News & Events

By SBA Portland District Director Martin Golden

A while back I was asked about what message I would offer to an audience of small business owners if I had the opportunity to speak with them. I had to think – What do you say to a business owner who has just emerged from two years of unprecedented uncertainty and hardships. What do you say to someone who has had to make heart-wrenching decisions about layoffs of valued employees, to someone who had to cut their own salaries to keep the doors open, or make a dramatic shift in their business model in order to stay relevant? To all the business owners who had to make those hard decisions, I would simply say, “You made it”. 

As simple as this message may seem, I know it is very meaningful. It makes us take stock of all that was done to overcome the challenges of the pandemic. You had to innovate and create. You had to find new ways to serve your customers, support your workers, and sustain your communities. The pandemic pushed a lifetime of business challenges into one two-year period. If you survived the last two years you should have the confidence that you can handle anything. So, as you move forward, take a moment and pat yourself on the back and take pride that you had the strength and creativity to come out on the other side.

We’ve always known that small businesses are a source of strength for our communities. The SBA is proud to continue to stand with you as we celebrate during National Small Business Week the resiliency and tenacity of America’s entrepreneurs who are doing their part to power our nation’s historic economic comeback.

2022 SBA Oregon Small Business Person of the Year

Kevin and Angie Shaw, Founders of Brightways Counseling Group
Redmond, OR

Brightways Counseling Group counselors provide whole person care for people suffering from a variety of different mental health issues in Central Oregon. What started with one clinic and eight employees has grown to four locations in Bend, Madras, Redmond, and Woodburn, Oregon with 65 employees who in 2021, helped 2,634 patients be the best version of themselves.

Read more about Kevin and Angie

2022 Pacific Northwest Region Small Business Subcontractor of the Year

Cori Kelly, President of Native American Technology Corporation (NATECH)
North Bend, OR

Founded in 1995, Native American Technology Corporation (NATECH) is an award-winning small business providing professional and technical staffing services, primarily in the federal aerospace defense, and intelligence sectors. With nearly 200 team members, the company has earned the highest accolades from federal contracting officers for delivering on complex and challenging contracts.

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2022 SBA Portland District Director’s Award for Excellence

Ryan Wines, Co-Founder and CEO of Marmoset LLC
Portland, OR

Founded in 2010, Marmoset is a full-service, global music agency representing a highly-curated roster of diverse and rare artists, bands, record labels and vintage recordings for music licensing. Marmoset’s music is licensed for use in branding, TV & Film, digital mediums, podcasting, streaming media, and virtually any content or medium where music is used to help tell a story.

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2022 SBA Pacific Northwest SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award

Kat Rutledge, Director of the Klamath Community College SBDC
Klamath Falls, OR

Klamath Community College SBDC Director Kat Rutledge has been a primary SBDC business adviser, small business advocate and its director to the region for nearly a decade overseeing the historic assistance both organizationally and to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.  KCC SBDC served as a lifeline to regional small businesses in supporting more than $100 million in federal and state pandemic relief. 

Read more about Klamath SBDC