Venture Catalyst Hired to Help Entrepreneurs Launch Companies

SOREDI Hires Tim Root; Will Introduce at A&E Grapevine, September 16 at Dancin Vineyards

Medford, OR – Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI) is pleased to announce that Tim Root has joined SOREDI as the agency’s first Venture Catalyst, managing its program to help entrepreneurs launch new companies and secure funding resources.

Root is the third Catalyst Manager in Oregon with others located in Bend and Eugene and is part of a statewide initiative to support scalable startups, angel investment networks and to enhance the entrepreneurial environment in Oregon.  This initiative to help grow the Oregon economy is being coordinated by the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network.

Entrepreneurs can meet Tim Root, learn of applicable resources, and network with other businesses on Wednesday, September 16 from 5 to 7 pm at Dancin Vineyards, 4477 South Stage Road in Medford. Registration is online at www.soredi.org. Entrepreneurs are invited to attend for $5; all other guests are $20. One complimentary drink ticket and appetizers are included.

Root has more than 40 years’ experience in business ownership including Sabroso Company, now part of TreeTop, and Pacific Pure-Aid Company, now part of Diana Foods.  In addition to his role as Venture Catalyst for SOREDI, he will continue to work as Southern Oregon Senior Consultant for the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership and as co-owner of Eden Valley Orchards/Edenvale Winery in Medford.

Executive Director Ron Fox states “This critically important move to add a Venture Catalyst to SOREDI’ staff has been long awaited and puts us in a much stronger position to provide direct assistance to entrepreneurs – this is an ongoing core function for SOREDI  to help businesses launch, relocate, and prosper in Southern Oregon.”

“I look forward to helping Southern Oregon entrepreneurs take their product and marketing ideas into successful businesses”, Root says.  “SOREDI is already playing a crucial role in helping startup businesses and I hope to further enhance its capabilities.”

Born and raised in Medford, Tim graduated from Medford Senior High and has a B.A. degree from Harvard College.  Tim lives in Jacksonville with his wife Anne and twin sons.  Their older children Ben and Ashley have also returned to the valley giving Tim and Anne the opportunity to spend time with them and 4 grandchildren.

SOREDI is a private, membership based, non-profit organization, governed by a 23-member board of directors. Its six-person staff is charged with local business expansion and new business recruitment efforts, financial assistance to start-up companies through its business loan fund, and management of Enterprise Zones in Jackson and Josephine Counties. The agency was formed as a regional economic development agency in 1987.