For many years, I have had a soft spot for small business, whether in the form of supporting a local coffee shop, stopping into a new retail store or attending an event that highlights local sellers. Celebrating the uniqueness of a community through special events and diving into the realm of tourism as a young professional reinforced this interest and affirmed the value of partnerships. Events often depend on interest from relevant business owners and financial support from others. Design fell in line with event needs, and thus, the opportunity to practice writing and layout for a variety of purposes.
It’s fitting, I suppose, that I have ventured out to offer services of my own. I am proud to be an Iowan and proud to talk about the experiences and places that, at times, surprise those from out-of-town (or those who haven’t quite ventured out to find what’s in their own backyard).
My vision in creating CK Collateral is to be a resource for small business owners who may not have the time or staff to fine-tune the content or pieces they need. It’s a joy for me to learn more about my community through the people continuing to dedicate time and energy within their chosen field. If I can utilize my skills to help someone doing what they do best, I call that a win.
According to the most recent published data by the Small Business Administration (SBA), there are more than 272,500 small businesses in the state of Iowa. During a season of much economic uncertainty, it is as important as ever that community members and fellow business employers support one another. My hope is that this number will continue to rise as a) owners and employees together implement workable solutions and b) those who have hesitated to launch a new undertaking will take notes on how to anticipate and cope with challenges from others currently doing so, in order to be better equipped to step out in confidence. I look forward to being part of the process of communicating these messages clearly, both in written and visual form.
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein