Oregon Small Business Development Center Network

The Oregon SBDC Network proudly celebrated Estella Woodley, director of the KCC Small Business Development Center - SBDC, as Oregon’s 2026 State Star during this year’s America’s SBDC national training event.

Estella joined the Oregon SBDC Network just over five years ago as a business adviser and stepped into the director role three years ago. Under her leadership, the Klamath SBDC has increased unique clients served, business starts, and capital access by 50 percent.

Her impact also extends across the statewide Network. For the past three years, Estella has led the Servicios en Español program, helping ensure Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs can more easily connect with SBDC services and bilingual advisers.

“Estella exemplifies everything the Oregon SBDC Network State Star stands for,” said Mark Gregory, State Director of the Oregon SBDC Network. “Her ability to lead and grow an already high-performing Center and support statewide initiatives is truly remarkable.”

Estella’s leadership, commitment to her clients, and willingness to step forward in support of the entire Network make this recognition incredibly well deserved.

Please join us in congratulating Estella!

What will happen to your business when you’re ready to step away?

Next Wednesday, October 14, from 12 to 1 p.m. PT, join the Oregon SBDC Network for a confidential live webinar focused on the decisions, questions, and options involved in planning a business transition.

During this one-hour session, you’ll learn about:
• The need for early transition planning
• Factors that can delay a transition
• How business valuation informs your options
• The costs and benefits of different transition paths

You’ll also explore multiple ways to preserve your business, including a sale, succession, employee ownership, or another transfer of ownership.

Sign up today ($30): https://buff.ly/7iHMpFN

Participation is completely private and confidential.

When disaster strikes, where do you turn for small business support?

Oregon SBDC Disaster Recovery Lead Greg Price recently helped lead a national discussion on disaster planning and recovery at the America’s SBDC Conference in Atlanta.

One resource highlighted: the Small Business Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) program, which offers eligible small businesses $5,000 grants after qualifying disasters.

Businesses generally need to register before a disaster occurs, so now is the time to take action and make sure your business is covered in the event disaster assistance is needed.

Learn more and register: https://buff.ly/5QRRNf8

Disaster Preparedness | Small Business Resilience | Oregon Small Business | Oregon SBDC

Women-owned businesses are a major part of Oregon’s economy.

Women own 48.5% of businesses in Oregon—more than 168,000 businesses across the state.

Throughout National Women’s Small Business Month, we’re celebrating the women building businesses, creating jobs, solving problems, and strengthening communities—from our Main Streets and downtown districts to rural communities, farms, professional firms, restaurants, manufacturers, and more.

Think of a woman-owned business you love and tag them in the comments so more Oregonians can discover them.

And to Oregon’s women entrepreneurs: Wherever you are in your business journey, the Oregon SBDC Network is here with confidential, no-cost, one-on-one business advising to help you move forward.

Connect with your local Center: https://buff.ly/A4ofopI

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy

Women’s Small Business Month | Women-Owned Business | Women in Business | Oregon Small Business | Oregon SBDC

There’s a lot to manage when you own a business. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.

This fall, the Oregon SBDC Network’s 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐒𝐁𝐌) 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 brings business owners together for hands-on learning, personalized advising, and valuable connections with peers who understand the challenges and opportunities of running a business.

Topics include:

✅ Strategic planning and goal-setting
✅ Human resources and management
✅ Marketing and market research
✅ Financial management
…and more.

Classroom sessions provide practical insights from experienced professionals, while one-to-one advising helps you apply what you’re learning directly to your own business. The result is focused support to help you identify priorities, solve challenges, and keep moving forward.

Fall programs are starting soon. Explore SBM offerings at an Oregon SBDC near you: https://buff.ly/ZeG0b5H

A successful business transition involves more than deciding when you want to leave.

You may need to evaluate your timeline, determine your business’s value, explore transition options, strengthen operations, identify potential successors, and assemble the right professional team.

Oregon SBDC Network business advisers can work alongside business owners throughout that process—from assessing readiness and exploring transition options to maintaining business value and helping keep a company in a sellable position.

You built your business with intention. Take the same approach to what comes next.

Connect with your local Center for confidential, no-cost, one-on-one advising: https://oregonsbdc.org/find-your-center

Stronger together—and always learning.

This week, SBDC professionals from across the country will gather in Atlanta for the 47th America's SBDC Annual Training Event. The annual professional development event brings together nearly 1,000 SBDC professionals for workshops, general sessions, networking, and shared learning designed to strengthen the support SBDCs provide to small businesses nationwide.

Opportunities like this help SBDCs bring new ideas, strategies, and resources back to the entrepreneurs and communities they serve. We’re grateful to have our team in attendance!

Q4 has a way of moving fast. A strong finish starts before October.

September is your opportunity to step out of the day-to-day and decide what needs your attention before the year ends. Do you have the right inventory in place? Is your team prepared for seasonal demand? Is your marketing planned? Do your financial projections still reflect where your business is today?

A little planning now can help you spend the final three months of the year focused on ex*****on instead of playing catch-up.

Our Q4 planning guide walks through key areas to review now so you can finish the year with purpose and prepare for what comes next.

Start your Q4 planning: https://oregonsbdc.org/small-business-tips-for-4th-quarter-planning

Oregon Small Business Planning Tips for Q4 Time flies when you’re running a business—finish the year strong by following these small business tips for 4th quarter planning.

Your Q4 plan shouldn’t focus only on sales and inventory. Make sure you’re planning for the people who keep your business moving.

If you expect a busy season, think through staffing needs early. Account for employee time off, determine where additional coverage may be needed, and communicate schedules as early as possible.

Q4 is also an opportunity to think about how you’ll recognize the employees and customers who supported your business throughout the year. Thoughtful appreciation is easier to plan now than at the last minute.

Need help planning for Q4 and beyond? Connect with an Oregon SBDC Center: https://oregonsbdc.org/find-your-center

Read more Q4 planning tips: https://oregonsbdc.org/small-business-tips-for-4th-quarter-planning