Join Better Portland members for a lunchtime panel with local leaders focused on a single issue.

January: First Year Wins & Challenges: Portland Office of Small Business

It's been one year since the City of Portland launched its first Office of Small Business. What do they do? Who's behind the scenes? How can they help our members succeed in navigating small business challenges in Portland?

Panelists
Mitch Daugherty, Manager Portland Office of Small Business
Ciara Pressler, Better Portland & Pregame
Stephen Green, Better Portland & Vanport Studio

12:00 - Interview with Guests
12:30 - Q&A

Panelists

Mitch Daugherty currently serves as the manager for the City of Portland’s first-ever Office of Small Business at Prosper Portland, where he leads team building and citywide bureau coordination. This follows a decade as the co-founder and leader of Built Oregon, a nonprofit dedicated to scaling the state's consumer product ecosystem through accelerators, mentor networks, and over $300,000 in grants to Black-owned businesses. Earlier in his career, Mitch co-founded the digital strategy firm Morange Design, working with brands like Harbor Freight Tools and FOX, and got his start in entrepreneurship by co-founding Arizona Outback Adventures—a company that was eventually acquired by REI. He holds a degree in Wildlife Conservation Biology from Arizona State University.