Springfield Executive Profile: Debra Gruell

The Life & Work of a Local Executive

(Published December 26, 2007)


Debra Gruell - The Springfield Museum

BACKGROUND

Name: Debra Gruell
Title: Director
Organization: Springfield Museum
Work Experience: Worked 17 years for a food broker, serving as VP of Sales & Marketing; created and taught ArtSmart Kids in hundreds of organizations across the country and on Carnival Cruise Line ships; came to Oregon three years ago to teach the program in Yachats and at the Corvallis Art Center; first came to Springfield to teach ArtSmart Kids for Willamalane Parks & Recreation.
Education: Herron School of Art; Associates Degree from Indiana Business College
Birthplace: Madison, Indiana

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Business Philosophy: The Golden Rule
Core Values: Family. Friends. Art. Animals. Play.
Measures for Success: Getting up each day and making a difference in the lives of people I see and work with; then going to bed each night saying “Thank you for this day!”
Goals Yet to Achieve: Getting my 32-book series, “Art Adventures with the ArtSmart Kids” into print and distributed; traveling to Italy and enjoying the whole country for several months.
Personal Mission: To live my life the best I can with the tools I’ve been given; to make a difference in the life of kids, especially in ways they experience the arts.
Words That Best Describe You: Artistic. Gentle. Loving.

KEY DECISIONS

Toughest Decision: Leaving my two sons and grandchildren back in Indiana when I came to Oregon to live and work.
Worst Decision: Not going to school to study art instead of business when I was a young woman.
Best Decision: To honor my lifelong vision and returning to art.
Missed Opportunities: Waiting until the 1990’s to go back to school to study art (because I didn’t believe I was a good enough artist).
Mentor Who Mattered Most: My grandmother, Lillie Mae.

CONFESSIONS

Best Part of Your Job: Feeling so well-supported by our Board and volunteers in a community that cares about its history and the Springfield Museum.
Worst Part of Your Job: Commuting back and forth from Yachats while seeking a home here.
Traits You Most Seek in People You Hire or in Volunteers: Willingness to do their best with the talents they have.
First work You Did For Pay: I was a locker room attendant at the swimming pool in Greenfield, Indiana. I squeegeed the floors and disinfected the bathrooms, then sat up front and gave out locker keys to kids.
Most Important Life Lesson: Things can get better … and they do! There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
Your Life Passions: Art. Teaching. Grandchildren. Travel. Cooking. Gardening.
Pet Peeves: Laziness. Whiners.
Living Person You’d Most Like to Meet and Have A Conversation With: Oprah. I would talk with her about her school in Africa and doing ArtSmart Kids programs for the girls there. Maybe she’d be interested in being publisher of my whole series of books!
Top Choice for a New Career: Be a writer.
Personal Legacy That Matters Most: My sons, Glenn and Joel, and my grandchildren. I’ve had so many special moments with them, lots of laughs, and such good times together.

FAVORITES

Most Influential Book: The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. It was the first book I bought when I was 15 years old and I’ve gone back and read it again a number of times.
Memorable Movies: Under the Tuscan Sun. White Christmas (It always brings tears to my eyes).
Enjoyable Musician/Music: Jazz and smooth jazz (The Rippingtons and Diana Krall); classical (Luciano Pavarotti).
Websites Most Often Visited: MapQuest (I get lost a lot around here!); springfieldmuseum.com; and lots of art sites.
Best Advice You Ever Received: “Be your own best friend” (from my grandmother, Lillie Mae).
Person in History You Most Admire: Helen Keller.
Quote You Know By Heart: “It took me four years to paint like Raphael and a lifetime to paint like a child” by Pablo Picasso.
First Choice for Spending Free Time: Walking the beach with friends; talking with my grandkids; drawing and cooking.
Best Vacation Destinations: Paris (seeing The Louvre); closer to home – the Oregon Coast.
Favorite Food/Cuisine: Pasta and seafood.
Causes You Support/Volunteer Work: The Humane Society; Orphanages and Special Needs programs for children.
Cherished Possessions: My 15-year old cocker spaniel, Buster.
Fondest Memories: Camping with my sons when they were boys – canoeing and fishing on the Patoka Reservoir in Indiana; the births of my grandchildren.
How You’d Like to Live Your Last Day: Walking the beach with my loved ones and dog, Buster; eating lots of pasta and tiramisu; signing a few more printed copies of my “Art Adventures with ArtSmart Kids” books!

-- Interviewed by Todd Peterson, The Springfield Beacon

Coffee & Conversation: Marv Berkman - MarCel

Talking With A Springfield Business Owner

Published December 19, 2007

Marv Berkman -- MarCel Wholesale Outlet

When Marv Berkman was a young man, he worked in a small wholesale sundries business run by his parents in Canton, Ohio. Though he went on to a career in medicine, his interest in the business of wholesaling remained with him. A few years before his retirement from McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in 1998, Marv started MarCel as an importing and distributing company.

Today, MarCel is the largest importer in the Northwest of hand-carved and hand-painted bamboo wind chimes from Bali. They're also a leading importer of dreamcatchers from Bali and a variety of other products including imported toys, jewelry, novelties, and specialty items from many countries of the world. MarCel's products are distributed for sale in gift shops, garden centers, pharmacies, casinos, and souvenir shops as well as sold in their Springfield retail store and via the internet at www.wholesaletoyou.com.

We sat down with Marv at his retail outlet for a chat about his company.

Q: How did you get started in your business?

A: I started the business in 1993 after seeing many importing opportunities during international travels with my wife. We decided to begin wholesaling imports from Bali, India, and Mexico. I began selling products out of the trunk of my car, then as our product line grew, sold from our garage at home, and then expanded into a duplex I bought near the hospital. The business has continued to grow over the years as we've added many new products found during my trips to Bali and acquired more sales representatives.


Q: What led you to locate your business in downtown Springfield?

A: I had been contemplating starting a retail outlet in Springfield for awhile and needed additional storage space for our inventory. When this building at the corner of 7th and Main came available, I decided to buy it. It has the space we need and, together with Dave and Darla Harris at Bright Oak Meats next door, we're enjoying being in this great location. For me, this block of Main Street is a breath of fresh air. I love being here and enjoy my regular visits to Terese's and The Pump for coffee and lunch. Being downtown is invigorating for me and for our business.

Q: How has your business changed over the years?
A: We've gone from mostly local sales with me doing all the selling to building a network of fifteen independent sales representatives around the country. We also began selling over the internet and added the retail outlet here in 2005.

I hired Dawn Brandon to manage the store and she works along with Angie Barrie to serve our retail customers. It has been delightful to work with them and I appreciate all they do to make the business successful.

Over the past five years, interest in handcrafted imports seems to have waned somewhat. Many small businesses which sold our products have closed or new management has taken them over after mergers. The "big box" stores have taken some "niche" product sales away from us. But not many chain stores carry products like ours because I go to small villages in Bali and buy directly from the people who make them.

Q: What do you see as coming trends in your business?

A: I expect to increase sales at our retail outlet as more people find us due to additional sidewalk traffic resulting from events at the Wildish Theater. Also, I expect that our internet business will continue to grow.

Q: How has your business activity been this year?

A: Our trend has been slightly positive over the past five years -- 2 to 3 percent a year. With our prices closer to wholesale levels, I had expected to do more retail business than we have this year. Business from our internet site is about 5% of total sales and growing.

Q: What is your outlook for 2008?

A: We recently added a new Portland-based sales rep organization with five salespeople in Oregon so I expect added business from them. I'll be going to the Los Angeles Gift Show in January and will look for more independent salespeople to represent us. I'll also be going back to Bali in March to find more new products for us to import and distribute. And, as I mentioned, we expect growth in both retail and internet sales.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?

A: I enjoy the everyday contact and relationship-building with my employees and our customers. Plus, I like the challenge of being successful in a competitive business environment.

I also love going to the mountain villages in Bali to meet the people and buy their beautifully made products. And it's fun to see the handmade items I bought from the artisans in Bali sell to our customers in the U.S.

Q: What statement would you like people to use in describing how you do business?

A: MarCel offers high quality imported products, good prices, and excellent, personalized service.

MarCel Wholesale Outlet is located at 660 Main Street, Suite B in Springfield. Open 11 am - 4 pm, Monday thru Friday (and Saturdays until Christmas). Phone: 988-9919. Website: www.wholesaletoyou.com.

-- Todd Peterson, The Springfield Beacon

For a larger view of all photos, click on the image.

Springfield Executive Profile: Debra Marcus

The Life & Work of A Local Business Executive

(Published December 12, 2007)

Debra Marcus - Pioneer Pacific College

BACKGROUND

Name: Debra Marcus
Title: Campus President
Organization: Pioneer Pacific College
Work Experience: Production Director for a business magazine publisher in New York City; worked on Leaders Magazine, read by 38,000 leaders in the world. Started in Admissions with Pioneer Pacific College in Portland in 1996. Moved to the local area in 1999 and started the Springfield Campus in 2002.
Education: B.A. from Stony Brook University, Long Island, New York.
Residence: Springfield

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Business Philosophy: Hard work pays off. It is the cornerstone for success.
Core Values: Integrity. Consistency. Working hard. Measures for Success: Seeing our graduates being placed in new jobs. Our job placement rate is 84% and over 1000 graduates are working in Lane County today.
Goals Yet to Achieve: Getting our new LPN program started in the Spring of 2008. Then seeing the progress of this nursing program which will be in a new building next door (along with other possible programs in the future).
Personal Mission: To be of service to people in a real way.


KEY BUSINESS DECISIONS

Toughest Decisions: Those involved in hiring and firing people.
Best Decision: Agreeing to start this school and taking on the challenges of leadership.
Missed Opportunities: I thought about going to Law school many years ago but in retrospect, glad to miss it.
Mentors Who Mattered Most: I'm fortunate to have worked with many extraordinary people. Many friends and teachers opened my eyes to the world and helped me understand my path, giving me the courage to follow it.

CONFESSIONS

Best Part of Your Job: Establishing relationships with people I work with. We’ve “grown up” together over past five years – building trust and understanding.
Worst Part of Your Job: Having to fire people.
Traits You Most Seek in People You Hire: Commitment to getting the job done. Hard working. Trustworthy.
Pet Peeves: People not willing to do the work to get the job done.
First Work You Did For Pay: Other than babysitting, in high school I was a cashier at a fruit store in New York City.
Most Important Life Lesson: Not to be afraid to take risks. When I’ve taken the biggest risks, life has given me many gifts.
Your Life Passion: To be true to myself – true to what I believe in.
Living Person You’d Most Like to Meet and Have A Conversation With: The next President of the United States. We’d talk about peace and ways to achieve peace on earth in nonviolent ways. It can’t be achieved with more through war and violence.


FAVORITES

Enjoyable Musician/Music: Ron Thomas, my husband, who plays guitar and sings. And, from earlier in my life, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and Cat Stevens.
Best Advice You Ever Received: Don’t be afraid to be honest with people.
Person in History You Most Admire: Eleanor Roosevelt.
First Choice for Spending Free Time: Walking my dog.
Best Vacation Destinations: Peru and Europe.
Favorite Food/Cuisine: Japanese and Thai.
Causes You Support/Volunteer Work: I was a hospice volunteer for many years but haven’t been able to continue due to my job responsibilities. We support Food for Lane County and the Eugene Mission. And we have a “Giving Tree” at work to make sure all of our students’ kids receive gifts at Christmas.
Cherished Possessions: I love my dog, Foxy – a rescue dog, part-yellow lab and golden retriever. She’s a cherished member of our family.
How You’d Like to Live Your Last Day: I’d love to be with family and friends at the Oregon Coast around Yachats. I’d like to walk with my husband, Ron, and Foxy on the 804 Trail – enjoying the ocean view and sound of waves crashing the shore.

-- Todd Peterson, The Springfield Beacon