The Office of Small Business
The central point of entry for Portland small businesses.
The Office of Small Business at Prosper Portland works in cooperation with the community and other local government agencies to create an equitable, supportive, vibrant, thriving, and connected small business community.
Our Focus:
In addition, the Office of Small Business provides ongoing business training, online resources, educational events, and connections to business advising to empower small business owners.
The Team
Mitch Daugherty
Office of Small Business, Manager
Mitch Daugherty brings 15 years of economic development and 25 years of small business experience to this position.
Prior to joining Prosper Portland, he cofounded Arizona Outback Adventures (acquired by REI), Morange Design, and Built Oregon. In his role at Built Oregon, he oversaw all aspects of fundraising, program development, and business advising. Under his leadership the organization launched the Bridges, Accelerator, and Festival programs. He recruited more than 200 mentors to support up-and-coming consumer brands and through the organization’s Black Community Work, oversaw the disbursement of more than $300,000 in grants to Black owned businesses.
Mitch has been the past board chair for the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, a member of the Governor’s Small Business Advisory Committee, and led four subcommittees on the Oregon Business Council Food & Beverage Task Force.
Dan Ruan
Office of Small Business, Liaison
Office of Small Business Website & Online Resources
Dan Ruan is a dedicated project manager with a background in both the public and private sectors, bringing a unique blend of technical expertise and collaborative problem-solving skills to the Portland Office of Small Business.
At Prosper Portland, Dan managed initiatives that help connect local businesses to available support, including the Portland Small Business Hub. Before joining Prosper Portland, Dan worked in product development and e-commerce compliance, managing end-to-end project lifecycles and delivering both customer-facing and internal solutions.
Fluent in Mandarin and English, Dan is committed to helping businesses access the resources and support they need to thrive. When not working, Dan enjoys hiking, exploring Portland’s vibrant food scene, and spending time with her family at the Oregon coast.
Julieanna Elegant
Office of Small Business, Liaison – Districts 2 & 4
Julieanna brings more than fifteen years of experience in economic development, small business support, and social services, with a focus on empowering underserved communities.
She previously served as Executive Director of the Small Business Legal Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School, where she led initiatives to provide legal support to small businesses facing complex challenges. A graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, Julieanna is a member of the Oregon State Bar.
In addition to her legal expertise, Julieanna holds a master’s degree in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University, specializing in project management. Her early career as an advocate for survivors of intimate partner violence and vulnerable youth has shaped her ongoing commitment to service and advocacy. Julieanna is also fluent in Spanish, a skill she developed while working in the Dominican Republic.
She loves traveling and “attempting to learn new languages, with mixed results.”
Jon Bebe
Office of Small Business, Liaison – Districts 1 & 3
Jon Bebe is a community business coach and fiduciary financial advisor. A lifelong entrepreneur of color, he has been involved in the small business ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest since the early 2000s.
Before joining the Office of Small Business, Jon was the Business Services Program Manager at Craft3, a non-profit lender. Jon has also founded a company that provides independent and holistic retirement planning resources for small businesses. Possessing a MS in Counseling from Portland State University, he has worked as a therapist specializing in relationship and partner therapy. These experiences have helped Jon cultivate listening skills and develop the ability to connect with diverse clients.
Jon is grateful to call Southeast Portland his home and enjoys family time, surfing, snowboarding, hiking, Muay Thai kickboxing, CrossFit, running, gardening, and coaching youth sports. Active in his communities, he has volunteered for the National Brain Tumor Society, MESA Oregon, and the Oregon Humane Society. Jon is a member of the Portland Filipino Bayanihan Center, Portland JACL, PACCO, and SAG-AFTRA.
