Fishing for Success

Steve Dana started hanging around boats when he was just a lad. He would work all winter just to earn a few dollars, which would get him a spot on one of the charter boats headed out for a fishing expedition.
In 1973 Steve was finally able to buy his first boat and sometime later founded Linda Sue III Charters. Over a period of time he continued to work a day job plus the charter service in his spare time. He continued to use whatever money he earned to trade up until in 1992 he purchased the Oakland Pilot a boat capable of carrying 30 people at a time out to over 100 miles at sea. Booking fishing trips from a phone in his trailer park home Steve built the business up to where he could afford to work at it full time.

In 1998 Steve enrolled in the Small Business Management Program at the Tillamook SBDC BizCenter and was awarded a completion certicate for the two year program.

Earlier this year the opportunity arose to buy a rival charter company with a sales office right on the high traffic area of the Port of Garibaldi Pier for $70,000.

Jim Casey, the Interim Director of the BizCenter worked with Steve to put together a new business plan and loan proposal. First they got U.S.Bank to commit to a loan for half of the required amount. With this in hand they turned to the Columbia Pacific Economic Development District who agreed to loan the other $35,000 from their revolving loan fund. This allowed the deal to be finalized.

The move from his home to the pier has tripled Steve's Company's revenue compared to the same period a year ago.

Linda Sue Charters offers Halibut Fishing, Deep Reef Bottom Fishing, Conventional Light Tackle Bottom Fishing, Salmon Fishing and Tuna Fishing depending on the season. In additon the company offers whale watching, towing, and exursions.

“With help from the BizCenter, the move from my home to the pier has tripled my company's revenue.”

—STEVE DANA
LINDA SUE III CHARTERS
TILLAMOOK, OR