Invention Stories

Episode 58…Kedma Ough is the Innovation Director and Superhero

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Episode 58…Kedma Ough is the Innovation Director and Superhero

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Kedma Ough is the Innovation Director and Superhero 

is our guest on Episode 58 of the Invention Stories Podcast.

I recently came across the profile of Kedma Ough, who is the Innovation Director at Mt Hood Community College Small Business Development Center in Oregon on Linkedin.   I read some of her articles, watched some of her videos and thought she would make an excellent guest on the Invention Stories Podcast.  Some people seem to shine…one of them is Kedma Ough.  And I might add…a Superhero!

Innovation Director

Kedma Ough, MBA is the Innovation Director at Mt Hood Community College Small Business Development Center in Oregon. Under this directive she supports the Inventor Resource Program which includes SBIR/STTR Federal Innovation Grants and working with inventors from idea to commercialization. She has supported inventors from product licensing through building product development firms.

The Huffington Post has recognized Kedma for fueling innovation and Inc.  She is also a contributing writing for Entrepreneur Magazine. Her past awards have included the SBA’s Women Champion of the Year, Small Business State Champion Award, and National Small Business Influencer Leadership.

Avid Inventor

As an avid inventor. Kedma is currently working on a food product concept with her three young boys. She is a board member for the United Inventors Association, a 501c3 support inventor education and resources.

In 2019, Kedma will have her book published “Target Funding” in collaboration with McGraw Hill. The book will focus on finding resources and funding for inventors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.

She is also a proud fifth generation entrepreneur and her great-great grandfather peddled various products throughout Ireland.

It is for these reasons we thought Kedma would make a great interviewee.  So I contacted her and we recorded Episode 58 of the Invention Stories Podcast. Coming Soon…Episode 58…Kedma Ough is the Innovation Director and Superhero on Invention Stories on YouTube

Experience

(copied and pasted from Linkedin profile)

Kedma Ough

Innovation Director

Mt. Hood Community College

Jan 2018 – Present

Gresham, Oregon

Breaking through barriers goes hand-in-hand with innovation.

You can’t focus on disruptive thinking and NOT break through old processes.

When I venture to innovate, I focus on the methodology as well as the intuitive magic of the idea itself.

Aha moments don’t usually come in a board room meeting. They are found in the middle of sticky ideas that can solve big problems.

In my role as Innovation Director, I get to play in the innovation sandbox all day long.

Under my direction, our team supports the Small Business Development Center program and guides our 19 centers with Signature Programs that are cutting edge and relevant to our community.

Each signature program is designed to build relevancy to the needs of entrepreneurs by removing barriers and cultivating more opportunities to thrive financially especially with diverse firms.

The four specialized programs that I helped design in less than 3 years are:

1. A National Professional Franchise Education program for SBDC advisors and trainers.

2. A Statewide SBIR/STTR program designed to win Federal Grants for innovative technology.

3. A Statewide Youth Entrepreneurship Program teaching middle and high schools students to launch successful side hustles.

4. A Statewide Cybersecurity Program providing training, advising, and resources for small businesses. www.cyberoregon.com

It would be hard to convince me to leave my current role as I absolutely LOVE my work and community.

Having worked with 10,000 businesses I have an eye to see problems and resolve them quickly.

In addition, I have a strong background with building innovative programs that bring community impact through jobs and financial access.

I am a forward-thinking charismatic leader focused on real collaboration across organizations and partnerships.

My favorite work involves business turnarounds that catapults innovation to become the fiber of the organization.

Director Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Mt. Hood Community College

Aug 2014 – Dec 2017

Gresham, Oregon

I have the greatest job in the world. Everyday I get to play in the small business sandbox helping inventors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses maneuver through challenges faced. As part of my role I manage a caseload of incredible businesses and speak nationally on cyber security, franchising, innovation, and funding.

Often when I counsel entrepreneurs, I am trained to identify the problems and focused on both immediate and long-term solutions. Immediate action is key because most small businesses are dealing with time constraints, limited resources, and a lot of stress. As a result, I focus on alternative financing and innovative ways of solving a sticky problem.

When I am not advising, I am teaching courses at the college or out in the community presenting on finding funds, protecting your business from cyber threats, considering franchising as an option, accessing grants for new technology and much more.

I am a results-driven charismatic leader that focuses on excelling companies to a position where they can thrive. At the SBDC, we advise hundreds of companies across vertical markets.

In 2017, a statewide survey was conducted for employees of our SBDC network and our center rated as one of the highest for happy employees. My philosophy is simple: Happy employees support happy clients and build successful outcomes. My employees are always my first customers.

Having worked with more than 10,000 businesses, I understand the needs of small businesses and more importantly I understand the needs to build exceptional programs that support our small business community. I am a fifth-generational entrepreneur so I build programs I would want to experience myself.

Avita Business Center
Business Director SA

Jan 2003 – Nov 2017
Portland, Oregon

For the last 15 years AVITA has been advising people with disabilities on self-employment considerations. We work with various state agencies and support counselors in feasibility assessments and business plan development across multiple barriers that clients may face included developmental disabilities, visual impairment, hard of hearing, and physical disabilities. In addition, we designed a proprietary self-employment curriculum specifically geared to supporting people with disabilities.

This is part of my souls work. As a mother of a special needs child, I advocate tirelessly to support persons with disabilities and have worked with all abilities. As a qualified business expert I have been hired to represent vocational rehabilitation agencies, the Commission for the Blind, and the Veterans Administration. Often I testify as a business expert related to self-employment cases. Currently I sit on a finance committee representing the interest of a statewide agency.

In addition, I was appointed by the Governor of Oregon have served on the Small Business Committee, Vocational Rehabilitation Committee, and the Oregon Disabilities Commission.

I don’t believe self employment is for every client but I do believe every client should explore the opportunity for self employment.

Agencies hire my firm to advise their counselors, present on self-employment policy considerations, work with their clients, and offer keynote presentations at major events.

Executive Director

MIPO

Jan 2006 – Jul 2014

Portland, Oregon 

The Micro Inventors Program of Oregon was a non-profit organization that provide advising, resources, and training to independent inventors. As the executive director, I counseled hundreds of inventors and worked closely with other non profit organization including the Lemelson Foundation, the United Inventors Association, the US Patent Office, and the Small Business Development Centers Network.

We focused on new product development and provided the following support:
1. Concept review and consideration
2. Feasibility analysis review
3. Intellectual property review and consideration
4. Product engineering consideration
5. Market research and Beta test support
6 . Product licensing options

During that time I brought the National SBIR/STTR Conference to Oregon which help spearhead Oregon as a innovative hub for SBIR/STTR federal funding.

Chair for the SBIR/STTR National Conference November 13-15th 2012

Jan 2012 – Nov 2012

Portland, Oregon Area

Hosted the SBIR/STTR National Conference in Oregon. More than 500 attendees and 50 exhibitors and sponsors. This was not an easy feat. There was a team of five volunteers that worked on this for more than a year. www.sbiroregon.org

Education

Troy University

Master of Business Administration – MBA

Licensing International Merchandising Association

Licensing International Merchandising Association

Certificate of Licensing Studies

Licensing Technology

– 

Hofstra University

Bachelor of Business Administration – BBA

Links

Kedma Ough, MBA ⚡️ (@KedmaOugh) · Twitter

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