As part of
the process, once you become a Seed Fund applicant, you must pitch your
business to a group of our Review Team members. Here is a little background on
who some of them are, and why they wanted to become a Review Team Member for
3CORE's Business Vitality Seed Fund.
Principal,
Morrison & Company
The reason why most small businesses fail is because they don’t
plan. Ideas are great, in fact they’re vital, but how are you going to
turn that idea into a plan and then execute? I work in a small business
that has been in operation for 11 years and I can attest to you that planning
never stops. We evaluate our objective, strategy and tactics formally on
a weekly basis, something I’d encourage other businesses to try.
3Core’s Seed Fund is a way to give established businesses that extra push
they need. Not just through funding, but also by working along side that
business and helping them critically evaluate and question their business plan
and business model. I am thankful for the services 3Core is providing the
community through the Seed Fund, and that’s why I appreciate being part of
their review team.
At Morrison & Company we are in business to help other
businesses. Whether it is a feasibility study, a business plan, some
interim CFO help, or other project that requires analysis, we are here to
assist. When we worked in “industry” we hired “consultants” and we
remember what dealing with them can be like – we’ve been there, and we promise
not to do the same to our clients.
I’ve always had the entrepreneurial “itch”, but was never able to scratch
that itch until I joined Morrison & Company over six years ago. First
as a part of the Morrison team and now a Principal, it is very rewarding to
work every day to meet our clients’ needs with valuable services, develop
professionally with the rest of our team, and grow our business, both locally
and out of the area.
Audrey Taylor
President &
CEO, Chabin Concepts
As a local company, we have a personal stake
in the success of our regional economy. As a nationally recognized consulting
firm with experience in hundreds of communities, we have a broad perspective on
business needs and market potential. Our familiarity with businesses, site
selectors, communities, and regulators provides the necessary perspective to
ask probing questions of early stage entrepreneurs.
At our core we are problem solvers. Where
others see roadblocks, we see alternate routes. We regularly call on our
extensive contacts in the public and private sector to connect businesses with
resources. For example, when Springboard BioDiesel, a young entrepreneurial
company envisioned small-scale biodiesel production from yellow grease to
further reduce carbon-foot print by creating closed loop systems, we were able
to meet with California Energy Commission, prepare a business plan/application
to fund the pilot plant here in Chico. We have the background to not only vet
companies for investment but also direct them to alternative solutions if
warranted.
As an independently operated small business
that started as a two-person operation 24 years ago, we have firsthand
knowledge of the challenges associated with starting and growing a business
with a national presence. But more significantly, we have consistently
supported entrepreneurial development from all perspectives locally, including:
- Spearheading establishment of Butte County’s first small business incubator (1988)
- Coordinating establishment of the North State Innovation Lab in Chico (2011) which is now Innovate North State
- Conducting in-depth research for 3CORE’s Entrepreneurial Action Plan for Butte County (2012)
- Successfully securing over $60 million in grants for communities and organizations to provided business services
- Assisting companies, such as, Springboard Biodiesel, Transfer Flow, Roplast, Fafco, Stapleton/Spence and Graphic Packaging Inc. with expansion and new product development.
Chabin’s commitment to the local
business community is evident in the number of volunteer hours we have
contributed to supporting it — from participation on local boards, to
coordinating development of products such as the Chico Business Services Guide
and the online North State Manufacturer’s Directory currently in development,
to facilitating the recent Retail Market Analysis Study and helping advocate
CARB regulations and Oroville’s Enterprise Zone Status.
In an effort to illustrate just how
important businesses are to our community, we introduced the Economic Impact
Analysis tool to NoRTEC, Workforce Development Network. NoRTEC has made this
tool available, at no cost to the County, Cities and business service
organizations to calculate the direct and indirect economic impacts each
business has on the community, financially and in terms of job creation.
To create economically healthy communities
there has to be continuous cycle of entrepreneurial development and
diversification, from small start-ups to established middle market companies
that innovate from within, such as, Sierra Nevada Brewery.
Noelle Ferdon
Director of Local Food Systems
With a background in law and policy,
Ms. Ferdon has worked on food and agriculture issues throughout the Central
Valley, and California, for nearly a decade. Before formally joining the
Northern CA Regional Land Trust as Director of Local Food Systems in January
2012, she worked as a contractor for the Land Trust. Ms. Ferdon has worked on
projects including coordinating the Buy Fresh By Local, North Valley
agricultural marketing program, editing and publishing the North Valley’s 1st
and 2nd editions of The
Eater’s Guide to Local Food, chairing the Land Trust’s Technical Advisory
Committee and workshop development for the Beginning Farmer Rancher Program,
and overseeing the development and implementation of an online food hub in the
North Valley. Prior to joining the Land Trust, she worked for nearly five years
as Senior Organizer for Food & Water Watch, a national organization working
to promote agricultural policies that benefit small- and medium-sized farmers and
ranchers. Through her work, she aims to make local food more available,
stimulate new and unique markets and raise the visibility of the farmers and
ranchers direct-marketing in the region.
“I love the work of 3CORE, their
steadfast commitment to supporting diverse and innovative projects, and
promoting economic development through collaboration and community building.
Butte county and the surrounding counties will only thrive with a network of
smaller business enterprises. We don’t have the population or location to
support larger industry, and creating a network of smaller businesses fosters
independence, success and the economic multiplier effect is felt more deeply by
the entire community.”
Laura Cootsona
Founder, LRCConsulting
Laura started her entrepreneurial career by
opening a tennis specialty store in Marin County with her husband and his
family. After completing a BA from UC Berkeley and a Masters in Nonprofit
Administration from University of San Francisco Laura focused her attention on
her own consulting firm: LRCConsulting. The firm works to better the community
through training, equipping and consulting with nonprofit organizations. Her
consulting practice focuses on fundraising, marketing, CEO coaching, strategic
planning, and board development. In fundraising, Laura develops strategies with
clients to diversify funding by sharpening their story to garner the most
significant gifts and grants. Laura focuses her clients to do good WELL so that
her clients operate at the highest level possible to reach their missions over
time.
After having lived in the North State for 11
years with her daughters and husband, Laura has joined the team at the North
Valley Community Foundation as their Director of Strategic Philanthropy where
she will serve businesses and individuals by intentionally developing their
philanthropic strategies. Her desire is to bring multiple groups to the table
to solve real problems in creative ways and make a real difference in the
community. Laura is a team player, enthusiastic, and full of energy.
LaRee Hartman, CMA
CEO/CFO of StudentStock
LaRee Hartman is
a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). She worked full-time while attending
college and as an alumni, she holds an Associate of Arts degree in Accounting
from Butte College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and
a Master of Business Administration degree from CSU Chico. While attending
school, she worked in healthcare as a Staff Accountant for National Medical
Enterprises, moved onto become an Assistant Controller at Chico Community
Hospital, then Controller at Glenn General Hospital, CFO for Chico Medical
Group, and the Administrator of Home HealthCare Management, Inc. Switching
industries from healthcare, Ms. Hartman became the Sr. Accountant at Tri
Counties Bank for a few years and then moved away from Chico to the Bay Area
where she worked for a fortune 500 company, Applied Materials. After 25 years
in the financial world, Ms. Hartman returned to Chico and began her teaching
career. She has been at Butte College since 2001.
In 2005-2006,
Ms. Hartman was recognized by her peers at Butte College and awarded the
"What Would We Do Without You Award" and the following year was
selected as one of the Outstanding Faculty of the Year.
In
addition to teaching, she is currently the CEO of startup company
StudentStock.com, an online photography service, which integrates a social
networking site with an e-commerce search engine. StudentStock
facilitates the sale of untapped images of hundreds of thousands of art and
photography students. Currently in a live beta, it is planned to launch in
September 2013.
As a teacher and mentor Ms. Hartman enjoys
helping people. Being on a review team allows her to collaborate with other
professionals and give assistance to new entrepreneurs. She has a strong
financial background and is happy to share with others and being part of a
review team allows her this opportunity.
Ms. Hartman has
lived in Chico since the 4th grade (with the exception of a short stint in the
Bay area). She loves Chico and all there is to enjoy by living here. She knows
how hard it is to start a business from personal experience, and believes the
more we help and support each other, the better Chico becomes. The more our
local businesses grow, the better our economy here at home. Ms. Hartman wants
Chico to remain a thriving business community where people can begin a business
successfully and watch it grow.
Tim Peters
Consultant,
Morrison & Company
After
graduating from Chico State in 2007 with an Accounting degree, Tim went to work
for Matson and Isom here in Chico. While with M&I, he prepared tax
returns for businesses and individuals and worked on financial statement audits
for clients throughout Northern California. In 2010, he earned his CPA
license. Tim left M&I in 2011 to join Morrison & Company as a
consultant. In his time with Morrison & Company, he has helped
prepare Business Plans and Feasibility Studies for clients looking to expand
the current scope of their business, prepared numerous grant applications for
clients seeking federal and state funding, and currently serves as part-time
controller for a local farming company.
Tim enjoys
being a part of the Review Team because he is always interested in meeting
local entrepreneurs and seeing what unique ideas they are coming up with to
find their niche in the business community. “I grew up in Willits, CA,
which has a population of about 5,000, so I have a strong appreciation for the
small-town atmosphere present in much of Chico’s business community. At
the same time, I want to see these businesses grow and be successful.”
Jovanni Tricerri
Executive Director, Chico Stewardship Network
Jovanni
serves as the Executive Director of the Chico Stewardship Network, a community
initiative founded to address a growing need for civic engagement in fostering
community transformation. The idea behind the Chico Stewardship Network is that
communities work best when its citizens adopt a widespread ethic that engages
everyone to contribute to the success of their community. Stewardship is an
ethic that embodies the responsibility each citizen exercises for themselves
and their community to make it a better place for everyone.
With 15 years
experience in international relief and development work, Jovanni has travelled
to over 35 countries as a strategic advisor on issues related to poverty,
international relations, leadership development and peace and reconciliation
initiatives. Currently, he serves as an advisor to several international
non-profit organizations in Central and South America, South Asia, and Africa.
Jovanni
received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA
and is working toward a Master of Arts degree in Communication and Leadership
from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA.
Michael
Redman
Co-founder,
Half a Bubble Out
Michael Redman
is the co-founder of Half a Bubble Out Marketing with his wife Kathryn and is
in development of a new company called Habo Village. Michael stands against
work that sucks, businesses that fail and help that doesn’t help. To do this
both companies enthusiastically provide real world business consulting,
training and services to leaders so they can achieve their dream of running a
company that is both profitable and meaningful. He calls this pursuit Passion and Provision and believes
that both are important for the long-term success of a company.
In 2002 Michael
and Kathryn began their dream in the spare bedroom at home, moved to their
converted garage, like all great startups, and in 2005 moved to an office that
was more than 30 feet from their bedroom. His background covers marketing and
sales, He has a B.S. degree in performance improvement of organizations and
sees the leader as one of the most important aspects of starting and running a
company.
For over a
decade Michael and his wife have lead their company through the ups and downs
of the tech industry, the largest real-estate bubble in history and the great
recession. Michael says, “We are really proud of two things, the companies we
help and partner with and the fact that we have navigated the great recession
as a company.” Since 2002 Half a
Bubble Out has grown from their early starts in the converted garage here in
Chico to serving clients across the country and around the world. Because of this Michael understands the
importance of culture in your message and in your development.
The reason
Michael is so encouraged to be on the 3Core review team is because he
passionately believes in the dream of small business and believes we need to be
actively involved in helping new companies develop and succeed over the long
haul. Michael also says, “We need more new companies in Chico that are healthy
in three ways. Financially to fuel
realistic growth, operationally to provide sustained growth and relationally
because it is the people of an organization that make it possible for a company
to grow. Since we all work a large
percentage of our waking lives we deserve to have meaningful work at a fair
wage that allows us to contribute to something meaningful and I think that the
3Core Review Team will contribute to that in the greater Chico area.”
Founder, Social High Rise
Chico is one of
the best places on earth to live. We have a close-knit community, Bidwell Park,
a low cost of living, and a university that produces some of the smartest, most
innovative entrepreneurs I can think of. Yet, every year, we lose these
talented people to places like the Bay Area and SoCal. Why? I believe it's
because there exists a false perception that Chico is not equip to offer the
same resources as some of these larger cities. Many of these young graduates
and other community entrepreneurs believe that their chances for success are
greater if they go elsewhere. This is simply not true.
I founded a
company called KarmaKey outside of Chico where I thought the grass was
supposedly greener. I raised capital from angel investors all over the world,
worked my tail off, and made so many rookie mistakes that the company
ultimately failed. It was the greatest learning experience in entrepreneurship
that I could have ever received.
Now that I am
back here in Chico, I've found that the grass is greenest where you water it,
and Chico has some pretty deep wells. I founded Social High Rise right here in
Chico where there is plenty of access to capital, and more importantly, plenty
of brilliant mentors who are eager to help young entrepreneurs build valuable
companies in our very own community.
3CORE is on the
forefront of the effort to help local entrepreneurs thrive, and I am grateful
and honored to be the recipient of their support. I am passionate about
entrepreneurship, and want nothing more than to see more entrepreneurs succeed
in building their start-ups in my hometown. That is why I am thrilled to be
part of 3CORE's review team. My goal is to help create a smarter, stronger, and
tougher breed of entrepreneurs whose companies will help grow our local economy
and make an impact on the world.
We are also honored to have the following members on our review team;
Michael Dailey of Morgan Stanley
Ryan Cheung of Matson & Isom
Matt York of One Media Player per Teacher
Kathryn Schifferle of Work Truck Solution
Brian Pierce of Advanced Light Technologies, LLC
Karli Olsen of Matson & Isom
Alexa Valavanis of North Valley Community Foundation
Lisa Ventimiglio of Rabobank
Sean Morgan of California State University, Chico, and the Chico City Council
Steven Hoke of Morgan Stanley
Dan Blair of PG&E
Aaron Stewart of Aaron Stewart Law Firm
Crystal Estes of Auctiva
Sean Isom of Matson & Isom Technology
Rory Rottschalk of Culp & Tanner
