Portland State Magazine Winter 2007

Gary Brown, PSU Business Outreach Program director area, many owned by minorities and women. After an initial interview, during which the needs of the emerging business are assessed in detail, the full– time management counselors, student interns, and business professionals associated with the program begin a long-term relationship designed to give emerging businesses the tools they need to be successful. The program provides, at no charge, a wide array of essential services to its clients, ranging from business and marketing plans to pro 60110 legal advice and product cost analysis. For some businesses, the program also assigns student teams to provide in-depth assessments and assistance. For others, the program may arrange critical financing when traditional lending institutions prove too cautious. To quote the late Portland entrepreneur Fred Meyer, PSU's Business Outreach Program can be a one-stop shopping center for entrepreneurs in need. "Most small business owners have a dream," says Gary Brown, BOP direc– tor. "What most of them find is that translating that dream into a success– ful reality is harder than they think it's going to be. That's where this program comes in." For DiPrima-LeConche, who heard about PSU's Business Outreach Pro– gram through a friend, the assistance it provided was nothing short of crucial. "I literally would not have the business today without their help," she says. Brown and his students helped her write her business plan, fill out loan applica– tions, and develop her marketing and "Most small business owners have a dream," says Gary Brown, Business Outreach director. "What most of them find is that translating that dream into a successful reality is harder than they think it's going to be." advertising plans. "Opening a bakery isn't a piece of cake, let me tell you," says DiPrima-LeConche. "The Busi– ness Outreach Program was so much more helpful than the Small Business Administration." Since it was founded in 1994, the BOP has helped more than 400 local companies find their feet, 80 percent of them "microenterprises," 52 percent minority-owned, 50 percent women– owned. "Our mission is to reduce the high failure rate for small businesses "Opening a bakery isn't a piece of cake," says owner Pat DiPrima– LeConche pictured above. and give PSU students the benefits of community-based, real-world learn– ing," says Brown. "We find our clients through word of mouth, through affiliation with the University, through our Web site and through University publications. At any given time, we're working with about 30 clients. I spent 14 years in the corporate world, and I know how tough things can be out there, especially when you're just starting out." EVER SI NCE H IS first hair salon was sold in 1990, Sherman Jackson has dreamed of owning his own place once more. "When I started down this road, I had nothing," Jackson says. "... nothing except a dream. If it wasn't for Gary Brown and the Business Outreach Program, I would not be here today. They believed in me when nobody else did." "Here" is the Platinum Fade Salon on Northeast Alberta Street. Jackson looks around his place of business with pride, taking in the gleaming sinks and swivel chairs of its 12 workstations, its immaculately clean Boors and reception area. "The salon is named after the precious metal," he explains, "because when you come in here, you get the best." Jackson heard about the BOP when he was working as a contractor at a Lloyd Center hair salon, and quickly realized the program's potential to help him own his own place once more. "I had already found this location," Jackson says. "Gary looked it over and approved it. I went to classes a couple WINTER 2007 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 9