Message from OK Board President

Changes by David Bowie is one of my all time favorite songs.  I believe we should make it the 2011 anthem for Opportunity Knocks. Call me crazy but if you have not changed the way you are doing business by now you risk going out of business.  One of the greatest assets of our OK groups is to force us to look at our companies in different ways.  The accountability piece keeps us honest in facing the new challenges we must face to make the changes necessary to successfully compete in this difficult market.  Two recent examples of forced change happening in OK groups that I am personally aware of is one:  a long time business owner has made her first budget ever and is sleeping better at night knowing where the business is headed. Two:  a member has opened a retail store for his products relying less on word of mouth, walk-ins or designer referrals  and is doing better than ever.  Both members are re-charged about their companies and their ability to take charge in this economy.

So, I recommend Cha-Cha-Changes, turn and face the strange.

Best Regards,

Roberta Johnson
OK Board of Directors, President
www.sportsvisionbend.com

OK News

New Members/ New Teams
Currently Opportunity Knocks has 28 Different Teams that meet throughout Central Oregon.   In addition to filling some of the existing OK teams, new members are also being recruited to fill the following teams.

1) Women's CEO Team 2nd team starting mid-September for women-only in Executive positions. 

2) Professional Services Team for businesses such as Attorneys, CPA's, Consultants, etc.

3) Healthcare Provider Team for businesses delivering health care services.   

4) MLM Team Starting late September for businesses working in network marketing.

If you have an interest in any other specialized team, please let us know.

OK 14th Annual Celebration

Please plan to join us for OK’s Annual Celebration on September 21, 2010 from 4:30-6:30pm at the new Century Center.  In addition to recognizing two OK Members of the Year and a Facilitator of the Year, the evening will include eating, drinking and mingling with OK Members, Facilitators, Sponsors and Guests.  If you have someone that you would like to introduce to OK, please extend an invitation and encourage them to join us at this special event.
 

Opportunity Knocks Board of Directors Positions

Three Positions of the OK eight member board will be available beginning later this year.  If you might have an interest in learning more about the position, please contact Susie Stevens at Susie@opp-knocks.org.

What Really is This Thing Called Branding?

 
Bill Chiaravalle- Founder of Brand Navigation
Guest Author and one of three presenters at the September 8th Best Practices Seminar "Marketing Dynamics, What's Working"

In today's crowded and competitive marketplace, strength of brand perception and understanding has become as critical to success as the quality of your products and services.  More than ever, the first factor in attracting potential customers is what they think about you, and what they clearly see and hear from you that communicates your difference - in essence, what they believe your brand represents and your ability to deliver on the promises you are claiming.

BRANDING IS REPRESENTING A SIMPLE IDEA
The task of managing one's brand image and communications can seem overwhelming in a world overcrowded with commodities and complexity. The norm is to get lost and overlooked in the sea of marketplace clutter. It just shouldn't be that way - and I believe it doesn't need to be. After all, the essence of branding is about clarity and simplicity.  With this in mind, my goal is always to assist clients in creating brands that are not only memorable, but also easy to understand. Branding is more the art of editing and sacrifice rather than attempting to communicate everything to all people. Consider FedEx as an example.

Their brand represents a very simple promise of reliability, as expressed in their tagline “The World On Time”, and the small graphic arrow integrated into their logo. Consider the last scene in the movie “Castaway”. Tom Hanks’ character finally delivers a FedEx package after being stranded on an island. Not exactly on time, but it expresses FedEx’s commitment to follow through on the promise to deliver the package they said they would.

BRANDING IS STORYTELLING
If you are at all like me, you love a good story. You also most likely find it easier to remember and engage in something when it is delivered in the form of a story. Think of the difference of your high school World War II history class compared to the HBO series “Band of Brothers”. Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar understand the power of a story. While their execution is flawless, the emotional connection with their audiences comes from the heart of the story line and how the characters are woven into the story being told. Branding is about telling your story. Who are you? What do you care about? How do you do it? What makes your story unique?

When given the opportunity to work with BendBroadband, we quickly learned that they had a compelling story that most customers didn’t know or understand. In the past, their story was being told similar to their competition, thus creating the perception that they were no different than them—an impersonal utility broadband and cable company providing a set of commodities. Unfortunately when this happens, customers shop primarily on price—a vulnerable position to be in. As we considered their core strengths and uniqueness, we discovered that they were one of the leading broadband companies not only in the state of Oregon, but also in the country. They were also deeply committed and part of the Central Oregon community. Out of this came the story of the local dog and the leading character of a black lab. What better symbol is there to tell a story of speed, responsiveness and reliability? Consider also the dog loving demographic of Central Oregon. The tagline “We’re the local dog. We better be good.” not only conveys BendBroadband’s story, it provides a desirable association of customers who also consider themselves a “local dog”. 

BRANDING IS A REPUTATION GAINED OVER TIME
In the demanding world of commerce and desire for a quick ROI, I believe it is important to realize that communicating and marketing brands take time to pay off. Establishing brand awareness and recognition is not much different than gaining a reputation—which is only acquired over a period of time of consistently looking, sounding and acting the same. Think about the brands you know and trust. They really haven’t changed much over the years in regards to telling the essence of their stories. Coca-Cola is still “The Real Thing”, BMW continues as “The Ultimate Driving Machine.” This is the same with marketing your brand story. Once defined, continue to tell your story again and again, adjusting and evolving slightly to remain relevant. The only reason to completely change your brand (or your story), is if you strategically reposition your brand due to change in the marketplace or a new business direction.

So what is this thing called branding? While it ultimately touches every aspect of your business, it is defining what your brand stands for and then telling your story with clarity and consistency. It’s that simple.

Bill Chiaravalle’s experience in branding and design spans more than twenty years of involvement and the direct creation of literally hundreds of brand identity programs.Founding Brand Navigation in 1999, Bill has continued to assist clients define and market their brands for clients such as the Annenberg Foundation, BendBroadband, Be-Bop Biscotti, Bubbies of San Francisco, Canterbury Cuisine, Hartmann Luggage, Linfield College, Microsoft, WiMax, World Relief and many more.
 

OK Events & Education

 OK Best Practices Seminars

Title: "Marketing Dynamics, What's Working"  

Presenters: Bill Chiaravalle (Brand Navigation), Kevin Kubota (Kubota Photo/Design), Sarah Laufer (Play Outdoors)
Date: Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Time: 11:15 AM to 1:30 PM
Location: The Phoenix Inn, 300 NW Franklin Ave., Bend OR
Cost: $30. OK Members, $45. Others,  Lunch included
Register: Register online at OpportunityKnocksEvents.eventbrite.com

Title: "Financials: Budgeting, Balance Sheets, P & L's, Key Indicators, and Everything Else Financial"

Presenters: Todd Gerdes, CPA (Gerdes Dodge, LLC); Greg Fowler, CPA (Fowler-Summers CPA); Sandy McGregor-Caverhill, CPA  (McGregor Caverhill CPA ); Kristin Wigle, CPA (Thomas C Riley CPA)
Date:  Wednesday, November 3rd
Time: 11:15 AM to 1:30 PM
Location: The Phoenix Inn, 300 NW Franklin Ave., Bend OR
Cost: $30. OK Members,   $45. Others,  Lunch included
Register: Register online

OK 14th Annual Celebration

Title: Annual Celebration for OK Members & Guests

Date: Tuesday, September 21st
Time: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Location: Century Center in the Courtyard, 70 SW Century Drive, Bend, OR
Cost:  $10.
Register: Register online
 

OK & EDCO PRESENT

Title: "How Health Reform Has/Is/Could Impact Your Business"

Date:  Thursday, October 14th
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Location: Touchmark at Mt. Bachelor Village, 19800 SW Touchmark Way, Bend OR
Cost: $20. When single event purchased or Free with purchase of Bend Venture Conference Ticket
Register: Single Event Ticket  OR Bend Venture Conference Ticket


For more information on Events please visit our Events Page

OK Members in the News

EarthWood Timber Frame Homes is in the process of raising an historic timber frame structure in the Sisters Industrial Park to promote our craft. The original plan was to raise the frame on a vacant lot in downtown Sisters, but the permitting process required by the City proved much too arduous and time consuming. A recent redrafting of the Industrial Park development code allowed for more flexibility toward business promotion. Many of the large beams in the structure came from a turn-of-the centrury railroad tunnel outside Juntura, Oregon and from an old waterfront pier in Coos Bay. The frame will be prominently displayed for several months along the City Bi-pass route, and should get high exposure during the many summer events in Sisters.  www.earthwoodhomes.com

OK members receive a 20% discount from MyMD. Are you wasting valuable time at your doctor’s office trying to schedule an appointment, waiting in a crowded lobby, receiving poor follow-up on test results, and getting shorter doctor visits?  At MyMD  personal medicine clients have opted for a truly different experience.  MyMD personal medicine is a membership based private practice which guarantees more personalized access and time with your doctor.  Don’t believe me just visit our video testimonials at www.mymdbend.com or Call for a free interview today 541-322-6869. Discount valid only until 10/31/2010. 

Cascade Business News of Bend, Oregon has partnered with business research software company DataJoe to sell its Book of Lists through the National Marketplace.
The Cascade News Book of Lists targets the Central Oregon market and offers 92 business lists in its 2010 edition. According to Pamela Hulse Andrews, CEO/publisher of Cascade Business News, the Book of Lists is the “best marketing tool in Central Oregon” and “invaluable for non-profits as well.”
Hulse Andrews said they were looking forward to the connection to a worldwide marketplace that selling data on the National Marketplace allows.

Bend Dutch Vacation Rentals, BDVR, offering furnished Vacation Rentals in (downtown & west side) Bend for eight years, welcomes Maria Sanarov to their staff. Maria has been an administrative assistant to both a property management and construction firm in the Willamette valley for 10 years.
Maria will perform administrative duties as well as reservationist, with the continued growth of BDVR. BDVR now services 29 properties.

Amy Moll L.Ac. from Healing Response Acupuncture received an Accomplished Under 40 Award from Cascade Business News in May, 2010.   She is very thankful for all the support of this wonderful community in Central Oregon.

Specialized Events has a new logo and shorter name!  Formerly, Specialized Meetings & Events, we have simplified with a new, clean logo and shorter name, Specialized Events.  The new name and logo exemplify our efforts to produce efficient and trend-oriented events.  To see our new look, visit www.specialized-events.com.
 
In April, Julie Leutschaft launched her own Human Resources consulting company called The HUMAN Touch www.thehumantouchHR.com.  The HUMAN Touch provides human resources consulting services to small to medium-sized businesses in Central Oregon.  Julie will serve as President with over 23 years senior HR management experience in the high-tech, manufacturing, and healthcare industries.  Julie and her team provide fractional / part-time HR for companies that can't afford a full-time HR staff person.  It is a high quality, cost effective solution for local area employers.  The HUMAN Touch will open an office in Redmond later this year and then one in Bend next year.  Julie also writes an HR advice column called "Hey, HR Lady" for Cascade Business News where readers can write in and pose their workplace dilemmas.  Contact The HUMAN Touch today for help with your HR.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon (BBBSCO) is excited to announce that the Bend Golf & Country Club has hand picked them to be the sole beneficiary of their 8th Annual Charitable Golf Tournament – The BIG Invitational!  This event will be held Monday, October 4th  with a  shotgun start, progressive scramble format.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon’s mission is to empower youth, ages 6-15, to achieve their highest potential through meaningful one-to-one relationships with caring mentors. It cost the program approximately $1000 per match / per year—this includes staff and mentor training, volunteer screenings, match support, and match activities. Simply put…they need “BIGS and Bucks!”
You can register to Golf, Sponsor or Volunteer at the event by visiting  www.BIGInvitational.kintera.org.

Operation Silverwing: Jobshadowing for Oregon's National Guardsmen- Software Association of Oregon (SAO), joined by Oregon’s Senators, Governor and hundreds of businesses, think it is very important to do what we can to help rally the business community in supporting our returning neighbors. The goal of this program is to make the ask to the entire Oregon Business Community to open their doors and offer a Job Shadowing/Mentoring opportunity to an Oregon National Guardsmen. As you may remember, 2700 troops just returned home and 51% are unemployed. The Job Shadow/Mentor program offers the guardsmen exposure to possible new careers based on their interests and skill sets. The ask to Oregon Businesses is to provide 1 day (whether it’s 1 soldier a week/month) to a soldier to ‘shadow’ an individual within your corporation/organization, providing insight to possible career tracks they are interested in. www.operationsilverwing.us

Home Federal Bank announces new VP and Commercial Branch Manager, A.J. Losoya.  A.J. brings nine years of Oregon banking experience to the Bank.  He has served in commercial lending  for eight of the nine years, and has experience as a Bend Region Manager in Central Oregon.  A.J. attended Western Oregon University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Business with a minor in marketing and health.  He also is a graduate of  the Columbia River Bank Management Training Program as well as the Western School of Commercial Lending in Reno, Nevada.  

Kinetic Branding, www.kineticbranding.com, recently completed a naming, tagline, brand identity, website design and web application project for start-up Perks Palooza. Perks Palooza is a new company that allows customers to receive discounts from their favorite local businesses via text messages. Their goal is to create a franchise model that will be duplicated in cities across the US. Kinetic developed the Perks Palooza brand based on the Core Brand Energy formula of Convenience [Cv], Best Value [Bv] and Discovery [Ds]. Consumers sign up at www.perkspalooza.com and select businesses that can text them deals and discounts. Select. Save. Smile. It’s that easy!

The Central Oregon Builders Exchange (COBE) is a full service plan center that has specialized in the needs of local companies in the construction industry since 1979. In the last couple of years as the volume of construction in Central Oregon has decreased, to better serve our members, we have increased services.

• Expanded our Commercial Project Research
• Improved our Online Plan Hosting
• Expanded Residential and Commercial Permit Research
• Added Business Education Classes
  

The dedicated staff at COBE works hard to help its members find new opportunities throughout Oregon. If you would like additional information please call 541-389-0123 or email admin@plansonfile.com.

Therapy Works Physical Therapy Sponsors Clear Summer Nights Concert Series.Therapy Works believes in supporting the health of the community through sponsorship of uplifting events. In the past several years that sponsorship has included Balloons Over Bend, Bend’s Summer and Fall festivals and the Clear Summer Night’s concert series. The Clear Summer Nights Concert Series held in The Athletic Club of Bend courtyard provides for an incredible, up close and personal experience with each big name musician and amazing sound. Being an active member of the community and supporting the efforts of those who work arduously to enhance the outdoor and music events that bring the community together continues to be a priority for one of Bend’s first physical therapy offices, Therapy Works Physical Therapy. www.therapyworkspt.com

New Pilates Class at the Bend Downtown Athletic Club, with Therapy Works physical therapist Cathey Kahlie, MSPT. Cathey Kahlie, MSPT, has practiced physical therapy for over 18 years, specializing in sports medicine and orthopedic injuries. She has worked in many clinical environments, but for the last ten years she has specialized in rehabilitation of spinal dysfunctions. Pilates is based on core strength, flexibility, the mind -body connection, balance and body alignment. The Pilates principles are an integral part of all our functional activities and improve athletic performance. Cathey works at Therapy Works Physical Therapy in Bend, where the clinic has 2 professional Pilates reformers. Classes begin August 10th at the Downtown Athletic Club and are complimentary for members or Therapy Works PT patients. www.therapyworkspt.com

Umpqua Bank stores in Central Oregon supported small businesses by partnering with them for our ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ in June. Umpqua Bank associates helped pay for local residents’ purchases at neighborhood coffee shops, gas stations, restaurants and car washes, simply as a way to say “Hello”.
So whether you’ve got a business goal or a personal dream worth chasing, we’re here to help you bank like you live and make it happen. Swing by any of our Central Oregon stores for a chat (and fresh cookies on Fridays) or check us out online at www.umpquabank.com. Member FDIC.

Centro Print Solutions is excited to announce the HOLIDAY PROMOTIONALS SHOWCASE for Central Oregon companies to learn how to better leverage their sales, brand image, and market awareness by presenting the newest ideas in apparel and promotional products.  The HOLIDAY PROMOTIONALS SHOWCASE will be co-hosted by industry professionals representing some of the biggest names in apparel and promotional products such as BIC, Callaway Golf, Cutter & Buck, Jones Soda, Nike and many more.  These top experts will share the latest products, ideas and tips on getting the best results from your promotional dollars and how to choose the perfect product to enhance your image, reinforce brand values and make it easy on you and your budget.  promotionals@centroprintsolutions.com

Compass Commercial Real Estate Services is proud to announce its merger with Equity Growth Management, LLC, owned by John Keba of Bend. The merger brings together two leaders in Central Oregon property and asset management, creating a portfolio of nearly 1-million square feet in managed property. Keba joins Compass Commercial as its eighth partner.
“We are extremely excited about this merger,” said Gardner Williams, president of Compass Commercial. “At Compass, we are constantly searching for ways to improve our high level of client-oriented services. Blending John’s talents with our own staff specialties will allow us to develop new business relationships and strengthen current ones.”

Volunteer Connect’s corporate volunteer program is up and running, launched by a project organized by Leadership Bend.  On July 17th, a team from Deschutes Brewery reworked the Sensory Integration Trail at Healing Reins, opening up lesson opportunities for riders with sensory perception challenges. This project piloted the corporate volunteer program model that Leadership Bend is developing for Volunteer Connect. Contact us if you are interested in exploring our new corporate volunteer program:   www.volunteerconnectnow.org   Through employee volunteering, you can build corporate pride, community relations, and staff morale, while influencing the community issues of greatest importance to your business.

OnPoint Community Credit Union is proud to announce that Paul Stednitz, a longtime local resident, has joined OnPoint as the Regional Vice President/Deschutes County. OnPoint will open two branches in Bend and one in Redmond in September, 2010 to serve new and existing members with business and consumer financial services. Stednitz will be responsible for overseeing the opening and management of all three branches.
OnPoint Community Credit Union, the state’s largest credit union, has been operating in Oregon since 1932.  It expanded its charter to Deschutes County in late 2009.
For details on branch openings, visit us at www.onpointcu.com. 

Other Business News

Adopt a Business Program Announces Winner!- Via Delia

After receiving a large pool of applicants, the Central Oregon Business Consortium is proud to announce the winner of the Adopt A Business Program, Via Delia.

Via Delia, owned and operated by Delia Paine, was established in Bend in 2006 and focuses on campaign buttons, popular refrigerator magnets, and custom designed buttons.  The company’s buttons are not only a fashion statement, but they also tend to jump-start conversations.

During the 2008 elections, Via Delia received local and international media attention for their buttons that were worn by governors, members of congress, cabinet members, and major celebrities. Some of the company’s buttons were selected to be a part of a permanent collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. 

“Via Delia has a very interesting and unique business opportunity, we look forward to helping her succeed in the coming years,” said Jason Moyer, Central Oregon Business Consortium Program Chair.

The Central Oregon Business Consortium is comprised of the Bend Chamber of Commerce, Central Oregon Community College, Economic Development for Central Oregon, Opportunity Knocks, the Small Business Development Center, and SCORE.

As the “adopted” business, Via Delia will receive two years of counseling and mentoring services, membership in participating organizations, reduced costs for local business workshops and educational courses, and other benefits will be provided by program sponsors which include:

“Between the Consortium’s advisory resources and our sponsors’ generous contributions, this selection represents a substantial opportunity for the winning business to accelerate its growth,” said Moyer.

The Runner-up for the Adopt A Business Program was Tula Gluten Free Baking Company. Above all, Moyer says it’s great to see the entrepreneurial spirit thrive.

“It’s encouraging to see so much entrepreneurial activity in Central Oregon despite challenging times,” he said. “We want everyone to know there are many resources out there dedicated to helping local businesses succeed.”

Thanks to OK Sponsors

Best Practices Sponsor

• Business Services BendBroadband--www.bendbroadband.com

• Bank of the Cascades--www.botc.com
• Columbia State Bank--www.columbiabancorp.com
• Home Federal Bancorp--www.myhomefed.com
• South Valley Bank & Trust--www.southvalleybank.com
• Umpqua Bank--www.umpquabank.com
• US Bank--www.usbank.com

• BITS--www.oregonbits.com
• Cascade Business News--www.cascadepublications.com
• Kinetic Branding--www.kineticbranding.com
• Press Pros Printing--www.presspros.net
• Precisely Payroll--www.preciselypayroll.com

• On Point Credit Union-- www.onpointcu.com
• Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt--www.schwabe.com
• Century Center- Host Sponsor