Opportunity Knocks announced it has hired Eric Meade as membership director
“Eric will help Opportunity Knocks help more Central Oregon businesses to expand and grow,” said Bill Moseley, Opportunity Knocks board president. “Eric is a seasoned entrepreneur who understands business problems. As a long-standing member and facilitator with Opportunity Knocks, Eric has first-hand knowledge of how we benefit small businesses.”
Meade, an architect by training, came to Bend 17 years ago to work for Entre Prises USA Climbing Walls as a designer and project manager. He said it combined two of his passions, designing and building.
He eventually bought the business and over 14 years was able to increase the number of employees from 11 to 70. In 2008, he sold the business and attributes much of his success in developing the business and preparing it for sale to his participation on his Opportunity Knocks team.
“I found the support and knowledge in that room really gave me confidence in making decisions about my business and helped me not feel like I was in a vacuum,” Meade said about the time spent on his team.
Meade’s first goal for 2012 is to add 70 new members. He knows he will reach that goal because he says he tells them his own story. “I know Opportunity Knocks works.”
A second goal is to support the Team Committee that is responsible for recruiting, training and supporting volunteer facilitators. Facilitators are the glue that holds the organization together. They meet with their team members monthly to help them think strategically, solve problems and achieve their goals.
“Opportunity Knocks is very fortunate to have someone of Eric’s caliber leading our membership development effort,” said Moseley.
Opportunity Knocks is the one Central Oregon business advisory organization that provides small business decision-makers the ability to achieve their goals by providing each member with their own collaborative peer-to-peer group of concerned small business advisors that offer trusted solutions.
