Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
24 years
What is your primary product or service?
Estate Planning and Business Services
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
My family owned and operated Bob's Hamburgers for 35 years. I went to law school to be the family business lawyer but my father sold the restaurants right after I graduated. I decided I liked teaching clients how to plan effectively for their families and chose to focus my practice on estate planning and working with small business owners.
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
I take a counseling approach to planning. Once upon a time attorneys were respected as the family counselors and I try to continue to fill that role for my clients. Effective planning is about making good choices and you can't make good choices unless you know what your options are. All too often, estate planning has become the sale of a commodity - you can buy a Will or Trust on the internet for a fraction of what a qualified attorney would charge. But do you really know what you are buying? Do you really understand the choices you are making? I'd like to change that.
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
I have just one office, with no plans to expand. However, I work two days per week with my colleague Eden Rose Brown in Salem on specialty planning cases.
Provide detailed directions to your location
The streets in downtown Springfield are easy to navigate - they are alphabetical or numbered. I am on B Street (2 blocks north of Main) between 6th and 7th on the north side of the street. I suggest you park in my parking lot, on the right (East) side of the building as they now enforce on-street parking limits. If you are coming in on Pioneer Parkway, remember that B Street does not go through so you will need to turn on either C Street or North A to bypass the Justice Center.
What type of payments do you accept?
Cash or check and I offer flexible payment plans if needed.
Which areas do you service?
I have clients up and down the Willamette Valley, west to Florence and south to Roseburg.
Who owns your company or runs daily operations?
I do.
What are your hours of operation?
Wednesday through Friday, 9:30 to 5:30 in the Springfield office, but I respond to voice messages and e-mails Monday through Friday.
What is the best compliment anyone can give you?
A heart felt "Thank You" and a referral to a friend or family member as their trusted attorney and counselor at law.
What is your favorite quote or Bible verse?
"People will probably forget what you said or did but they will never forget the way you made them feel."