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Entrepreneur Found Calling, Now Calling on Others

August 7, 2015
Oregon-SBDC-FranNet-SuccessSandy, Oregon Woman Opens Oasis Senior Advisors with Help from the SBDC and FranNet

As many people do, Breanna Nickila geared her education toward a career in corporate America. After starting on her MBA, however, she began to realize her life might point in another direction, as the allure of business ownership and the struggle to find a quality job in eastern Portland created a new opportunity. Ultimately, her path landed her as one of the newest franchisees with Oasis Senior Advisors, a senior care advising company.

Nickila, a graduate of Portland State University, initially delayed her leap into the entrepreneurial world as she stayed at home for 11 years to raise her daughter. What she realized is that corporate life had changed and that her true calling was that of a business owner.  (more…)

Palo Alto Hires Entrepreneur and #SBDC Client Josh Fegles

August 5, 2015
Palo-Alto-Hires-Josh-FeglesEntrepreneur and SBDC Client Josh Fegles is hired as Academic & Government Channel Sales Director to increase market share of SaaS app LivePlan in the government and academic channels

The world’s leader in business planning, strategic forecasting for small business, and small business management software, Palo Alto Software, has announced the hire of entrepreneur Josh Fegles to lead the company’s government and academic relationships.

Fegles will be sharing LivePlan, a great critical thinking tool, with global academic and government organizations to help them increase their relevance among their small business clients and students. LivePlan helps students learn about how to start a business, and helps small business owners plan and manage their business better. Josh will bring LivePlan to SBDCs (Small Business Development Centers), SCORE offices, Women’s Business Centers, Veteran’s Business Outreach Centers, Chambers of Commerce, economic development organizations, accelerator and incubator programs, and academic institutions (high schools and higher education, including online universities).

“Josh is the perfect person to lead our relationships with SBDCs, SCORE offices and colleges and universities for many reasons. Most importantly, he’s been a long time client of the SBDC in Portland, Oregon,” stated Palo Alto Software CEO, Sabrina Parsons. (more…)

Washing Cars… Protecting the Environment

August 3, 2015
Simple-Car-WashSuccess Story: Pennsylvania

Impact of working with the Penn State SBDC: In March of 2014, Taylor Mitcham reached out to the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) by stopping in at their on-campus walk-in office to discuss her business idea for a waterless car wash.

The SBDC helped Taylor navigate the maze of legal and tax issues that she would need to address. She formed a Limited Liability Company and obtained an Employer Identification Number and a Pennsylvania Sales and Use Tax License.

Taylor officially launched Simple Car Wash in July, 2014, offering her services to other Penn State students and residents in the State College area. Since there is no brick-and mortar storefront, she needed to be creative in ways to market her business. (more…)

Microbreweries are Growing in Vermont with SBDC Help

July 31, 2015

Vermont-Craft-BrewingEvery homebrewer who has sipped his or her own creations and tasted the satisfaction of a job well done has likely at least contemplated what it would be like to share their recipes with the world, or to make a living from their passion for handcrafted beers. And many Vermont brewers have taken steps to make that dream a reality. But there’s a lot more to a successful brewery than making great beer.

Vermont breweries like Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro and The Alchemist in Waterbury are garnering national attention and an almost cult-like following for their products. It’s easy to see why new breweries are popping up throughout the state and beyond. While rockstar brews like the Alchemist’s Heady Topper may make going into the beer business seem like a no-brainer, opening a brewery is a serious and often expensive undertaking that should not be delved into on a whim.  (more…)

Yes, There Is Life After Corporate Downsizing

July 29, 2015

life-after-corporate-downsizinglCorporate executives create new lives for themselves with franchise ownership after layoffs and business closures.

It’s not a pleasant position to be in, especially for a six-figure-generating corporate executive – unexpected layoffs and downsizing. According to ExecuNet (a networking group for outplaced Executives in the $100K+ salary bracket), corporate executives can expect to be in the same job for only 2.7 years, and with the same company for only 3.3 years.

That means mid-level and executive-level managers are looking for new jobs every couple of years. It’s an employment cycle that puts a lot of stress on finances and family.

But many former corporate executives are now choosing another option after facing numerous corporate layoffs and reorganizations: business ownership.  (more…)