LOOK FOR INVITATIONS TO BID AND PUBLIC NOTICES STARTING ON PAGE 12 MARCH 15, 2016 WOMEN IN BUSINESS IS PORTLAND Business Tribune OPEN? BY JOHN M. VINCENT MINIMUM YOUR WAGE HIKE BUSINESS: PORT OF SMART MONEY: VANCOUVER TAX TIME LITTLE BIG INSIDE BURGER 2 BUSINESS TRIBUNE Tuesday, March 15, 2016 All Hands Raised offers its sincerest thanks to the nearly 700 guests who attended the 21st Birthday Bash supporting our mission to champion education, equity and excellence inside and outside of the classroom. Special Thanks We would especially like to thank our corporate sponsors and everyone We also extend our deepest gratitude to who purchased a table, a ticket or raised their paddle. Your support Master of Ceremonies Courtenay Hameister, makes our work possible. Together, we can help all children and youth Musical Guest Soul Commanders, and our achieve their full potential. Headline Roaster Ian Karmel, who delivered a healthy dose of laughter. And to Emi Donis, Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer and Deputy General Counsel of Precision Exploring Sponsors Castparts, Corp.; Carmen Rubio, Executive • Angeli Ungar Law • Legacy Health • Stoel Rives LLP Director of Latino Network; and Portland Group LLC • NW Natural • Union Wine Company Community College student Suntea’Ohna • Hanna Andersson • Portland Tribune • Vernier Software Floyd, all of whom represented the heart of our • Iberdrola Renewables, LLC • R/West & Technology mission and reminded us of the importance of Corporate Sponsors ensuring every child in Multnomah County has • Barran Liebman LLP • KinderCare Education • Porch Light Realty Group the opportunity to shine. • Brooks Staffing • KPMG LLP • Port of Portland • Coca-Cola • Miller Nash Graham • Portland State University • Coraggio Group & Dunn LLP • Regence BlueCross Thank you to our awesome sponsors! • Edelman • Moda Health BlueShield of Oregon • Gary McGee & Co. LLP • O’Neill Electric • Waddell & Reed • Gerding Edlen • Pacific Northwest Regional • Wieden + Kennedy • Graham Crow Council of Carpenters • Willamette Week Benefit Auctions • Pacific Power Community & Family Sponsors • Carol Flanagan & Guild • King Family • Portland Community Mortgage Company • Latino Network College • Chalkboard Project • Mt. Hood Community • Portland Development • Chartwells School College Commission Dining Services • Multnomah County • Portland Public Schools • Concordia University Chair’s Office • University of Portland • Congressman • Multnomah Education • Valerium Pereira Earl Blumenauer Service District & William Gilliland • David Douglas • Native American Youth • Worksystems, Inc. School District & Family Center • Warner Pacific College • Education Northwest • NECA/IBEW Local 48 • Jennifer Messenger • OSU Alumni Association/ Heilbronner OSU Foundation Major Gift & Paddle Raise Donors - $1,500 and above • Carilyn Alexander • Kate & Ben Wille • Chevron Corporation • Ken & Marta Thrasher • Cole Mills • Kevin Palau & the Luis • Coraggio Group Palau Association • Dan Ryan • Lynn & John Loacker • David & Barbara • Matt & Michelle Schulz Underriner • Nike School • Eduardo Puelma & Oscar Innovation Fund Arana • Rich & Elise Brown • Emi & Brett Donis • Robert & Joyce McKean • Fred Meyer Stores, Inc. • Safeway Foundation • Gerding Edlen • Sarah Mensah & • Hood to Coast Race Series Eddie Martinez • Sean Blixseth • Tracy Curtis & Rick Nagore www.allhandsraised.org 548639.030816 BT Tuesday, March 15, 2016 BUSINESS TRIBUNE 3 WOMEN IN BUSINESS PORTLAND’S SUPPORT OF WOMEN- OWNED BUSINESSES QUESTIONED STUDY RANKS PORTLAND NEAR THE BOTTOM s Portland a good place for women to growth in the economic strength of wom- open a business? Apparently, it de- en-owned businesses. pends on whom you ask. It ain’t easy here I Consumer information website WalletHub recently ranked Portland Perhaps the biggest cause for Port- number 91 out of 100 in a study of Best land’s downgrade on the WalletHub and Worst Cities for Women-Owned study stems from another of its studies Businesses. While the metrics used in that it uses as a foundation for the wom- the study appear on the surface to be en-owned business study. It ranks Port- solid, it’s hard to fi nd business owners land 139th of 150 in places to start any in Portland who agree with the tenor of small business, let alone a business the fi ndings. owned by a woman. While many BY JOHN M. “It’s defi nitely diffi cult here to open a admit that Port- small business, but I haven’t found it to land has its VINCENT be gender based,” Watson tells the Busi- challenges, they ness Tribune. “There are a lot of things also see great that happen in city government that opportunities in the city and have eventually end up on the shoulders of achieved success operating here. small business.” “We got to a point in our business Watson cites Portland’s paid sick leave where we could open a second location policy as an example. “Whenever an em- in Northeast Portland,” says Lisa Wat- ployee calls in sick, you’re paying 2.5 son of Cupcake Jones. “It was scary. It times the wages for the same work,” she was really exciting, and it’s doing says, because replacing the employee of- great.” ten requires overtime to be paid to anoth- Most agree that business success in er employee. Minimum wage rules will Portland is dependent on successful net- put more pressure on small businesses working, not just with other women in that are already operating at a slim mar- business, but also with the community gin, she adds. as a whole. Like Portland’s housing prices and “It’s very much a town of who you apartment rental costs, lease costs are know,” says Lindsey Charlet, founder also rapidly rising, according to several and CEO of HUB Collective LTD. “A lot of business owners. It puts disproportion- people who don’t have connections ate pressure on the city’s fragile, emerg- would fi nd it more diffi cult.” HUB Collec- ing small businesses that are often op- tive LTD is a multi-disciplinary design erating on razor thin margins and try- studio based on Portland’s waterfront. ing to reinvest every penny into the PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP: JOHN M. VINCENT American Express Open, in a 2015 growth of the endeavor. Lindsey Charlet, Founder and CEO of HUB Collective LTD, helps other business owners by talking about building study, also has a different outlook on Port- authentic success during a recent webinar. Charlet’s design fi rm has its roots in her experience working as a land, ranking it second in terms of the CONTINUED / Page 4 Nike subcontractor, and the Beaverton sports apparel company remains a major client. 4 BUSINESS TRIBUNE Tuesday, March 15, 2016 ■ From page 3 Franchising From logging to blogging opportunities Also downgrading Portland’s re- Over the last fi ve years, there’s sults were its percentage of women- been a 36 percent increase in owned businesses and the total per- the number of women buying centage of employees in the study franchises, according to franchis- ing consultant group FranNet. area that are employed by women- Emily Anderson, director of owned businesses. business development for Wendy Lane Stevens of Lane FranNet of Oregon cites a number Communications has a theory for of factors for the increase. “What the disparity, and it stems from our franchising offers women is the history of being a resource-based ability to leverage skillsets that economy, a history where there sim- cannot be ply weren’t a high number of busi- replaced by nesses run by women. technology,” she tells the The American Express Open Lisa Watson of Business study lends credence to her theory, Tribune. as it shows great growth for women- Cupcake Jones says that “Franchises owned businesses as the region’s offer some level economy has become more diverse Portland can be of predictability and entrepreneurial. a challenging in terms of Stevens started her company in place for small income and Portland 25 years ago, growing it to businesses, but stability.” ANDERSON millions in annual billings and 30 doesn’t A legally required fran- employees. experience signifi cant chise disclosure document pro- The American Express Open vides a degree of transparency study found that while the number gender bias in that is not available for existing or of women-owned businesses in- those obstacles. start-up independent businesses. creases at rates exceeding the na- She recently Opportunities are available across tional average by a wide margin, opened a 80 industries, according to they remain smaller than the aver- successful Anderson. age fi rm. It’s estimated that there second location Businesses can be very active were 9.4 million women-owned or semi-passive for owners, which in Northeast can be attractive for women look- fi rms in the U.S. in 2015. They gen- Portland. ing for an appropriate work/life erated $1.5 trillion in revenue and PAMPLIN balance. Some are home-based, provided 7.9 million jobs, according MEDIA GROUP: while others require locations that to the AMEX Open study. JOHN M. VINCENT are researched and vetted by the franchise’s parent company. “Oh this looks really fun.” No. leap before they look. People are for women business owners, and professionals. The group needs to Anderson recommends a high Several successful women in drawn to a brand that they are several support organizations for share a vision for the future of the degree of research be done into Portland’s small business commu- most familiar with, but that does entrepreneurs. company, she says, and not be there whatever venture you’re looking nity agreed that research and expe- not mean that ownership is going HUB’s Charlet is more structured for personal gain. at. “What are my short and long- term goals,” she asks. “How do I rience before you jump is critical. to meet their personal and fi nan- in her networking and support sys- Her questions for the group start- want to be spending my energy “You need to know that the busi- cial goal.” tems.