Tadd Mick, majority owner of Tradewinds Charters in Depoe Bay, Oregon, along with co-owners Noelie Achen and Chris Schaffner are being recognized as Oregon’s Small Business Persons of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. As part of that recognition, Mick and Achen will be traveling to Washington, D.C. in early May to take part in a special awards ceremony hosted by the agency where the national Small Business Person of the Year will be named.
“Tadd, Noelie and Chris are outstanding entrepreneurs who navigated Tradewinds Charters through the pandemic and are now growing the company,” said Sam Goldstein, deputy district director, Portland District Office. “Tradewinds Charters showcases one of the most beautiful areas of our state, creating memorable experiences for Oregon visitors. In addition, this local tourism gem strongly supports the community giving generously of their time, resources and expertise.”
This award is part of the SBA’s annual National Small Business Week celebration recognizing exceptional entrepreneurs, small businesses and partner organizations. Other Oregon honorees include:
Exporter of the Year
Epha, Inc. of Hermiston, which also garnered the Pacific Northwest Region’s Exporter of the Year award.
Small Business Development Center Excellence & Innovation Award
Clackamas Small Business Development Center in Milwaukie, which is also being recognized as the Pacific Northwest Region’s SBDC winner. Clackamas SBDC is led by Rob Campbell, Director.
Nano Business of the Year
Himalayan Dumplings & More, LLC, of Beaverton, owned by Kyikyi (Tenzin) Yeshi-Men.
Small Business Champion
Stephen Todd DeAngelo, DeAngelo’s Catering and Events, Inc. of Tigard.
“Oregon’s small businesses and communities thrive due to our spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Goldstein. “All of the business owners and small business supporters who are being recognized this year certainly reflect those attributes.”
Goldstein will be visiting each of the winners in May to present the awards in person.
In addition to winning state and district honors, two of the awardees were recognized as winners for the Pacific Northwest Region which serves Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
“Congratulations to Mitch Myers of Epha, Inc., the Pacific Northwest Region’s Exporter of the Year, who exemplifies how small manufacturers can grow their businesses by expanding into international markets,” said Apollo Fuhriman, SBA regional administrator for the Pacific Northwest. “Utilizing resources offered by the SBA and partner organizations, Epha continues to increase their manufacturing capacity and revenues benefitting both the Hermiston and national economies.”
Fuhriman also recognized the Clackamas Small Business Development Center as the region’s SBDC of the Year.
“Under the leadership of Rob Campbell, the Clackamas Small Business Development Center is making a huge difference in the lives of dozens of entrepreneurs every year, helping them start and grow their businesses,” said Fuhriman. “By increasing the center’s outreach while racking up impressively high client satisfaction marks, Clackamas SBDC is helping to keep businesses and their communities growing and vibrant.”
Fuhriman added his praise and appreciation to all of Oregon’s National Small Business Week awardees.
“Congratulations to the innovative and dedicated business owners and supporters who are being recognized as Oregon’s National Small Business Week winners,” said Fuhriman. “Their entrepreneurial spirit is commendable and serves as an inspiration to the owners of Oregon’s 410,000 small businesses.”
Oregon Small Business Persons of the Year
Oregon’s Small Business Persons of the Year are the owners of Tradewinds Charters in Depoe Bay.
Tadd Mick is the president and majority owner of Tradewinds Charters, a booking agent for fishing and whale watching excursions on the central Oregon coast. Tadd and co-owners Noelie Achen and Chris Schaffner purchased the company in 2021 and employ four people.
Tradewinds Charters books trips for six independent vessels and offers scenic whale watching cruises, bottom fishing, crabbing, salmon, halibut, deep-water, ling cod and tuna fishing, with filleters to filet the day of the catch. Tradewinds Charters owns a private dock and facilities, including a tackle and gift shop.
Tadd’s father was an elementary school teacher who ended every day with words of wisdom, “Treat people the way you want to be treated and life will be much easier.” This is Tadd’s motto and the way he lives his life.
Tradewinds Charters was nominated by Gregory Price, Director, Oregon Coast Community College Small Business Development Center, Lincoln City.
Exporter of the Year
(Oregon & Pacific Northwest Region)
The Exporter of the Year for Oregon and the Pacific Northwest Region is Epha, Inc. of Hermiston. The company manufactures plastic hose accessories including its popular main product: a hose protector capable of reducing hose failures by up to 90%. Owner Mitch Myers is a fourth generation, lifelong Hermiston resident who embraced opportunities to export to Argentina, Australia and Indonesia. Epha, Inc. has increased manufacturing capacity by 40% and had sales growth of 35% in 2024.
Epha, Inc., was nominated by Paul Long and Randy Jansons with Gesa Credit Union in Richland, Wash.
Small Business Development Center Excellence & Innovation Award
(Oregon & Pacific Northwest Region)
The Small Business Development Center Excellence & Innovation Award for both Oregon and the Pacific Northwest Region is Clackamas Small Business Development Center in Milwaukie. Clackamas SBDC is led by Rob Campbell, Director.
The Clackamas SBDC exceeded goals measuring business outreach and successes including assisting with starting up 80 small businesses, creating 148 jobs and scoring an impressive client satisfaction rating of 4.7 out of 5.
Nano Business of the Year
Himalayan Dumplings & More, LLC, of Beaverton, owned by Kyikyi (Tenzin) Yeshi-Men is the Nano Business of the Year. Tenzin began her entrepreneurship journey to realize her dream of preserving her at-risk heritage by providing nourishing Tibetan food made from scratch. A third generation Tibetan-in-exile, Tenzin started by doing pop-up events using borrowed cookware and has since expanded into an established location in Beaverton.
Himalayan Dumplings & More was nominated by Tracy Puhl, Program Manager, Oregon Women’s Business Center at Livelihood NW in Portland.
Small Business Champion
DeAngelo’s Catering and Events, Inc., in Tigard has been a cornerstone of the Portland metropolitan area’s culinary scene since 1982. Owner Stephen Todd DeAngelo was selective for his decades-long commitment to his local non-profits and small businesses. Stephen has supported the Tigard Chamber of Commerce, assumed real estate ownership in the then-blighted downtown core and is active with the Clackamas Small Business Development Center.
DeAngelo was nominated by Rob Campbell and Diana Tourney of the Clackamas SBDC.
About National Small Business Week:
Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners have made in their communities and neighborhoods. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, creating about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners from all 50 states including U.S. territories. Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create good jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness.
This year, National Small Business Week runs from May 4-10.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration:
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.
