How do your colleagues describe you?
"Laura is one of quiet confidence with a high level of perception and insight. She is loyal, positive, passionate and eager to help those around her."
Why do you do what you do?
I thrive to create a solid understanding of the benefits of collaboration between teams and individuals. I am proud to support the Network office and the centers across Oregon. I live in an amazing supportive community and I love supporting local businesses. It is gratifying seeing business owners succeed with their passions and dreams.
Bio:
Laura has more than 27 years of experience in the banking industry. Her experience includes administrative roles, human resources, technical support, training and development, management and culture keeper. For seven of those years she was a branch manager at a local bank, where she built close and trusting relationships with small businesses and clients in her community.
She provides exceptional customer service, administrative support, event & meeting planning, marketing and special projects, and more. She holds an associates degree in General Studies from Lane Community College and a bachelors of science in Social Behavioral Science from Linfield College.
Preparing your business ahead of time is essential! These are great wildfire resources all Oregon businesses with a brick-and-mortar should review. ... See MoreSee Less
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[FREE WEBINAR]
Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility. Lack of employee awareness about best practices to protect against cyberattacks can lead to disaster. Don’t wait—act now!
Date & Time: Wednesday, June 14, noon
Hosted by: Small Business Development Center at MHCC
➡️ Register here: buff.ly/3OKIjED
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Today the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network is proud to shine the spotlight on an exciting new business that we’ve had the honor to support, Xanadu Astoria—“the first and only queer bar on the Pacific Northwest Coast,” where everyone is welcome!
Scott Justus and his husband, Michael, moved to Astoria to find their happy place and quickly became active in the business community. They realized that despite a significant 2SLGBTQIA+ population, the North Coast had limited social gathering places and no bars specifically catering to that community. So they decided to leverage Scott’s extensive experience in bar management to open a new venue.
Scott connected with the Clatsop Small Business Development Center and CEDR and enrolled in the “Launch Your Business Boot Camp,” a five-part business planning training that includes one-on-one advising from an SBDC adviser. Supported by the class and his adviser, Scott put together a financing plan for the project, and he also launched a successful crowdfunding effort for startup capital.
Scott was able to rely on his adviser’s restaurant startup experience and advice throughout the buildout, and despite encountering some delays and surprises in the process, Xanadu Astoria opened for business in March 2023! Scott’s intelligence, experience, vision, courage, and willingness to reach out to the SBDC and others for help and guidance has made Xanadu a reality.
Scott continues to work with the SBDC and his adviser on various business tasks, such as costing recipes, pricing menu items, and creating a master inventory to help generate monthly income statements.
“The SBDC has been and continues to be instrumental in my ability to conceptualize and open my own business,” he said. “With the invaluable guidance of my adviser…I feel confident that I have the tools to be successful and grow.”
To learn more about how the Oregon SBDC Network can help make your business idea come to life, visit buff.ly/3ywwupV.
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As a business owner, safety planning is essential to protect your employees, customers, and assets. This National Safety Month, take some time to review your safety plan! Here are some tips to consider as you create and review your business’s comprehensive workplace safety plan:
👉 Identify risks
👉 Learn about your industry’s compliance standards
👉 Develop programs and processes that clearly outline expectations
👉 Educate your employees
👉 Enforce and evaluate your plan
👉 Be prepared for inevitable workplace injuries
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website is a helpful resource for safety planning for your business. Visit buff.ly/429T1HN for more information.
To receive support for business resiliency and disaster response, connect with your nearest regional Oregon Small Business Development Center.
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Today is Higher Education Day, so we’re sharing gratitude for our vital partnerships with the community colleges and universities that host our Centers throughout the Oregon SBDC Network!
Strong partnerships with host institutions enable us to serve small business owners across the state through no-cost advising and training opportunities in our mission to build Oregon’s best businesses.
If you are a small business owner or entrepreneur preparing to launch your business, connecting with a regional SBDC near you is simple. Visit buff.ly/3ywwupV and find out how our services can help your small business start, grow, and thrive.
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LGBTQ+ enterprises are thriving! In the U.S., LGBTQ+-owned businesses contribute an estimated $1.7 trillion to the economy and play a vital role in creating inclusive communities that span industries including retail, hospitality, technology, and more.
Celebrate the LGBTQ+ innovators and entrepreneurs who provide essential services and diversify our communities, and learn more about how U.S. Small Business Administration and its resource partners support them:
➡️ buff.ly/3q3x3Ja
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