Small Business Development Centers

Businesses head to South Korea to explore new markets

By Hope Belli Tinney, Washington SBDC MOSES LAKE, Wash. – Business owners from Grant County are headed to South Korea April 26 for an eight-day trade mission to explore export opportunities for Eastern Washington products ranging from flour to exercise equipment.

Setting up business overseas easier with free, expert counsel

By Hope Belli Tinney, Washington SBDC SPOKANE, Wash. – When Coleen Quisenberry created Flexhibit to design, assemble and install hands-on, interactive science exhibits for discovery centers and children’s museums, she assumed her primary customers would be in the United States.

Advisor helps nurse practitioner serve small community

By Hope Belli Tinney, Washington SBDC MONTESANO, Wash. – One day Laura Raykowski, a nurse practitioner and owner of Hometown Family Health, walked out of an exam room to see her office manager talking to an indigent patient about billing.

Advisor helps family keep business true to their values

By Hope Belli Tinney, Washington SBDC WAUCONDA, Wash. – John and Tree Kiesecker had quit their day jobs, he as an orchardist and she as a nurse, and were scrambling to make ends meet when they heard about the free business advising services of the Washington Small Business Development Center. They made an appointment to […]

Free advising helps young owner launch franchise ambitions

By Hope Belli Tinney, Washington SBDC OLYMPIA, Wash. – As a college senior in business administration, Myles Kirchmeier planned to start a business by his early 30s – the age his father was when he opened a heating and cooling company. But Mike Kirchmeier asked his son what he was waiting for: “All you have […]

Healing touch therapies key to wellness, success for business

By Hope Belli Tinney, Washington SBDC LONGVIEW, Wash. – When people walk out of a doctor’s office or health clinic they might feel a range of emotions, from relieved to worried, but rarely do they feel wonderful. Wonderful is the emotion that Barbara Sudar and partner Kim Schlais wanted to capture when they purchased Estetica […]

Rogers state director of Small Business Development Centers

Brett Rogers has been named director of the statewide network of Small Business Development Centers hosted by Washington State University. Rogers, a certified economic developer, formerly held the position of associate state director for the organization. Before coming to the SBDC in 2003, he served as director of business expansion and retention for the Columbia […]