Mitch Daugherty and Morange Design have been providing design services to Portland businesses for the past four years. When asked about his company, his impressions of the entrepreneurial community in Portland and his involvement in OEN, he had this to say:

Q. How long has your company been in the market?
A. 4 years

Q. How did you determine a need for your service (or why do anticipate a need)?
A. At one point or another, from the creation of their corporate identity to web design, most businesses will need the services of a design firm. Our model is that all businesses deserve good design. We work in close contact with all of our clients to determine how the strategic use of graphic design can most effectively help their business.

Q. What are your impressions of the entrepreneurial community in Portland?
A. The entrepreneurial community here in Portland is very vibrant and very collaborative. There really does seem to be a genuine desire to see each others businesses succeed.

Q. How would you like to see it grow or change?
A. I think the community just needs to keep reaching out to all entrepreneurs. This includes service providers, NPOs and the universities. There is a wide array of organizations in place that can help entrepreneurs succeed, but there always has to be additional outreach to keep the growth going.

Q. How are you involved in the community and how has it helped shape your business?
A. I have been involved with OEN for 4 years. I served on the Entrepreneur Services Committee (ESC) for 2 years and have chaired the committee for the past 2 years. I was also on the board of the Portland AMA chapter. The participation in both of these organizations has been very valuable to Morange. Google Graphic Design and the list just keeps on going. Being involved has allowed me to get to know a large group of people in a more in-depth way than just a business card exchange basis. This interaction has led to the majority of our business in the Portland area.

Q. What are your favorite websites/magazines that you read and events you attend to keep yourself informed about the business community, or your specific market?
A. www.oen.org
Business Journal
Oregon Business Magazine
Oregonian
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/

Q. Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
A. Get involved! Going to the area’s networking and business events is a good start, but by volunteering with some of the local organizations, you will not only get a better feel for the business community as a whole, but also help to grow your business in the process.