Working in Clark County, a brief profile of interesting Clark County business owners or a worker in the public, private, or nonprofit sector. Send ideas to Kay Richardson:
kay.richardson@columbian.com; fax: 360-735-4598; phone: 360-735-4550.
“Bright,” “articulate,” and “driven” are three words you might use to describe Kaydee Peterson — unlikely descriptors of a high school and college dropout. But armed with those attributes, sharp technological skills, and a vision for helping businesses work smarter, not harder, she has created a successful business services company. She is one of QuickBooks’ top seven online trainers and serves 100 local accounting clients. “I can’t not work. I want to keep learning. That’s what I love — work that’s forever challenging with new clients and new problems to solve.”
Name: Kaydee Peterson
Residence city: Hockinson
Business name: Peterson Business Services, 15640 N.E. Fourth Plain Road. www.petersonbusinessservices.com
Age: 28
Educational/professional background: I left school, moved out and got my GED when I was 16 and started working right away. School was never challenging enough for me so I made my own challenges. I enrolled in college when I was 19 as an architecture/interior design student, but ended up dropping out of college a year before graduating. My second child was on the way and I ran out of money for school. When I started my business, my aunt encouraged me to get into the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program to take advantage of its educational resources. I hold all QuickBooks software certifications and many other accounting and business software certifications.
How you got started in your business: I was 22 and still an architecture/design student when I began working at a Portland business consulting firm specializing in national design firms. Part of my job was to help develop systems to help the accounting teams communicate with the design teams about budgets. I began changing my coursework at school to focus on business and accounting, and once I “got it” I left the consulting firm to go on my own. I started working at my kitchen table and now am in my third office.
Personal/business philosophy: My contractor father raised three daughters on his own, and he worked very hard. The passion I have for my business comes from my appreciation of everything he sacrificed to do the best that he could, even if we couldn’t appreciate it at the time. We want to see our clients freed of 60-hour work weeks and the stress that comes with just owning a business. We are like a hybrid business consultant/technology consultant/bookkeeper/accountant firm.
Most rewarding part of job: Watching clients make complete 180s in their businesses. It is so fun to drive around the area and constantly be pointing out businesses who are clients, seeing their new trucks, watching new locations open up, and just experiencing their excitement with them.
Most challenging part of job: When clients fail! I constantly have to remind myself that I can only do so much for someone — if they aren’t willing to let certain things go or focus in other areas, it’s not up to me. When a client doesn’t take a recommendation and gets a negative result, it leaves me wondering what I could have said differently to encourage them.
One thing you’d like people to know about your work: It doesn’t have to be super stressful! People are afraid of changing up processes but if they can be open to how much productivity they can gain with simple, affordable changes, they will love it.
Best feature of my Clark County community: We are in the middle of everything. Close to the mountains, the ocean, the desert, the lake, the river … it’s all here, and whatever isn’t here is just a flight out of Portland International Airport.
What would make your community a better place: Love! People in this world today forget about loving thy neighbor and we are all in it together. Don’t sweat the small stuff, just love each other. Be kind.
Your favorite travel destination: The only two reasons I work are to support my kids and to travel! Depending on the country, my ideal trip is renting a car and seeing where the road takes us.
Favorite restaurant/pub/coffee shop: I don’t really have one, but I will say Treat has the best treats in town and Sugar & Salt makes the best sandwiches … Loowit has the best beer!
Most enjoyable book/play/movie/arts event in past 12 months: Fare Thee Well – Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary show.
Something you’d like to do this year/within five years: Make the 40 Under 40 list for CPA Practice Advisor magazine.
Person you’d most like to meet: Myself 15 years ago so I could give me some advice.
