Before joining the WCWB as a Business Coach, and now Program Manager, Sean Moore spent seven years teaching a wide variety of management and marketing courses at the collegiate level. Additionally, Moore has nine years of retail management experience and has spent a total of eighteen years working in the retail sector with specialized experience in the action sports and outdoor industries.

In his various retail positions, Sean gained proficiency in social media marketing, integrated marketing, visual merchandising and inventory control. In 2012 he completed a Ph.D. in Organizational Change and Development at Southern Cross University. He conducted research in relation to environmentally responsible organizations, knowledge management and environmental performance.

Moore uses his experience in these roles to bring expertise to WCWB training and mentoring programs. The Business Enterprise Startup (BEST) course offered by the WCWB is approved self-employment training through the Washington State Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP.) Individuals who take advantage of the SEAP program can replace the job search requirement for their unemployment benefits with the training.

“This course gives individuals who are seeking employment more information about starting a business and the steps to take to put together a business plan and seek funding,” says Moore.  “It’s a great opportunity to see if an idea can turn into a reality for some people.”

Moore shared a success story of BEST graduate Edi Martinez. Edi’s cousin owns a coffee farm in Colombia that produces the highest quality Colombian coffee. Edi recognized the quality of this coffee and wanted to share it with businesses in Washington State and this began Tinto Colombian, a Columbian coffee wholesale business.

Edi initially learned about Business Enterprise Startup Training course through the SEAP program at Washington WorkSource. BEST helped Edi to frame her business idea. She also had several coaching sessions with a WCWB business coach and began to develop her business. In February, Edi got her first major client and is off and running! If you are interested in high quality Colombian coffee or know anyone who is you can contact Edi at [email protected]

For the first time, BEST will be offered as an in-person training at the South Puget Sound Community College – Lacey Campus beginning Tuesday, May 19 and running for eight weeks every Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  For more information, visit:   https://wcwb.org/services/training/