About Us
Venture Portland
Means Business
Since 1986 Venture Portland has invested in the smart, strategic growth of Portland’s unique business districts. These dynamic districts, which together make up a majority of the city’s businesses and nearly half of its jobs, play a vital role in Portland’s economic prosperity and collectively represent local, regional, national and international demand for goods and services.
Included
Our Impact
On The Business of Portland
The business of Portland is about more than business. It’s about people, neighborhoods and culture. It’s about a vision for our city that business owners, residents and government officials share. It’s about risk and reward. Building capacity to build the city. Growing the economy to grow prosperity. And connecting capital, creativity and community. It’s about growing business and connecting communities.
Through grants, trainings, and marketing Venture Portland builds the capacity of and connections between Portland’s business districts.
Business
Leaders
Portland’s business districts, like Venture Portland, are managed by a passionate group of volunteers working hard to make their businesses and communities succeed. Leaders from diverse business districts make up the Venture Portland board of directors and contribute more than 1,000 volunteer hours annually in addition to the hours spent running their business districts and own businesses.
Venture Portland is a key partner in the city’s economic development efforts to create new jobs and stimulate small business vitality.
Our Board
An All-Volunteer Board of Directors
Venture Portland is comprised of an all-volunteer board of directors and professional staff. The board is made up of delegates from member business districts that simultaneously serve on Venture Portland’s board and contribute to their business district while also working at their own businesses. Per the organization’s bylaws, directors are elected each April by Venture Portland’s membership.
Executive Committee
Eric Larpenteur, President
Nicole Tignor, Vice President & Secretary
Michael Chase, Treasurer
Eleni Gerding, Past President
Directors
Andrea Blanco
Central Eastside Industrial Council
Marketing and Communications Manager
Nancy Chapin
Pamela Coven
Hawthorne Blvd Business Association
PBS Consulting
Greg Madden
Our Staff
Dedicated to the Prosperity of Portland Business
Venture Portland’s staff have diverse backgrounds with significant business district and non-profit management experience. They are passionate about preserving the unique character of Portland’s business districts.
Jacob has been with Venture Portland since 2013. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Jacob has a diverse background that includes video production, marketing, non-profit administration and grantmaking with organizations like the Pew Charitable Trusts. A passionate advocate for Portland’s neighborhood business districts, Jacob has helped grow Venture Portland by developing new grant programs, trainings, marketing tools, and the Catalytic Investment Initiative.