OEI

Organization for Economic Initiatives, Inc.

OEI is an Oregon private, non-profit corporation that has successfully assisted Oregon businesses in developing new markets for over 35 years. OEI began Oregon's first statewide sustainability program, Oregon Marketplace, linking purchasers of raw materials and components to Oregon suppliers and manufacturers. From 1985-1995, Oregon Marketplace was written about in the Wall Street Journal and Horizon Air's in-flight magazine, and duplicated in several states and Canadian provinces, keeping about $100 million in state. 

In 1993, OEI took over the administration of Oregon's Statewide Apex Accelerator, also known as Oregon Apex Accelerator. Since 1986, Oregon Apex Accelerator has provided counseling and opportunities matching resulting in Oregon businesses landing over a billion dollars in government contracts, creating and retaining thousands of jobs. OEI has also managed outreach and training efforts for the Jobs-in-the-Woods program with the US Department of Agriculture, Forestry and for the Emerging Small Business program with the Oregon Department of Transportation. In 2007, OEI became the prime contractor and grantee in support of the Northwest Manufacturing Initiative, a remarkable public-private partnership aimed at improving advanced manufacturing capabilities and markets for NW firms.

OEI Staff

• Rick Evans- OEI Executive Director 541-297-7774 ; revans@gcap.org

OEI Board Members

• Michael Lainoff: President. Former Oregon SBDC Network State Director and business consultant.
• Wendy Garcia: CFO Native American Technology Corp. (NATECH)
• Dan Warden: Secretary/Treasurer: Former CEO of CV International, an Oregon small business manufacturer.
• Stephen Mohorko: Executive Director of Business Development, Tribal One Corporation