Newsletters
Volume 6, Issue 1 Winter 2006
News from CEO, Jim Schell
It's that Time Again
Whether you're ready or not, the New Year is here and it's time to put into action your plans for 2006. This past fall OK held an off-site Strategic Planning meeting. We then met with our CPA, developed our 2006 plan and Susie completed the budget in December. We're now ready to rock and roll!
Interested in knowing what came out of our Strategic Planning session? Well, whether you are or not, here we go. (I'm excluding the day-to-day operational stuff.)
1) We confirmed that our present Mission Statement still applies: "To train, educate and provide problem solving opportunities for small business."
2) We developed a new sponsorship strategy. The need for that strategy has evolved from the fact that our new directions have generated new opportunities, including our Baldrige programs.
3) We will continue to upgrade our web site and improve the data we collect from it. We'll be tracking guest visits more closely, we'll be moving our Company Directory to the web site, we'll be developing a Community Events page, and we'll be doing more to identify and promote member services on the web.
4) We'll also collaborate with EDCO on the marketing program for Best Practices seminars as well as other events.
5) We'll be developing a continuation program for Baldrige Workshop graduates. The Baldrige program was hugely successful in 2005, completing its first full year. Look for more Baldrige opportunities in the future, both in Central Oregon and beyond.
6) We'll be hosting our second annual Baldrige Symposium in conjunction with EDCO's Industry Week again.
7) We'll start at least three new problem-solving teams this year. We currently have 23 teams, thus we'll have at least 26 by the end of 2006.
8) Finally, we reviewed our current organization chart, deciding that, in light of the new directions that OK is taking, we needed to review all of our job descriptions and related titles. Susie Stevens is now the President of OK and Cathy Wambaugh is Special Projects Coordinator. Me, I'm the CEO.
While this past year has witnessed tremendous across-the-board growth in the services OK provides, one of the most interesting OK developments is the increased frequency - and intensity - of our partnership with EDCO. We seem to "click" with those folks, which means that the whole of what our two organizations offer when working together exceeds the sum of our individual parts. Which also means that our respective missions to assist the small business community are in sync.
The bottom line? We look forward to even more collaborative projects with EDCO and others who work with the business community. We've learned through working with such organizations as EDCO that what's good for the two of us is also good for Central Oregon. That's the definition of a true partnership, if ever there was one.
Teague Hatfield - FootZone
OK 9
Describe your business.
FootZone is a shoe store focused on people who run, walk or just need great fitting footwear. We understand feet and biomechanics and are fortunate to have a steady flow of medical referral business.
How long have you been a member of OK?
I've been an OK member since 1999.
What have you enjoyed most about OK?
The opportunity to meet people in various stages of their businesses and gain some perspective on issues in my past, present and future.
What is the top value you and business have received from OK?
I bought this store as a very reluctant business person but OK has helped me recognize and use the tools necessary to have the business I want.
Carol and Bob Hollowell - Citywide Mortgage
OK 2
Describe your business:
Citywide Mortgage is a full service mortgage lending company. We offer services for lot loans, construction to permanent, refinances, home equity loans, seconds, first time buyers, purchases and more. We are able to search for the very best rate for our customers by shopping over 50 lenders. By using a mortgage broker, you allow us to prequalify you so that you know what you can afford to buy. At Citywide Mortgage, we educate our clients about the loan process so that you have confidence and understanding
How long have you been a member of OK?
For about 6 years in OK 2.
What have you enjoyed most about OK?
I enjoy the team atmosphere and the energizing brainstorms that our group has. Every meeting stirs a new issue or item that invokes thought and discussion.
What is the top value you and your business have received from OK?
The top value I receive from OK is the feedback and advice I get from my team. There have been many cases where I put my problems out to my group and they give me the good and bad. I then have been able to make a decision without emotion leading the way.
Kevin Gorman - WebCyclery
2005 Member of The Year
OK 8
Over the past seven or eight years I've had the privilege to be a part of three different OK groups, and I have found each group to be very helpful. I go into every meeting with the same intentions, to do my best to help others, and to get something or learn something at the meeting. I always do. Sometimes what I get is something small, like an idea for my next newspaper ad. Sometimes it is something big, like learning how a new tax law could save me thousands of dollars. And sometimes I don't even realize that I learned something until months later when I encounter a situation similar to one that a group member had already dealt with. Sometimes I come up with my own ideas just by being in the group and brainstorming with others out loud. Through the years I've asked hundreds of questions to my groups, and I always get insightful and helpful responses.
I think a lot of people join OK hoping that it is some type of panacea and are looking for a quick fix to their problems. Most of those people are no longer in OK, and many of those are no longer in business. It's the "Give a man a fish…teach a man to fish" scenario. Those looking for the instant gratification don't last long, but those who really want to learn how to improve their businesses and are willing to spend the time are far more likely to succeed.
Kevin Gorman
WebCyclery
Pam Smith - LibertyBank
OK 18
What is your current position and what services do you provide?
I am the Sr. Business Development Officer in Central Oregon for LibertyBank. I focus on acquiring new business relationship accounts for LibertyBank, and very importantly taking continuous care of our current clients, ensuring their financial needs are met.
What have you enjoyed most about being a Facilitator?
I have enjoyed listening and watching our courageous members step out and pursue their passion in their field of business. Identifying your true passion leads to success if you consistently apply good business sense. I have been very excited about helping our members identify "the pitfall at the crossroads" they encounter in developing their business, and encouraging them to set appropriate goals, maintaining success focused perspectives in moving forward.
What is the best advice you would give to an OK Member?
Keep the passion....continually keeping your eye on the ball....staying "tuned in" to your goals and strategies to develop your business and....adjust when necessary!
WorkSource Oregon, Employment Department
What WorkSource Oregon, Employment Department Can Do For Businesses
WorkSource Oregon, Employment Department is a partner in a tri-county network of public and private organizations working together to connect business with the resources needed to grow and manage their workforce. The partnerships work together to improve employer access to trained workers with skills that are aligned with the expectations and needs of Central Oregon business and industry. Each workforce partner focuses on a specialty area and we coordinate our efforts to offer the best possible service to our Central Oregon employers and job seekers.
The Employment Department's main focus is to match and refer qualified candidates to fulfill businesses recruitment needs. An Account Representative works with each employer to customize a service delivery plan that best fits their employment needs. This service brings efficiency to your hiring process, saving staff time and dollars on your bottom line.
* Employers may choose to post their job listing locally, statewide, and ationally;
* Account Representatives screen job seekers and send only the top qualified candidates;
* Employers may choose to meet with all candidates who express an interest in their position;
* Employers may choose to have candidates complete their application at our office and use our interview rooms to meet with candidates;
* We will schedule and manage the flow of candidates coming in to interview.
The expense of expanding your workforce and managing the mysteries of employment can be difficult for small business. Are my interview questions legal? Is my hiring process non-discriminatory? How do I set up my payroll system? What do I pay an employee? Is it important to have a job description? Several resources are listed in the following paragraphs to address those concerns:
The Employment Department's Workforce Analysts and Regional Economists provide the most up-to-date labor market economic information. Whether it's a look at prevailing wages in the area or a study on availability of workers, our staff can pull that information together for you. Coupled with the department's nationally-recognized Oregon Labor Market Information System (OLMIS) Web site, www.qualityinfo.org, your Employment Department office is a valuable resource.
The Employment Department's Tax specialists are available to assist employers in properly setting up their payroll tax reporting processes. We have a suite of reporting options that allows employers to file by computer, telephone, or the internet. The reporting software is free and leads you through the process step-by-step. Reporting is easy, fast, accurate, and paper free!
Oregon Employer Council (OEC) seminars will help you address difficult management and human resource issues. The OEC is an advisory board to the Employment Department, offering professionally delivered seminar topics such as identity theft, drugs and alcohol, the ins and outs of discipline and discharge, and managing difficult employees, just to name a few. If you would like to receive information on OEC seminars please contact Denise Pollock at Densie.A.Pollock@state.or.us.
All of our services are prepaid by your payroll tax dollars! So, please visit our web site at www.WorkSourceOregon.org to learn more about how the Employment Department can be of service to you and your business!
Central Oregon OK News
Susie Stevens
Happy New Year to all of you! New projects and new ways of doing things are what OK will be experiencing in this new year. As a result of our Strategic Meeting that took place last fall that Jim mentioned, OK continues to look at how we can be more efficient and how best to communicate with all of you. One of these changes is in this newsletter which is the first issue that will now only be sent electronically. We hope it will work for all of you. Another change is in making it easier for OK Members to pay their invoices electronically, as well as register for seminars. Although, some of these efforts are small changes, we are excited to look at taking different approaches and running OK the best we can.
Thanks to many of you who participated in the OK survey this past fall. The data was tallied and we are thrilled to say from the responses submitted, OK is meeting 99% of your expectations. We also realize that sometimes when needs and expectations are not being met that we may not hear from some individuals. I would only hope that prior to getting frustrated or giving up on an OK experience that you let us know. Teams change and so do the members, so sometimes changing to a different team is what one needs. If you read Kevin Gorman's (OK Member of The Year), article Kevin is now on his third different team. Changing teams doesn't happen often, but when the need arises, we will find the best team as a replacement. In doing our budget projections this past fall, we also learned that OK's renewal rate was 83%, which does help to reaffirm that expectations are likely getting met for most of the members.
The calendar is pretty well set for this new year and we're excited at the line up of topics and presenters for the Best Practices and other events. We hope many of you will join us in attending the seminars. This is a big year for OK, as OK will celebrate our 10th Anniversary. We're already making plans for the OK Annual Meeting in October which will promise to be a very special and different event.
I hope all of you have your plans in place and are starting the New Year with excitement and passion, determination and a commitment to make 2006 one of your best business years ever!
New Membership Criteria
Over the years OK continues to learn what makes a better problem-solving team. In placing new members, especially to existing teams, we always look for a complimentary balance of skills and experience. Since OK started in 1996 we have tried to serve all small business owners committed to growing their business.
We have learned, in placing a SoHo (small office/home based office/no employees) business which is just starting out, a very high percentage join OK and then, within 4-6 months, realize our services do not work for them. Possibly, the true commitment of running a business plus being held accountable to their OK team is not what they are ready to do. As a result, a "revolving door" occurs on many of the different SoHo teams, which proves to be a disruptive and negative experience for the existing team and it's members. As a result, OK has adopted new membership criteria for SoHo's that will require at least one year of operating their businesses full time and/or six months of having and using financial statements before joining an OK team.
Central Oregon's business community is fortunate to have more and more business support services available and we will continue to refer new start-up businesses to the appropriate programs and will welcome them to OK when they are up and running.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
"Targeting, Attracting, Winning and Keeping the Customers You Want...A Fresh Perspective on Marketing, Sales and Customer Satisfaction."
Sponsored By
WorkSource Oregon, Employment Department
7:00 am - 9:00 am
Central Oregon Association of Realtors
2112 NE 4th Street - Bend, OR 97701
Topics and Presenters to Include:
Never Compete: Finding Your Niche in the Marketplace
Give your customers a clear reason to choose you over your competitors. Through an analysis of your company, competition, and customers, you'll learn how to position yourself for growth.
Everybody Sells: Leveraging Your Most Valuable Asset to Develop Business
Instead of always using conventional selling strategies, take the opportunity to maximize interaction staff members have with your prospects and customers.
How Well Do You Know Your Customers: Bringing Customer Service & Satisfaction to Your Bottom Line
Next to your employees, your customers are your greatest asset....how well do you know yours? Collecting, measuring and analyzing data from customer interactions is easier than you think and will not only energize your bottom line, but also your company.
Presented by
Susan Nabbefeld
Susan is a senior marketing professional known for her ability to create innovative approaches and integrated campaigns that satisfy company objectives and initiatives. After nearly a decade at Intel in a variety of marketing and branding roles, she founded Grow, a management consultancy that helps companies develop a compelling, differentiated advantage to drive bottom-line growth. She has a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and an MBA in marketing from Cornell University.
Molly Renner
Molly has been in sales, marketing and product development for both large and small business for over 16 years. Positions included National Sales Manager, Director of the West Region and National Marketing and Product Development for AT&T Wireless, building a national sales organization for small start up company growing from 20 to 150 people in Internet products and services. Molly currently is working for Unicom in Bend managing all aspects of Marketing, Pricing and Product Development.
Erick Petersen
Erick's background includes 18 years of sales, marketing and business development experience in technology focused businesses. Over the last ten years at Planar Systems he crafted market entry and business development strategies in a variety of markets and through innovative and customer focused strategies grew the LCD monitor business from zero to $100M in three years.
$20 OK Members
$30 Others
*Up to 3 attendees from the same business may attend for one price.
To register or for more information contact:
cathy@opp-knocks.org or call 318-4650.
2006 Events:
January 25, 2006 7:00-9:00 A.M.
Best Practices presents: ""Targeting, Attracting, Winning and Keeping the Customers You Want...A Fresh Perspective on Marketing, Sales and Customer Satisfaction."
C.O. Realtors Association, 2112 N.E. Fourth St., Bend
$20. OK Members / $30. Non-OK Members
February 22, 2006 7:00-9:00 A.M.
Best Practices presents: "Website Trends, What You Need to Know to Be Competitive."
C.O. Realtors Association, 2112 N.E. Fourth St., Bend
$20. OK Members / $30. Non-OK Members
March 15, 2006 7:00-9:00 A.M.
Best Practices presents: "How to Find and Keep the Right Employees."
C.O. Realtors Association, 2112 N.E. Fourth St., Bend
$20. OK Members / $30. Non-OK Members
May 10, 2006 7:00-9:00 A.M.
Best Practices presents: "QuickBooks for Your Business."
C.O. Realtors Association, 2112 N.E. Fourth St., Bend
$20. OK Members / $30. Non-OK Members
September 21, 2006 7:00-9:00 A.M.
4th Annual Bend Business Forum "Improving Your Entrepreneurial and Management I.Q." featuring 3 Community Business Leaders
September 28, 2006
Baldrige Inspired "State of Your Business Workshop"
October 3, 2006 5:00-8:00 P.M.
OK's 10th Annual Meeting
Bend Golf and Country Club
October 5, 2006
Baldrige Inspired "State of Your Business Continuation Program"
October 17, 2006
Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Symposium
October 18, 2006 7:00-9:00 A.M.
Best Practices presents: "Understanding Your Financial Statements"
C.O. Realtors Association, 2112 N.E. Fourth St., Bend
$20. OK Members / $30. Non-OK Members
November 8, 2006 7:00-9:00 A.M.
Best Practices presents: "Planning Next Year's Marketing Campaign"
C.O. Realtors Association, 2112 N.E. Fourth St., Bend
$20. OK Members / $30. Non-OK Members
To register for any of the events or for more information contact:
Opportunity Knocks 318-4650 or email:
Thanks
Thanks to all of our OK Business Sponsors.
Best Practices Seminars:
WorkSource Oregon, Employment Department
Patron Sponsors:
Alpine Internet
Bank of the Cascades
Cascade Business News
Citywide Mortgage
Columbia River Bank
Community First Bank
LibertyBank
South Valley Bank & Trust
US Bank
Washington Mutual Bank
Team Sponsors:
BITS
Centro Information Systems
Contact Central, LLC
Greenstone Solutions
Press Pros
QB Pro, Inc.
Opportunity Knocks is serving the following communities in Oregon: Central Oregon, Coos Bay/South Coast, Salem/Mid Willamette, Klamath Falls, and Portland. Also Penticton, B.C., serving British Columbia.
