Articles - Winter 2007 - return to index
Growing a
successful business
Organically Grown Company was one of the original companies enrolled in The Business Group when the program started at the LCC Business Development Center and Employee Training department (BizCenter) seven years ago.
Since then, this company has been a loyal member of the program, and it's been fun and rewarding to watch them grow and prosper in their highly competitive, rapidly growing, and "tight margined" industry.
At the BizCenter we've watched and worked with Organically Grown to change its legal structure and business entity; restructure its organizational chart and operations; expand with locations throughout the northwest; and build a more profitable brand and sustainable business model. All the while they've continued to provide the finest and freshest organically grown produce, much of which is grown locally here in the fertile Willamette Valley. Organically Grown Company owes much of its success to the commitment of its employees, the highest quality produce, an ongoing strategic planning process, and a dedication to be a "lifelong learning organization" with a focus on sustainability. This year the company has two members (David Lively and Josh Hinerfeld) attending The Business Group meetings. The Business Group attracts business owners and top management people from throughout Lane County who are interested in learning how to improve their business operations and who want to find a better balance in their professional and personal lives.
The Business Group is one of many business development/business assistance programs offered by the BizCenter, and is offered on a calendar year to coincide with many small businesses' fiscal year. Denise Trepanier worked on this executive-level oriented program's initial development, and she is The Business Group program coordinator, and the facilitator for the meetings. She also provides one-to-one consulting and coaching to the owners, CEO's, presidents, and top managers enrolled in the group.
For more information on The Business Group 2007, contact Rita Grimes, program administrator, at (541) 463-4618 or grimesr@lanecc.edu.
