Considering becoming a dental assistant? You’re not alone. The industry is continuously growing, with an estimated 65,000 more dental assistants needed by 2026. Dental assistants play a significant role as a member of the dental health care team, increasing the efficiency of the dentist in a number of ways. They provide patient care, take x-rays, assist with dental procedures, and handle other routine tasks.

Regardless of what field you are in, whether you hold a professional license, or continuing education is required for your profession, everyone benefits from professional development on a regular basis. Proactively completing formal learning and development demonstrates initiative to your manager, and if you are the manager, it sets a great example for your staff.

Orientations from PCC’s Small Business Development Center are a great, no-cost way to learn about the opportunities we offer to help turn  business ideas into action. A typical orientation includes a small group of future entrepreneurs – but may also include sole-proprietors and small business owners seeking to find efficient, practical and effective solutions to common business-related challenges. You’ll leave our 2-hour orientation having identified new resources, and with an action plan to guide your next steps.

During the next few months PCC's Institute for Health Professionals will host orientations for several of our entry-level healthcare programs in advance of our winter and spring terms. These orientations are a great opportunity to learn about the requirements for each program. You can learn about the related job markets, expected starting wages, and can ask important questions about application requirements for each. The good news - healthcare jobs are in high demand and you can't go wrong with one of these programs. Below we'll offer a summary of each orientations with a link enabling you to RSVP, plus our internal contact if you have additional questions.

Dr. Sean Harry is a Senior Advisor and Instructor who has worked with the PCC Small Business Development Center since 2011. Each year he helps more than 150 small business owners turn their dreams into reality. Sean works with businesses at every stage of the small business growth curve, from start-up to mature businesses with more than $20m in sales. 

How can we better inform Federal policy makers about the needs of Oregon's small businesses? 

Mediation Instructor Tsipora Dimant is a former program manager with PCC’s Community Education program – but her connection to Portland Community College runs even deeper. She arrived in the United States from Israel in 1974 and earned a GED, then an Associate’s Degree from PCC. Tsipora began studying mediation in 1992 and became an instructor for the subject in 2005. Inspired by the conflict in her native Israel, Tsipora strives to find resolutions to complex communication challenges. Her experience in mediation training spans decades and encapsulates diverse fields including small claims court, business, nonprofits and higher education.

Small business owners have avoided making real strides into developing a digital marketing strategy for their retail business because of uncertainty about how to design their website or use social media in a meaningful way.

But, you can't afford to think that way—especially during these challenging times!

HERE

Holiday season is quickly approaching, and for many retail businesses this time of year has the potential to make or break the entire year financially. It’s vital to start preparing as early as possible, so you don’t leave any potential sales or revenue on the table after the holidays are over. 

Holiday sales make up about 18 percent of overall annual retail sales, and in 2016 those numbers are  expected to grow around 3.7 percent. Combine this with recent evidence that a growing majority of American consumers favor buying and shopping local, and it’s no wonder holiday craft fairs have seen a boom in recent years.

The Portland Community College Willow Creek Center is seeking Informal Requests for Proposals for: Coffee Cart at Willow Creek Center

The College is seeking informal competitive proposals for an indoor coffee cart at the Willow Creek Center located at 241 SW Edgeway Drive, Beaverton, OR 97006. This is a 100,000 square-foot educational center and serves as a one-stop destination for customers of Washington County Workforce Development as well as those wishing to take classes from PCC. Portland State University and Oregon Institute of Technology also offer classes at the center.