Bryan Howe, Founder and CEO

I'm pretty sure somewhere in 2003 my family wanted to ask when I was going to stop this "business planning thing" and get a job. When I started the business as a sole proprietorship in 2002, I never really set out for it to be what it's become. I thought I could help some people, make some money, and work when I wanted. That was my original business plan. When the workload reached a point I couldn't do it all I started thinking about breaking the plan into pieces and have someone focus on each particular section so I could just sell and do financial modeling. In 2004 the team plan model was developed. Since then we have worked with over 7000 clients and counting.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Achievements:
2004—The first Alight Planning Certified Consultant
2007—Inc 500 list #111 in the US and #2 in Portland with over 2000% growth
2008—Invited to be a Portland Business Journal and Inc Magazine Guest Columnist
2008—Honored to join Friends of the Children Marketing Committee
2009—Honored as one of Portland's Top 40 Under 40 business people in 2008 by the Portland Business Journal based on business practices and giving back to the community.
2010—Elected to Entrepreneur Organization's Portland chapter Board of Directors as Membership Chair

William Dean, VP Operations

William came to MasterPlans after a less rewarding career as a paralegal. He does two main things for MasterPlans: 1) monitoring workflow internally, and 2) writing business plans for some of our most promising clients. His hands-on work with our special projects division has led to successful venture documents for companies in the solar industry, biotechnology, ecommerce, and the entertainment field.

William attended Brown University and was the Tristam Burges scholar in English. Burned out on literature from his college days, he now "won't read outside work" and commits his evenings to watching NBA basketball, working to renovate his house, and spending time with friends and colleagues.

Matt Harding, VP Marketing

After running an online logo design business and a computer support company in Santa Barbara, California, Matt moved up to join MasterPlans to become the lead designer and marketing strategist. During that time he created over 1600 completely unique logo designs for our clients. His work has appeared in Entrepreneur, Inc, Fast Company, and other publications. One ad in Delta's Horizon in flight magazine got some media attention of its own here: http://www.viddler.com/explore/helpmybusiness/videos/117/.

Now the VP of Marketing, Matt manages our affiliate relationships, assists in long-term planning, and seeks out new business opportunity.

Matt's first foray to Portland was to complete a Bachelor of Arts at Lewis and Clark College with a major in Fine Arts and a minor in East Asian Studies. He enjoys contemplative hours in front of an Xbox 360, competitive tennis, brainstorming business ideas, building computers and creating his own graphic design at home.

Rick Nischalke, Account Expert

Rick Nischalke brings a plethora of business experience to the MasterPlans team. His background in business includes multiple personally owned businesses, as well as many years of business consulting for other business owners.

Rick's extensive business background enables him to accurately assess client needs and goals quickly and to assist them by recommending the best business plan to obtain their objectives.

Among other accomplishments, Rick is a skilled corporate trainer and manager. He has managed as many as 120 employees and has established a national training facility and program for a major energy company. He also has an extensive background in the financial field including mortgage origination.

Rick has been licensed in the following areas: Real estate, Health insurance, Life insurance and Series 6 & 63 Securities.

Rick is happily married and has four children. His faith and family are a very important part of his life. Investing and internet marketing are two of his top interests.

Tom Martinez, Account Expert

Tom Martinez brings several years of solid management and customer service skills to the MasterPlans team. He has held various positions with major corporations and has always been a top contributor in his work environment.

Tom is hard working and personable, and always goes the extra mile to ensure a pleasant and professional experience for our clients.

His interests include film, theatre and mixed martial arts.

Miri Rossitto, Account Expert

As a current resident of Los Angeles, Miri is a well balanced career woman, wife, and mother. She is a natural communicator, and with 12 years of sales experience, coupled with numerous entrepreneurial ventures, she lends a unique perspective and always makes lasting impressions with clients.

Miri adds a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and drive to Masterplans and Masterplans adds it right back to her. As soon as you talk to her, you'll notice her infectious enthusiasm for entrepreneurship that really motivates you. As soon as we met Miri, we knew we needed her on our team.

Her experience ranges all the way from top sale positions with European Corporations to launching her own lucrative company, however, it's her family that keep Miri grounded and her children's bright futures that drive her to succeed.

Marisa Marconi, Project Lead

For Marisa Marconi, the process of creating the plan is as exciting as delivering the final product. Marisa joined MasterPlans as an editor and client induction specialist before moving into writing and eventually project management. Her experience has bred in her a distinct perspective of the evolution of the business plan from concept to development, revision, and final product. It is this intimate understanding of process and collaboration —built from her involvement in hundreds of plans—that allows her to effectively manage projects of any level of complexity. "The key," says Marisa, "is breaking down the big picture into manageable pieces. A masterpiece—or MasterPlan for that matter—is simply a series of small tasks done well."

Prior to joining Masterplans, Marisa conspired with two local producers to develop and launch a small video production house in Portland. Specializing in post production, she worked with large organizations as well as individual clients to create documentary shorts covering a range of topics from biographies and family histories to corporate trade missions and events. She continues to edit projects for the company in her free time.

Marisa earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Columbia University. As the captain of the university's varsity softball program, she was awarded All Ivy Academic and Athletic honors each year of her four-year career.

Paige Short, Project Lead

Starting at MasterPlans as an editor, Paige Short quickly progressed to writing business plan narratives, and then to project management. While she has managed several hundred projects, Paige has worked on countless business plans in all stages of development, excelling at each position. The key, she says, lies in foresight—having the perspicacity to intuit the needs of clients and business planners is an attribute that allows Paige to take on challenges with composure.

Paige finds the critical close reading, analysis, and interpretation skills she honed while earning her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in literature vital to her leadership role at MasterPlans. "Details are critical, and being able to understand the elements of a project as part of a larger context is also vital. It's the synthesis that is often the challenge in project management."

An Irving Story Scholar and honors student at Pacific University, Paige Short earned the Outstanding Graduate Award for her class, and worked as an editor and writing resource specialist for the university. She taught English in graduate school, and earned her Master's Degree in literature from Portland State University.

Morgan Hrejsa, Project Lead

Morgan Hrejsa has cultivated a strong background in communication and business development strategies. Prior to working for Masterplans, Morgan was an editor in the publishing industry, where she shaped author's visions into nonfiction books. Today, she applies her background in writing, researching, and editing to ensure all clients have an appropriate and successful business plan.

Morgan began her career at Masterplans as a client induction specialist before progressing into roles as a market analyst and narrative writer. Her approach to project management is collaborative and organized. "The more thought and discussion that goes into the planning process," she says, "the more dynamic the results will be both on paper and for the entrepreneur."

Morgan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus in advertising from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Kelly Hinkle, Lead Finance

After a ten-year career of finance jobs in New York and New Jersey, Kelly followed her hunch that life in Oregon would be more fun. Upon relocating, she was hired as an "Excel Ninja" at MasterPlans, a place where she can apply her numbers geekery to a pleasantly-varied array of business models. Kelly began her career as research assistant for economist A. Gary Shilling, and besides contributing to his monthly newsletter, she was credited in his book, Deflation. She later worked as a community bank analyst and co-founded the community bank hedge fund, Lykos Capital Management. Kelly graduated with an Economics degree from Lehigh University and may finish the third level of the Chartered Financial Analyst program once she completes her first documentary film.

Caitlin Lilly, Lead Writer

Caitlin Lilly is an ex-Californian who grew up in the resort town of Palm Springs and has been moving north ever since. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women's Studies from the University of California Santa Cruz, earned a prestigious California Arts Scholar award in writing from the InnerSpark program, and has been an avid storyteller her whole life. Her previous writing endeavors include numerous published articles in her hometown and college newspapers, and she is the editor and co-author of the highest-selling independent publication ever sold at Powell's Books. In her spare time, Caitlin enjoys competitive roller skating, pop culture, and traveling to new places. Caitlin is thrilled to finally list "Writer" as her occupation on official documents. She and her husband live in Southeast Portland with their cat, Leaky.

Stephanie Woosley, Writer

When she's not at home in SW Portland with her fiancé and "vicious" pit bull Stella, Stephanie Woosley can likely be found dialed in to her computer developing unique marketing strategies for clients at MP. She is a huge supporter of the Portland Trailblazers, the Oregon State Beavers, and her beloved Yankees—though no one has the heart to tell her she's the only New York fan around these parts.

Aside from working on her novel and nurturing a few children's literature projects, she volunteers for a behavioral classroom in the West Linn/Wilsonville school district. During down time and on pleasant Oregon summer days, she finds time to golf and play tennis, go camping, watch Jeopardy, and play Scrabble against worthy opponents. Her background, though largely rooted in print journalism, includes roles in business development and strategic marketing, and she commits to a "client comes first" philosophy. Stephanie earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University and is excited to be part of the MP team as a writer.

Brock Aun, Writer

A recent transplant to Portland, Brock Aun came to MasterPlans because of his love for words. After working in politics for several years in roles ranging from grassroots organizing to communications, Brock decided to try his hand at writing for people and ideas instead of campaigns and candidates. He does narrative writing and market research at MasterPlans. Brock holds a BA in Literature, Writing, and Film from Arizona State University. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, creative writing, reading, and listening to music.

Mike Aker, Writer

Mike Aker is an avid writer, film critic, and sports enthusiast who has lived in Oregon for 20 years. He completed a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Portland State University to complement a Bachelor's Degree in English, also from PSU. Prior to joining MasterPlans, Mike was a staff writer with the Portland Trail Blazers. In addition to reading, writing, and watching movies, Mike spends his nights and weekends playing basketball and working on his creative writing projects.

Brittany Schaeffer, Editor

Before joining MasterPlans, Brittany was a reporter at the New York Daily News, the largest paper in New York City and one of the top five papers in the nation. She has also written for publications including Willamette Week, the Village Voice, Jane magazine, Fitness magazine, and British Vogue. Her stories have appeared in the Associated Press, on CNN, and on Fox News, and she recently won a prestigious award for Excellence in Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. Brittany earned a Master's degree in Journalism from New York University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is also fluent in French, and completed post-graduate studies in literature and art history at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France. Brittany received her undergraduate education among Iowa's cornfields at Grinnell College, a small, liberal arts institution. She holds Bachelor's degrees in both English and Biology. A recovering New York City resident, when Brittany's not at her computer writing, she's out running in Oregon's green spaces.

Petra Toscana, Editor

Petra Toscana is a native Texan and former 10th grade English teacher in Rio Grande City, TX, a small border town near Mexico. A recent transplant to Portland, Petra holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Writing and Rhetoric from St. Edward's University in Austin. She is fluent in Spanish and has traveled widely. In her spare time, Petra enjoys running, cooking, researching Latin America, and playing Pac-Man. She has two silly dogs, Potzu and Luna.

Mindy Moorland, Editor

Mindy Moorland is a native Oregonian who returned to her home state after years in Walla Walla (earning a B.A. in English at Whitman College), southern Japan (teaching English at a rural middle school), and Vienna (eating far too much chocolate cake). She holds a Master's degree in magazine journalism from the University of Oregon, and reports on Portland-area stories for the University of Oregon alumni magazine, Oregon Quarterly. Mindy has served as lead editor on a wide variety of newspaper, magazine, website, and manuscript projects. When she's not hard at work on a business plan, Mindy is probably trying new recipes in her kitchen, volunteering at the local branch library, or exploring Oregon.

Sabina Schmidt, Finance

Sabina is a senior Financial Modeler at MasterPlans and has more than 3,000 plans under her belt. She is skilled and nimble at understanding clients' financial needs. "Helping clients who may be uncomfortable around numbers is a lot of fun," Sabina expresses. "It is satisfying when a client receives funding as a result of the plan and analysis we performed." Sabina's speed and efficiency in processing financial data facilitates a faster turnaround time back to MasterPlans' clients. When she's not finding new ways to improve clients' net profit, Sabina enjoys spending time with her family, in particular her lovable one-year-old son. Her previous experience includes work as a market research analyst at a leading web-based retailer, plus an analyst position at Taiwan's premier research institution. Sabina holds degrees in both Business and Management, as well as Environmental Resource Engineering.

Leah Wing, Accounts

Leah is the Accounts Receivables and Contract Specialist with MasterPlans. She manages all aspects of client billing and contracts, including payments, contract disbursement/collection, and fielding billing and contract questions. Leah earned a Bachelor's degree in Business with a minor in Entrepreneurship from Western Oregon University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Prior to starting her career with MasterPlans, Leah spent more than 5 years as a legal assistant and business owner. Leah loves being active and regularly takes advantage of Oregon's hiking trails.

Beth Hegeholz, Reception

Beth moved to Portland 6 1/2 years ago from Wisconsin to finish her degree in Social Science at Portland State. She fell in love with the city and has decided to make it her home. In her time off she spends her time volunteering at 211, hiking in the Columbia Gorge and catching every Trailblazer game she can.

Shannon Gilligan, Reception

Shannon is a recent graduate of the University of Portland with a B.S. in Life Science. She plans to attend Portland State University to earn her master's degree in family and marriage counseling next year. While not working at MasterPlans, she volunteers at Laurelhurst Rehab center, running activities groups for patients. She is also a mentor to a foster child.

Thomas Wilson, Designer

Growing up about an hour north of Portland and educated at Western Washington University with a BA in New Media, Thomas has been designing professionally since 2001 in the advertising and marketing field. He has been able to apply his keen design eye in many areas: logos, ads, brochures, direct mail, catalogs, movie posters, t-shirt graphics, and websites. Thomas is also an accomplished illustrator appearing on t-shirts and in magazines such as Thrasher and Courrier International as well as many mother's day cards. When not illustrating or designing you may see him jogging, standing in line for a movie, browsing for t-shirts or attending the San Diego Comic-Con.

Richard Mavis, Programmer

I've been creating websites for the web for a long time now. If you like this one, then we have at least one thing in common.

Do we have any more? Things that I like include: Apple computers, bicycles, crepes, digging, eskimos, faraway places, green text, holograms, imaginary letters, and jackalopes. Things that I dislike include: onions.

I also like Austin. I went to the University of Texas there and earned a BA in English Literature.

But I like Portland even more. I moved here in the winter of 2008 and have not once regretted it. My bike is probably cooler than any you've ever seen.