just as great. We hope you can join us.

As always, if we can provide any assistance, please let us know. OK is grateful to all of you!

Opportunity Knocks Events

Upcoming
OK BEST PRACTICES

April 11	DEVELOPING YOUR EXIT STRATEGY
8:00-10:00 A.M.	Presented by Steve Gerlicher, past owner, President of Orcom and Past President Marilyn Beem.
$30. OK Members	C.O. Association of Realtors
$40. Others	2112 NE 4th St. Bend, OR
Includes continental breakfast.

May 9	STRATEGIC MARKETING DESIGN: Strategies & Tactics to Acquire & Retain Profitable Customers
8:00-10:00 A.M.	Presented by Jeremy Kwit, Business Director for Buzzsaw Studios Inc.
$30. OK Members	and Kelly Walker, Wordsmith and Business Development Director, Sublime Design Group
$40. Others	C.O. Association of Realtors
Includes continental breakfast.	2112 NE 4th St. Bend, OR

September 12	TAX PLANNING FOR SMALL BUSINESS
8:00-10:00 A.M.	Presented by a panel of CPA’s
$30. OK Members	C.O. Association of Realtors
$40. Others	2112 NE 4th St. Bend, OR
Includes continental breakfast.

October 10	NUTS AND BOLTS OF REAL ESTATE INVESTING
8:00-10:00 A.M.	Presented by Mark Neuman, Summit 1031 Exchange and Erich Schultz, Compass Commercial Real Estate
$30. OK	C.O. Association of Realtors
$40. Others	2112 NE 4th St. Bend, OR
Includes continental breakfast.

November 14	“UNDERSTANDING YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS”
8:00-10:00 A.M.	Presented by a panel of local CPA’s
$30. OK Members	C.O. Association of Realtors
$40. Others	2112 NE 4th St. Bend, OR
Includes continental breakfast.

To register for any of the events or for more information contact Opportunity Knocks 318-4650 or email cathy@opp-knocks.org
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Thanks to all of our OK Business Sponsors

OK Annual Meeting Sponsor:

Summit 1031 Exchange

In Kind Patron Sponsors:

Alpine Internet Solutions
Cascade Business News
Press Pros

Solution Sponsors:

Compass Commercial:
JD Mowlds
Erich Schultz, SIOR
Steve Toomey

Team Sponsor:

Access Knowledge
BITS
Greenstone Solutions
QB Pro, Inc.
SecurityPros, Inc.
Vernon Construction

Opportunity Knocks is serving the following communities in Oregon: Central Oregon, Coos Bay/South Coast, Salem/Mid Willamette, and Portland. Also Penticton, B.C., serving British Columbia