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WWW, pQrtlandobserver.com
Wednesday • September 29, 2004
2004
MED Week
0 R
T Y
special editien
E N
SECTION
B
A F a m ily
B usiness
Customer service
drives couple's success
by J aymee
R. Curi
T he P ortland O bserver
t harles McC loud thanks God and his w ife, Elenora for his business
success.
'God is the head of my life ," says McCloud, also a preacher at
«-'■N
Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. "M y w ife is my right hand.”
McC loud Enterprises includes parking services, patrol and top rate
customer service.
“ What makes us unique is we have a special bond w ith our custom
ers. It s our mission to provide the best and most memorable customer
service. We do this by our integrity and dependability and care," he
said.
M cCloud's business, at 516 S.E. Morrison, provides security to
patrol communities and neighborhoods. His entrepreneurial umbrella
w ill soon include a soul food and barbeque restaurant at 1675 S.W.
M arlow Ave. in the Cedar H ills area on Nov. I .
M cCloud is quite invested in the city. He also works as director o f
the Youth Anti-Gang Outreach. He and his w ife have raised I Ochildren
in northeast Portland tor 16 years. Today, his children work fo r him,
creating a truly fam ily-run atmosphere. He thanks M ayfield Corp, for
photo by
M ark W ashington /T he P ori land O bserve !
Charles and Elenora McCloud own McCloud Enterprises, which includes a parking garage, patrol company and soon, a restaurant.
Building A Woman’s World
J aymee R. C uti
T he P ortland O bserver
opening doors o f opportunity fo r McCloud Enterprises.
For more information, call McCloud at 503-234-4452.
Women in Business program
helps launch fitness studio
by
Women like Leslee Lewis, a business
owner in northwest Portland, have been
held back for too long by the myth that it’s
a man’s world.
Lewis and others graduated from a
program through Mt. Hood Community
College geared to prepare women for the
pressures and responsibilities of being
entrepreneurs.
“Fresh Start for Women Starting New
Businesses" is offered through the
college's BizCenter and holds twice-
monthly workshops and 12 hours of indi
vidual counseling from business consult
ant Dollie Mercedes.
Lewis says from the program, she
learned the basics of managing and start
ing a business.
But she also had lessons in topics
ordinarily overlooked in business school—
issues unique to women.
“What I especially liked about that
class is that it was an all-woman class
and we were able to address some diffi-
continued
on page H.l
Minorities
Essential in
TriMet Success
What I especially
liked about that class
is that it was an
all-woman class
and we were able to
address some
difficulties that
women have when
going into business.
- Leslee Lewis
Dr. Suzan Ansan, a
sports psychologist (left)
is toning muscles by
practicing Pilates with
trainer Leslee Lewis.
PCC: Here to Help New and Small Business
Resources
available for free
at local centers
$35 million spent with
communities of color
See page B5
Women Under
the Hood
Local ladies pursue nontraditional
careers
See page B6
The Taste
of the Town
Cam pbell's Bar-B-Q
See page B11
emerging entrepreneurs can fi
resources and professional adv
ing w ithin a central and fam il
spot: Portland Community Col lei
PCC’ s small business develt
ment center is one o f 19 such ce
ters in the state o f Oregon. I, i:
part o f the Oregon Small Busint
Development Center Network a
is funded by the U.S, Small Bu
ness Administration, the Oreg
Economic and Community Devi
opment Department and is host
by Portland Community College
photo bv M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
The center helps small bu:
Tom Lowles. director o f the Small Business Development Center, a program of Portland
Community College, discusses challenges to small businesses with Geoff Boice. accounting
instructor at PCC.
continued
"y f on page R2