Finding Inspiration in Mentoring (and more)
One of my personal career goals has been to mentor professional women in their career development. I've had the opportunity to meet and mentor a number of intelligent and insightful women, many of whom I continue to hear from 20 years later. Next month, I'll be one of the mentors during the Portland Business Alliance's Mentoring Monday. I'm honored to have been selected and offered the change to share my experiences with women at various stages in their careers. I look forward to discussing what I've learned from navigating the barriers in the workplace, strategizing my path to executive positions and owning my own business.
I find mentoring doubly rewarding. Not only do I get to provide some perspective from my time in business, I also find it exciting and energizing to learn from each and every 'mentee.' It's that interaction and genuine commitment to watching other women meet their own career goals that continue to inspire my own.
We're living in one of the best times in history for women to achieve their goals, without many of the restrictions experienced generations ago. It's important to remember that we each have our own measurements of success, both personal and professional. As a woman who understands finding a balance of both, I hope that my experiences can help other women find their own path forward and continue to lay the groundwork for future generations.
43 Cities Host Mentoring Monday Portland Business Journal is hosting the PDX Women's BizCoalition's Mentoring Monday event. Over 40 women business executives will offer "speed mentoring" via 7-minute networking sessions with mentees on Monday, April 4, 2016 at the Nines Hotel 7:00am-9:00am. Come visit!
March is National Women's History Month
As recently as the 1970's, women's history was virtually an unknown topic in the K-12 curriculum or in general public consciousness. In 1980, President Carter designated March 2-8 as National Women's History Week. In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women's History Month in perpetuity. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women.
The National Women's Museum also has an online exhibit that explorers women entrepreneurs. Learn more about the dedication and contributions of women in business! Did you know...
Up through the 19th century, women-owned businesses primarily included taverns and alehouses, millinery and retail shops, and hotels and brothels
In 1916, the first women ever elected to Congress was Rep. Jeanette Ranking of Montana
As of 2013, the number of women's entrepreneurial ventures has increased by 54 percent in the past 15 years, with revenue jumping 58 percent!
Rapid Growth for Oregon's Marijuana Market
According to California research firm ArcView Market Research, Oregon's cannabis sales are expected to increase to $985.2 million by 2020, making it the third largest sales market in the U.S. and providing the Washington marijuana market with some competition.
How does Oregon use the tax from recreational marijuana sales? Oregon imposed a 25 cent tax on recreational marijuana that went into effect on January 1, 2016 and in the first month the state collected 3.5 million. By law, dispensaries are allowed to keep 2 percent of taxes collected. The Department of Revenue will also keep some to cover the cost of administering the tax. After that, the law says that 40 percent goes to the common school fund, 20 percent to mental health, alcoholism and drug services, 15 percent to the Oregon State Police, 10 percent for city law enforcement, 10 percent for county law enforcement and five percent to Oregon Health Authority for alcohol and drug abuse prevention, early intervention, and treatment services.
Report on How to Keep Oregon Trade Moving
Labor management issues, rising shipping costs, declining trucking options and the loss of major shipping lines have prompted Oregon Governor Kate Brown to work with small and medium-sized businesses to identify challenges and opportunities. The final report is from the Governor's Trade and Logistics Initiative is now available. The Port of Portland lost two major container shippers last spring. This report will help determine next steps to bolster Oregon's global reach.
Oregon's New Minimum Wage Law
Over the next six years, Oregon's minimum wage will increase from $9.25/hour to $14.75/hour in Portland and other larger cities, $13.50 in smaller cities and $12.50 in rural areas. The first increase of 25-50 cents will take place this July. While Governor Kate Brown signed the wage increase into law earlier this month, it may not be set in stone. Some Oregon Democrats are already working on proposing lower wages for younger workers and trainees, a move that most Republicans will likely back. Some counties, including Linn, Lane and Yamhill, are also deciding how to proceed and possibly challenge the hike. On the other end of the spectrum, one group is pushing for a higher pay hike for workers and is pursuing a ballot measure.
Where are all the Construction Workers?
The reported lack of construction workers is one of the more interesting developments in recent years. At first blush, this seems implausible. The U.S. is still more than a million construction jobs below the housing boom peak, or about 14%. Oregon is about 20,000 jobs or 18% below. The National Association of Home Builders and Associated General Contractors all point to a lack of labor, which increases the bottom line and completion time.
Find and Fix Leaks in Your Home
Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide. Join the EPA each March for Fix a Leak Week to find and fix leaks in your home, saving you valuable water and money. A good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water usage. It's likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if it's winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month. You can also check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water was being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.
Ten Traits of Successful Business People
Setting out to become an entrepreneur requires a great deal of determination and hard work. You will need to set goals, take action, assess your progress, make adjustments, and have a clear financial map drawn out. Do you have the traits necessary to be successful? Check it out here.
