What a night!
Curry County Pitch Night was a packed house full of energy, heart, and community spirit. We had a little over 80 people attend with over 1,000 viewing our live feed!
Congratulations to our incredible lineup of entrepreneurs who took the stage with courage and conviction:
- 1st Place + Audience Choice – Tamara Bissell, Pithitude: Tamara’s illustrated gift brand is based in Brookings, transforming sharp wit into cheeky products that make people laugh out loud. Her newest launch—a line of sassy, illustrated journals—was a crowd favorite!
- 2nd Place – Linda Pope, Insight Systems, LLC: Linda is the creative mind behind a series of tabletop games designed to make biology fun and accessible. Through interactive, science-based play, she’s bringing education to life for learners of all ages.
- 3rd Place – Bryan Thompson, Thompson Tree Service: A Certified Arborist with a passion for preserving property safety, Bryan brings professional tree risk assessment and care to the Southern Oregon Coast.
- 4th Place – Mercedes Salles, True Steward Property Management: A recent graduate of our Reedsport CO.STARTERS Core cohort, Mercedes officially launched her values-driven property management company during the 10-week program. She centers care, integrity, and community in everything she does.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this unforgettable night possible:
- Our emcee, Joanna Goslin, for keeping the energy high and the crowd engaged. Our coaches, Michelle Martin and Tanya Rasley, for supporting our Pitchers every step of the way
- Our panel of Judges: Gayle Goldstone, Zoe Bradbury, Michele Bubert, and Randy Mason, for their time, insight, and support of our local entrepreneurs
- Our event photographer and award sponsor, Candid by Stefani
- Our filmmaker, Travis Cooper of Cooper Visual, for beautifully capturing the night
- Our venue partner, Mr. Ed’s Espresso & Juice & underground pub, for hosting us and serving up great food
- Our sponsors and partners: South Coast Development Council, Southwestern Oregon Community College, and SOWIB – Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board
And to the audience who showed up in force and even added to the Audience Choice cash pot (an extra $246!!)—thank you for showing how much this community believes in small business.
