This content was published: June 21, 2013. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
PCC helps small businesses build international portfolios
Photos and story by James Hill
The Small Business Administration reports small businesses represent 98 percent of U.S. firms exporting goods and services. With this emerging trend, small businesses are exploring global expansion efforts and seeking international trade advice.
To help with this trend, Portland Community College’s Small Business Development Center provides free confidential, one-on-one international trade advising services to Portland’s small business community who need answers to international business questions.
Tammy Marquez-Oldham (PCC’s SBDC director) is part of a team providing global business opportunities to small businesses.
The international business team features four NASBITE Certified Global Business Professionals – Tammy Marquez-Oldham (SBDC director), Michael Bloom, Sean Harry and David Kohl. The team and its programs are a resource for those pursuing global business opportunities. The team can help local businesses with global business management, global marketing, supply chain management and trade finance. NASBITE is an organization of small business international trade educators and SBDC personnel from the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“Achieving this certification allows PCC’s SBDC to better serve the small business community with answers to international business questions,” said Marquez-Oldham, who serves as vice president for the NASBITE International. “Business in this high-tech world has become more global. International trade complexity makes global business assistance an important service provided by PCC.”
The services are available to anyone who owns, operates, or is considering starting a small business. Marquez-Oldham said the goal at the SBDC is to strengthen and support small businesses across the area by providing specialty assistance, practical information and services for business success. “No matter the size of your operation, business advising and training can be provided that will enable you to learn or improve knowledge, skills, and expertise to grow a thriving business,” she said.
The Small Business Development Center at Portland Community College is one of 19 SBDCs in Oregon and is partially funded by the US Small Business Administration and the Oregon Business Development Department.
For more information or to request assistance for your small business, visit www.bizcenter.org, call (971) 722-5081, or email sbdc@pcc.edu.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »