Four Oregon advocates for small business and entrepreneurs are being honored by Oregon Entrepreneurs Network in a new award program kicking off this year.
Pregame founder Ciara Pressler, Willamette Equity Advisors founder Mike White and founders of Horan MediaTech Advisors Peter and Pam Horan were named the inaugural honorees of the Community Catalyst Award.
The four will receive their honors at the OEN Awards on Nov. 16. At the same event the winners of the business category awards will be named.
This new awards program is meant to celebrate people and organizations who support local founders through connections, services or education. Each year OEN will recognize three people or organizations for this award.
“OEN is excited to add an award that will be given annually to recognize the individuals and organizations ensuring entrepreneurs thrive throughout the region,” said Executive Director Cara Turano in a written statement. “These inaugural Community Catalyst honorees were incredibly difficult to select as there are so many people working behind the scenes to support startup founders.”
Here’s a bit more about these winners:
Pressler’s company Pregame offers coaching and consulting for founders and other leaders. She is also on the boards of Business for a Better Portland, Sport Oregon and the Governor’s Racial Justice Economic Sub-Committee and she is a former board member of the OEN board. She is donates her time and expertise to public service and community engagements.
White has been working with founders since 2016 when he was advising at the Chemeketa Small Business Development Center. He has been a past Venture Catalyst through the OEN network and worked with local economic development groups such as Strategic Economic Development Corp. of Oregon (SEDCOR) and McMinnville Economic Development Partnership. He has also worked with Latino Business Alliance and BE BLAC Foundation. He is also on the board of OEN.
The Horans are avid mentors and investors in Oregon founders. They have invested more than $1.5 million in the startup community through investments at Oregon Venture Fund, Cascade Seed Fund, Portland Seed Fund, Elevate Capital and the Bend Venture Conference. They also work directly with startups including Slumberkins, Wildfang and A Kids Company About. They have also been volunteers at TechFestNW, the OEN Awards and 50/50 Women on Boards.
