Message from Opportunity Knocks Executive Director

First off, I wish all of you a successful, profitable and enriching 2011. Thank you to all who took the time to respond to the recent survey.  After averaging the responses of the surveys, the results came in favorably with a very high percentage of results providing a rating of 4+ on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest. Your comments are all being read and made note of, thank you for providing the feedback.

The Customer Engagement Survey was part of a strategic plan that Opportunity Knocks undertook this past year.  In addition to compiling market statistics, identifying key projects for the next three years, the organization has also been involved in a rebranding process.  We looked at changing the name and after several months in addressing this through many conversations with the board and committee members, the decision was made to keep the name Opportunity Knocks.  A new tag line is in the process of being developed as well as a short descriptive that can be provided to all and can serve as the organization's "elevator speech."

Opportunity Knocks continues to be committed to enriching the lives of business owners and employees through business operational and strategic support.

 
Best Regards,

Susie Stevens
Opportunity Knocks Executive Director

OK News

New Opportunity Knocks Board Members Announced

Three new Board Members were recently confirmed and include:  Jason Moyer Cascadian Group, Shannon Bassett Home Fridays, and Keith Orton, Ph.D. GL Solutions.  Many thanks to outgoing Board Members:  Mary Schell, Shannon Mara and Jane Grimm.  The new Board Members will serve a 3 year term and join existing Board Members:  Bill Moseley GL Solutions, Todd Gerdes Gerdes Dodge CPA’s, Kevin Keillor Keillor and Hill Attorneys, Roberta Johnson Sportsvisionbend and Jeff Griswold Merit Wealth.
 

New Teams Formed

Starting in January, Opportunity Knocks has two new teams that will be commencing.  As a result of continued interest in the first two all Women’s Business Teams that were developed in 2010 a 3rd one is now starting later this month.  The new team includes business owners as well as high level executives and is facilitated by Moe Carrick, long time Opportunity Knocks’ facilitator and founder and principal of www.moementum.com .

The second team is a new Opportunity Knocks Sales Team.  Participants include individuals in sales positions committed to improving their abilities as well as serving as a board of advisors for their fellow team members.  The team will operate with an emphasis on goal achievement and accountability.  The team will be facilitated by Andi Buerger, who brings experience from law to training, facilitating and sales.  Linden Gross, long time Opportunity Knocks member and owner of Incubation Press will be serving as co-facilitator.

Occasionally, new potential members have assumed that Opportunity Knocks was one of the many networking organizations that operate in Central Oregon.  Our message to new potential members is that Opportunity Knocks is not a lead generation program but a business support organization providing peer-to-peer business advisory services.

How Social Media is Changing Your Business

 
James Gentes- Founder & CEO of The Social Business
Guest Author and one of four presenters at the February 2nd Best Practices Seminar "Current Marketing Trends: Social Media, SEO, Marketing Plan Allocation"

In 2010, more than 700 Billion videos were watched on YouTube. That's about 2 Billion per day, which is nearly double the audience of ABC, NBC, and CBS combined. Why is this important to business owners?

It's important because nearly every customer and employee owns a video camera, often built into their mobile phone. Every minute, users upload over 24 hours of video to YouTube. For businesses, this means that a dissatisfied customer or employee could quickly produce a 'viral' video and public relations nightmare.

Fortunately, most customers prefer to show appreciation for companies they like. On average, fans of a business on Facebook post twice as many positive comments as negative comments. In fact, over 20 Million people join business fan pages on Facebook every day by simply clicking a 'Like' button. With over 500 Million people on Facebook - more than the entire population of the United States - over 2 Million businesses have jumped on board by creating pages for their customers to connect with them on the world's leading social network.

Still, while interacting with customers is important, many business owners ask what the real return on investment (ROI) is for spending time on these activities. After all, it's not easy to blog once or twice a week or update a fan page with details about what the business is up to every day, and that time could be better spent on revenue generating activities. Fair point.

Like all marketing activity, social media results can be difficult to measure - however, unlike traditional media advertising such as print, radio, and TV, this isn't about getting your message in front of people. It's about getting them to interact with you and form a relationship with your business. Why? Because the Internet has changed the way that people search for services, and social media has effectively turned their trust away from advertising in favor of their personal networks.

90% of consumers seek advice before making a purchase, and they often turn to the web to read customer reviews and recommendations. Today, this is mostly done through Amazon.com for product ratings or Yelp.com for restaurant reviews; however Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and many other services are actively building reputation systems for all businesses. Just search for your business name on Google or Bing and you will see star ratings next to your listing (as well as your competitors).

This is because only 14% of consumers trust advertisements, while 78% of consumers trust recommendations from their peers. These reviews significantly influence purchase decisions, and the more trust a person has, the more influence they have. This is the power that these services will hold - the combination of search engines which help people find a business and social networks that offer trustworthy opinions from friends, family, and colleagues will heavily determine what products and services are worthwhile.

For small businesses, social media is about building trust and loyalty within your existing customer base that will help drive referrals in the future. It also helps people find you when they look for your business in their social networks and search engines. On average, at least 40% of your customers would recommend your products or services to others. The trick is getting them to talk, which is why social media marketing is often called word-of-mouth marketing; a highly cost-effective and powerful way to build customer advocates that do your advertising for you.

James is founder and CEO of The Social Business, a firm that helps companies use social media to interact with their customers. James previously spent 10 years at Symantec, where he managed a multi-million dollar product line and earned awards for excellence in Product Management and Innovation. He later was Vice President at Source-N where he delivered iPhone applications for big brands, including MTV and TIME Inc. He holds a degree in Business & e-Business, several technology certifications, and also manages TechSpaceBend, a co-working facility for startups and entrepreneurs in the Old Cigar Building downtown.

OK Events & Education

 OK Best Practices Seminars

Title: "Current Marketing Trends: Social Media, SEO, and Real World Results"  

Presenters: James Gentes (The Social Business), Jody O'Donnell (G5), Amanda Patterson  (G5), Wendie Every (Every Idea Marketing), Ross Wordhouse (Every Idea Marketing), Paul Lieto (Every Idea Marketing)
Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Time: 11:30 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: "Leading for Efficiency & Productivity"

Presenters: TBD
Date:  Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Time: 11:30 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

Other News for Our Community

Get Help to Avoid Foreclosure!

Oregon has recently received $220 million in federal money to help distressed homeowners avoid foreclosure.

The Mortgage Payment Assistance Program pays the mortgage of a qualified recipient household for an entire year, up to $20,000.  If you have suffered a loss of income of 25% or more, this program may help you keep your home. The deadline to apply is January 14, 2011.  More information is available at http://www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org/.

In many communities this program has gone unnoticed. These days, everyone knows someone for whom it could make all the difference. Please forward this important information to your friends, family and neighbors.

Oregon Department of Justice
John Kroger, Attorney General

OK Members in the News

Central Oregon Charter Bus, Inc.  is now a member of  COVA (Central Oregon Visitors Association),  and the Oregon Festivals and Events Association.   Central Oregon Charter Bus is equipped to provide transportation and shuttle service for events, and meetings. 
Contact us anytime for more information  (541-646-1859) on what we can provide for you, or go to www.CentralOregonCharterBus.com  for upcoming tour details! Central Oregon Charter Bus is equipped to provide transportation and shuttle service for events, and meetings. 

The High Desert Museum received a grant from the Home Federal Foundation in late November.  Museum President Janeanne A. Upp accepted a generous check for $2000 to go toward the Discovery Classes Program.  The Discovery Classes program offers unique, hands-on teaching experiences designed to meet state curriculum benchmarks. Teachers can choose from classes ranging from earth sciences to life sciences involving live animals, authentic artifacts, art and more. The goal of this stimulating approach, as stated by Museum Founder Donald M. Kerr, is to encourage students to “leave asking questions, not just coming up with answers.” 

Specialized Events is excited to announce the 2011 Central Oregon Women’s Expo will take place at the Athletic Club of Bend!  Vendor spaces begin at $200.  For more information, please visit www.centraloregonwomensexpo.com.

Sterling Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:STSA) (“Sterling”), the bank holding company of Sterling Savings Bank, today announced the successful completion of its previously announced $730 million transaction raising new capital from institutional, private equity and other accredited investors. The amount of capital raised exceeds the amount required under Sterling’s agreements with its regulators and restores both Sterling’s and Sterling Savings Bank’s regulatory ratios to levels that exceed well-capitalized thresholds under applicable guidelines.

Merit Wealth Management as an investment advisor associate.  C.J.’s talents will be used in two key areas: client service and firm operations.   His role will be managing all of the behind-the-scenes activity that keeps the many moving parts of a client’s portfolio in balance.  Whether it is opening new accounts, moving money, or just monitoring client account activity, he will make it happen so that clients don’t need to. C.J. graduated from OSU with a B.S. in Finance and with a minor in economics.  C.J. has a background in commercial real estate which will help in analyzing client’s real estate holdings and investments.  C.J. can be reached at cj@meritwealth.com or (888) 51-MERIT.

VocalBooth.com™, an Oregon based manufacturer of modular and portable sound rooms, has been chosen to participate in the 2010 Esquire Signature Space project, an experimental showcase of best-of-class brands and world-renowned designers. Dubbed by the media as the ultimate bachelor pad, the Esquire House is a living breathing personification of the modern man’s lifestyle. This year the Esquire House boasts a state-of-the-art recording studio featuring a cashmere upholstered VocalBooth™ from VocalBooth.com.

Check out our New Website at deschutesinsurancebend.com!    Just a few of our new features include,  “What's New”, Tip of the Month and you can even request a quote!   You can also read about our affiliation with George Petersen Insurance and our recent merger with NorthWest Insurance Agency.   Deschutes Insurance is your locally owned, full service Insurance Agency.  We write ALL types of insurance  including personal, business and health/life.  Being an “Independent Agency”  means that we represent  many Companies that we can shop with to find the most competitive insurance program tailored for our customer’s individual needs.   Our staff has over 100 years experience in the industry! Check us out.

Barrett Business Services, Inc., (NASDAQ:  BBSI - www.barrettbusiness.com ) has recently named Nancy Gammond-Moody, SPHR Human Resource Manager/Consultant for their Central Oregon Branch. Gammond-Moody, a longtime Central Oregon resident, will provide human resource consulting for BBSI’s clients throughout the region.
Her background includes success in key human resource positions with Mount Bachelor, Inc., Entre Prises USA, Jan Baker Facilitates and experience in several management capacities with Jeld-Wen. Nancy is a member of HRACO (Human Resource Association of Central Oregon) and holds a SPHR (Senior Professional Human Resource) Certification.
 

North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has awarded Bend-based GL Solutions a $9 million five-year contract that’s expected to double the size of the software company’s work force. Located on Southwest Disk Drive, GL Solutions has 40 employees and expects to increase that number to 82 by March. The company, also, is in negotiations on a location for new offices in Bend.
GL Solutions, founded in 1997, has developed software called GL Suite that’s used by government regulatory agencies. GL Suite is called configurable off-the-shelf software. Employees tailor it to meet customers’ requirements.  GL Solutions focuses exclusively on the support and advancement of each agency’s vision of operational excellence and public service. The Company stands apart in the industry with the ability to meet all desired functionality at an affordable price, in a time frame that meets even the tightest schedules. GL Solutions received international recognition as a leader within the regulatory software market with a growing clientele of over 45 agencies across 18 states.

Cascade Business News Publishes 2011 Book of Lists
In the 2011 Book of Lists, distributed in early January, you’ll find a comprehensive listing of 100 different industry lists from high tech and biotech to law firms and physician groups.
Each list has appeared during the course of the year in CBN, has been thoroughly updated once a year and is updated immediately when we receive changes and additions from the business community.
Last year we launched our new website placing the entire Book of Lists online for daily updating. In 2011 we will continue to enhance the online version making it easier to use with more marketing options.

Diane Kulpinski, owner of Hall of Fame Photo is pleased to announce the addition of Troy Antoni as Production Manager. Antoni brings his Photoshop and graphic art skills to the mix, streamlining the pre-lab preparation of youth sports images - Hall of Fame’s specialty. www.hofphoto.com

Healing Response Acupuncture is bringing Kim Labenski L.Ac. into the practice as a full-time employee beginning January 1st, 2011. We are excited to have her as part of our team. Kim specializes in chronic neck and back pain.

It may be a surprise to some that there have been over 2,000 transactions for Real Estate purchases and sales this year in the local area. These transactions are split about 50/50 between traditional sales and bank owned or short sale transactions. Financing for residential properties is at an all-time low and available.
In short, everything is on sale. Buyers, that can buy, should buy. The sales evidence would show that they are. We often have multiple offers on well-priced properties.
I'm finding that everyone isn't broke. There is ample opportunity here in Bend.
Talk to a professional before you assume otherwise.  Jim Moran, Broker, Coldwell Banker Morris

Carol J. Woodard-Kozimor CPA is pleased to announce she has moved her office to a new location at 440 NW Columbia St. Bend, OR. Dedicated to delivering quality service with a personal touch, Carol J. Woodard-Kozimor, CPA provides tax preparation and planning services to individuals and small businesses. Need help with your taxes? Call Carol at 541.389.8666. www.cjwkcpa.com

Need to promote your business? Bestselling writer and acclaimed writing coach Linden Gross is now offering copywriting services. More than two decades of writing national magazine articles and books (including Julia “Butterfly” Hill’s bestseller The Legacy of Luna) have led to Linden’s effectiveness in drafting and editing web content, marketing and/or product copy, newsletters, brochures, advertorials and more.
You have just five to eight seconds to catch readers—or lose them. In short, you can’t afford to hire a bad writer. So go with the best. Check out http://lindengross.com/copywriter/ or call 541-317-1509. I look forward to hearing from you.
 

Mary Ann Cook has joined McGregor-Caverhill, CPA as a full-time staff accountant and bookkeeper.  She has more than 20 years of diverse experience in bookkeeping, accounting and tax preparation.  Her focus is on small business bookkeeping with several areas of expertise including construction, real estate, restaurant and retail bookkeeping, as well as QuickBooks training. McGregor-Caverhill, CPA is located at 438 NE Irving Avenue in Bend.  They offer complete accounting, bookkeeping and tax service rates reflective of the current economy and are certified QuickBooks Pro Advisors.  You can also visit them at www.mcgregor-caverhillcpa.com or call 541 389-1970.

Umpqua Bank stores in Bend partnered with Country 99.7, “The Mountain”, to deliver its annual Wish Upon A Star program.  The program granted basic needs and special requests for individuals and families in need during the holiday season.    The program has fulfilled $20,000 in wishes in Central Oregon and more than $370,000 in wishes to communities throughout Northern California and Oregon since the program was developed.  The Wish Upon A Star program gives Umpqua Bank a chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our community members. Swing by any of our Central Oregon stores to meet our community minded associates or check us out online at www.umpquabank.com.
 

In 2010, three attorneys from the Central Oregon office of Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt were recognized as Oregon Super Lawyers.  These attorneys, Katherine Tank and Tom Triplett and Joe Willis, were recognized as outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement by the annual Super Lawyers list.  Also, Heather Hepburn was named a 2010 Oregon Rising Star, a list names that the state’s top up-and-coming attorneys.  Up to five percent of lawyers in the state are named to the Super Lawyers list, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list.

KIALOA's new IKAIKA™ Series draws its strength from revolutionary Continuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic (CFRT®) technology which adds the performance benefits of carbon and glass fibers to the strength of thermoplastic polymers, creating amazingly lightweight yet virtually indestructible stand up paddles at an incredible price.  KIALOA is the first company to bring this technology to the sport of Stand Up Paddling.

Sign Pro is very excited to be moving to a new location (just down the street – 512 S.E. Glenwood) in February 2011.
The outlook for the coming year is brighter than it has been for some time. With a positive, assertive attitude, nothing can stop us!
We know the New Year will present challenges and, as always, opportunities.
We are grateful to our loyal customers for the past 18 years.
Looking forward to a “banner year!”  Stop in and see us at our new “digs” with plenty of parking!!

Need work done on your Mac? Paul The Computer Guy is now an Authorized Apple Service Provider. This means we can perform warranty and non-warranty repairs on any Apple computer using Apple certified parts. In other news, we have doubled the size of our staff, welcoming Technician Keith Monaghan, an OSU graduate and former team manager at Bend’s TRG call center, and Technical Assistant Kellie Anderson, a veteran of both the TRG call center and the United States Air Force. www.paulthecomputerguy.com

Sean Watt, President, Central Oregon Region for Home Federal Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Kevin Guiney, Commercial Relationship Manager, to Vice President and Commercial Branch Manager for the Madras office.  Guiney has nine years of banking experience, with seven of those being in the commercial banking sector. He is a graduate of Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing. 

Thanks to OK Sponsors

Best Practices Sponsor

• Business Services BendBroadband--www.bendbroadband.com

• Bank of the Cascades  www.botc.com
   
• Bryant, Lovlien & Jarvis www.bryantlovlienjarvis.com
   
• Columbia State Bank  www.columbiabank.com
   
• Home Federal Bancorp  www.myhomefed.com
   
• OnPoint Community Credit Union  www.onpointcu.com
   
• Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt  www.schwabe.com
   
• South Valley Bank & Trust  www.southvalleybank.com
   
• Sterling Savings Bank  www.sterlingsavingbank.com
   
• Umpqua Bank  www.umpquabank.com
   
• US Bank  www.usbank.com

• BITS--www.oregonbits.com
• Cascade Business News--www.cascadepublications.com
• Blue Space Markets--www.bluespacemarkets.com
• Press Pros Printing--www.presspros.net
• Precisely Payroll--www.preciselypayroll.com