MEET OUR FACILITATOR:
Moving a Business Idea from a Dream to Reality
Facilitator, Catherine Matthias, brings her passion and knowledge to assist entrepreneurs with any phase of starting or improving a new or existing business. She brings real life experience from her own business ownership. She and her husband co-own Stewart Jones Designs in Joseph, Oregon, where Catherine handles all the financial and marketing functions. Catherine is ready to assist individuals in moving a business idea from dream to reality.
She sees the facilitation role as that of a mentor or coach. When people come to her excited about a business idea, she helps them to focus on the Trinity of Management--the three necessary components of a successful business--product, marketing, and finance and on how to build a strong business plan using this approach. She will meet with clients as often as they need—for as long they need her help!
Management experience in a variety of industries, from food service to greenhouses and hospitality to fine art galleries is part of the background of our Business Facilitator. One of her strengths is her ability to observe business operations and provide objective feedback to help a business owner improve processes…..and in turn improve their business. Throughout her working career, she has been an active participant and leader in award-winning community development projects in both large and small communities.
Catherine has been an enthusiastic supporter of business facilitation since serving as a member of the founding committee in 1999. She has also served on the Board of Directors--two years as Chair—and completed the intensive training of the Sirolli Institute to qualify as a business facilitator. She brings that depth of knowledge and range of experience to each meeting with a potential business owner.
A Typical First Meeting with the Business Facilitator
The Business Facilitator will meet clients wherever they are most comfortable, but many meetings occur in a private space at her business on closed days or after hours.
Catherine gathers basic contact information from the client and asks how they were referred to Business Facilitation. She will ask the client to describe their business idea and give a little background. She shares the Trinity of Management philosophy and leads a conversation about what the client sees as their strong and weak points. She may use a variety of tools such as graphs to assist the client to evaluate their personal experience in product, marketing, and finance.
A working schedule of usual expenses to start and maintain a business is a tool provided by the Business Facilitator. If a client has already researched the new business, she and the client may begin filling in the blank spaces together. If not, they might discuss where this information could be found for the industry the client is interested in. The schedule becomes a working document for the client to take away and complete.
Clients may schedule future meetings to assist with the process of building a business plan as quickly as they feel ready. The Business Facilitation model is a client-driven process designed to address the individual needs of each person who uses it.
If you would like to speak with our facilitator or make an appointment call (541) 426-5858 or email facilitator@wallowacountybusiness.org .
STATISTICS
Wallowa County Business Facilitation
January 2001 – June 2011
New Businesses Start Ups - 103
Acquisition Completed - 20
Business Expansions - 25
Grant or Loans Received - 28
Business Plans Completed - 83
Tune-Up to Existing Businesses - 64
New Jobs Created - 177
Total Clients – 712
* Statistics are updated in January and June.