Record of consultant is honored
Woman has had hand in thousands of small businesses
Monday, June 29 | 9:28 p.m.
BY LIBBY TUCKER
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER
Jan Harte, business consultant.
The Washington Small Business Development Center Network presented Jan Harte with the Ron Battles Excellence Award on Friday for her 17 years of service as a counselor in the program.
From her Vancouver base, Harte has worked with more than 2,000 clients, helping them to successfully launch and operate small businesses. Harte has been the Washington State University service center adviser since 1995 and served on the network's certification and professional development committee until 2007.
She was appointed the regional coordinator for Southwest Washington in 2008, managing the center's $95,000 budget and providing oversight and mentoring for three other SBDC service centers in Longview, Chehalis and Olympia.
Her award honors Ron Battles, a Small Business Development Center counselor who died in 2005 after a two-year struggle with cancer.
Eye on the market
Vancouver business owner Kimberly Dumas says she is grateful for Harte's help developing a long-term financial plan for her home staging business, Inspiring Home Interior Designs.
Dumas had left her career in high-tech management to pursue her hobby of preparing homes to be sold.
As the business grew, Harte saw that painting had become its most profitable service and encouraged Dumas to become a licensed general contractor.
"Jan helped me understand that the market was changing and what direction to take," said Dumas, one of several business owners to nominate Harte for the award.
"I don't see how anybody could sustain a business in the absence of a Jan Harte, especially when they're solo" she said. "I couldn't be more grateful that our paths crossed when they did."
