The following was an actual question submitted to the Ask Jenine Form. Names have been changed for anonymity.

RISE – Reputation, Initiative, Scaling, Enduring

Hey, Jenine! I’ve been in business for a long season but I am stuck. I want to continue to be independent and provide for my family and I want to grow and leave a legacy. Thoughts on what’s next? I’m ready to spring into action.

Respectfully,

Iris Bloome 

Dear Iris Bloome,

Spring is a time of optimism, hopefulness, and vision and you are RISE-ing to the occasion. When you ask, "what’s next?” that tells me that you are planning to grow and RISE to a season of abundance.

Planting a garden means that you believe in tomorrow and as an entrepreneur, you plant your business, cultivate its growth, and reap the benefits of a harvest. As you stated that you have been in business for season or two, I assume you have a solid foundation and are looking to nurture and produce a legacy.

REPUTATION – What do your clients tell others about you? Your most valuable asset in business is REPUTATION. Your reputation is what people think and say about you when you are not there. It is what words they use to talk about you and your work. The secret to cultivating a flourishing business is growing your reputation and developing the habits that are consistent with the person you want to be and the things you want to accomplish. This is where you will truly reap the harvest.

INITIATIVE – If your business is just budding or stagnating, it is your responsibility to take INITIATIVE and ask questions and dig for help! There are many opportunities available around Oregon to fertilize and explore your business opportunities. Several Oregon Agencies have free virtual trainings and in-person events on topics ranging from Tax Support, How to Register a Business, Small Business Assistance, and Registering in OregonBuys. There are regional Small Business Summits  with many state agencies in the room to provide information on business basics, taxes, workforce development, contracting with the government, and so much more. There are free business mentorship programs that you can participate in or become a mentor yourself. In addition, ways to flourish can even be fun, join your local Chamber of Commerce. If you have questions about any of these resources or how to find them, follow this Ask Jenine link.

SCALING - Let me offer some sage advice. As you are ready to bloom, continue asking yourself, “Am I growing something healthy and good?” If not, weed out any negative or unproductive thoughts. Do you need more staff, consider reaching out to agencies such as WorkSource Oregon or contact Greg Ivers for information on Workforce Development Programs and Employer Incentives in your area. Does your staff need childcare assistance? Healthcare? There are programs for those as well.

ENDURING - Give yourself and your business the proper nourishment and sunshine to grow to health and vigor and ENDURE season after season. To cultivate your ENDURING legacy, as an entrepreneur, you are responsible to branch out in ways that lead to more contentment and positivity and effectiveness in your work and work force.

RISE and bloom.

I’m rooting for you.

-Jenine

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our expertise and insights can help drive meaningful change in Oregon’s procurement and economic equity strategies! We invite you to participate in the committees and workgroups addressing each of the 29 recommendations from the 2023 State of Oregon Disparity Study over the next 13 months.

We are seeking individuals who have experience in procurement, policy, business equity or economic development, who represent diverse perspectives and industries, and who are passionate about advancing equitable business opportunities in Oregon.

Available Opportunities:

• Advisory Committee: Quarterly Meetings
• Steering Committee: Monthly Meetings

Sign up for the Advisory Committee or Steering Committee.

Subgroups on specific recommendations: 90 day commitments (email Alexandria.straub@das.oregon.gov for the list and dates).

A Common Struggle: Honoring the Invisible Wounds of Service

In remembrance of Sgt. Raymond "Ray Ray" DeJon Meyer 

May marks Mental Health Awareness Month and the national observance of Memorial Day—a convergence that invites us to reflect on the often-unseen burdens carried by those who serve. This month, we pause to honor the memory of Sgt. Raymond “Ray Ray” DeJon Meyer, a beloved Oregonian and friend, who served courageously with Troop E in Woodburn, Oregon. Ray completed two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan as a combat field medic, answering the call with skill, compassion, and unshakable loyalty.

Sgt. Meyer’s early experiences with battlefield trauma—rushing to save the lives of fellow soldiers during one of the Oregon National Guard’s first major casualties—left a deep and lasting impact. Though his commitment to service never wavered, the psychological toll of war followed him home. On February 3, 2017, Ray passed on, leaving behind a legacy of courage, sacrifice, and truth—a truth that reminds us that the cost of service includes not just physical injury, but emotional and psychological scars as well.

To recognize the gravity of that sacrifice, we spotlight two important works this month:

• “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction” by Patrick J. Kennedy, which explores the deeply personal and political dimensions of mental health in America. This work invites us to remove the stigma surrounding trauma, depression, and addiction—especially within the military community and among our public servants.
• “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, a searing collection of linked stories about a platoon of American soldiers in the Vietnam War, reveals that what soldiers carry—both literal and emotional—can outlast the battlefield. Through fiction, O’Brien reveals hard truths: that war doesn’t end when soldiers return home, and that remembrance must extend beyond the ceremonial.

Both books serve as a bridge between personal pain and collective understanding, offering us language and perspective to better support those who serve—and those who grieve.

This Memorial Day, the Office of Procurement Equity dedicates this message to Sgt. Ray Meyer and to all our Oregon veterans who have borne the weight of duty. We honor not only your service but your humanity. Let us carry your stories forward with dignity, honesty, and care.

-Prof Chris

Customs Duties

Last month, we explored price adjustment clauses and change orders, essential tools for navigating unexpected shifts in project costs. International trade relations can introduce additional volatility to your already complex sourcing work. Whether you’re managing contracts with international components or ordering supplies which are sourced overseas, the unpredictability of customs charges can make planning difficult and pricing even harder.

To help bring clarity into a shifting landscape, in the coming months, we will be exploring different customs duties that may affect your work and your business.

Definition:

Black’s Law Dictionary 11^th edition defines customs duties as, “a tax imposed on the import or export of goods, assessed by a government at the border based on the nature and value of the items.”

Whether you are preparing a bid, evaluating proposals, or trying to stay competitive in an increasingly global marketplace, duties directly affect cost. Knowing how they work can help both sides of the procurement relationship anticipate expenses and communicate more effectively.