Success Story: Technology
Family Values Equals Success
Husband and wife team Jim and Denise Weir are second generation managers of a Newport business, Photo Run Plus and NetBridge Internet. In April, 1996 NetBridge Internet was formed and became one of this area's first local Internet service provider. Jim worked with the Small Business Development Center, and volunteered countless hours, to provide initial hands-on Internet exposure for local residents. Jim and Denise joined the Small Business Management Program in 1997 and will graduate in June 1999.
Photo Run Plus was purchased by Jim (Sr.) and Daisy Weir in February, 1988. Both had previous business experience to draw from and quickly made Photo Run Plus into a thriving business. One key to their success was that they continually strived for, and gave, the best quality and customer service possible. From almost the beginning, Jim (Jr.) and Denise Weir worked in the business and learned from first-hand experience. The lessons they learned from Jim (Sr.) and Daisy were extremely valuable and served as the building blocks for future growth. In 1994, the business added Cellular Phone sales and Digital Imaging for their customers. A year later, Jim and Denise became the new managers of this rapidly expanding business. In 1996, computer sales and service, as well as the NetBridge Internet service, was added to the business. To help accommodate this growth, they moved to their present location, 1241 North Coast Highway, in Newport.
NetBridge Internet provides training and services to help local small businesses.
"The SBM Program has been especially helpful in the area of accounting. Ron Spisso has made it easier to make sense of our financial statements and has given us several insights into accounting. It has also been encouraging to see that the problems of our small business seems to be common among many small businesses. We're not alone in the problems we face on a day to day basis. The SBM program brings small businesses together to learn and network with fellow business owners and managers. This helps those of us in business cope with the problems that invariably crop up. The monthly one-on-one meetings with Ron have been an invaluable source of information as well. We're both looking forward to the SBM II classes to continue our education and fellowship with other small business owners." - Jim Weir.
Since this story was first written, Jim and Denise have sold their NetBridge Internet service business to a company from Eugene. It is still housed in the same location where they serve as landlords. They now work full-time in their Photo Run Plus business. |
