Ed Belding credits his move from airplane mechanic to owning a pest control business to a bit of serendipity. He had taken a get-by job as a part-time driverdelivering bread when he and his wife realized they had an ant problem.

“This guy come over to look at it, and we got to talking, and Ithought, ‘I could do this!’” says Belding, of Newberg. He knew he had a good personality for networking and sales. Ten years into running Evergreen Pest Management, Belding decided he needed some help with the business aspects of his company, and contacted the Small Business Development Center at Clackamas Community College. 

He has taken one class and several workshops since then, and says the SBDC has had a “huge impact on my business. I’ve learned things I never had any idea were important, for example, I just learned the benefits of being incorporated versus being a sole proprietor.” The SBDC also has coached Belding through taxes and legal benefits, while also giving him a shot of motivation when he needs it. 

Belding’s goal is to build the company up, sell it and retire in about 10 years. “With the SBDC’s help, I’ve been able to fulfill the dream of having my own business,” he says. “Sometimes I think it’d be easier to work for somebody else, but there’s a lot of benefits to doing this. I get to go fishing when I want to.”