News & Press Releases
Creating sustainable businesses in rural areas to be topic of luncheon
Publication: Eureka Reporter, Eureka, California
Courtney Hunt-Munther, 7/23/2007
Starting and growing a business in rural communities like Humboldt County will be the topic at hand at a luncheon sponsored by the Prosperity Network Friday, and what better entrepreneur to speak at the forum than Carlson Wireless CEO Jim Carlson?
Carlson, who operated his company out of Redway for 20 years, understands the challenges facing businesses located behind the Redwood Curtain and at the luncheon, will attempt to unravel the mystery for veteran businessowners and inspire budding entrepreneurs to plant their ventures firmly in Humboldt County soil.
With input from Carlson Wireless Vice Presidents Sallie Speaker and Dan Gunderson, Carlson will discuss why he — a native Michigonian — decided to build a business in Humboldt County and what drove him to move the company to Arcata last winter.
Transportation problems in and out of Redway weren’t the driving factor behind the move, Carlson said during an interview last week. Recruiting skilled and semi-skilled laborers to the rural community proved more problematic and ultimately led to the relocation.
“There’s a big shortage for help down there,” he said.
Because the company — which specializes in manufacturing network infrastructure for cell phones and computers — creates products that are small, lightweight and nonperishable, shipping to customers is not as problematic as it is for other businesses behind the Redwood Curtain.
But moving closer to the Arcata-Eureka Airport has come in handy in other ways. Last week, the company played host to a customer visiting from New Zealand and Carlson was grateful he wasn’t subjected to a two-hour drive to Redway on top of the long flight.
Another perk of operating out of Arcata is being close to Humboldt State University and College of the Redwoods. More than once, Carlson has taken advantage of the close proximity between his business and the schools to form mutually beneficial relationships between the company and the students.
This past year, for example, an HSU student fluent in Mandarin Chinese helped facilitate trainings with a customer from that part of the world. In return, Carlson employees helped participants in the Economic Fuel business plan competition by previewing their presentations and providing feedback before the judged events.
Carlson will speak more on these subjects at Friday’s luncheon.
The Prosperity luncheon begins at noon on Friday at Avalon restaurant in Eureka and costs $40. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.northcoastprosperity.com/luncheon or phone 707-476-4812.