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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: Oregonians eligible for share of Apple settlement funds WWII pilot completes his rounds at VA driving range New club welcomes mentally ill Emergency Services Weed evacuees allowed to return to their homes Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Most charges dropped against Green Compass owner Onion Mountain fire "still hot and active" Escaped gang member arrested in Jackson County Crews get Onion Mountain fire 20 percent contained Politics and Elections Matthew T. Mangino: Federal government complicit in militarization of police Jim Brock: You go, Madam Senator Mark L. 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Mangino: Federal government complicit in militarization of police Editorials Impaired voting; Whether driving high increases accidents isn’t known Without tax reform, state faces bleak future Expand, but don't neglect affordable housing Paid sick leave for all is long overdue Other views: Privacy will be key to tech industry's future Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Sept. 19 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 18 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 17 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 16 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 15 Guest Opinions Manor residents give in many ways Transparency is essential in O&C debate Hazardous fuel treatments vital to protection from severe wildfires Wilderness for Kalmiopsis has served us well The summer of my discontent: An open letter to Bill Rauch Lifestyle Latest stories Local health clinics land federal grants to hire medical, dental staff Blog: BOOK IT! FRIDAY: Bounce-Back Weekend Community blog: Do You Love Enough To Heal Your Dog And Cat? To Bring An Elephant To Tears? Community blog: Well...Is It? Religion briefs Food Community blog: Low oven setting yields easy 'sun-dried' tomatoes Wholesale program puts Rogue Valley food in aisles Backpack stuffers add zest to fall outings Community blog: Taste cherry tomatoes to judge sweetness, acidity Community blog: Rise to challenge of eating more local tomatoes Home and Garden Counting the reasons to keep your eating local Medford gardens to be showcased Saturday Trees aren't always the best companions for plants Hot tips for a cool (shade) garden An August checklist for your garden Health Local health clinics land federal grants to hire medical, dental staff Community blog: Do You Love Enough To Heal Your Dog And Cat? To Bring An Elephant To Tears? Community blog: Well...Is It? Rogue Valley's latest aerobics craze is Insanity Community blog: Menopause: What's it Good For? Hiking Faith Religion briefs Religion Briefs Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Wedding New Arrivals Barbecue will support treatment for stricken skateboarder Ink Out provides inexpensive tattoo removal for those trying to move on Grange memberships going like hot cakes Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories 'Get Giddy' at Porters Danielle Kelly: A Rogue Valley Experience Volunteers needed for Downtown Art + Sound There's no accounting for poor manners Downtown Art + Sound Festival Theater 'Mrs. Mannerly' is a matter of manners There's no accounting for poor manners Friends of Jim Giancarlo remember Ashland theater icon OCT's Ginger Rogers tribute sparkles 'Cocktail Hour' shows at the Craterian Theatre Music Danielle Kelly: A Rogue Valley Experience Gonzalo Bergara at Paschal Winery The Human Revolution plays Applegate Lodge Holly Theatre hosts its first public event in 28 years Greg Frederick & Friends at The Wild Goose Community Events Volunteers needed for Downtown Art + Sound Medford's Third Fridays Downtown Art + Sound Festival Oregon Poet Laureate Peter Sears reads in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Dining 'Get Giddy' at Porters Jacksonville's Thai House is everything good Thai should be Ami Sushi serves up Asian dishes Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. NW Raw Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Escaped gang member arrested in Jackson County ... Local health clinics land federal grants to hire medical, dental staff ... Crews get Onion Mountain fire 20 percent contained ... Escaped gang member arrested in Jackson County ... Local health clinics land federal grants to hire medical, dental staff ... Crews get Onion Mountain fire 20 percent contained ... SMALL BUSINESS Entrepreneurs move from classroom to real world Avista-sponsored RCC program preps start-up owners for challenges ahead By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 17, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 17, 2014 @ 12:01 am --> Kimberly R Chaplin, Creative Insurance Options: After 26 years in the industry working at several different levels of the financial and insurance industry, Chaplin struck out on he... » Read more X Kimberly R Chaplin, Creative Insurance Options:  After 26 years in the industry working at several different levels of the financial and insurance industry, Chaplin struck out on her own. With the help of the Avista Center for Entrepreneurship, she planned, developed and launched Creative Insurance Options LLC. With an office in downtown Medford's Woolworth building, she provides a local service that helps people make insurance and investment decisions. Sheri Murphy, Murf’s Marvelous Pancakes & Handcrafted Syrups:  What started out many years ago as a housewarming pancake breakfast has evolved into a local specialty food business offering from-scratch pancakes and unique handcrafted syrups. Murphy participated in the AEP program, helping her in the beginning stages of starting the business, which is now ready to move into a new retail location in Grants Pass. Terry Toner, Elder Care Development LLC: Toner and a partner are combining individual backgrounds and unique professional experiences as they pursue assisted living and memory care facilities in underserved areas of Oregon. Elder Care Development sets itself apart from competitors by striving to build facilities featuring state-of-the-art technology and amenities, offering residents the comforts of home while providing a secure environment for potential residents throughout the Rogue Valley. » Social News When it comes to losing it all, Sheri Murphy has been there, done that. Jumping into the florist business a few years ago, the business quickly faded with the bloom. "I risked everything and I lost everything," said Murphy, a one-time bank manager. Without quitting her day job, Murphy took up a different pursuit — pancakes and, more specifically, pancake syrup. This time she sought professional advice, joining the inaugural cohort of the Avista Center for Entrepreneurship at Rogue Community College. The owner of Murf’s Marvelous Pancakes & Handcrafted Syrups joined fellow students Terry Toner and Kimberly Chaplin to share their experiences on Tuesday. "I went back to the workforce, but I still had this passion for the pancakes and making specialty syrup," Murphy said. She test-marketed her products at a downtown Grants Pass cafe and will soon make her syrups at a commercial kitchen. "Creativity drives me, I love that," Murphy said. "I love creating something totally unique that nobody else has done. I love creating the experience for people to come in and have Saturday morning pancakes. It's a simple thing, but it's all about the experience." She has two syrup flavors in production and as many as 75 planned. The syrup is sold in three Grants Pass locations and one in Roseburg. Although her instinct was to buy spendy equipment, she was dissuaded by RCC instructor Tim Busald, who suggested less-risky approaches. "You learn little things along the way," she said. "It's just being smart about it. At this point I haven't incurred any debt to start this business, and I love that part." Business plans are a staple of the program, and Toner admitted he was staggered to find four in five owners operate without a business plan. "It boggles my mind, because they don't know where they are going, and they won't know when they reach a goal," said Toner, a real estate agent who has worked on large complex facilities in the past. "I reverted back to what I did. I build big things. I understand it, I understand the logistics of making it happen. I have a partner who has done it before, which makes it a lot easier." Toner is partnering with Bill Cooper, an established elder care developer, to build an assisted living memory care facility in Central Point, which will employ 85 to 90 people. "Without the business plan, we wouldn't know when we've arrived or wouldn't know the road map to get us to our main goal," said Toner, whose business is called Elder Care Development LLC. Chaplin has been involved in the insurance industry for 26 years. After checking out the feasibility of four other possibilities, she decided to go with what she knew. "Never had I owned my own business," Chaplin said. "I thought it was a benefit to cover all the things I'm not good at, like tracking, organization and finance. Finding out about the areas I would need in the future was very good for me. Now I'm able to stay in the valley, where I have 24 family members." She launched Creative Insurance Options, presently operating out of the third floor of the Woolworth building on Central Avenue in Medford. She sells life insurance, long-term care insurance and annuities, which she calls safe retirement options. "Most people in my position start with some sort of clientele from a previous agent," she said. "I find it exhilarating to start from zero and build it up. It's successful and a need in the community." RCC is one four colleges in three states receiving funds from Avista, receiving a three-year, $100,000 grant. "We customize our program to each participant's needs," Busald said. "We spend a lot of time talking about not laying blame and getting outside of your comfort zone. For many people, opening a business is way outside their comfort zone." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 ,  and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge.                     By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 17, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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