Christina Dombkowski is one of many Oregonians with disabilities who have chosen to become self-employed entrepreneurs and part of Oregon’s thriving small business community. Christina’s company is Golden Stone Web Design. As we have learned from Christina, her company has evolved to successfully meld her talents, personal interests and lifestyle needs into a successful business.

OBLN: First of all Christina, tell us about your business.

Christina Dombkowski: My business is called Golden Stone Web Design. We specialize in web design and development for businesses that focus on the outdoors, animals or disability.

OBLN: What led you to become an entrepreneur - rather than holding down a nine-to-five job working for someone else?

Christina Dombkowski: Because of my disability, a nine-to-five job wasn't really feasible for me – but the idea of setting my own hours was. I thought long and hard about whether or not I could deal with all the challenges that come along with owning a business – issues like time management, hiring employees and dealing with customers. I concluded that becoming self-employed was definitely what I wanted to do. Being a strong willed person, I set off on that goal. My hard work has certainly paid off.

OBLN: Can you tell us a little bit about how your business has developed?

Christina Dombkowski: I have a degree in computer science with a focus on website design that I obtained from Mount Hood Community College.

I began a web design company called Designique. I operated under that name for about three and a half years, but things weren't rolling like they should. I just was not getting enough work. I knew that aspects of my business needed tweaking, but I just had no clue where to start.

This is when I met up with Kedma Ough and the services of the Differently-Abled Business Association (DBA). I am grateful to say that, with their help, we modified the business and renamed it Golden Stone Web Design. That was about a year ago. Since then, business sales have grown enormously and I couldn't be happier with the changes I've made in my career.

OBLN: How did DBA help you make those important changes to your business?

Christina Dombkowski: I received personalized consultations from Kedma. I met with her several times. She saw the great potential I had and she helped me discover where my strength and weaknesses were - how to build on my strengths and improve on my weaknesses. From there, we set up my business and marketing plans.

Kedma knew I had to pick target markets - those that paralleled the things I am passionate about. She learned that my boyfriend, Matthew Clark, and I spend a lot of time outdoors camping, going on hiking trails and taking in Oregon's beautiful scenery. Matthew uses his creative eye to capture the breathtaking photographs and action packed videos that have gained a large audience.

As a result of the consultations with Kedma, we merged our businesses and now we offer websites, promo videos, newsletters and photography for websites – focusing on customers whose businesses are about the outdoors, animals or disability interests.

OBLN: Are there any other ways that the DBA has contributed to your entrepreneurial success?

Christina Dombkowski: DBA has been very supportive! They offer classes that focus on subjects to make your business more successful. I took a sales class that is used in my everyday business situations. The class was filled with hands-on exercises that could be used once the class was complete. One really beneficial thing I learned is how to make “warm calls” when you get a sales lead from a person you know. Making sales calls can be a really stressful and awkward situation for some people, especially me. At the end of the class, however, I was more confident in making sales calls and pitches to prospective customers. I also learned how to describe my business in a succinct way - so I wasn't rambling on and on needlessly taking up people’s time. It was a great hands-on class.

DBA also offers bi-monthly networking meetings that bring the DBA members together to share experiences and tips learned. What better way is there than to learn from other business owners in the same position as you?!

OBLN: As an entrepreneur with a disability, are there any unique challenges that you have had to face?

Christina Dombkowski: My main struggle has been communication. I have Cerebral Palsy and a speech impairment. I have a lot of great things to say but sometimes people don't take the time to stop and listen, so I have to come up with creative solutions to communicate. Much of the time I communicate via email with customers. I also use a communication device and relay systems for phone use which makes things faster and easier. When all else fails, I ask for people’s help. Where there’s a will there’s a way!

OBLN: What are the ongoing challenges associated with your particular business?

Christina Dombkowski: Because technology advances, my skills needed to advance with it. As I mentioned earlier, I have a degree in computer science. After college though, my learning didn't stop. I am continually doing online tutorials, reading books and finding ways to gain more knowledge. Its really just the nature of this industry and my desire to have happy customers! I take great pride in having fully satisfied customers.

OBLN: What would you to say to another person with a disability who might be considering starting their own business?

Christina Dombkowski: I really want to urge people with disabilities to not give up on their dreams. We all have them and you can accomplish them if you put your heart, soul and mind to them. We all have unique talents, show them off!
 

  Visit Christina’s Website Golden Stone Web Design 

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Recruit Students and other Job Seekers with Disabilities!

The US Business Leadership Network's 2008 National Career Fair is scheduled to be held in Portland on October 6th at the Marriott and it is approaching quickly.  Be sure that your company is represented! Career Fair Sponsorships are $1,000 and include a recruiting booth, and a free pass to the diversity events happening on that day.

  For more information contact Laney Fouse at the OBLN office: laney.fouse@obln.org.

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DBA: Oregon’s Business Association for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

Self-employment and entrepreneurship can be a rewarding but oft-times difficult career path to choose – a path that, for someone with a disability, can be fraught with even more difficulty. Fortunately for Oregonians with disabilities, they have a unique resource to help them forge their way through the challenges and opportunities of self-employment - the Differently-Abled Business Association (DBA).  In this recent interview we learned a lot more from DBA’s Director, Kedma Ough.

OBLN: Kedma, give us a brief introduction to the Differently-Abled Business Association.

Kedma Ough: The Differently-Abled Business Association (DBA) is a business association designed to support entrepreneurs with one or more disability in starting and growing their own businesses.

From an economic development perspective, we are very similar to other Chambers of Commerce except for our strong focus on technical assistance for our members. In a traditional Chamber, the focus is on networking between members. We provide those networking opportunities but we additionally provide business development services to help our members keep progressing to the next level of business growth. We offer a wide range of services to our members – including assistance with business plans, marketing strategies, access to finance, etc.

OBLN: How many members to you have at the present time?

Kedma Ough: We have just completed our second year of operation and we are working with 60 members. Our membership numbers continue to grow in relation to our own capacity. Since our focus on quality of service rather than quantity of members, we do a lot of high-end technical assistance and the total number of clients we can support is regulated by our core mission – to create sustainable businesses with strong potential for long-term growth.

Compared to traditional economic development programs, this kind of intensive technical assistance is unusual. Whereas it would be easy to enlist a higher number of clients by offering non-personalized web-based or classroom-based services, our services are intensive and individualized. It takes one-on-one time and effort to really get someone to the next level in their business development – and that is what we are known for.

With most of our members, we conduct a full assessment of their business or business concept. The assessment is very individualized and covers not only on the business, but on the capabilities of the entrepreneur themselves – including the impact that their disability might have. This is really a comprehensive pre-business feasibility study – to see where the client is really at. (Self employment also isn’t for everybody. These assessments also help the clients decide if it really makes sense for them.)

OBLN: You obviously support clients with to start new business ventures, but do you also support entrepreneurs who come to you with their businesses already up and running?

Kedma Ough: Absolutely. Many times when clients with existing businesses come to us, it is either because they have encountered problems and are in a “struggle mode” or because they aren’t sure how to get their company to the next level. They may have reached a plateau in their existing market and want to know how they can get government contracts or how to get a second-phase business loan that will infuse capital and enable them to reach the next level. They may be encountering problems with employee issues. Existing businesses have different needs than those that are starting up. 

OBLN: What sizes and types of businesses are operated by your members?

Kedma Ough: We have some amazing stories about clients who have grown their businesses into larger companies with several employees, but most of our members are one-person operations. For self-employment in the U.S., the fastest growing business sector is one-person operations. Also, due to the nature of their disabilities, many of our clients need a home-based business model and flexibility in their hours. They want to keep their businesses small, manageable and comfortable.

Our clients have a wide range of businesses. There are companies focused on inventing, social services, bookkeeping, web design, housekeeping, construction, manufacturing, artists, consulting, coaching, and others. What is fundamentally consistent with all our clients and their businesses is that they are coming with background in an industry that they know and understand and they want to provide a solution to something they have recognized a need for.

OBLN: Self employment sounds like an exciting alternative to some of the traditional career paths that many people with disabilities are channeled into.

Kedma Ough: Prior to coming to us, 90% of our clients have existed exclusively in a social service culture – one that has offered them limited opportunities such as minimum wage jobs unaligned with any of their personal interests. Coming to us, we assess their interests and skill sets and get them into an income-generating situation where they can excel, enjoy what they are doing, and be profitable. As much as DBA is social-service oriented we are 100% business focused. For our clients, this is a refreshing approach to their career development.

Having said that, with respect to traditional employment and self-employment, it also doesn’t have to be either/or. You can do both. You can have a “day job” and do graphic design or operate an eBay store on the side. This is a great way to put food on the table and build a business without being overly stressed during the critical months of building a business.

OBLN: You seem to bring a lot of personal passion and commitment to this endeavor. Where does that come from?

Kedma Ough: Kedma Ough: Some people do things because they are just driven to do it. I am one of those people. I grew up in a situation that didn’t afford me much opportunity. Based on that personal experience, my passion is all about forging ahead and removing barriers for others allowing them to gain greater opportunity for succeeding in their chosen field of business.

During my career, I fell in love with supporting small businesses in general and specifically those run by people with disabilities. Simply put, it is just something that I feel a need to do and is no longer an option in my heart.

OBLN: As the Differently-Abled Business Association begins it’s third year of operation, what do you envision for the future?

Kedma Ough: In the coming year we intend to figure out how to better use both technology and the success of our clients to our favor. We want to improve on our use of telecommunications to reach out and build more capacity – possibly through webinars or teleconferences. Secondly, we want to create stronger mentor connections – enabling our successful clients to effectively mentor our new clients.

OBLN: It sounds like your members might offer services that could be of value to larger businesses in the community. Do you do any collective marketing to other companies?

Kedma Ough: We are keen on linking Oregon businesses with the contracted services of our members and we are building a directory of member services.  We are hoping that our collaboration with the Oregon Business Leadership Network can help us to make those connections. I would also welcome inquiries from any interested business people who read this article. 

  Visit the website of the  Differently-Abled Business Association 

Contact Kedma Ough by email: avitabiz@comcast.net

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Voting Videos

The Elections Division of Oregon's Secretary of State has put together some terrific resources to assist citizens with disabilities to take full advantage of their voting rights.

This includes two really excellent videos: "Assisting Voters' with Disabilities" and "Alternate Format Ballots". They are well-worth viewing by anyone! In addition to the great information on voting that they both convey, they very respectfully portray people with disabilities and give insight into a variety of common adaptive technologies and accommodations.  

If you are an employer, you may also want to alert your employees with disabilities to these resources. Some employees with disabilities may require special assistance to exercise their voting rights, and the resources on this site will be invaluable to some people.

  See the  Resources for Voters with Disabilities site and links to these outstanding videos.

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Incight Appoints New Executive Director

One of the OBLN's strongest Partner Organizations, Incight, has announced the appointment of a new Executive Director. Keith Ozols has been Incight’s Program Officer, administering the organization’s annual scholarships and education outreach programs. He will now assume the role Executive Director.

Vail Horton, the Chairman of the Board of Incight, expressed the board's enthusiasm in hiring Mr. Ozols for the position. The Board, working closely with Incight staff identified the desired skill set and dedication required for the position.

"We were fortunate to be able to promote someone from within the organization,” Said Horton. “Keith is someone who is completely dedicated to the mission and he already has a clear understanding of the organization and the areas of need in the disability community. More importantly, we feel that he is someone who is going to take Incight to the next level.”

  See full details at Incight's website

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Oregon Brewers Festival Pledges Support for the OBLN

The Oregon Business Leadership Network extends a big "Thank you" to the Oregon Brewers Festival. They have pledged $10,000 to help develop our new teaching video with Steve Hanamura on Inclusion, Diversity and Disability.  The video itself will be, in part, about Steve’s running the Hood To Coast race, the longest relay race in the US.  Steve's run will be used as a teaching metaphor for diversity concepts that pertain to adding people with disabilities in workforce diversity efforts.

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The Oregon Business Leadership Network
Oregon's business forum on inclusion of people with disabilities
in the competitive workplace and as consumers.
www.obln.org