Bootstraps & Business

Former Republican congresswoman and House Minority Leader Christine Drazan says she is ready to fight for the future of Oregon businesses. She discusses working to cut taxes for small companies and her solutions to help businesses grow and thrive. She wants to create more jobs and repeal or roll back unnecessary existing regulations. We also talk about the Portland Diamond Project and what it may look like to bring Major League Baseball to Portland.

It started with one golf cart. Dakota and his sister, Demi, wanted an easier alternative to carrying the trash down their 1,000-foot driveway to the road during the winter. When summer arrived, they sold the initial cart, made some cash, and the rest is history. Dakota and Demi have since co-founded their business, Guild Golf Carts, growing it from buying and selling to designing and now building out of multiple locations. And there’s more. Listen to find out what else this 19-year-old is working on now!

Former Democratic congresswoman and senator Betsy Johnson is trying to do something no other woman in American history has done: run unaffiliated and become Oregon’s next governor. In her feisty manner, she states her loyalty is only to the people of Oregon and she is running as an “Oregonian.” She explains her pro-business stance and how she will address the current issues of crime, homelessness, and the other major issues facing Oregon businesses while working to bring new businesses to the state.

One of the most prominent faces and voices in Northwest sports media, Mike Barrett gives an insider’s view of the world of sports. He talks about transitioning through major life changes with tenacity and determination. We hear about the new ventures and roles in his life, including entrepreneur, podcaster, and leading the team to bring major league baseball to Portland, Oregon, with the Portland Diamond Project. Plus, he shares the meaning and value of establishing and maintaining relationship capital.

Former NBA sportscaster Mike Barrett recalls his early days calling plays at high school basketball games, jumping into the world of broadcasting as a radio sports announcer, and his many years as a sportscaster for the Portland Trail Blazers. You’ll hear about his departure from broadcasting and his journey into podcasting, starting multiple businesses, trying to bring Major League Baseball to Portland, and the value of relationship capital.

Whether you are part of a start-up or a large company, your leadership team plays a key role in maximizing your organization’s effectiveness. Jeff Johnson leverages his experience and expertise in strategic talent management and leadership training, including assessing and building leadership for organizations in all industries. He works with companies ranging in size from high-growth start-ups to some of the largest global organizations, including Nike, PayPal, eBay, HP, and many more. Find out how he can help you, your leadership team, and your company.

Jason Atkinson has been a public servant for over 30 years. He has served as both Oregon senator and a member of the Oregon House of Representatives. He ran for governor in 2006. Jason discusses the outcome of the May primaries and the three women in the race for Oregon governor. He shares his perspective on the path each candidate could take to win the race. And, once elected, what the new governor’s priorities should be after taking office. You’ll also hear about his fantastic non-profit, Pastor’s Monday.

Democrat and former House Speaker Tina Kotek is running for Governor of Oregon and wants to continue to build a future of opportunity and justice for every Oregonian by taking a more direct approach. She discusses her plans to tackle homelessness and how she will increase the state’s economic opportunities. With her history of listening to people, understanding the issues, defining solutions, and getting those solutions passed, Tina feels she is the change in agency leadership Oregon is looking for now.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Thielman is ready to fight against agenda-driven policies and politics as usual with his unifying leadership style. The former superintendent of the Alsea School District discusses his plans to improve current policies, homelessness, and crime issues that are harming Oregon businesses and the state of Oregon by assuming accountability and taking the necessary steps to address and ease today’s burdens.

Oregon’s state treasurer, Tobias Read, is running in the May 17th Democratic primary for governor of Oregon. He shares his vision for a new direction in leadership for the state and discusses his plans to address some of the urgent challenges Oregon businesses are facing today. Tobias is a collaborative problem-solver who will draw upon his management, political, and finance policy experience to serve Oregonians and improve Oregon’s business climate.

Bridget Barton, republican outsider candidate for Oregon governor, has been a conservative writer and trusted advisor and advocate for Oregon’s most iconic builders, creators, and employers for the past 30 years. She discusses the challenges Oregon business owners face and the immediate solutions she would implement to help businesses manage these issues. She’s not a politician. She is a problem-solver, and not here to get the job, but here to do the job.

If you're going to post to social media, you must engage. What does that mean? How can you engage without spending hours and hours on every platform? You need to have a social media strategy. Brandy shares tips and techniques on how to capitalize on the strengths that make your brand unique. Whether you are posting as an individual or as a business looking to expand, she guides you through everything you can do free on social media platforms to share your message effectively with your online audience.

Kyle spent most of his career immersed in product innovation and strategy, traveling the world to develop partnerships to deliver consumer-inspired solutions with major companies, such as Nike. All of which led him to apply his strong, forward-thinking vision and start his own consultancy business, Red Kape. Kyle talks about the three-year roller coaster journey full of wins and losses, smiles, cheers and tears, and the frustration of taking his own product from the idea stage to the ready-to-launch stage.

If you’re considering a marketing plan and want to know how you can effectively utilize DSPs, SSPs, or ad exchanges to build out a better marketing campaign, John Ferraro, from The Trade Desk, is here to help. He breaks it all down into bite-sized pieces, explaining the hows and whys of the way pieces fit together to help you better advertise your business or product across multiple channels/platforms, including mobile, digital, connected TV, audio, and more in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

John takes a right-brain/left-brain approach to turning your brand story into your successful brand strategy. Starting with insight first, then execution. Followed up with messaging, then design. He digs in deep to help you establish or renew relevance in your particular market, differentiate you from your competitors, and boost your brand credibility and visibility. Plus, find out what a “Brand Book” is and why it’s an essential tool for establishing your brand’s identity.

With 30 years as a cutting-edge marketer, Ric has been part of the teams developing successful marketing strategies for global and national brands like Pennzoil, Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, and Corona. He has also founded multiple companies that work in sync to further solve marketing challenges with effective solutions. He discusses the leadership style that has helped build award-winning teams within a culture that encourages everyone to take the time to listen to others’ opinions, thoughts, and more.

Allison Talamantez and Heather Riccobono share their marketing/influencer experience to assist students, parents, coaches, schools, brands, and companies as they face the new challenges of the recent NCAA compensation ruling. In this episode, the second of five, they discuss the many financial concerns student athletes and parents are now facing, including rate sheets, fee structures, product endorsement, promotional events, exclusivity, negotiation, and licensing. More updates, tips, and advice to come.

Allison Talamantez and Heather Riccobono—with a combined 24 years in the marketing/influencer space—discuss the challenges students, parents, coaches, schools, brands, and companies face with the new NCAA compensation ruling. In this episode, the first of five, they walk through the nuts and bolts of social marketing; how to say no to brands, agencies, and press when the fit isn’t right; the importance of written agreements; and FTC requirements. Watch for more updates, tips, and advice in the next episode.

Bob has been able to maintain his salt-of-the-earth core company values, including integrity, teamwork, communication, and quality while growing his family’s small-town business into a national company. Hear how he remains competitive through the ebbs and flows of the manufacturing business by diversifying and expanding his interests into the food processing and safety industries. Find ways to grow with consumer trends, and you will stay relevant to existing customers and get in front of new clients.

David walks you through the ins and outs of marketing automation and why it’s a useful tool to add to your marketing toolbox. He explains the ecosystem of how and why companies are embracing omni-channel, multi-device marketing to deliver their ads and personalize consumer experiences. It is all about connecting the dots with data to develop efficiencies for the sales and marketing teams, in turn, generating more leads, revenue, and growth.

John started out making small amounts of wine in his apartment for personal consumption. As his batches got bigger, he realized he and his pals couldn’t possibly drink all the wine he was making and maybe he should start selling it. That meant applying his GI bill to getting an education in wine! John took a hands-on approach, working various positions with wineries from California to the Pacific Northwest. He established Lujon Wine Cellars and now produces his highly rated wines in Yamhill County, Oregon.

Go backstage and behind the scenes to find out what the radio and music industries are really like. A “not-so-good” college roommate situation led Annie to her first dalliance in the music world as a concert programmer. From there, she made the jump into radio promotions and marketing at a major market radio station, working with clients, the community, and the record industry. Meeting and working with new artists turned out to be her favorite part of the job, which led her to Triple Tigers Records.

Gregg gives solid and sage advice for navigating the challenges of reinvention and transition professionally and in the ever-evolving world of marketing. He has applied his magical mixture of sales and marketing in e-commerce, the hospitality industry, and his own company. He rode the initial dot-com era wave, managed to work through the impact of 9/11, and is now making his way to the other side of the Pandemic. Find out what has worked for him as he faced and conquered his own professional challenges.

By constantly reevaluating her professional “shelf-life” and acknowledging her fondness for change, Erin has managed to move in and out of a variety of industries and leadership roles with ease. From VP/COO of an NBA team to VP/GM at a major broadcasting company to CEO for a national non-profit organization. We hear what has compelled her to continually move forward, make big moves, and conquer new challenges. Most recently, Erin has joined the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office as chief of bureau business.

Find out how working in a garage to find a solution to accurately reading a tape measure grew into a leading automation and manufacturing company. TigerStop globally services multiple industries and makers while maintaining a deep interest and focus on strengthening local communities. Liz also explains how TigerStop, after decades of print advertising, reevaluated and successfully changed up their marketing strategy to include multiple digital platforms.

Having worked with a multitude of local and national brands including McDonald's and Zoom+Care, Fred shares his experience and knowledge of advertising and marketing, running the gamut of audience research, determining budgets, developing strategies, building out marketing partnerships, and navigating the ever-changing landscape of traditional, digital, and social media platforms.