Smoke Signals October 1994 : Page 14
Business
Business Development
classes begin in October
A 14-week "How to Start Your
Own Business" class will begin in
October. Classes will be offered at
several locations throughout
Oregon, The Oregon Native
American Business and
Entrepreneurial Network
(ONABEN) will start classes in
Grand Ronde on October 1 1 at6:30
p.m. The first four weeks of class is
the "Discovery" phase. During this
phase, students will learn about the
technical aspects of owning and
operating a business, and also
participate in self-assessment
activities to determine their level of
skill and ability as potential
business-owners. After this phase,
participants can enter into the 10
week Greenhouse potion of the
classes. Greenhouse is designed to
educate students on various fields
of business expertise, such as
marketing, accounting, and general
management As students attend
Greenhouse classes, each student
receives one hour per week of
individual assistance with a
business development counselor.
Attheendof this 14-week program,
students will have the necessary
skills to complete a business plan.
The Discovery registration fee is
$50, and Greenhouse is $100.
Grand Ronde tribal members
completing classes can be
reimbursed by Small Business
Development for registration fees.
For more information about
ONABEN or Small Business
Development, contactPenrry DeLoe
at 1-800-422-0232.
SBD Procurement Conference
If you are interested in doing :
business with government agencies
or large corporations, you may want
to attend "Beginnings '95: A Small
Business Procurement Conference"
on October 11, 1994 at the
Convention Center in Portland. It
will be held from 8 am. to 4;15
p.m.
The conference is designed to
"educate and empower small
business owners wanting to get into
government markets".
Registration is only $10 which
includesacontinentalbreakfastand
entrance to all the workshops and
exhibits. Exhibitors include:
Tektronix, Nike, City of Portland,
and State of Oregon, U.S. General
Services Administration.
Come face to face with buyers,
leain their purchasing systems, and
build relationships. If you are
interested, call Carl Culham at
(503) 326-5104 for more
information. Penny DeLoe has
copies of the registration form in
Small business Development
BIA financing to
begin soon
The Bureau of Indian Affairs
(BIA) financing programs have,
been budgeted in for another year. ;
Money is available October 1st in "
: the grant, guaranteed loan, and
direct loan programs. Those of
you planning to start or expand
your business, this is a great time
to begin preparing or updating
your business plan for submission
to the BIA. -i
BIA programs have limited
funds available, so early
applications have a better chance
of being funded. Small Business
Development staff will work with
you. They have experience in
working with the BIA and are
familiar with their programs,
application materials, and
financing requirements.
Christmas bazaar is coming
For those of you who attended last year's Christmas Bazaar, it is coming
back sooner than you think. Keep watching the newsletter for more
information. The Small Business Development staff is planning the event
for the first part of December. Tribal members are invited to bring their
cratotomakesomeextraCmistniascash. A $20 table fee will be charged
for the two-day event, and reservations can be made by calling Penny
DeLoe'atexitension2476.-,---'---:- "
Penny DeLoe joins SBD staff
Penny DeLoe, Grand Ronde tribal member, recently joined the Small
Business staff. Penny is the interim program receptionist, and is the
sunny voice you hear on the phone when calling the division Pennyhas
been a volunteer worker at the pow-wow for six years and is known for
her diligent work. If you have questions about Small Business
Development programs, you can direct your calls to her.
Tribal artist featured in magazine
Lon Merrier, a tribal member and artist will be featured in the 1995
Native American Artist's Calendar. His artwork is shown in different
northwest galleries and is noted for its Native American and Americana
imagery. He works out of his home.
His business, Merrier Fine Art, has been the subject of past newsletter
articles."'-' '-v' v-v'-: '
Lon also recently had one of his paintings featured on the cover of Indian
Gaming magazine. It was a piece entitled "Drumbeats".
Small Business Development Computer Trainings
...Small Business Development has recently.-':-expanded
its services. Former department secretary -
Debby Childers is now the full-time training and
library support staff person Dtbby wiUbeoffering
a wide variety of computer software training classes
Classes are open to tribal members, their families,
and community members. (Non-tribal members
pay a $10 class fee.)
To register for class, call Penny at the Small
Business Development offices. Ifyou are interested
in a class that isnt being offered this month, call '
and let the staff know.
Glass Schedule -
AU classes are from 2-4 p.m.
October 5: Basic Computer
October 11: Windows
October 20: Word For Windows
October 27: Print Shop Deluxe
Entrepreneur of the Month: Camille Mercier
Tribal member Camille Mercier
is in the business of selling
atmosphere, comfort, and quality.
She owns her owns her own interior
decorating business Interior
Images by Camille. She provides
consulting services, planning, and
quaUtycustomfurriishings to people
interested in a unique and
personalized decorin their office or
home.
Her products include carpeting,
furniture, wallpaper, paint, window
treatments, and art work.
Camille has spent time
researching companies, deciding
which ones she'd like to represent
They are suppliers in different
national locations.
She has received help from Small
Business Development in setting
up her business.
"IVe always been interested in
decorating," she said. "I took the
Greenhouse classes offered through
ONABEN. The classes made me
feel like this was something I could
really make work."
Because her business is home
based, Camille doesn't have a lot of
overhead expenses one might
accrue with a separate office. She
has a studio in her home with a
computer, samples, and her
supplies. She said that the data on
her computer allows her to keep
client information organized, and
she can make pamphlets and fliers,
too.
What Camille enjoys most about
w
r v 1
Vv
Camille Mercier
her business is being able to work
with a client to change the feel of
a room, and seeing the
transformation.
She said, "Each new client
receives a complimentary
consultation. . I show them my .
samples, they pick out the three
colors they like the most, and we -continue
with a decorating plan."
. After the consultation, Camille
will work with the client to set up a :
decorating plan types of fabrics,
texture, and design. This could
include anything from florals,
stripes, plaids, and other designs in
almost any color.
She is partial to Native American
designs, but mere are many different ,
styles to choose from. They range
from the traditional to the
contemporary, but whatever the
client chooses, odds are nit will be
uniquely customized to what the
client wants.
; , Camille will waive her hourly fee
for tribal members if they choose to
buydieufurmshingsfromher. And
until the end of the year, she can
offer half off of window blinds for
tribal members.
Although Camille plans to open
her own showroom one day, her
immediategoalistobuyaoompany
van
. Camille will come to your home
and provide workshops for anyone
interested in learning more about
decorating their home. Call Interior
Images at 879-2900 for more
information