Elevating Impact Stories: Carolynn Duncan

Leading up to the Elevating Impact Summit on June 21, we’ve invited event speakers and panelists to engage in a storytelling project. We believe that storytelling is an essential part of effective social innovation. How can we tell stories in a way that generates interest and creates connections? How can we listen to the stories of others with the empathy needed to achieve true understanding? We hope that by sharing stories of failure, transformation and success, you’ll learn more about our speakers and the promise and challenges of social innovation. 

Carolynn Duncan answers the question, “What is a hardship you overcame that shaped who you are today?”:

“I’ve actually the oldest daughter of a ten-kid family [...] I had to take on a lot of responsibilities as the oldest in being a guide and caretaker for my siblings over the years, and that has definitely shaped my views.”

Length: 3:26

Carolynn Duncan is the founder/CEO of TenX.org, a business education company which helps emerging entrepreneurs and business owners sharpen their business skills and as a result, exceed the $100K and $1MM revenue milestones: under Carolynn’s direction, TenX alumni have generated more than $20MM in revenues and funding since 2009.

Prior to TenX, Carolynn was affiliated with EPIC Ventures, a Salt Lake City-based venture capital firm, developed an entrepreneurial finance program and ran LivePitch events for FundingUniverse (now Lendio), assisted in launching the Eastern Idaho Entrepreneurial Center in partnership with BYU-Idaho and EPIC Ventures, founded the Hundred Dollar Business, was a founding employee of TagJungle, a tech startup in the blog search space, and worked at $3MM seed fund Provo Labs.

Carolynn has worked with at-risk youth through Utah Youth Village and the Casey Life Skills Program, volunteers as a “Big Sister” with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, is an advocate of Pathway, a distance learning program developed by BYU-Idaho, and has taught financial & employment literacy for young adults in the LDS Church. Carolynn has a Bachelor’s in Modern Dance, Music (Violin), and English (Literature/Creative Writing) from Brigham Young University-Idaho.

Carolynn will participate in the “Impact Funding” panel at the Elevating Impact Summit on June 21.

Elevating Impact Stories: Sona Andrews

Leading up to the Elevating Impact Summit on June 21, we’ve invited event speakers and panelists to engage in a storytelling project. We believe that storytelling is an essential part of effective social innovation. How can we tell stories in a way that generates interest and creates connections? How can we listen to the stories of others with the empathy needed to achieve true understanding? We hope that by sharing stories of failure, transformation and success, you’ll learn more about our speakers and the promise and challenges of social innovation. 

Sona Andrews answers the question, “What lessons has your work taught you?” with a reflection on privilege and power:

“Those of us that are in positions of authority within our organization are the ones who least need [...] special treatment.”

 Length: 4:35

Sona Karentz Andrews is currently the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Portland State University. In that role she is the chief academic officer of the University. Working with deans and other administrators, the Provost collaborates with the campus and external communities to achieve the academic mission and vision of the University. Academic Affairs is the administrative home for all academic units and is responsible for the institutional academic mission, programming and policy implementation, support programs for academic personnel and students, and academic fiscal management.

Dr. Andrews completed her undergraduate degree in Geography from Worcester State College in Massachusetts and her Master’s and Ph.D. in Geography from Arizona State University. She has held faculty positions at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Boise State University, and now at Portland State University. She has held leadership positions in the Provost Office at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; was an American Council on Education Fellow; served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Boise State University; and most recently was the Vice Chancellor for Academic Strategies for the Oregon University System.

Sona will participate in a panel on “Education for Impact” at the Elevating Impact Summit on June 21.

Elevating Impact Stories: John Shepherd

Leading up to the Elevating Impact Summit on June 21, we’ve invited event speakers and panelists to engage in a storytelling project. We believe that storytelling is an essential part of effective social innovation. How can we tell stories in a way that generates interest and creates connections? How can we listen to the stories of others with the empathy needed to achieve true understanding? We hope that by sharing stories of failure, transformation and success, you’ll learn more about our speakers and the promise and challenges of social innovation. 

John Shepherd answers the question, “What lessons has your work taught you?” with a story about the true value of business:

“It’s not about the money that’s made, or the cool gadgets that are created—it’s about, Does it make a difference in someone’s life? Does it make this world a better place to live in?”

 Length: 4:45

John is the Founder and President of M25 Ventures, a Kingdom-focused nonprofit helping former addicts and ex-offenders achieve economic sustainability and personal growth through entrepreneurship. He is also the founder of Western Accounting Services, Inc. which developed one of the first PC-based royalty accounting software programs in the publishing industry. Western Accounting Services later merged with a computer hardware distribution business and formed Avalon Technology Group, Inc. Under John’s leadership Avalon became a leading provider of accounting software, computer hardware, and IT network services in the Portland area.

In 2002 John began volunteering as a computer teacher for the LifeChange recovery program at Union Gospel Mission. He then became the volunteer Education Director for the program and designed a four-year life skills and discipleship curriculum. He later took a full-time position at Union Gospel Mission as the Services Director for the LifeChange program, where he was responsible for staffing and designing a case management system and designing a vocational training program for residents.

John will participate in a panel on “Re-entry Redefined” at the Elevating Impact Summit on June 21.

Impact Award Finalists Announced

We’re excited to announce the finalists for our first annual Impact Awards, recognizing promising and noted changemakers in our region who are seeking bold ways to make a large and lasting difference. Winners will be announced at the Elevating Impact Summit on June 21.

Finalists for the Student Impact Award:

• Ahmed Abidine, Portland State University / Elkarti Morocco
• Glenda Alfaro, Mt. Hood Community College / CGI U Finalist
• Orion Falvey, University of Oregon / Oregon Mobile Medical
• Brian Forrester, Portland State University / Hands-On Philanthropy
• Simon Ngawhika, Portland State University / PSU Net Impact

Finalists for the Impact Entrepreneur Award:

• Shane Endicott, Our United Villages
• Michael “Luni” Libes, Fledge Incubator
• Tim O’Brien, Tropical Salvage
• Adam Reid, KOREducators
• Evan Thomas, SWEETSense, Manna Energy, Portland State University
• Ben West, EcoZoom

Finalists for the Corporate/Nonprofit Impact Intrapreneur Award:

• Catherine Ellingson, New Avenues for Youth
• Mark Holloway, Social Venture Partners Portland
• John Haines, Mercy Corps NW
• Kazi Huque, Grameen Intel
• Doug Stamm, Meyer Memorial Trust

The Elevating Impact Summit will gather hundreds of bold, creative thinkers and action-oriented doers. More than 25 panelists will cover topics including impact investing, education, media and startup life. Aspiring social entrepreneurs will pitch their innovations in a rapid-fire pitch session and the event concludes with a cocktail reception. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about social entrepreneurship in your community — buy your ticket before May 21 for an early-bird discount.

Elevating Impact Stories: Jacob Sherman

Leading up to the Elevating Impact Summit on June 21, we’ve invited event speakers and panelists to engage in a storytelling project. We believe that storytelling is an essential part of effective social innovation. How can we tell stories in a way that generates interest and creates connections? How can we listen to the stories of others with the empathy needed to achieve true understanding? We hope that by sharing stories of failure, transformation and success, you’ll learn more about our speakers and the promise and challenges of social innovation. 

Jacob Sherman answers the question, “What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in life?” with a story of why we should all dare to fail:

“One of the other important life lessons I learned comes out of a William Carlos Williams poem where he talks about no defeat being made up entirely of defeat, because it always opens a place formerly unsuspected.” (Read the entire poem here)

 Length: 2:12

Jacob Sherman works for the Institute for Sustainable Solutions at Portland State University, where he promotes a stronger integration of sustainability into the curriculum. He has been advancing sustainability at PSU since 2009, providing leadership in the university’s nationally recognized Take Back the Tap campaign, President Wim Wiewel’s Sustainable Drinking Water Task Force, and the University Studies Peer Mentor Program. In 2011, Jacob was awarded both the PSU and the State of Oregon Student Employee of the Year awards. In 2012, Jacob spoke to more than 25,000 people as a student speaker at PSU’s commencement ceremony.

Jacob holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Policy with a concentration in Leadership for Sustainability Education from Portland State, and has a B.A. in English as well. An avid believer in the adage that a small group of dedicated people can change the world, Jacob actively involves himself in efforts to enhance the community. He currently serves on the PSU Alumni Association and is the Chair of his neighborhood association. A fifth generation Portlander, Jacob enjoys gardening, backpacking, and calling the Pacific Northwest home with his wife and son.

Jacob will moderate a panel on “Re-entry Redefined” at the Elevating Impact Summit on June 21.

Tech4Change: Mercy Corps Hosts a Startup Weekend for Social Entrepreneurs

Portland has embraced the Startup Weekend, a 54-hour sprint to design and prototype a new tech startup, with a series of local and regional events. Now Mercy Corps is hosting a first-of-its-kind Startup Weekend for social entrepreneurs at their Portland headquarters this June 7-9, building on their experience running similar events in Iraq, Palestine, and Haiti.

Participants can pitch an idea and form a team to prototype a technology-based social enterprise, or work on a team helping Mercy Corps address some of the world’s biggest challenges. Whether you’re a software developer, graphic designer, social entrepreneur, businessperson or aid practitioner, there’s a place for you at this event. Visit the website to learn more or register.

What: Tech4Change, a social entrepreneurship Startup Weekend hosted by Mercy Corps

When: Friday, June 7 through Sunday, June 9

Where: Mercy Corps global headquarters, 45 SW Ankeny St., Portland OR

How much? $75 (with early-bird discount)

About Mercy Corps:

Mercy Corps is a nonprofit disaster relief and development organization with operations in over 40 countries. Its mission is to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Mercy Corps strives to catalyze community-led and market-driven solutions to global poverty issues. Increasingly, Mercy Corps is employing technologies which have the potential to give millions of people new access to financial services and information, enabling them to grow businesses and improve their livelihoods, health and communities. Mercy Corps is also increasingly using startup technologies to streamline operations and meet compliance needs, freeing up human and financial resources to benefit those in need.

About Startup Weekend:

Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs with over 400 past events in 100 countries around the world in 2011. The nonprofit organization is headquartered in Seattle, Washington but Startup Weekend organizers and facilitators can be found in over 200 cities around the world. From Mongolia to South Africa to London to Brazil, people around the globe are coming together for weekend long workshops to pitch ideas, form teams, and start companies.

All Startup Weekend events follow the same basic model: anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. Teams organically form around the top ideas and then it’s a 54-hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. The weekends culminate with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback.

Marlynn Schotland on Marketing Your Small Business

Marlynn Schotland, founder of Urban Bliss Media and an expert in small business marketing, recently ran a workshop for the members of our Social Innovation Incubator Circuit Program. In this post, we share some of her advice on creating an effective online presence for your brand.

“Every part of your business should live and breath your consistent message.”

Your message grows from a clear understanding of your company’s 4 Ps: Product (what you sell), Price (for how much), Place (where you sell it), and Promotion (how you get people to buy it). You also need to be creative in understanding your customers and competition. Everyone has competition; something only slightly similar to your product can still take away your sales. Your customers also may not be what you expect; don’t assume they all look and act like you.

Once you know what makes your brand distinct, and to whom you should communicate this message, you need to develop a marketing budget. Make certain to include your time (the most valuable resource most entrepreneurs have). This will help you determine the best way to invest your limited time and money, and can serve as a guide for web developers, consultants or staff.

Speaking of limited time, develop a marketing calendar that includes website updates and social media posts. Scheduling when, and how long, you’ll spend writing, posting, and tweeting will keep you disciplined and prevent marketing from becoming a time sink or distraction.

“Educate, engage, and entertain.”

With all of the social media platforms and online tools available, where should you focus your energy? According to a recent study in eMarketer, the largest driver of traffic for small businesses is their website — and the second largest is their blog.

You may not think you have time to blog, but short posts are often most effective. Something as simple as a customer FAQ, some behind-the-scenes info on your latest product, or even a few photos of new items are a good way to build an online audience and drive traffic to your website.

Websites are faster and easier to create than ever before, thanks to platforms like Weebly and WordPress. Ecommerce integration is simple using Shopify, Big Cartel or Woocommerce, and linked email marketing through Mail Chimp or Constant Contact helps you manage outreach to online customers. Keep in mind, though, that fast and cheap aren’t the same as effective — make certain to  watch focus groups or new customers using your website to make certain it’s intuitive and appealing.

Whatever platforms and channels you end up using, keep your message consistent. Remember to educate, engage, and entertain your audience, and the sales will follow.