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Portland business owners want to share ideas with others
by T om S tevenson
eborah Stopper
has learned a great
deal in her 20
years of sales. Yet
she is one of those
people who realizes she still has
a great deal of new and exciting
things to learn from others in
the business world.
She thinks most people in
business, at one time or another,
face many of the same issues.
She also is a strong believer that
when people share their goals
with one another, it is easier to
stay focused.
That is one of the reasons
she and her friend Janet
Borisch-Smith are in the process
of organizing a new. yet
unnamed, networking and sup­
port group for gay and lesbian
business owners in the Portland
area. The meetings will offer a
safe spot for people to share
ideas, concerns, experiences,
needs, goals and just about any­
thing else related to business.
Stopper says the group s main
focus will be “having shoulders
to lean on, to keep each other
focused and on track, to meet
the goals we want to achieve, to
learn from one another...an
exchange of knowledge.”
Stopper is no stranger to
Portland. She was bom in the
community and has spent her Deborah Stopper (left) and Katherine Corder
entire life here.
In fact, she says her great-grandfather built
loud to someone and be held accountable.”
the first car in Portland. “My family has been
Stopper says she and Borisch-Smith help
each other with specific business items, like
here a long time."
Stopper brings a wide variety of career expe­ advertising, but are also there with strong per­
sonal support. Borisch-Smith does personal
rience to the table.
coaching
and teaches workshops in relation­
“I started in door-to-door sales and worked
my way through inside sales, retail sales, whole­ ships, parenting and death.
“We support one another at staying motivat­
sale sales and service sales,” she says. “I owned
ed
and
on track,” Stopper says. “We thought it
my own house/office cleaning company for
about five years. I also spent five years working would be great to expand and extend this kind
in a factory and was the chief shop steward for of support to others and at the same time get
the union. I have had a very diverse back­ ffesh ideas and input from them.”
The organizers of the new group welcome
ground that has given me a lot of knowledge in
anyone in business. The world of business con­
the area of life.”
stantly
is changing, and the exchange of ideas is
Today, Stopper and her partner, Katherine
Corder, own and operate an independent insur­ often key to the success or failure of any enter­
ance agency, Options Northwest. Stopper is prise. Ultimately, Stopper and Borisch-Smith
responsible for the sales end of the business, hope to develop a strong core group of people
who will gather on a regular basis to support one
while Corder handles all of the paperwork and
another in not only achieving their goals but
high-tech computer work.
“We are an independent agency and sell finding all types of success along the way.
Stopper notes that although she and
mostly group and individual health insurance,”
Stopper says. “We also have dental, life, disabil­ Borisch-Smith would like to meet twice a
ity, long-term care and critical care insurance.” month, they are more than willing to listen to
The two have been involved in the insurance suggestions from people who join the group. “Its
something we can decide together,” she says.
business for the past three years.
Anyone who is interested in participating
The Portland Area Business Association
already focuses on the gay and lesbian business is encouraged to attend the next meeting
7:30 a.m. Jan. 8 at a location to be
community. Although Stopper says PABA and
groups like it are “great for meeting a large num­ announced. C all 503-492-4148 or send
ber of people and serve as a good place to get e-m ail to stopper@ prodigy.net for more
information. j n
current events," she has different goals in mind.
“It has been my experience that as a small-
T o m S T E V E N S O N is a Portland-based free­
business owner, I need something a little more
lance writer and a full-time Portland State
personal,” Stopper says. “Janet and I have been
supporting each other in our business needs for University student who can be reached at
a while now, and it works to say our goals out ruraltom@yahoo. com .
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