Newsletters
Fall 2007
Volume 7, Issue 3
News from OK Board Chair
Mark Neuman, Founder and Partner, Summit 1031 Exchange
Member of OK 3 for 9 years
Facilitator of OK 22 for 4 years
It was rare that the founder and former CEO of Opportunity Knocks, Jim Schell, was rendered speechless. But I won't forget that day, December 12, 2006. Jim was cruising through the facilitation of another OK 3 meeting, badgering all the members about their exit strategies. Late in the meeting, Shannon Mara of Rebound Physical Therapy suddenly turned it around on Jim. "So, while we're on the subject, what is your exit strategy for OK?" she asked. Jim suddenly stopped in his tracks. Silence followed before he finally managed to utter, "I don't know. But it's an interesting question".
Seven months later, OK members and facilitators received Jim's "Happy Trails" memo, announcing his departure from OK. He finally found someone that would give him a job! Jim was hired on as Executive Director of the Central Oregon Partnership (COP). It may have appeared that Jim's exit strategy was simply- write the "Happy Trails" memo. But that's not what happened.
Jim took Mara's question and did some pondering. It wasn't long before Jim had formed a Board of Advisors to help work on the exit strategy and to advise on other critical OK issues. The Board, consisting of Mara, Erich Schultz, Mary Schell, Roger Lee and myself first met with Jim last February 5th. It was decided that if Jim ever departed from OK, the Advisory Board would become a newly established Board of Directors to direct OK from that point forward.
The following month, Jim asked to meet me for lunch. On March 21st we sat down at Hans Restaurant. Jim's excitement was obvious. He had a pile of reading material on hand regarding "social entrepreneurialism". He shared a draft of a plan he'd been working on to present to the Northwest Area Foundation (NAF), the outfit that awarded an $11.7 million grant to COP some years earlier. NAF was restructuring COP in its mission to break the cycle of poverty in Central Oregon. Jim wanted to be a part of that restructuring. On July 10th he was chosen as the new Executive Director.
Where does that leave OK? The Board of Advisors met for a second time in June. The Advisors then converted to the new Board of Directors and has met twice since Jim's announcement. The transition from a Founder-run organization to a Board of Directors-run organization is already in full swing. Three additional Board members have been added which include Roberta Johnson, Carol Hollowell and Moe Carrick. Susie Stevens remains as OK's Executive Director. Somewhere in the flurry of decisions, I was named Chairman of the Board of OK.
The Board will never live up to Jim's legacy from his near 11 years at the helm, but we've got some outstanding help in moving OK forward in the post-Jim Schell era. A handful of committees, led by Board members with the help of other OK members are already at work. In September the Board will hold a strategic planning session with the results to be addressed on Oct. 2nd at OK's Annual Meeting to be held at The Seventh Mountain Resort.
Yes, there will be changes as you might expect. Those changes will be born of a new Board that collectively has a huge amount of passion for OK. I can see it already in the short time we've had together. Thanks to Jim Schell for implanting his kind of passion about small business within us all.
Hope to see all of you at the Annual Meeting!!
Meet OK's Board of Directors
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Moe Carrick, Principal
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Carol Hollowell, President
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Roberta Johnson, Owner
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Roger Lee, Executive Director
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Shannon Mara, CEO
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Mary Schell
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Erich W. Schultz, SIOR- Partner
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Rex Ann Reseter, Owner
Eye of the Needle
OK 10 Member
Description of business and services:
Eye of the Needle offers high quality commercial embroidery and heat transfers to businesses wanting to professionalize their image. Branding is a major part of any business marketing plan and projecting a consistent, quality impression is an important step. Utilizing embellished garments and accessories for employees in conjunction with client gifts, incentives, sponsor give-aways,etc., offer businesses a simple, but effective way to keep their business in front of current as well as prospective clients. Eye of the Needle is dedicated toward assisting our clients in making good choices that meet their marketing and budget needs and our showroom with hundreds of samples makes it easy to see what they are purchasing.
How long have you been an OK Member?
I joined OK10 right after opening my business in November 1999.
What have you most enjoyed about OK?
I really enjoy the friendships and camaraderie my group has developed over the years. We are very honest and open with each other and extremely supportive not only with business issues, but also the emotions that go along with them. The emotional support is so important when I come to the table with demanding issues. My group helps reduce the magnitude of my concerns and puts things into perspective.
What is the top value you and your business have received from OK?
I think the connections to a variety of business owners and their experiences are the biggest value. Also you have the business support of Opportunity Knocks such as the seminars, annual meetings, special group speakers and the website to access a huge amount of knowledge and assistance.
Rob Stout, Senior Counsel
Ball Janik, LLP.
OK 26 Team
Description of business and services:
Ball Janik is a regional law firm with offices in Bend, Portland and Washington, DC. My practice focuses on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions (including the purchase and sale of businesses), securities law (including real estate securities), business law (partnerships, corporations and LLC's), contracts and licensing, venture and real estate financing, intellectual property and health care law. I help businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, high-wealth individuals and professionals maximize their business objectives while complying with applicable laws and finding acceptable solutions to legal issues. I have represented clients in numerous industries, ranging from hi-tech startups to public companies (snowboard, banking, timber, biotech) and complex business transactions, such as joint ventures and technology licensing.
How long have you been an OK Member?
I was a founding member approximately five years ago when a TEC Associates group was organized by Bruce Juhola. That group shortly after its formation converted to an OK team with Bruce Juhola remaining the facilitator. My OK group consists of business owners, professionals, M&A specialists and heads of public/nonprofit agencies.
What have you enjoyed most about OK?
My OK experience has been very helpful for my legal practice. OK allows me to better understand the business concerns and needs of my own clients based on group members' discussion of their business issues and related legal concerns. I have also observed how several group members have set up, implemented and corrected their business plans for new ventures, observing some of the common startup problems, and applying focus, execution and constant follow/adjustment to achieve those goals.
What is the top value you and your business have received from OK?
I value the opportunity to bounce issues and ideas off of my OK team members and facilitators, both at meetings and between meetings. Our group discussions have also been helpful in addressing the common themes we all face in balancing work, family and our personal life. I look forward to the monthly group meeting and the relationships that I have developed in and through my OK group.
Scott Greenstone, Greenstone Financial Reporting
Facilitator of OK 27
What is your business and what services do you provide?
Greenstone Financial Reporting helps $2-30M businesses to optimize their business results by providing empowering financial information and financial management systems to support better decisions. Specifically, we help our clients to measure and deeply understand their financial results each month. In addition, we facilitate their business planning to achieve desired financial outcomes (i.e. setting goals, establishing strategic and tactical action plans, evaluating results).
How long have you been an OK Facilitator?
I have been an OK facilitator for nearly 3 years.
What have you enjoyed most about being a Facilitator?
I most enjoy the inspiration that I experience in the working with other entrepreneurs. The energy level of OK 27's meetings has always been high and the bonds that form between OK team members are amazingly strong, and somehow unique. For me, OK is a like a monthly recharge to my entrepreneurial battery.
What is the best advice you would give to an OK Member?
The best advice that I can give to an OK member is to draw inspiration from the successes of others in their group to apply to their own businesses, careers and personal lives. Beyond that, showing up to meetings as much as possible, and being honest about areas of business and personal challenge, are really important as well.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
Susie Stevens
Exciting happenings are occurring with OK. As shocking as it was for me when I first heard that Jim was leaving OK, it did not take me long to get excited about the infusion of great talent and experience that would be taking his place. As you read, OK's board of directors brings extensive experience and personal OK history to the organization. I am looking forward to seeing what develops out of our strategic meeting later this month. With the addition of the new board members, I would suspect that 2008 will be a great year for OK. My thanks go to each of them for their investment of time and efforts for OK.
As far as Jim leaving OK, we should all be grateful to him for his volunteer efforts over the past eleven years since he started OK. The last 9 years for me has been an enlightening experience and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity of working with a Business Master. From my personal experience of co facilitating two OK teams, I know how supportive OK can be for the members. Jim has developed a true "community asset" for all of us that will continue to provide quality services for the small business community. Jim chose his board carefully and I know they will provide the best direction now for OK. We wish Jim the best and much success with the Central Oregon Partnership. With Jim's direction, the Partnership will no doubt be able to accomplish their goals.
This fall, thanks to great presenters, OK will be hosting three more Best Practices Seminars. I encourage you to attend these and/or to consider sending someone else within your business to take advantage of these informative learning opportunities.
OK is in the process of starting two new OK teams for businesses with at least 5 employees. If you know someone that could benefit from OK, please let me know. Many times, I have been told by our members that they have mentioned OK to their friends, but often times the friends don't pick up the phone to contact us. If you have someone in mind, please drop me a quick email at susie@opp-knocks.org or give me a call at 318-4650 and I will make the introduction. At the Annual Meeting, we will once again award a beautiful basket for a member that has made a referral in the last year. Please know that we continue to appreciate that you are sharing the OK message.
OK Member Surveys will be distributed at upcoming OK team meetings. We thank you in advance for providing us with your opinions and feedback for OK. Please know, we always give great consideration to all of your ideas and it's always very helpful information for OK.
Please don't forget to nominate a deserving OK Member for OK Member of the Year and your Facilitator(s) for OK Facilitator of the Year. The awards will be presented on October 2nd, at OK's Annual Meeting. Deadline for nominations is September 7th.
Also, at this year's OK Annual Meeting we are fortunate to have as our guest speaker, Jim Morris, author of "The Five Insights of Enduring Leaders." Jim's experience is equal parts leader, motivational expert, coach, adventurer, educator and learner. He is the senior partner of Bristlecone Learning LLC, an organizational transformation and consulting practice devoted to bringing out the best in leaders and the teams they lead. Besides an informative speaker, we promise to provide you with enjoyable surprises, a wonderful dinner and an opportunity to mingle with some of the brightest business folks in Bend; your fellow OK Members, Facilitators and Sponsors! Please mark your calendars; we'll look forward to seeing you!
Plan to Attend
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September 12
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TAX SOUP FOR SMALL BUSINESS |
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September 26
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QUEST FOR PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE SERIES |
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September 27
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MANAGEMENT TRAINING WORKSHOP SERIES |
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October 10
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NUTS AND BOLTS OF REAL ESTATE INVESTING |
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October 2, 2007
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OK Annual Dinner |
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November 14 |
"UNDERSTANDING YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" |
Thanks to all of our OK Business Sponsors
OK Annual Meeting Sponsor:
Summit 1031 Exchange
Patron Sponsors:
Bank of the Cascades
Columbia River Bank
Community First Bank
LibertyBank
South Valley Bank & Trust
US Bank
Umpqua Bank
Washington Mutual Bank
West Coast Bank
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.
Tiff Creative
Vernon Construction
Opportunity Knocks is serving the following communities in Oregon: Central Oregon, Salem/Mid Willamette, and Portland. Also Penticton, B.C., serving British Columbia.
Opportunity Knocks
541-318-4650
www.opp-knocks.org
