There's a growing field in Portland that you've got to see to believe! No, really! At PCC you can get started in a career as an Optician Assistant after just one term in the Optician Assistant Training program. On the last day of class you can turn your resume in to a potential employer. 

In January 2019 Julie Wilson launched her dream business -- Department of Work. She rescues vintage and contemporary, unloved, cast iron cookware. She then cleans it up and re-seasons it so it can get back to work. She also offers restoration services for those cherished family heirlooms. This is their story.

It’s been one year since we highlighted Business Builders alumni Aluma Aesthetic Medicine, a Portland-based, physician-owned aesthetic medicine practice, and in that time they’ve seen exceptional growth worth celebrating! Co-owner Aimee Brigham shared some of their inspirational achievements saying, “We’ve doubled our revenue every month since January, last month 4,909 people viewed our website, and we’ve grown our Google Reviews to fifty-eight all five-stars reviews!” With the support of the PCC SBDC, Aimee and her partner Nate have done an incredible job working through some serious growth in a small amount of time. “I know 100% that we wouldn’t have seen this growth without my PCC SBDC advisors, because they’ve been with us every step of the way.”

After working through the Business Builders class and growth planning with the PCC SBDC team, Aluma Aesthetic Medicine decided to purchase a permanent place to call home and will be opening their new location this September! Aimee and Nate met with Bruce Melzer, an advisor with the Capital Access Team ("CAT team"), to help prepare for the financing process. Aimee notes that her work with Bruce is “really the only reason why we got financing.” With the CAT Team’s support, the Aluma owners worked through business planning documentation, sales forecasting, developing a fitting background statement and more. Aimee says that “When we made it to the table with the bank, we had everything in line and ready.” Due to the complexity of the deal, Aimee and Nate had time to revisit the information they learned during Business Builders to develop a marketing plan that would best prepare them for September’s grand opening.

As they await the opening, Aimee and Nate continue to serve their five-hundred+ clients while preparing for the operational changes that come with a growing team. Aimee is excited to take the PCC SBDC’s Small Business Management course to help Aluma work through new growth challenges and opportunities. Congratulations to Aimee and Nate Brigham and the whole Aluma Aesthetic Medicine team on your successes!

Read Aluma’s 2021 success story below to learn more about their entrepreneurial journey.

Original Post: Published April 21, 2021

Aimee and Nathaniel Brigham own Aluma Aesthetic Medicine in NE Portland -- a physician-owned aesthetic medicine practice specializing in FDA-approved prescription injectables to smooth wrinkles, volumize depleted facial areas, enhance features, and smooth skin texture. Aimee attended the PCC SBDC Business Builders program in the fall of 2019. She believes that the program has helped their business thrive, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is their story.

by Warren Banks

U.S. ports are slammed. 

Why? Because of COVID-19, and stimulus payments, which have led to (among other things) a big spike in online orders. 8% of consumer disposable income used to go for air travel, hotels, movie theaters, plus other theater and entertainment in general. Much of this money is now going to buy goods from overseas and causing a shortage of supply, in addition to congestion.

So much of our modern world runs on electricity. Electrical technicians are needed every time a new system needs to be installed, repaired, or maintained. Education for this career has evolved to the point where much of the training is done online. Electrical technician remote training covers the skills needed for the job, including important safety components, to quickly get you into the workforce. Portland needs electrical technicians as one of its high-demand bedrock trades, so training quickly and flexibly benefits you and your community.

Noah Brockman has been working for the PCC Small Business Development Center for 14 years. His specialty these days is in the area of finance -- assisting small business owners in accessing capital to grow their business. He leads the Oregons SBDC statewide Capital Access Team (CAT). This is his story.

Professional bookkeeping is an excellent field for those who have a strong attention to detail and are willing to learn modern accounting software. Forty-one percent or more of professional bookkeepers work with a high school diploma or equivalent, not with advanced degrees or other certifications. This career is in easy access with strong earning potential, so receiving a professional bookkeeping certification is a fantastic way to stand out in a crowded field.