Mt. Hood SBDC

Welcome to your Mt. Hood Community College Small Business Development Center!

At the MHCC SBDC, we understand the difficulties that go into creating, growing and managing your own business. Our team of expert advisers are passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation and building the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the region. They are here to provide you with the tools and guidance necessary for your business to become a successful part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Whether you are a startup, an existing business, are passionate about entrepreneurship or are looking at succession planning, we can help. From business planning to marketing and financial analysis, our team is your navigator to all the resources we have available through the Small Business Development Center Network.

We provide guidance in a verity of business development and management, including:

Starting your business

Growing your business

Cashflow management

Business management

Succession planning

Cybersecurity

Franchise assistance

Research and development grants and assistance

Youth entrepreneurship

Please feel free to reach out to us at 503-491-7658. We look forward to joining you on your journey towards business success.

Ibrahim Alhussain
Director, Mt. Hood SBDC

Request Advising

Our knowledgeable business advisers are experienced in all areas of business. From start-up to scaling and succession planning, the Oregon SBDC is here and ready to assist you.

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Mt. Hood SBDC Team of Advisers

Ibrahim Alhussain

Director

Business Planning
Marketing
Operations Read Bio

Ibrahim Alhussain

Director

How do your colleagues describe you?

Coworkers have described me as a reliable leader and an excellent team player. A former coworker offered to write a letter of recommendation because of my excellent team leadership.

Why do you do what you do?

As a business owner and an entrepreneur, I have a passion for helping others achieve their goals. Idea sharing, energy building and innovation are areas I’m most passionate about when working with business owners. Uncertain times bring about many challenges but with those challenges and uncertainty comes great opportunity. I like to build the future, one entrepreneur at a time.

Bio:

Alhussain comes to MHCC most recently from the North Iowa Area Community College Pappajohn Center and North Iowa Area SBDC. There he served as the director of innovation and acceleration and was responsible for providing business consulting and accelerator services to start-up companies and existing businesses in all phases that improve their chances of success. Prior to that, he held positions at the Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Center serving as mentor, coach and advocate to early stage startups and was responsible for creating and commercializing over 70 startups and small medium enterprises for Aramco. Alhussain earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration as well as his MBA from Valparaiso University

Supriya Shanbhag

Adviser

Accounting
Business Planning
Capital Access Read Bio

Supriya Shanbhag

Adviser

How do your colleagues describe you?

"Compassionate and creative, loves to collaborate and go the extra mile to assist clients in achieving their dreams. Brilliant and joyful, she brings great energy and warmth wherever she goes."

Why do you do what you do?

"Transform yourself, transform your life". Through conscious awareness, we all hold great power in transforming our lives into becoming compassionate, creative, loving and successful individuals. Conscious observation of life sparks creative action leading to success at all levels. I enjoy teaching and coaching people to tap into their inner power and achieve their dreams through transforming their life.

Bio:

Supriya is experienced in business development, software development and personal growth and wellness. She has worked for many years building software systems in India and for the Oregon Department of Revenue. Her cashflow app ProsperUs(Abacus) is being used by 300+ entrepreneurs in the United States. She has coached entrepreneurs in business planning, financial analysis, accounting, loan underwriting and access to capital. She conducts business classes for professional and personal success. Supriya is an SBDC business adviser, consultant and life coach. She holds a Masters in Computer Science from OHSU. An avid singer and meditator, she is well-versed in Ayurveda and integrates personal care techniques in her coaching practice.

Guy Edwards

Adviser

Marketing Read Bio

Guy Edwards

Adviser

How do your colleagues describe you?

“It's very rare you come across an 'IT guy' who can explain complex technical issues in such a simple and direct way."

Why do you do what you do?

"I have been a technology evangelist even before my websites were recognized by the Wall Street Journal. Technology at your fingertips promised it could make a business owner more productive, efficient and successful with less money. Today this is all true, but there remains a knowledge gap. Which tools to use and how to use them? My passion is driven by bridging this gap for entrepreneurs."

Bio:

Guy Edwards specializes in social media marketing and search engine optimization. After attending the Art Institute of Chicago, he went to work with large publications to help them transition from print publication to online subscriptions. He has pioneered e-commerce for businesses and distance learning courses for major universities. Guy now owns a company that develops and markets websites for organizations, including Animal Planet, Intel, Pendleton Woolen Mills and Willamette Egg Farms.

Nekol Pyle

Adviser

Accounting Read Bio

Nekol Pyle

Adviser

How do your colleagues describe you?

“Nekol is a great communicator. She has our complete trust, and is a combination of unwavering loyalty, exceptional competence, boundless energy and a great person to boot.”

Why do you do what you do?

I thoroughly enjoy assisting business owners to help them create an organized and intuitive accounting process so they can focus their passion on growing their business with less worry and concern about the accounting process.

Bio:

Nekol entered the accounting field in 1993. In 1997, she started a small business in Vermont as a bookkeeper, financial manager, QuickBooks consultant, auditor and forensic accountant. As her business grew, she provided services across multiple industries, helping a wide array of small business owners implement the specific accounting processes they needed to become successful. In 2015 Nekol returned to the West and settled in eastern Multnomah County, where she found a need for her services among local small business owners. Her business continues to flourish, and in addition Nekol is excited and grateful for the opportunity to share her knowledge as an adviser at the Small Business Development Center.

Joe King

Adviser

Business Planning
Marketing
Operations Read Bio

Joe King

Adviser

How do your colleagues describe you?

"Joe is a dedicated teacher and instructor that enjoys helping both students and small business owners succeed. He is an excellent communicator with an abundance of business experience coupled with common sense."

Why do you do what you do?

I enjoy and have a passion for teaching, coaching and mentoring. Small business is the backbone of our economy and a big part of the American dream, and I love helping individuals and small businesses fulfill their dreams. It is amazing watching and being a part of ideas becoming reality.

Bio:

Joe is local to the east county area. He served in the military before earning a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management and an MBA. Joe has more than 30 years of experience in the Banking and real estate industries as well as founding and operating several small businesses. Joe has been a business instructor at MHCC for 12 years, teaching entrepreneurship, business, finance, accounting and economics. Joe has a wide and deep range of knowledge and experience in all areas of business, and can help you with startup, finance, marketing and management.

Gerri Raisanen

Adviser

Read Bio

Gerri Raisanen

Adviser

How do your colleagues describe you?

Gerri is always there to help answer questions. She is the cosmic glue the holds our center together.

Why do you do what you do?

I enjoy working at the center because I grew up in this community and it is amazing to see how things have grown and changed. I want to help make a difference in our community. I enjoy working with the staff and our clients. We each learn from one another.

Bio:

Gerri has worked at the Small Business Development Center since 2007. Gerri helps clients schedule appointments with the business advisers and register for the classes that will assist them in their small businesses. She also provides support to the director, business advisers and Instructors. Prior to joining the SBDC, Gerri work as a claims analyst helping businesses process their unemployment claims.

Welcome to your Mt. Hood Community College Small Business Development Center!

Their services are amazing. We’re on the cusp of doing great things in our industry. None of it would be possible without the SBDC.

Brian Parham, Rock Dojo

Six months after launching the new site, my business doubled. I wouldn’t be in business today without help from the SBDC and my adviser. I can’t rave enough about the SBDC. I tell people about it whenever the opportunity arises.

Kara Thininger, Alluring Face PDX

There’s so many ways to get stuck, to get put in a bind where you can’t work your way out. Having an operation like SBDC has just been invaluable.

Cosmo Salibello, Gaeta Foods

Mt. Hood SBDC Team of Advisers

Ibrahim Alhussain

Director

Supriya Shanbhag

Adviser

Guy Edwards

Adviser

Nekol Pyle

Adviser

Joe King

Adviser

Gerri Raisanen

Adviser