West Linn Entrepreneur Named Oregon Small Business Champion of the Year

SALEM, Ore., Aug. 19, 2010 – West Linn golf course owner Jan Kaiser was named the Solveras/NFIB Oregon Small Business Champion of the Year today in recognition of her commitment to helping solve the difficulties surrounding small business solvency in the state.

The honor was conferred upon her by the Oregon Leadership Council of NFIB and Solveras Payment Solutions, one of the nation’s leading payment processing companies for small business. Each year, NFIB and Solveras single out a small business owner in all 50 states for special recognition and honor him or her with the prestigious Small Business Champion of the Year award. This is the seventh year America’s leading small business association and Solveras have recognized small business owners who go the extra mile for their fellow entrepreneurs.

“You cannot help but be charged by her positive influence,” said Jan Meekcoms, Oregon state director for NFIB. “She has testified before the Legislature on small business issues, been our go-to person for official comment on matters vital to the state’s entrepreneurial health, and she participates in every election cycle to identify and promote candidates who support small business. She also knows first hand how government can almost ruin people for doing nothing more than playing by the rules.”

Kaiser and her husband, William, started construction on Sandelie Golf Course with nine holes in 1969 and, a few years later, expanded to 18 holes. The Kaisers’ original plan called for the development of lots around the golf course, and they received all the necessary approvals from state. Shortly after, the state pulled the rug out from under them, sending this job-growing, law-abiding couple into dire financial straits. “We got involved in NFIB because it’s very difficult to own a business in Oregon with regulations coming at you from all sides,” said Kaiser. “Our personal experience of being told one thing by our government and then another taught us the importance of being part of a larger association with a greater voice for getting through to policymakers.”

In addition to her service on NFIB’s Leadership Council, Leadership Trust, and political action committee, Kaiser also assists the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias with fundraising. Jan Kaiser can be reached for comment at 503-655-1461.

Last year’s Small Business Champion of the Year award winner was Chuck Jones of Portland, who also won it in 2008. In 2007, it went to Charlie Tragesser of Lake Oswego; in 2006, to Dave Easton of Forest Grove. Eric Blackledge of Corvallis won it in 2005 and Jon Egge of Clackamas in 2004.