The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has been asked several questions surrounding issues in the workplace. These include the following: What does inclusion really mean? Why do we need to pursue diversity when Central Oregon isn’t really that diverse? Are we forcing the matter in a region that doesn’t need it? What does this equal pay law mean for a small business? What is really considered sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace today? Does that stuff really happen in Central Oregon companies?
The City of Bend passed a unanimous resolution on March 7 to aspire to be the most inclusive city in Oregon and in America. Bend also wants to be pro-active in supporting our growing community. Most of our population in Central Oregon works for businesses with fewer than 100 people. These businesses create goods and services that are distributed globally and must also meet the needs of a diverse population that visit the region.
To better meet the needs of customers, companies should be as diverse as possible. When we suggest they need to expand organizational diversity it doesn’t mean ‘affirmative action’ per se. Instead it often means looking at the broader definition. Asking ourselves, do we have members on our team who are adding value because of their different race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, veteran status, abilities, age, skill set, knowledge, culture, education, and training? Do these members push us to think, approach problems, and create solutions in different ways?
Bend is growing at an alarming rate with nearly 20 people moving here on a daily basis. Our region’s diversity is growing. Inclusion helps us recognize that everyone’s voice and opinion matter and there are different strategies we should take to ensure each voice has the same level of importance.
Rane Stempson explains that, “with hundreds of years of working history in the United States there are habits that stick with us. In addition, in our daily lives we have over eleven million items of information hitting us every minute when our minds can only cognitively digest forty pieces. So, we must organize and label things in ways we can remember so that we consume what we believe is relevant information. Unintentionally, this results in biases and misunderstandings that can result in discrimination, harassment and other inadvertent consequences. Most people have good intentions and with a little education, such as utilizing strategies to better connect, we can work more effectively with each other and remove a lot of misunderstandings.”
This is why the Central Oregon Community College SBDC has engaged the Ranemaker Institute and CEO Rane Stempson to pilot free advising hours to start-ups and small businesses. She will advise businesses on issues such as diversity, inclusion and equity. Additionally, she will provide support for under-represented groups considering starting a new business. She provides one-to-one advising once a month at the SBDC. Depending on interest, she may begin to provide more hours and group discussions on relevant topics.
“The diversity, equity and inclusion advising with Rane is extremely helpful. She made me aware of women owned business opportunities and how to launch a successful consulting business. She is highly detailed outlining necessary steps to take and connected me to future consulting opportunities. I highly suggest her advising.” – Rachel K.
COCC is also excited to support the Diversity Leadership Series being organized by the Technology Association of Oregon and led by Ranemaker Institute. These workshops are for all industry sectors not just technology and provide hands on learning for our businesses, non-profits and government agencies at an affordable price. The workshops will help employees, managers and senior leaders determine how to deal with unconscious biases, harassment, recruitment, retention and advancement of a diverse workforce, managing across generations and a number of other topics to help businesses better serve their customers and increase employee satisfaction.
The Central Oregon Community College SBDC is focused on enriching the Central Oregon community by helping build Oregon’s best businesses. The SBDC offers no-cost one-to-one business advising, business planning, educational workshops, market research and assistance in accessing capital for businesses. The goal of the SBDC is to have a positive impact on the growth and sustainability of Central Oregon’s economy. For more information on available services, contact the SBDC at 541-383-7290 or go to www.cocc.edu/sbdc.
