Business Advising Services

Audra brings a breadth of experience to small business advising — from co-founding a Edtech startup and leading enterprise sales in financial services technology, to teaching leadership in the field with the National Outdoor Leadership School. She works at the intersection of generative innovation, strategy, and human connection. Her career spans renewable energy development, sales effectiveness coaching, restorative justice, and graduate-level faculty work, giving her a uniquely cross-sector lens. Audra holds an MBA in Sustainable Systems from Presidio Graduate School and a BS in Peace, Conflict, and Global Studies from Northland College. Her colleagues describe her as someone who pairs bold thinking and actionable guidance with radical  encouragement.

Shawnisa firmly believes in empowering others for a healthier and happier life. She enjoys learning new and innovative ways to reform the medical field and the broader community. Shawnisa is a Physician Assistant at Jefferson Healthcare with 10 years of experience and currently practicing sleep medicine. She is excited to be able to give back to her community, allowing everyone to have access to services and resources that can uplift all. She is very happy to be a part of this journey to serve her community.

Paul Schiefen is a business advisor and co-owner of Jardin du Soleil Lavender Farm, where he has spent 15 years building a multifaceted agritourism operation. With over 25 years of experience across farming, retail, events, and financial services, he helps rural entrepreneurs turn complex, day-to-day challenges into clear systems that support growth and profitability.

Tate's interest in business advising is at the intersection of technology and process design, with a focus on helping organizations design and build systems that enable them to direct their efforts toward their core mission. He has worked with and within state government, global professional services organizations, and local small businesses to take advantage of modern technological platforms that allow decision makers to answer questions about their business performance, to limit time spent on manual data entry, and to focus more on people and less on a computer screen. One of Tate's favorite places is Fort Worden, where he enjoys spending time at the local radio station, KPTZ, walking on the beach, and watching the seasons pass.

Anne has extensive experience in budget, financial, people, project and change management. She is an effective coach, meeting individuals where they are and connecting them with creative solutions and resources they need to succeed. She’s worked in city government, higher education and financial institutions, and started her career working in a small print shop. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Pepperdine University. Anne joined EDC Team Jefferson in 2025, supporting South Jefferson County, including Brinnon and Quilcene, while contributing to workforce development and employer engagement efforts countywide. Anne has lived in the Pacific Northwest for nearly a decade and is honored to support her community.

Eric is here to build community - because community has the power to overcome so many of today’s struggles. He knows firsthand about operating a business with limited resources, and how limiting capacity can be despite our best efforts. He’s here to help; a self described generalist, born from both curiosity and necessity. Eric brings an eclectic mix of experiences and perspectives through work in the nonprofit sector at both the staff and board level, helping grow several small businesses, teaching English as a foreign language, succeeding at several years of stay-at-home parenting, and building a thorough network throughout Jefferson County.

Meghan is passionate about creating strong local food systems and fostering community resilience. For the last 9 years, she has operated her own micro-farm and cannery in Port Townsend. Prior to beginning her farm, Meghan was instrumental in starting several environmental and regenerative agriculture-focused nonprofit organizations. Her hands-on farming experience and nonprofit background gives her a unique perspective as a Business Advisor; she advocates a different approach to small business development that looks at the whole life picture in addition to the bottom line. Meghan is interested in supporting small businesses, and particularly micro farms and value-added producers, throughout their journeys.

Stephanie is a Port Townsend-based REALTOR® who blends financial expertise with creative problem-solving. Formerly the founder of an investment advisory firm, she leverages her background in long-term strategy to help clients throughout Jefferson County navigate their most significant investments with confidence. She is known for her "outside-the-box" solutions and a calm demeanor that keeps transactions moving forward when others might stall. Beyond the deal, Stephanie is committed to providing lasting value and thoughtful guidance. When she isn't advocating for her clients, she enjoys coastal life in the Pacific Northwest, follows professional tennis, and explores the area with her much-adored dog, Franny.

Nik was born and raised in Western Washington, with Port Townsend being home for the past 20 years. His career has been happily diverse, ranging from co-owning a local cheese-making startup, to running a customer service team for a world-class fly fishing company, to developing and refining processes with a Fortune-50 financial institution. Most recently, Nik spent the past 7 years remotely running operations for an international software startup, growing it from a team of 16 to where it now enjoys a global presence. Each step in this journey has helped to deepen understandings of finance, HR, investor relations, and legal affairs, and in particular how to manage these key areas in a small business. While the industries have varied, the fundamentals are the same, along with the enjoyment he’s gained through the partnering and mentoring in each role.

Jennifer is a lifelong accountant, business owner, and Certified Money Coach with over 30 years of experience supporting small businesses and nonprofits. Her background spans full-cycle accounting, virtual CFO services, QBO support and cleanup, and financial coaching. A longtime community leader, she has served as Executive Director of the Jefferson County Chamber and CEO of the Camarillo, CA Chamber; has sat on numerous nonprofit, tourism, and economic development board, and currently sits on the boards of Port Townsend Main Street Association and OWL360, bringing deep community roots alongside her financial expertise. Jennifer currently owns Jenn Wells Accounting & Consulting and Soulful Abundance, a retail store, in Port Townsend, WA, and brings both the numbers and the heart to every business she touches.

Laura was the former Director of Strategic Programs and the Women's Business Center Director at the West Business Development Center in Mendocino. In her previous roles she designed training programs tailored for rural entrepreneurs and collaborated closely with local and statewide organizations to create an ecosystem of supportive entrepreneurial resources. Laura helps small businesses with IT and with grant assistance. At the heart of Laura's approach is her dedication to addressing the specific needs of the people she works with. Drawing on her background in program development and social work, and her years of living off-grid in remote places like Alaska and Patagonia, Laura infuses her work with innovation, empathy, and a commitment to service.

Leah is a sustainability strategist and advisor with over a decade of experience fostering economically sound, human-centered growth. Specializing in regenerative development and collaborative project design, she guides business and political leaders toward practical solutions that enhance community resilience and long-term prosperity. Her expertise in strategic planning and systems thinking allows her to bridge diverse sectors to achieve shared, future-focused goals. Renowned for her work in non-toxic, low-carbon design for schools, healthcare, and business environments, Leah integrates healthy building principles with organizational transformation. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that thoughtful design and aligned leadership are the foundations of a thriving community.