Local businesses provide employment for area residents and products and services close to home. Mid-county Memo Business Memos celebrate news, advancements, promotions, retirements, expansions and other noteworthy events at these cornerstones of our community. To share news of your business with our readers, Business Memo submissions for the June issue are due by Friday, May 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. You may also mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave., Portland, OR 97230. To leave a phone message, dial 503-287-8904. The Mid-county Memo fax number is 503-249-7672.

 

Florist opens coffee shop

Located next to the Portland Florist Shop on Northeast 118th and Glisan Street, there’s a new coffee shop in east Portland. In May, as a “Let’s get acquainted offer,” new customers get a free cup of coffee just fort stopping by and saying hi. COURTESY LYNNE POHRMAN

Located next to the Portland Florist Shop on Northeast 118th and Glisan Street, there’s a new coffee shop in east Portland. In May, as a “Let’s get acquainted offer,” new customers get a free cup of coffee just fort stopping by and saying hi.
COURTESY LYNNE POHRMAN

Portland Florist Shop owner Lynne Pohrman did not hesitate when the space housing a pellet stove company adjacent to hers became vacant. Last month, after negotiating with the property owner, Pohrman opened the Portland Coffee Shop next to her florist shop. Featuring illy-Italian coffee, Pohrman said the new venture compliments her floral business since she recently added chocolates and coffee with flower deliveries. “With the new store, we deliver flowers, baked goods, and now coffee to anywhere in the Portland metro area,” Pohrman said.

With seating inside and out, the new Portland Coffee Shop is at 530 N.E. 118th Ave.

Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday thru Friday, and Saturdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Along with chocolate treats from Moonstruck and Godiva Chocolates, and McTavish and Sarah’s Cookies, the menu features pastries from Beaverton and JaCiva Bakeries, and the Marsee Baking Company. In addition, you can get a smoothie, milkshake, and tea at the new Portland Coffee Shop.

 

PHS FBLA students excel at state aided by Businessperson of the Year
The Parkrose Future Business Leaders of America chapter competed at the State Business Leadership Conference in downtown Portland last month. Students developed projects based on their choice of 60 different competitive events offered through FBLA. Parkrose students developed projects that ranged as broadly as writing business plans, creating websites, developing digital promotion material, and animating in 3D. Students then developed presentations to help describe their projects. Twenty-six students from Parkrose joined nearly 1,500 business students from around the state to compete for a chance to take their project to the National FBLA Conference at the end of June.

The Parkrose FBLA nominated its local advocate, Judy Kennedy of Pacific NW Federal Credit Union, for the 2015 FBLA Businessperson of the Year award. Kennedy won and was presented with that award at the opening session of the conference by Parkrose Business Advisor Mike Verhulst.

Students placing in the top three in their respective competitive events earned the right to represent their school and the state at the national conference in Chicago, Ill.

The following students from Parkrose qualified to attend the national conference:

• 3D Animation: 1st, Monica Chao, Vince Ngo
• Job Interview: 1st, Reid Rubsam
• Digital Design & Promotion: 1st, Jada Krening, Shelby Martin
• Business Plan: 2nd, Parris Le, Brandon Treadway
• E-Business: 2nd, David Kuzmenko, David Pavlenko
• American Enterprise Project: 3rd, Emile Wolpert, Theresa Nguyen
• Digital Design & Promotion: 3rd, Tina Vuong, Lydia Pavlenko
• Entrepreneurship: 3rd, Emile Wolpert, Carla Canseco
• Public Service Announcement: 3rd, Kristy Lu, Shelby Cleveland
• Website Design: 3rd, Ngan Nguyen, Dylan Truong

Others ranking in the top 10 statewide included:
• Personal Finance: 4th, Reid Rubsam
• Website Design: 4th, Lilia Bechtel,Nadja Schaffer
• Community Service Project: 5th,Reid Rubsam, Carla Canseco
• Public Speaking II: 7th, Jade Bradford
• Business Plan: 9th, Nate Frary
• Securities & Investments: 9th, Emile Wolpert
• Cyber Security: 10th, place David Kuzmenko
• Business Plan: 10th, Jeanette Pham, Elizabeth Rivas

Of the 18 students who qualified to attend the national conference, nine have decided to raise the necessary funds to attend. These nine students will fly to Chicago at the end of June and join over 9,000 of the brightest business students in the U.S. Students placing in the top 10 at the national conference are competing for cash prizes and possible scholarships. With the total cost of the trip nearly $1,800, these students have a long road of fundraising ahead of them. To help achieve their financial goals, students will participate in a letter writing campaign to family, request grants from local organizations, and operate the student store. If you would like to help out, contact Mike Verhulst at mike_verhulst@parkrose.k12.or.us.