Oak Harbor DECA Announces Entrepreneur of the Week

This year, Oak Harbor DECA and Rotary Club hosted the 12th annual Entrepreneurship Banquet. This banquet honors three outstanding entrepreneurs from the Oak Harbor community based on their dedication, innovation, perservence, and contributions to the local community.

This year, the following Entrepreneurs were selected as the 2016 Outstanding Entrepreneurs: Mr. Mike Libben from Ottawa Soil & Water Conservation District, Mrs. Lisa White from The Village Bake Shop, and Mrs. Patricia Peters from Magruder Hospital. Each member of the chapter was required to interview a local entrepreneur and ask them various questions about their journey to success and advice on how to be successful in the business world.

Lisa White from The Village Bake Shop is our first entrepreneur to be featured on our website. Read her biography below!

On July 1, 2014 Mrs. Lisa White purchased the bakery from the previous owners. The Village Bake Shop is located in Oak Harbor, Ohio. Owning a bakery was not really a childhood dream. Mrs. White became interested in while working in the grocery business. She began working in a retail grocery business in 1989 and eventually took a position in the Bakery/Deli Department. She eventually became the department manager and found that she really liked bakery business.

Most of Mrs. White’s experience was gained from “on the job” training. She also received company and vendor sponsored training. It is also important to stay current on all state and local food safety regulations. Her training and experience has prepared her to own her own bakery. Making her own decisions and working with her daughter everyday are benefits she has gained from owning a business.

Social media has provided a great way for Mrs. White to promote her business. She also stated that it is important to make sure that pricing is competitive since the products she provides are not considered necessities. When the economy is bad, it can have a negative impact on sales. The food industry has also seen a much greater focus on food safety and interest in healthy as well as gluten and sugar-free foods. All of these factors, are important to her business.

Mrs. White provides this advice; “have a good amount of knowledge in your chosen business and remember it never hurts to try.”