Small Business Success: Run Ready

Small Business Success: Run Ready

What an honor it is to present today’s success story- at the finish line of our series! Our guest today, Connie Austin, brings tremendous joy to the lives around her and has been instrumental in transforming more than a few of them. Among her many business endeavors, Connie created the popular Learn to Run classes through the FootZone in Bend, Oregon and has inspired hundreds of people to begin running. Her goal was to take a potentially intimidating pursuit and make...

Small Business Success: Byron Roe Photography

Small Business Success: Byron Roe Photography

Today’s business, Byron Roe Photography, features two entrepreneurs who have built a successful wedding and portrait photography business: husband and wife team Byron and Wendy Roe. This dynamic duo is known for their chic, natural photography style and were described by one of their brides as “precise, fun, adventurous, contemporary with panache, they’ll make you feel famous”. Their focus is on connecting with and having fun with their clients, building relationships that transcend the lens. Byron and Wendy have successfully navigated not only balancing...

Small Business Success: Pinnacle Media

Small Business Success: Pinnacle Media

In this day and age having a quality video to represent your business is essential. It is an important way for customers to engage visually with your brand and understand your story. Matt Hand knew the necessity of this medium when he began  Pinnacle Media in 2004 and has grown his business with this in mind. A strong advocate for his clients,  Matt cares deeply about providing the best product possible and superior service during the process. He also teaches classes in social media for businesses through...

Small Business Success: Kimberly Kay Photography

Small Business Success: Kimberly Kay Photography

Wedding season is officially here and it is perfect timing to introduce today’s success story guest! Kimberly Kay is the owner of Kimberly Kay Photography, an award winning wedding and commercial  photography business based in Bend Oregon.  Kimberly and her husband Chris have over 30 years of combined photography experience and work as a team to bring a unique perspective to each event they photograph. They have been featured in such publications as Oregon Bride, Cosmo Girl Teen and Nordstrom online and their client base covers the entire Pacific Northwest, California...

Alt Blu Receives Accomplished Under 40 Award

Alt Blu Receives Accomplished Under 40 Award

We were very honored and humbled to be recognized by Cascade Business News as a recipient of their 2011 “Accomplished Under 40″ Award.  Riley and I received this award on behalf of Alt Blu at a ceremony on May 25th at Broken Top Club in Bend, Oregon. Our section of the article is below but the entire post and list of other 2011 winners can be found here. Thank you to Cascade Business News! Honoring Business Leaders 40 & Under May 31, 2011 Cascade Business News, Broken...

Small Business Success: Salon Essenza

Small Business Success: Salon Essenza

Today’s guest is the owner of Salon Essenza, the popular Bend, Oregon hair salon located in the beautiful Northwest Crossing area. After years spent in Seattle, Matt Jameson moved to Bend with his family and opened Salon Essenza in 2006. He took two decades of experience (including extensive education at Bumble and Bumble in New York City) and started his business with the intention to create a relaxing, high end salon with the best quality services and products. Mission accomplished! The Source Weekly describes Salon Essenza...

Small Business Success: Wahoo Films

Small Business Success: Wahoo Films

As our Small Business Success series winds down we are very fortunate to feature a Bend, Oregon business that epitomizes true success: Wahoo Films. Owner Michelle Alvarado began Wahoo Films with a huge drive to achieve her goals and this drive has carried her to great success. She saw an opportunity to fill a growing need for business owners and organizations and found an innovative way to meet this need.  Michelle is here with us today to share some of her success tips and lessons...

Small Business Success: Ruettgers Photography

Small Business Success: Ruettgers Photography

When Heesyun Ruettgers photographs a wedding she approaches it with her whole heart. Capturing the emotion and soul of the day itself is as important to her as the artistic aesthetic and this shows in her breathtaking photography.   As a former art director, Heesyun has always had an eye for design but this talent found it’s full expression when she discovered her true passion and began Ruettgers Photography. Her focus started with wedding and portrait photography but she’s expanded her services in recent years to include...

Small Business Success: Dave & Becky Wilkins

Small Business Success: Dave & Becky Wilkins

Summer is almost here which means wedding season is fast approaching! In keeping with this, today’s guests could not be more appropriate. Dave and Becky Wilkins offer a variety of wedding services for brides and grooms in Central Oregon including DJ and limo services. They also offer a wedding resource guide called Celebrations and an educational networking group for Central Oregon Event Professionals called COEPA. To say they are busy is an understatement! So how do Dave and Becky successfully run...

Small Business Success: Kara McGinn Films

Small Business Success: Kara McGinn Films

 ”Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others” Jonathan Swift Today’s guest is a true visionary. Kara McGinn is an award winning filmmaker and creator of Kara McGinn Films in Sisters, Oregon. Although her business is based in Central Oregon, her reach is global and continues to grow daily. Like many of our success story participants she began a business based on her true passion and has learned many valuable lessons along the way. She approaches each project...

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