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How are  businesses doing after making it through the worst of Covid. We went back to visit David Herzog, owner of Bellevue Country Store and One Fork Farm Caramels in McMinnville Oregon to see how he's doing in this Post Covid Economy. We are pleased to say the businesses and David are doing well. There are new challenges - Supply Chain, hiring new employees, the ever present Marketing needs. New ideas, approaches are called for and David is being creative in his approach to these challenges.Bellevue County StoreOne Fork Farm Caramels19690 SW Hwy 18McMinnville, OR 97378503-730-3612David Herzog, Owner

Shanel Sparr (actress) and Nicky Carbone (Stage Manager) share their experience working in the Theatre District when Broadway went dark due to Covid. The bars were closed, the diners were shuttered, the taxi cab drivers had no fares. The actors oooohh the actors.... here is their story.Sponsored by:Alt CoWorkingThird St., McMinnville, OR 97128info@altcoworking.comWe work differently - so can you!

What would you do if you not only lost your job, but EVERYONE lost their job AND your whole industry closed down?  For me, I'm pretty sure panic and depression would come up mighty fast.Shanel Spar was an actress in NYC when Covid hit.Nicky Carbonne was a stage manager in NYC when Covid hit.Enjoy their funny interpretation of this period in their careers.This is Part 1 of a 2 Part episode.

HEROES of the Covid Economy podcast is BACK! Season 2 will be streaming soon with all new Heroes.  Our first guest will be Casey Hostetler owner of ALT CoWorking in Mcminnville Oregon. Love working remotely but hate doing it at Starbucks or the kitchen; ALT is hitting all the right notes in the world of alternative (and way cooler) office space. In the meantime, check out soundbites and full episodes of HEROES right here:https://www.buzzsprout.com/1482025Watch this space (ode to Rachel Maddow 😉)

We have only just begun. Here we have a few sound clips of Season One, Episodes 1 - 6. 1) David Herzog Owner of Bellevue Country Store2) Patrick O'Conner, Business Analyst for the state of Oregon3) JP Bierly, Owner and BrewMaster for Bierly Brewing4) Morgen McLaughlin, Exec. Dir. Willamette Valley Wineries Assc5) Sean Boisson, Owner Bella Snow Soft Ale6) Casey Kulla, County Commissioner for Yamhill County, OR HEROES of the Covid Economy is brought to you by Algonquin Podcasts.If you would like to be a part of the show please email:heroes@algonquinpodcasts.comIf you would like to support the show we encourage you to hit SUBSCRIBE.

How and Why would anyone START a business at the height of a pandemic? If you did want to introduce a new product, lets say a beer, how would you approach your market research? You might do an scientific study, or look at an analysis or current and previous trends and flavors, or .... you might do a MomaQu !!!  Whoa, Wait, What is a MomaQu?  Stay tuned to find out that explanation from Sean Boisson, co-founder of the brand new Bella Snow gluten reduced beer. This week on Heroes of the Covid Economy!Contact InfoSean Boisson - co-founder Bella Snow Gluten Reduced Soft Alesean@gwbbrewing.com707-337-8108www.BellaSnow.com

How and Why would anyone START a business at the height of a pandemic? If you did want to introduce a new product, lets say a beer, how would you approach your market research? You might do an scientific study, or look at an analysis or current and previous trends and flavors, or .... you might do a MomaQu !!!  Whoa, Wait, What is a MomaQu?  Stay tuned to find out that explanation from Sean Boisson, co-founder of the brand new Bella Snow gluten reduced beer. This week on Heroes of the Covid Economy!

Pat O'Connor is with the Oregon Department of Employment. Pat discusses how Covid looks from a  5000 ft view. Guess What?  It doesn't look that bad. Though many businesses have taken huge hits, those that last will recover fairly quickly. Instead of 5-7 years like the Great Recession the US is looking at a 3 year recovery.You can contact Pat at WorkForce and Economic Analysis department at 503-400-4374 or check out their website: qualityinfo.org

Pat O'Connor is with the Oregon Department of Employment. Pat discusses how Covid looks from a  5000 ft view. Guess What?  It doesn't look that bad. Though many businesses have taken huge hits, those that last will recover fairly quickly. Instead of 5-7 years like the Great Recession the US is looking at a 3 year recovery.You can contact Pat at WorkForce and Economic Analysis department at 503-400-4374 or check out their website: qualityinfo.org

What do you do to fulfill one of the most necessary activities during a pandemic - yes that right - Drinking Wine!  And why is PIVOT now a 4 letter word? We will get answers to these questions this week from Morgen McLaughlin - Executive Director of Willamette Valley (yes thats in Oregon) Wineries Association on this weeks HEROES of the Covid Economy.Note: Version 2. Version 1: 10 downloads

Wine, Wineries, Vineyards, Covid - what could go wrong? The Willamette Valley (Oregon) Winery Association represents 700 Vineyards and 900 Wineries. Strip away the restaurant business, the wine tasting business and grocery stores - now what? Well it turns out the winery business in Oregon is doing just fine thank you! Though Morgen NEVER wants to hear the work Pivot again, she, her staff, her board and her constituents have all transformed from what was to the new what is. Let's talk Virtual Tasting rooms.......

JP Bierly is the Owner of Bierly Brewing which makes --- you guessed it Beer! JP tells us that business is good. Yes, he did have some adjustments that were needed. He now does self distribution, online ordering, and contactless payments. His best selling beer, Felix Pilsner, named after the oldest of his 2 son's, is now packaged in cans. Turns out, cans sell 3 to 1 better than bottles.  JP, as with most entrepreneurs, wears "stacks of hats" (love that term). Contact Info:Bierly Brewing214 NE 11th St.McMinnville, OR 97128jp@bierlybrewing.comwww.bierlybrewing.com

JP Bierly is the Beer Man of Bierly Brewing... hmmmmm... just a coincidence? I don't think so! Bierly Brewing is located in McMinnville, OR. JP and his wife started Bierly Brewing because they both needed to be Gluten-Free. So they purchased the machinery and ingredients and started testing and ultimately choosing a formula they loved. Then they thought, hmmm what goes with beer? Oh gluten-free pretzels! Better yet - gluten-free doughnuts!JP discusses how the Covid Economy affected the business. It is surprising!Contact Info:                                                                      Products Include:BierlyBrewing.com                                                         Felix Pilsnerjb@bierlybrewing.com                                                 James Blonde214 NE 11th St.                                                                Gluten-free DoughnutsMcMinnville, OR 97128                                              Direct to Home Delivery Available

Yamhill County Commissioner, Casey Kulla discusses the county's Covid Vaccine rollout, the allocation of funds from the state, county and federal budgets. Additionally we highlight the pivots taken by several businesses to quickly transition to the new challenges facing micro businesses, how they changed and how they will go forward.Contact Info:County Commissioners Office - Yamhill County535 NE 5th St.McMinnville, OR 97128kullac@co.yamhill.or.us

Yes, don't get me wrong I don't know what a County Commission does.. do you? If you do... its still a valid question. Turns out they do Alot! Like getting the Covid vaccine TO you. So this week we will be speaking with Casey Kulla - yes like hula - County Commissioner for Yamhill County, OR.Contact Info:kullac@co.yamhill.or.usCounty Office: 503-472-9371535 NE 5th St., Mcminnville, OR 97128www.co.yamhill.or.usGrants:www.co.yamhill.or.us/covid-19-grant

Dave Herzog is the owner of a Caramel manufacturing and retail business in McMinnville, OR. This is his story. We discuss how he started the business, manufacturing, the challenge of finding distribution, marketing and the difficulties of keeping a business OPEN during the Covid economy. We discuss how he finances the business during the pandemic - PPP, grants, government loans. Additionally we talk about the wear and tear on his personal and family life. Contact Info:Bellevue Country Store19690 Hwy 18McMinnville, OR 97128503-730-3612bellevuecountrystore@gmail.com

What would you call a guy that was in a shack in Maine with no running water, no electricity, a baby and a wife, that now funs a caramel company and general store ..... I call him David Herzog! We'll be talking to David this week on Heroes of the Covid Economy!

I'm your host Susan Allen. We will be talking to and about small business owners who are still open during this economy. We call them The Heroes!