About Us
OK - Who We Are
Opportunity Knocks (OK) is a 501 (c) (6) nonprofit that is an entrepreneurially-managed, volunteer-driven business assistance organization whose mission is "Building Thriving Businesses and Individuals."
Opportunity Knocks is headquartered in Bend, Oregon. It was founded in 1996 by Jim Schell who served as it's volunteer CEO for ten years and began with six Problem-Solving Teams comprised of 12 small business owner per team.
Susie Stevens, Executive Director
Susie Stevens has worked in marketing and management for over twenty years. She moved to Bend with her family in 1990 where she was executive director for the Bend Downtowners Association for five years. Prior to that position she managed a marketing portfolio of over 3 million square feet of commercial office and retail space for a national real estate company in the Midwest.
Susie was one of the original members of Opportunity Knocks. Having started a small business, she participated on one of the original SOHO (small office, home based office) teams. Today, she serves as Executive Director for Opportunity Knocks. In 2003, she was recognized by Cascade Business News as a recipient of the Women in Business Award for Central Oregon.
Susie is a member of the Bend Chamber of Commerce, Entrepreneurial Network for Women, City Club and a volunteer for church and neighborhood organizations.
Joanne Diepenheim, Office Manager
"Wearer of Many Hats" or "Exceptions Handler" are two of Joanne's favorite titles to be known by. Besides continually exploring ways to build and stream line business systems, she keeps better books, gives great customer service, can ship anything to anywhere in the world in a flash, is becoming a pseudo-techie geek, and is generally good at getting things done. Before working at Opportunity Knocks, she helped her husband in their business of over 25 years, a boutique dental laboratory. After living in some of the most beautiful places on earth: (Skykomish, WA; Jackson Hole , WY; Port Townsend, WA) she and her family decided that Bend, Oregon is a good place to call home.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors are some of the great movers and shakers in the community. Click Board of Directors to see who they are.
