PORT ANGELES, WA — The Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) is pleased to
announce a key leadership transition and strategic expansion on the Olympic Peninsula. Longtime team member Rick Dickinson has transitioned out of the Olympic Peninsula office. We are grateful for Rick’s contributions and the solid foundation he helped build in the region.
Stepping into the role of Program Manager is Micah Jonet, a seasoned business advisor with a strong background in accounting. Micah has played an integral role in supporting emerging entrepreneurs in the region and brings both expertise and a deep commitment to CIE’s mission of inclusive economic development.
Joining Micah is Devin Gonzalez, who has transferred from CIE’s North Cascades region after serving one year as a bilingual business advisor. Devin is a successful entrepreneur with a rich background in the restaurant industry, and brings both lived experience and cultural fluency to support local business owners in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
With this expanded team, CIE is excited to enhance its local presence through two dedicated offices in Port Angeles and Port Townsend, increasing access to business advising, education, and support for underserved and underrepresented entrepreneurs across the region.
As the team grows, new partnerships are on the horizon to strengthen local entrepreneurial ecosystems.
The SBDC at CIE partners with EDC Team Jefferson to serve as an entrepreneurship onramp for emerging entrepreneurs in Jefferson County. CIE advisors will have office hours co-located with Team Jefferson EDC and will help connect small businesses ready to grow to SBDC resources. The EDC Team Jefferson’s mission focuses on high-leverage, place-based activities that improve the economic well-being and quality of life for people in Jefferson County, and the living systems in which we are embedded.
“CIE is a valued partner of the Economic Development Council of Jefferson County. CIE assists the EDC in expanding capacity to assist entrepreneurs in the early stage of development, effectively creating an onramp to business ownership. CIE provides education that prepares the startup/microenterprise entrepreneur through a process of testing the feasibility of their business idea prior to the investment of time and money. Further our collaboration assists business clients in the development of the critical business thinking skills and by providing tools needed to open and grow a thriving business. Once clients achieve key milestones, CIE and EDC staff seamlessly transition clients from startup services into increasingly advanced one on one advising and provide resources leading to access to capital and long-term development and growth of the business. Working together we provide a spectrum of services from startup through business growth and succession.” – Cindy Brooks, ED of EDC Team Jefferson
CIE is also partnering with the Port Townsend CoLab to offer Start Simple and networking events for emerging entrepreneurs and microbusinesses in Jefferson County.
“This is a significant moment for our Olympic Peninsula team,” said Mike Skinner, Executive Director. “By promoting from within and strategically transferring talent, we are adjusting our sails to better meet the unique needs of Clallam and Jefferson counties. Micah and Devin together bring the right mix of skills, passion, and community insight to deepen our impact.”
CIE remains committed to empowering entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance needed to launch and grow successful businesses—building a more inclusive, resilient economy, one small business at a time.
